An interview with Penny Lynn Karr, a student of Kaplan University Online.

Q:  What program are you enrolled in?

I’m in Human Services, it’s a Bachelors and it will take me 4 years. They give you the option for accelerated to take 3 classes per term but you have to have a certain amount of financial aid to do that. I take 2 classes per term.

Q:  What were your favorite classes and why were they your favorite?

I just started, just finished up my first term, but I think my favorite was psychology, I took it in high school too I just enjoy it I guess.

Q:  What will be the most important class/lesson from the program do you think?

Actually just learning about my job, I want to be in CPS, child protective services.

Q:  How much did it cost for you to complete the program?

It’s about $3000 per term or about 350 per hour.

Q:  Did you receive any financial aid or scholarships?  Which ones?  Were these easy to obtain?

Yes, they took care of all of it. All I had to do is fill out one thing online and within a week, I had everything. I have a Pell grant and two loans.

Q:  Did you go to school on a full-time or part-time basis?

Full-time student you can’t be part-time and get those grants I don’t think. I’m not sure.

Q:  Did you consider other programs?

No.

Q:  Why did you choose the one you did?

I was at AIU and they would not give me the human services program. I wasn’t quite sure what I was supposed to take to be in child protective services, but they were giving me business classes and I was doing really well but I had talked to Kaplan already and when I found out I was in the wrong classes and AIU didn’t have what I needed, so that’s when I transferred.

Q:  Would you recommend this school to someone else?

Yes, our teachers are very sweet, so far anyway. As far as research though, it’s kind of hard on the internet. It’s hard to find what you need, like articles, you have to go to a library. The librarian will help you usually though.

Like, one time we were doing a paper on hospice and we needed to research it, so I had to go to the library, they do have a reference section, but I wanted to get outside references I was trying to do that on my own. Usually they provide resources for you and if you want then you can do some on your own, I decided not to take the easy road and I went to the library.

Q:  What is the most difficult part of the program for you?

That is the most difficult, the research. We go from Wednesday to Wednesday, so our papers have to be in Tuesday at midnight. That is kind of difficult, especially because you got the weekend in there

Q:  About how many other students were in your classes, and do you ever get to interact with them?

Yes. We have AIM, the instant messenger, and we have what they call a coffee shop where we can chat with each other and then of course we have our seminars. You can choose to put a profile picture up and all of that. But there about 20 in each class.

Q:  For your particular program, are there any special licenses or certifications that you need to receive before getting a job?  If so, what are they and what do they entail?

I haven’t looked into that quite yet. I know you need the bachelors in human services and actually it varies state by state. I have talked to a CPS person and because she’s been in human services so long she did not have to have a degree, so it varies, there’s different rules.

Q:  How was the experience of online versus a classroom setting?

I pretty much like it because I can have quiet time. I have a hard time concentrating when there are other people in the room so that is my biggest thing about being online, I can concentrate and focus. We have the books right in front of us, whether the electronic ones or the paper ones.  To tell someone to do it online I prefer it because I have children and they can be at school and I’m at home. If they get sick, I can go pick them up. My time isn’t limited, if I want to get up in the middle of the night I can do that. I can talk to someone online at any given time. I can talk to the teachers. I can call Kaplan at any time to speak to an advisor. I can call them whenever because I have their numbers.

Q:  Any other advice for new students?

Just don’t slack, if you’re going to do it just do it. You’re there for an education if you’re going to be paying that much you might as well try. Strive to get the A not the C.

If you think Kaplan University Online may be a good fit for you, check out their list of programs and find out how to receive more information.

Teachers across the country have a difficult job and are often under-appreciated and underpaid. For that reason, many continue to pursue higher education in order to advance themselves further in their positions and in pay grade. Doing so online is a convenient way for many because it allows them to continue their jobs as teachers while they complete their coursework.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, plenty of job opportunities in the coming years should be available for those who choose to get a Masters degree in Education.

Advancement into Administration

Teachers can move into higher paid administrative positions without a Masters degree but it often takes many years of experience with a good reputation as teachers. Some of the people they compete with for the positions already have higher degrees.

