Going back to school!

[kzielu 1,149]

8 hours ago, Roel said:

 

Anyone have any experiences with either of those degrees/jobs?

Roelka - I have _very_ close friend with a degree in criminal justice working now as a prosecutor in one of the OH counties. If you have specific questions, feel free to PM me on either forum...

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

I'm not going to say where I go, but I go to the online segment of a local university - so I can go into campus if I need to.  Most of the other people taking my classes are not local or are stay at home parents like me.  Mine is also very affordable, with fees and stuff, maybe around $300/credit.  The credits are all transferable within the state's university system and I've done both in person and online classes with them, so I know it is doable.  Sometimes classes don't transfer well between colleges, for example I took Mathematical Statistics at one colleges, but the other offered the classes as Prob &Stats I and Prob & Stats II.

 

A few years ago I did classes through SUNY Empire while I was living in Europe and I wouldn't recommend them, if that does come up in your search.  

 

In my experience, online classes can either be super easy (like some of my business and history classes) or much more challenging than their in-person parallels because they feel like they are trying to prove the legitimacy of the course or it is difficult to figure out what the professor wants.

 

As to criminal justice - the only person I know who has done that degree could only find work as a security guard.  Is there a specific job you are looking for?

[Roel 7,192]

2 hours ago, NuestraUnion said:

120 credit undergraduate degree at UNC (University of North Carolina) will be about $80,000 ($668 per credit).

Yeah, it's ridiculous how expensive US education is. I wouldn't be able to afford it without GI Bill, so thank GODS, costs are not that  much of an issue.

 

1 hour ago, ronniebreda said:

Fort Hays State University is accredited and affordable -  https://fhsu.edu/virtualcollege/degrees/bachelors/index

 

I'll check it out, thank you!

[Roel 7,192]

1 hour ago, kzielu said:

Roelka - I have _very_ close friend with a degree in criminal justice working now as a prosecutor in one of the OH counties. If you have specific questions, feel free to PM me on either forum...

Will do! Thanks!

 

23 minutes ago, N-o-l-a said:

In my experience, online classes can either be super easy (like some of my business and history classes) or much more challenging than their in-person parallels because they feel like they are trying to prove the legitimacy of the course or it is difficult to figure out what the professor wants.

 

Yeah I remember when my husband was working on his degree and I've seen some assignment - some were super easy, like you said, others required a lot of research and reading.

 

 

[databit 328]

Just be very careful about accreditation. Many online colleges claim to be "accredited," but who is doing the accreditation? Some say they're "Nationally Accredited" or by the "Distance Education" or  by the "Accrediting Council,"

but that is not the same as the gold standard---Regional Accreditation.

 

Here's an article explaining the difference: 

https://www.geteducated.com/college-degree-mills/203-what-is-online-college-accreditation

 

Here's the government list of regionally accredited schools:

https://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/faqaccr.aspx

 

And one more:

https://blog.tesu.edu/national-vs-regional-accreditation-why-does-it-matter

 

 

 

 

Edited August 24, 2018 by databit

[Hello729 74]

Just want chime in my two cents, I think criminal justice is a great way to open up doors into law enforcement career paths.  Congratulations for your decision to better yourself!🎈🎊🍾 

[Roel 7,192]

I'll graduate in criminal justice and become an immigration officer and I'll be mean to all new immigrants irl.  😈

 

But seriously, I thought about criminal justice because the program just sounds fascinating! 

 

As for health services, I also always wanted to work in a hospital environment. But not as a doctor, since blood freaks me out. 😛

 

and I want to thank everyone who post! All messages are so nice and helpful! 

[Carpe Vinum 2,327]

 For many years part of my job was to go to colleges and universities to do audits and inspections. My advice is to stay away from the profit based schools. The University of Maryland program sounds like an excellent starting place. Good Luck.:-)

Edited August 24, 2018 by boris64

[tamcloud 92]

I received my master's degree from a college that had all of their master's programs online (the undergraduate programs were on campus) and was fully accredited. In addition to ensuring that the programs you are researching are accredited, I think you should also note whether the classes are live or self-paced. My program was live and the exams required proctors that had to meet certain requirements to qualify. In my opinion, this was more beneficial to me, as self-paced courses didn't provide the same level of interaction with professors and other students (I'd previously taken a self-paced course). In addition, the sessions were recorded, so I could re-visit the lectures or make up for any I couldn't avoid missing. Since I was also working full-time, I don't imagine I could have managed any other way at that time. 

