An interview with Jeff who works for a ConAgra Food in Washington.

Editors Note:  As you read the below interview, please keep in mind that the opinions expressed are of a single individual and are not necessarily shared by Online-Education-Resources.com or other students.

Q: Can you tell us who you are currently employed with?

A: I work for ConAgra Food in shipping and receiving.

Q: What is a typical day like for you?

A: Long.  I spend a lot of time on the phone with our clients taking their orders and making sure that they are satisfied.

Q: How long have you been at this job?

A: I think about 8 years or so.  I got promoted once before I got my degree.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your background and school experience?

A: I kind of slacked off in high school and decided I didn’t need college.  I went from job to job, working as a trucker for awhile before I got lucky and ConAgra hired me.

Q: What is your online degree in and what school did you get it from?

A: Well I originally started trying to get my degree in Business at University of Phoenix, but it took too long and was really expensive.  Even though the company helps pay for it, and they don’t push you toward a certain school, I decided to switch to WSU since they have a local branch I could at least talk with people there, even though I did the entire degree online.  I got my BA in Business Administration – Management and Operations.

Q: What led you to seek an online degree?

A: Promotions.  I got as far as I could without a degree so to get a higher paying job I had to get one.

Q: What did you like most about the program?

A: The fact that I could do it at home after I got off work and also the fact that I could go to the local branch campus and talk to the business advisors there and still take my classes online.

Q: What did you dislike most about the program?

A: Nothing really.  I felt it was good program.  Reliable and trustworthy.

Q: Have you only ever worked on an online degree?

A: Yes, first with University of Phoenix and then WSU.

Q: How do online classes compare to being in a “brick & mortar” classroom setting?

A: I took some classes at the local community college before going “online” and I found that the “brick & mortar” classes wasted a lot of my time, beyond just the commuting.  They have to hand back papers, answer other people’s questions, or talk about things I already understood.  Online I ask the questions I have and do my work and I’m good.

Q: What were the teachers like?  What was the interaction with the teachers like?

A: They were professional and did what they were supposed to do.  Gave the assignments, had readings or lectures online, graded my work, and told me when it was due.

Q: Did you connect to the university or the other students?  Why?

A: Some.  I feel proud to be a Coug now since I have a degree and I’ll encourage my kids to go to college.  Also some of the other students were great to work with, but no lasting friendships.

Q: Would you do another degree, or your next degree, online or would you choose a campus-based program?

A: Probably not, I’m too busy and I don’t want to give up my job.

Q: Was it difficult to get motivated without a set class time?

A: Sometimes, but like any homework in any class I got it done.

Q: Was your subject well-suited to an online program?  Why or why not?

A: I think so.  A lot of the readings and lectures were well suited to being online and didn’t seem like they would have been better in a “brick and mortar” classroom.

Q: Do employers respect your degree?

A: Yes, but while working on my degree with Phoenix University I really got a lot of negative responses from fellow co-workers and some higher ups.

Q: Have you encountered any stereotypes about having an online degree?  If you have what are they?

A: Not with my WSU Degree, but when I started with Phoenix University a lot of people equated it with “buying a degree,” that their classes were said to be way easier and more expensive.  They were more expensive and did seem a bit easier, though not a lot.  The stereotype though did encourage me to switch after a semester, and I found that most of my Phoenix University credits would not transfer, which suggested to me a lot of the stereotypes were true.

Q: What recommendations and advice would you give for those thinking about getting an online degree in this field?  With this school?

A: I would recommend it especially if they are already employed.  WSU was great too.  Go Cougs!!!

View a list of online schools offering business degrees.