Hi All! I have been thinking for awhile now that I would like to go back to school. A little background: I went to college for a year when I was 18, I had NO IDEA what I wanted to do and basically ended up wasting a year of tuition money. I have since then met my husband, moved around a bit, settled down, had our son and am expecting our second in September. I've been working at home on a very part time basis doing website management and eNewsletters for our family business. I've had to teach myself how to use the programs that I use and it has been a long process of trial and error, but one that I have really enjoyed.
I would really like to take this experience to the next step and possibly pursue a business of my own in the web design field. Because of my 3 year old and the next one on the way I have decided that an online Associates degree (possibly a Bachelors later) is the way I would like to pursue this. I have looked into the online degree programs at Axia College at University of Phoenix, the International Academy of Design and Technology, ITT, Colorado Tech University and Montana State University-Great Falls. Montana State University-Great Falls would be the most cost effective (since I am a resident), but not ALL of the classes are available online and there's a possibility that the ones that aren't I would have to travel almost 2 hours for.
Have any of you had any experience with any of these schools? Or do you know of another accredited program that might be worth looking into? I'm driving myself crazy doing research on all of this and just find myself going round and round about which one would be the best fit for me. Any information or recommendations would be a great help, especially since there is SO MUCH information to sift through online.
Thanks In Advance!
K.
First, I want to thank everyone for the great advice. I still haven't made a decision, but I feel much better informed. I have a phone appointment today with an advisor from Western Governors University and am looking forward to learning more about the program. The fact that I received so many responses advising me to check out this school (when I had never even heard of it), makes me think that it might just be as good as I think it is. I am also not going to rule out U of P yet, but they are pretty expensive and so I am going to explore all of my options first. I also have an appointment later this week to speak with an advisor at Montana State University here in Bozeman to see if there is any possible way to pursue my degree online for at least a couple of years before I need to be in a classroom. I have also found a program at University of Alaska that I am waiting to hear back on....my father was a dean there many years ago and I have an email in to an old associate of his. I feel confident that I will be able to make an informed decision in the next couple of months (before the baby is born) and then hopefully start school in either November or January (depending on the start date of the program I choose). Regardless, I am really excited about the possibility of finally getting my degree and I feel like I have a clearer picture now of the best direction to go in. Thanks again for all of your helpful advice and suggestions. You guys ROCK!
Hello,
I want to give you my input. I just graduated from Kaplan University. I loved it, I was able to stay home with my children and attend classes on-line. I think it is alittle more expensive then an on-campus school but I believe it was worth the extra money.
Here is the web-site
http://talent.kaplan.edu/Home.aspx
I didn't see this request originally, but wanted to just respond quickly since I work (part-time from home) in the field you are looking at. I'm the webmaster for a pretty big site and it is a challenging and rewarding field, plus it lets me stay home with my little ones (the best part of it!). Since you are just starting out, here's a couple questions you'll want to ask yourself to make sure this is the field you really want:
- Are you interested in continually learning and updating your program knowledge to keep pace with the field? In the 10 years I've been doing this I have gone through 4 scripting languages just to keep pace with the field.
- Are you motivated to learn things on your own from the internet or out of books? School is a great foundation to get you started, but classes are pretty expensive to keep up on the field. Most people I know in the industry don't take classes -- they research online and read books to learn new things.
If you want to email me and ask any questions, feel free. I'd love to help you out if you decide this field is the right one for you.
I just graduated with my bachelors in Criminal Justice from the University of Phoenix. I love the program. The teachers also work in the profession they are teaching they are not just taught to teach that information, they actually do it for a living. That is the best way to learn, from someone actually involved in the field they are teaching. My teachers have been attorneys, officers,worked in forensic labs etc.... it has been an amazing experiance. They are an accredited college. Each class is only 5 weeks instead of 15 weeks (by law we have to get the same education as the schools that take 15 weeks so each class is 4 hours one evening a week) so you actually get a bachelors in 4 years without having to take a whole bunch of classes at the same time which is what you would have to do at a community college. If you have more questions feel free to email me at ____@____.com
I did hear about ITT that their drafting graduates know how to draw but not how to understand what they are drawing and that really is a problem, I'm not sure how this correlates to web design, it may not be as problematic, but ask some hiring managers what they think of people with degrees from these different places. That can give you a good idea of whether or not it is worth it.
My husband just started at Western Governors University. It's fully accredited and we've really been impressed how on top of things they are, plus ALL classes are online. Check it out . . .
I don't know a lot about those schools but I am having really good luck doing all of my classes through MSU-Billings. It might be the same as going through Great Falls though-I am unsure. I know that the online classes take a lot of my time and are hard work but worth it to be able to work it in with my schedule. Whatever you decide good luck to you!