In private schools, principals are more commonly found with just Bachelors degrees, but competition is sometimes greater in public schools, giving those with higher degrees better chances. Also, in some states, principals and other administrators may need to be licensed or certified to work those positions. In those cases, a Masters degree is also required for the license or certification.

Advancement into Post-secondary Teaching

To work in post secondary teaching positions at colleges and universities, Masters degrees are often a requirement for faculty positions. While you go to school to continue your education, it is possible to hold a job at a university as a graduate teaching assistant. Some institutions provide financial support to do so.

Why Online?

For this advanced degree, taking it online is popular because it offers flexibility in time. An online degree program’s schedule allows students to complete work when ever they have time instead of showing up to class on a regular basis.

For some, getting a Masters degree is a priority that gets pushed back a few years later while the basic teaching career kicks off, so it’s a good idea to develop a plan early on that details where you want to go in your career.

Will it pay off?

While teachers at public schools can earn around $50,000 per year, administrators at public schools such as principals make more than $85,000 per year according to data gathered by the bureau of labor statistics. Some administrators at post secondary institutions like Deans, make more than $100,000. In addition to pay, these positions offer good benefits and tenure that protects their job security.

Even if you want to continue teaching and not pursue administration or post-secondary teaching, teachers who have higher degrees can earn significantly more money in the same teaching positions.  The amount that the employer can compensate for your higher degree can vary, however.  One student, in Colorado, reported a $8,000 increase in pay after receiving his Masters in Education online.  Since advancement to administrative positions is not for everyone, consider the cost of the degree based on the pay increase you will see if you stick in the same teaching position.

View a list of online teaching degrees to find a program that’s right for you.

An interview with Kat Murray, a student at Ashford University.

Q:  What program are you attending and how long is the program?

Bachelors of Accounting. It’s an accelerated program, each class is 5 weeks long. All together it’s about 2 and a half years long.

Q:  What is your current career?

I’m an Accounting Assistant.

Q:  Describe a typical day in your current career?

I assist administratively I would research support for accounts payable, invoicing and posting accounts receivable.

Q:  How did your training help you get into this career?

You can do without the training for this job, but it’s more difficult to get into without it and without any similar background, but since this is my natural forte my employer notices that’s my niche and places me in these positions, that’s what prompted me to go to back to school too actually.

Q:  Are you happy with the training that you received so far?

So far yes, but I am anxious because I’m still doing the undergrad required courses. Just anxious to get to the more technical accounting classes.

Q:  What is your favorite class and why was it your favorite?

Informal logic. Just because it was sort of a break from the day to day routine, and a chance to stimulate my brain in another aspect other than work everyday.

Q:  What was the most important lesson from the program that you hope to get out of it to apply to your career?

What I would like to do once I have the bachelors is work toward the CPA licensing, and then eventually work for myself.

Q:  How much did it cost for you to complete the program?

$28,000

Q:  Did you receive any financial aid or scholarships?  Which ones?  Were these easy to obtain?

They did initially help with financial aid. Although this is the first time I’ve gone to school online, I had to find my own lender, so I have a Pell grant, and loans. To get the loans, they provided a list and I had to select one and fill out their application.

Q:  Do you go to school on a full-time or part-time basis?

Full time.

Q:  How far along are you?

I’ve taken 6 classes thus far.

Q:  Did you consider other programs?

Yes.

Q:  Why did you choose the one you did?

I chose Ashford because when they called me back it felt like they were listening and knew what I was looking for, it made a difference. It felt like I could trust them.

Q:  Would you recommend this school to someone else? Why or Why not?

Definitely. It is accelerated and this is the only way that I could go to school right now and have my full time job. Also they are pretty flexible if you need to take time off or if you want to cram and do them right away.

First day of that term starts on a Tuesday, and you can really start the next one the very next Tuesday.

Q:  What was the most difficult part of the program for you?

Sometimes the aspect of it being accelerated. It’s difficult to keep up with at times.

Q:  Do they have help for you in that aspect?

