I am finding myself having to choose between a brick and mortar school versus an accredited online school.
B&M would be an accelerated Bachelors program that meets once a week, would be about 15-18 months and cost approx $15,000/year. Masters would be another 18-24 months. Cost approx $50k. Also, only would transfer 75 credits (I will have 93).
AOS would be a flex program, where I work at my own pace, semesters are quarterly (10 weeks on, three weeks off), $2,000 flat fee for the semester no matter how many classes I take (can take up to 8) and would probably take 4-5 semesters for me to finish my Bachelors. Masters could be done in about the same time frame (4-5 semesters). Approx cost, $20k. Will transfer up to 135 credits.
Besides cost, I want opinions on the fact that it would be an online school. Even if I did the B&M, most classes are online anyway. Does the fact that it is only online matter anymore some most colleges/universities offer so many classes that way?
What type of learner are you? Do you need the structure of a classroom? Do you prefer actual lectures versus listening to a recorded lecture online? Which one will ensure you get to the finish line? ANd, it isn't necessarily all or none. Is there some portion you could do online? Maybe some Gen Ed type credits? Or do your Master's online, etc? I don't think it is necessarily one of the other. What is your living situation? Will you be able to work more if doing online courses versus brick? And, if you incurred the debt of the traditional school how is that going to affect your future? On the other hand, I am betting there are more people who drop out of online programs than traditional. It gets easier to kick cans down the road when you don't have as much structure. Also, I don't know what type of field, but there may be certain fields that do not place the same stock in an online degree.
Call the Human Resources Departments in some larger companies / facilities that you might want to work for after graduation, and ask them what their experience has been with graduates of those two programs.
Forgive me for not remembering this: What are your employment goals? (i.e. what will you be doing?)
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The Principle of Least Interest: He who cares least about a relationship, controls it.
I am 44 and own my own home. No intention of moving.
Only have had student loans for this last year and for the future schooling. Not eligible for any Financial Aid and have only received one scholarship. Still trying for more scholarships and looking into jobs where the loans may be forgiven.
Major is a duel - psychology and human services (social work) with specifics in Gerontology (Seniors). This is a field that does not need to have the physical hands on like nursing or chemistry would.
Only 2 B&M schools in my area offer the HS Gerontology Bachelors and Masters. One more is a little far but possibly doable. Neither offer the dual major with Psychology. AOS would be able to do both.
I want to do patient advocate / care coordinator / treat depression in seniors but am flexible since there really is not one position for this yet. It's combined with other jobs.
Yes, I can work without the structure. I am motivated to get this done asap so that I can be working FT, hopefully with benefits.
I will be getting AAS in December so most of the GenEds are done already. There are three that I think I may have to finish (Statistics is not my friend).
Have you looked at jobs for this? Does the potential pay justify the costs of the degree? Are you willing to move? If the position doesnt yet exist now then why do you think it will exist in the future?
I have a half-and-half degree; online 70% and on-site at a brick and mortar U 30%. I am currently doing my practicum and the mix of interns is equally split between 100% classroom programs, 100% online programs and mixed programs like mine. It doesn't seem to matter how you get your degree, as long as you get it.
I am 44 and own my own home. No intention of moving.
Only have had student loans for this last year and for the future schooling. Not eligible for any Financial Aid and have only received one scholarship. Still trying for more scholarships and looking into jobs where the loans may be forgiven.
Major is a duel - psychology and human services (social work) with specifics in Gerontology (Seniors). This is a field that does not need to have the physical hands on like nursing or chemistry would.
Only 2 B&M schools in my area offer the HS Gerontology Bachelors and Masters. One more is a little far but possibly doable. Neither offer the dual major with Psychology. AOS would be able to do both.
I want to do patient advocate / care coordinator / treat depression in seniors but am flexible since there really is not one position for this yet. It's combined with other jobs.
Yes, I can work without the structure. I am motivated to get this done asap so that I can be working FT, hopefully with benefits.
I will be getting AAS in December so most of the GenEds are done already. There are three that I think I may have to finish (Statistics is not my friend).
In my opinion, there is always need for this type of job, and the pay is pretty crappy, so I would not want to invest a lot of money in it. Also, at your age, I don't think it is going to matter as much, so I would lean towards online. HOWEVER, you need to research the school really, really well and find out the true after graduation job experience and reputation of the school.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
Have you looked at jobs for this? Does the potential pay justify the costs of the degree? Are you willing to move? If the position doesnt yet exist now then why do you think it will exist in the future?
The jobs exist, just not combined as one. I have seen some that combine the first two of the advocate/care coordinator but the treating of depression (psychology counseling) is usually not included. Having one position that combines all three is what does not exist but would make me more marketable to where I want my end result to be.
Ideally, I would work for a larger clinic that specialized in one type of disease (cancer center, heart center) and help the patients understand what they have been diagnosed with, what all their options are so they can make the best decision for themselves and treat the inevitable depression that comes along with it.
I am finding myself having to choose between a brick and mortar school versus an accredited online school.
B&M would be an accelerated Bachelors program that meets once a week, would be about 15-18 months and cost approx $15,000/year. Masters would be another 18-24 months. Cost approx $50k. Also, only would transfer 75 credits (I will have 93).
AOS would be a flex program, where I work at my own pace, semesters are quarterly (10 weeks on, three weeks off), $2,000 flat fee for the semester no matter how many classes I take (can take up to 8) and would probably take 4-5 semesters for me to finish my Bachelors. Masters could be done in about the same time frame (4-5 semesters). Approx cost, $20k. Will transfer up to 135 credits.
Besides cost, I want opinions on the fact that it would be an online school. Even if I did the B&M, most classes are online anyway. Does the fact that it is only online matter anymore some most colleges/universities offer so many classes that way?
It does matter--but maybe not enough to justify the cost difference. I'd ask an employer in that field.
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I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
Have you looked at jobs for this? Does the potential pay justify the costs of the degree? Are you willing to move? If the position doesnt yet exist now then why do you think it will exist in the future?
The jobs exist, just not combined as one. I have seen some that combine the first two of the advocate/care coordinator but the treating of depression (psychology counseling) is usually not included. Having one position that combines all three is what does not exist but would make me more marketable to where I want my end result to be.
Ideally, I would work for a larger clinic that specialized in one type of disease (cancer center, heart center) and help the patients understand what they have been diagnosed with, what all their options are so they can make the best decision for themselves and treat the inevitable depression that comes along with it.
Just curious, what has sparked your interest to go in this direction?