Hi Kristen,
ok, I need to tell you something about school and these online programs that are for profit bussinesses that are selling you a product in which you are most likely borrowing ALOT of money to complete, they are predatory and you don't need to do it that way! All of those schools that you mentioned cost a fortune and i assume you are going to borrow this money, DON"T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!! They are so selling you on an idea that you are somehow going to have this magic degree that will make you alot of money when in fact it takes alot more than that to suceed. That said, I think it is so awesome that you want to get an education, do you absolutely love working on a computer? Do you love web design or did you pick this because these schools told you you could make alot of money doing this? From waht I understand technology moves so quickly that the schools can't even keep up and that you don't actually need a formal education in this area to be successful. My own father was a systems analyst but his degree was in bussiness. The best way to go about getting an education at this point is to go to your local community college which is dirt cheap compared to these other schools, were talking for example English comp at CCA will be around $300, at U of Phoenix it would be what? 1k!!!!! That's crazy! And those out of state schools, that is absolutely insane tuition! You pay taxes here, take advantage of that! And I know you can take many of those classes online as well, especially the general ed classes which is what you need right now anyway! I am going back to get my teachers license and I need some general ed classes and I can guarntee you I will be taking them at the community college!!!! We are also paying cash for my school, if there is any way you can do this as well it would be a great idea.. After you finish the community college degree and want to continue go to your local state university, I am going to Metro to complete my certificate, I am going to take two classes per semester and pay as I go, finishing school with no debt!!!! It sounds like you enjoy your job now so if you can go to school and get a good balance with your family life as well everyone( most importantly, you, wins!!!) SO I encourage you to go to school, find an affordable way and a good life balance! After I posted this I see you are in Montana, so go to the in state school in Montana, but still community college first!
I go to the University of Phoenix right now. email me and we can talk about it. I love the program
My husband is about to graduate with a Criminal Justice AA from Everest University formerly Florida Metropolitan University. Since it is an accredited school he can go anywhere in the U.S. and use his degree. Not so with a lot of online education. They also have a brick and morter campus that we could visit if we could afford to. Also because it is accredited he has paid most of his $8000 a year tuition with grants and a very low interest student loan meaning that we have not paid anything out of pocket until after he graduates. Do not have allusions though that you will suddenly make money with a degree. My husband is already as high as he can go in his career field, without one. He just wants to get an edge when or if the time comes for incentive pay or promotion or if it ever come to between him and another tranfer applicant. It's also a good idea because some other states want a B.A. regardless and he wants the freedom to move if we had to so eventually he'll finish up another 18 months for a B.A.
I work for Western Governors University as a Mentor (and previously as an enrollment counselor). We are Regionally accredited (the highest accreditation you can get) and we are all online. WGU does not offer Associate degrees but the program is very convenient and is self paced. You pay a flat tuition rate for a 6 month term no matter if you complete 12 units or 50 -the tuition is the same!
Check out the website www.wgu.edu and let me know if you have any questions about it!
I highly suggest you check out
Western Governors University, www.wgu.edu
They ARE an accredited online university. My husband is currently working on his masters through them. I highly reccomend them.
Good luck!!
K.,
how great is all what you describe!!!
Don't ever feel sad that you did not pursue education when you started at 18. Now, you have a great family, life experience, and decided what you like to do. Naturally, the next step is to improve in the area that you like.
I just graduated from Montana State University with the Bachelor's degree - way into my adulthood (with my children being 25,23,18, this is why I congratulate you for following your steps in life, maybe not traditionally, but so wisely). I went trhough the entire course 'in person', on the campus,
but Algebra classes I took from the school that you name.
An amazing and most patient teacher there :)
My suggestion is this:
contact them, call them and tell them your story.
The thing is: while you do core course, and what they already have online, the big chance is that they will be putting more courses online, and end up having the entire set online, too.
BTW, this is exactly what MSU is also doing right now. We already have some courses that are ALL online. This is where the evolution of technology leads us: more options, more flexibility, great for such situations like you have:
when talking to the representative, ask what they have now,
and ask what is upcoming soon: if (s)he does not know for sure, ask for another phone number to talk to those who do, as there is a team of people who are very well aware of the plans and timelines for the entire school.
Good Luck, and all the best to You and Your Family, K.!
Call around to the closest universities & make sure that credits from these online programs would transfer to their college. I had a friend who was working in admissions for a community college & it broke her heart to tell people that all of their credits from online "universities" wouldn't transfer because they're not acredited right. She named a few of them, but I can't remember. Your best bet is to call around & see if their credits will transfer to a major university. If none of them will, find another one.
They can say accredited & not be accredited right to transfer to a "real" college & then you're left w/all that time & money spent & no real degree.
I am doing online schooling right now. I'm married with two kids and a full time job. I am in Western Governors University. www.wgu.edu. ALL the courses are online. Hope this helps. Good luck and nice choice to get a degree.