They do have other lengths or people to proof read papers before you turn them in. Most of the networking is pretty much up to the student.

Q:  For your particular program, are there any special licenses or certifications that you need to receive before getting a job?  If so, what are they and what do they entail?

Q:  CPA, certified public accountant. To the best of my knowledge it’s completely up to me. The accounting bachelors program has more credits than other bachelor programs like of business but beyond that it’s up to me, they might have resources to direct me.

I’m probably going to have to budget to take the test, but I’m hoping at that point when I’m done with the program I can just find a way to pay for it and take the test.

Q:  How was the experience of online versus a classroom setting?

I think the drawback is the lecture aspect you wouldn’t be able to ask questions right away. You have to wait for someone to post and then reply online. But the upside is you can do it at 10 at night versus racing from work to class. There seems to be more paper more essays than what I’ve experienced in a campus class.

Q:  Any other advice for people looking to get into a program like this?

Preparation definitely. When you’re talking to an adviser helping you set up your classes and your schedule, give yourself time to set up that study time to read and study no matter how hectic our life gets you have to make sure at least twice a week you have time to study with minimal distractions.

Beyond that just keep good communication with the instructors.

View a list of all schools that offer online accounting programs.

Teachers have a huge role in educating a work force and helping shape the future. It’s a job that is often under appreciated, and therefore may not be right for anyone. High school teachers often feel an added pressure to prepare their students either to go into college or to go into the career world. The job requires people who are patient and who have excellent communication skills to be able to teach students and make them understand concepts, but also to communicate with parents. Good teachers must also be able to command respect.

As far as job stability, teachers shouldn’t have problems putting their degrees to use right away. The bureau of labor statistics estimates an average and steady job growth for all teachers. The continuing demand is a natural result of having to replace teachers as they retire, and from growing populations. In addition, demand for teachers is always high in most rural and inner city schools.

Are you Ready?

If you want to become a high school teacher, the process is similar to becoming a teacher at an elementary or middle school level.

All public schools in the United States require teachers to become licensed, usually by the state board of education. The minimum requirement to get licensed to become a teacher is a Bachelors degree, which for high school teachers can be in any subject they are interested in teaching for instance English or math. It is helpful to spend the last year as student teachers; otherwise, some places may require teaching specific programs after earning the Bachelors degree.

Teaching licenses don’t often transfer from state to state. The state must evaluate the license and determine if it is compatible. If it is not, they can ask you to take their own licensing test.

Other specific requirements to become teachers can vary by state, or school district. Private schools for instance differ in that they don’t always require a license to teach, but in turn teachers working there often earn less.

Some teachers also choose to get a national certification, but it is usually not required. The benefit however is that it often allows teachers to earn a higher pay depending on the school or district they work in. Having more credentials, certifications, a higher degree than a Bachelors, or having majored in high interest fields like special education or science can make teachers more attractive to schools, therefore increasing their pay.

Average pay for high school teachers in the United States is $54,390, but getting to that pay can take time, and considerable investment in your own education. Among the schools that average the highest pay for teachers are Illinois, New York, Connecticut, California, and New Jersey.

High school teachers can earn extra money like other teachers by working summers, taking on administrative duties, or teaching an extracurricular activity, or by pursuing other jobs during the summers off. Those interested in teaching should consider the amount of time required to get into the career with a minimum of four years, and the long hours that the job usually requires.

Are you ready to become a teacher or earn your Masters in Education to earn more at your current teaching job?  View our list of online teaching degree programs.

An interview with Marlo Colston, a graduate of ITT Tech Online’s Criminal Justice Associate’s degree.

What Program did you study?

Criminal Justice 2 year Associates Degree Program – Juvenile Law Concentration

What is your current career?

Currently I work part time with the Juvenile office locally, which gives me the opportunity to be at home with my children. I often work on caseloads and reports from home. When I am in the field I work with troubled youth ranging from the age of 6 to 17.

Describe a typical day in your current career?

When I am able to work from home a lot of my work is done via Internet, email and phone calls. There is normally 1-2 days per week that I am out visiting with different kids, making sure they are staying out of trouble, supervising their community service hours, talking and checking in with their managers in the places which they do these hours, and then I report back to their Juvenile Officer.

How did your training help you get into this career?

Having been through some of the things these kids experience, I knew from day one this is what I wanted to do. With a family I was able to go to school online and pick up where I left off after graduating from the Law enforcement training academy. You have to have the BA to become a juvenile officer, but I have learned I like to be on this side of the fence where I earn the trust of the kids I work with. Classes in victimology, juvenile law and psychology are the core classes for this type of work.

How would things be different for you if you hadn’t received this training?

Mostly, I would see these young kids in a rather dim light, not giving them the benefit or time they deserve. From the standpoint of a law enforcement officer, you have to look at things differently, that is their job, as an advocate for them and their families. I am able to work a totally different angle. Rather than condemning them for their behavior I am able to help them change their behavior.

Were you happy with the training that you received?

Yes. Absolutely and had I decided to pursue that specific career further I would go with ITT tech over anyone else in a heartbeat. It was just a lot easier with having a family to take care of.

How long is the program (or was the program)?

This particular program you were able to work at your own pace. I was finished in 12 months. I think it all depends on you and how hard you are willing to work.

Favorite classes and why was it your favorite?

I love Juvenile Law. That is what I wanted to go into in the first place, that and victimlology. You learn more than what is just in the textbooks. Victimology also opens your eyes to a completely different world, and often times this is where a lot of the youth’s issues stem from.

What did you take from the program that you use in your everyday job tasks?  Explain.

Well, overall there is something that you can apply to everyday life. Learning from the juvenile courses to family law, just about anything in your daily life can be applied. Even the report writing teaches you to better pay attention to the small things and apply them in ways that they make sense to others.

What was the most important class/lesson from the program?

No one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes, and we are all human. Sometimes, things aren’t always just on the surface. You have to dig deeper than just throwing a criminal in jail.

How much did it cost for you to complete the program?

Well, I used all financial aid and my family did have a college fund for me as well. I am currently still paying on my student loans.

Did you receive any financial aid or scholarships?  Which ones?  Were these easy to obtain?

I used Pell grants and Loans. The school loan officer did everything for me. It was wonderful!

Did you go to school on a full-time or part-time basis?

Full time.

Would you recommend this school to someone else? Why or why not?

Most definitely for any other parent or student trying to take on bigger load this school was phenomenal! They care about their students even though you are not sitting in front of them!

If there were online classes, how was the experience of online versus a classroom setting?

There is an adjustment period but I loved sitting in my comfortable clothes with a cup of hot tea and the radio on doing my homework. All I had to do was look over my shoulder to see my 2 year old paying quietly. Those are the memories you can’t get back.

If there were online classes, did you feel that you were able to learn as well as you would have in the classroom setting?

Sure. I was able to go at my own pace. If there was something I didn’t quite understand I could stop, go back over it, read on, or research it. I could learn however I needed to without disrupting an entire classroom of people or a professor to contact.

Do you think you might be interested in ITT Tech Online or an online Criminal Justice degree?

An interview with Erica who works for the Social Security Administration company in Yakima, WA.

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

A: I am currently employed with the branch of the Social Security Administration in Yakima, WA.

Q: What is a typical day like for you?

A: I work the morning shift so I get there about 7 in the morning.  I spend most of the day talking with people filling Social Security Insurance claims and taking notes.  I, ironically, ask them what a typical day for them is like so that we have information for judgment on their claim.

Q: How long have you been at this job?

A: I’ve been there now for around a year.

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

A: I already had a degree from Washington State University and moved near Yakima when my husband found work.  I wanted to work on my Master’s degree, but the local branch of WSU does not have my program so I eventually decided, since I couldn’t work on my masters and can’t work with just my bachelor’s in my original profession, to get another bachelor’s degree.

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

A: I got a bachelor’s degree in Human Development from Washington State University.

Q: What led you to seek an online degree?

A: Location.  Most of the other degrees I could work on locally were either Associate Degrees or four year degrees that aren’t that useful to getting work.  So my choices were either get a low paying job, wasting my already gained education, or get more education in hopes of finding a good job.

Q: What did you like most about the program?

A: Not having to travel!  I could work on the class stuff when I wanted to, mostly, and that I could complete it without having to relocate my family.

Q: What did you dislike most about the program?

A: Well … a lot of the work seemed really repetitive.  Read a bunch, post an opening post on message board at the beginning of the week, then reply to two other posts by other students later that week.  Repeat for 10 weeks, write a paper or two, or take a test or two.  Kind of repetitive.

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

A: No.  I have a bachelor’s in psychology that I got at Washington State University, before getting my online degree with them.

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

A: Online lets you set your own schedule, which I really like!  But you don’t get a lot of interaction and it seems really impersonal, which is good and bad.  I mean heated discussions happen in both and at least online you don’t have to deal with the people.

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

A: Some were really friendly and were fun to learn from.  Others were like robots that sent out automated responses or had their Teaching Assistants do everything.  Just depended on the teacher.  I found most with TA’s did little and you never read a heard from them.

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

A: Yes.  Since I worked on group projects in some classes with some it made it easy to talk with them or ask them questions in other classes since if you start one semester with a group you usually finish with many in that group.  Also I tried to be friendly and give constructive criticism which many did not do.

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

A: Depends on where I am at in life.  Both have disadvantages and I feel burnt out on education so I would probably say … neither? But considering I’m working full time now I’d go online.

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

A: No, not for me.  I just got it done when it needed to be done.

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

A: Yes, because my human development degree is a degree with a lot of reading and papers so I just did all the reading and discussion at home instead of doing it half at home and the other part in class.

Q: Do employers respect your degree?

A: They seem to, but it helps that it is from WSU which is known for being a PAC 10 school to begin with.  It doesn’t say on it that it is an “online” degree.

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

A: Nope.  Again, WSU is a known school.  Some people do ask how I did my degree and still lived away from Pullman [where the main campus is] but I explain it to them.

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

A: I’d go for it!  Education helps a lot and this degree seemed to be great for an online degree.  WSU also seemed to do a good job of setting up the classes, so I would say give them a try.  I’ve never tried taking classes from other online schools.

This is a candid interview with Eliza who earned a Bachelor degree in Psychology from an online school and is now working on her Masters degree at Eastern Washington University.  Although many students have been very happy with their online degrees, Eliza is an example of a student that did not enjoy her online learning experience and who found it difficult for employers and other schools to take her online degree seriously.  When considering an online school, it’s important to research their reputation and prospective employer’s opinions of the school.

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’m not employed I’m a full time student working on my Master’s degree.

Q: What is a typical day like for you?

A: I get my kids off to school and then I go to school for the day.  Some days I’m in a class or two and other days I work on my clinical work.  Some days I get home from school to greet my kids, other days I get home later.

Q: How long have you been in this routine?

A: I’ve been doing this for over a year.

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

A: Sure.  I was a young mom and I worked a lot to support my youngest son.  After I got married I decided to work on a degree and become the first college graduate in my family.

Q: What is your online degree in?

A: Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

Q: What led you to seek an online degree?

A: I needed to be able to be flexible and be home for my children, and also work some to help the family.  My husband has a good job, but I couldn’t be a full time student when we first got married.

Q: What did you like most about the program?

A: The fact I could work on it after I got home from my part time job and work on it for an hour or two before the kids came home and then work on it for an hour or two after they went to bed.  The schedule for the class was what I wanted it to be.

Q: What did you dislike most about the program?

A: Nothing really, but when I applied for Master’s programs I had some difficulty.

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

A: No.  I’ve been working on my Master’s degree on an actual campus for awhile now.

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

A: I felt a lot more isolated and it was hard to get help at times, depending on the class. Now that I’m on campus I find it much easier to get help and talk with teachers and other students about problems or questions.  It is very different, particularly since I really like interacting with people.

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

A: Some were really positive, friendly, but most often busy.  They’d get back to you a day or two after you’d have a question which sometimes was too long a wait.  Though I’ve found that most teachers are like that, to be honest!  I’m going to try to not be like that when I’m working as a teaching assistant.

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

A: No. I felt really cut off because there was very little immediate response when I had questions or tried to participate in a class discussion.  It left me feeling kind of depressed at times with deadlines looming and me not having any idea what to do.

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

A: Campus based.  No question.

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

A: Extremely hard.  It was too easy to procrastinate and put classes and work off.  I got lower grades because I would often turn in work late.

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

A: No. Psychology is something I feel requires a lot more person to person interaction.

Q: Do employers respect your degree?

A: I doubt they would, because when trying to get into a graduate program I had a hard time since most schools wouldn’t take my degree as a full degree and wanted me to take additional classes.  That is not what someone wants to hear when they have already completed a degree! To be told your degree is not good enough to get into the program they want is so frustrating and depressing.  I had to work for months to finally find a Masters program that would work for me and my family in terms of where we could live and my husband could work.

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

A: Yes.  That it is far easier.  That the degree isn’t worth the paper it is printed on.  That you simply “paid” for your degree.  It didn’t make me feel good.  I did a lot of hard work for my degree but I found that that work was not respected because of where and how I got the degree.

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

A: Don’t!  Get a degree on a campus and take night classes if you can.  If you can’t, shop around and take into consideration what you want to do with the degree.  If you want to use the degree as a stepping stone to another degree make sure it is going to be from a school that is recognized by other schools as being good.  If you want the degree to get a job, call the companies you are thinking of working at and ask they if they hire people that have degrees from the schools you are considering.

If, after reading this article, you decide that you would like to research some campus-based programs, you can visit our related websites for California, Texas and Florida schools.

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.

An interview with Jonathan who works a teacher for a high school in Portland, Oregon.

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

A: A high school in Portland Oregon.  Rather not say which one.

Q: What is a typical day like for you?

A: I teach at a high school and I teach a zero hour class so I get to school before 7 and teach from about 7:30 till 2:30. I have 6 classes I teach a day and a prep period, which I occasionally substitute during.

Q: How long have you been at this job?

A: 5 years.

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

A: I got my bachelors in English and a certification in English at University of Oregon.  I started teaching, but wanted the pay bump that comes from having a Masters degree.

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

A: Masters of Arts in Teaching from Kaplan University.

Q: What led you to seek an online degree?

A: Time constraints.  I don’t want to give up my job, but I wanted to rise through the pay scale or maybe in a few years become a principal.  Also the cost per credit was very comparable to getting a degree at a traditional school.

Q: What did you like most about the program?

A: Not a lot to be honest.  Just that it was available and I that I could complete it.

Q: What did you dislike most about the program?

A: Constant reading, group projects with people who don’t do their work and are as busy as I am, or extremely lazy.

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

A: No.  I have a bachelor’s degree already.

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

A: Less interaction with people tends to happen.  You don’t get to really know or understand how the teacher or other students feel about the issues you are discussing.  I don’t feel I “learned” as much.

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

A: Limited, but similar to being in a lecture hall type class.  Teachers told me what I needed to know and let us do it.  They didn’t hold our hands or micromanage. I liked that.

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

A: No, but my time was limited.  I had papers to grade and other things to do, so I did not spend a lot of time talking with other students beyond what was required.

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

A: I would choose a campus based program, because I prefer being in the classroom and interacting with others.  It is hard however, to argue with the ease of the online structure.

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

A: No, it wasn’t hard to get motivated, just hard to find the spare time when I had other work to do.

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

A: I would say no.  I believe Education is something that requires hands on interaction and discussion.

Q: Do employers respect your degree?

A: I don’t know. That my degree came from an “online” program doesn’t seem to matter to the school district I work for.

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

A: No, I have encountered no stereotypes.

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

A: I’m very neutral on this.  I wouldn’t say one way or the other in regards to the school, but I would say make sure you are the type of student who likes to study “on their own”.