 

I wish you the best, though I've no doubt you'll do fabulously whichever path you choose!

Edited August 24, 2018 by tamcloud

[carmel34 3,621]

Business school dean here, with 30 years' experience as a faculty member and administrator at both private and public universities in the US.  There is lots of good advice already on this thread.  Read it and remember it.  I would add:

 

1.  Research, research, research.  Know your career goals and the best degrees for getting there.  In some career areas it matters a lot, in others less so.  Learn about licensing requirements, internships, coop programs, job placement success.  Find out everything you can about costs, transferability of credits in case you move, reputation, rankings, etc.  Don't just sign up for the first school you see in an online ad or even recommended by someone.  These decisions are very individual and depend on so many factors.  In the end, it's your future and your decision, so don't let anyone make it for you.  So many times I see students who are unhappy or do not do well academically, and frequently it is because a parent, spouse, or friend told them to study something or to enroll in a particular school.

 

2.  Accreditation matters.  Not only regional accreditations (for the entire university) but also program/degree accreditations.  Not all program accreditations are the same, for example in my field, business, AACSB is the gold standard, and research shows that students' starting salaries are higher for these programs vs. other business accreditations.  And be wary of schools who are simply members of an accrediting organization vs. those who are fully accredited by them.  Any school can pay a fee and be a member, but to be accredited is an entirely different level of quality, and is usually worth paying for.

 

3.  Online vs. traditional.  The line between these delivery modes is blurring every year.  For-profit degree mills that only want your money (avoid these) used to dominate the online market, but now most traditional universities in the US have one or more online degrees.  Some offer hybrid degrees or classes, with some online and some face-to-face classes.  Schools that are fully accredited by the best accrediting organization in the respective field usually offer online options that are every bit as good as traditional, as we have to assess learning outcomes of our students in order to show this.  Some programs give you the flexibility of moving seamlessly from traditional to online, others are distinct and separate.  Again, do your research to know in advance.

 

4.  In-state vs. out of state tuition and fees.  There is usually a big difference between the two for public, state-supported schools.  So do your research on which state you can qualify for in-state tuition in and look there first, as you can save a lot of money.  Avoid private school or out of state tuition if you can unless money is not an issue.  Also look for military discounts if you qualify.

 

5.  Brand name matters more than online vs traditional.  Many hiring managers and HR screeners still care a great deal about the name recognition of the degree.  I always tell students to enroll in the best school with the highest name recognition that you can afford/get accepted into.  Online is not typically marked on transcripts.  If it is, don't enroll.  Find out before enrolling.  It also matters where you are going to work after graduation.  Maryland, one example mentioned by someone already, would be ideal if you plan on working in that part of the country.  Fort Hays State would be fine if you are planning on a career in Kansas.  If you have no idea where you are going to settle down eventually for your career, or you will be moving a lot, then you should enroll in the school with the best national or even international brand recognition.

 

I sympathize with you when you state that the educational system in the US is confusing.  It is highly complex, very large, and the number of choices seems to be endless.  So take your time, do extensive research, talk to lots of people who are currently working in the professional field you want to go into, and don't rush into any program.  Narrow down the field of options as much as you can based on criteria that are most important to you, such as location, cost, degree choices in your chosen area, etc., and then the final decision can be made from a smaller number of schools that meet your basic criteria.  And remember, you can always change your mind and transfer to another school or degree program if you choose a high-quality school.

 

Good luck!  You are starting on adventure that will change your life.  It will take years, and lots of hard work, but if you made it through the US immigration process successfully, you are well-prepared to take on this challenge!

[Randyandyuni 2,682]

Northcentral University

 

100% online

 

I did University of Maryland University College

University of Phoenix

Northcentral univ

 

Of the 3 northcentral was best, they offer a discount for military but I am not sure about spouses, avoid universally of Phoenix like the Plague, horrible horrible experience

[Airman 35]

@Roel, i am current online student pursuing my B.S IT-Software Development program from Western Governors University. I am a transfer student from regular college and with WGU since 2016. Like you said, some courses are easier and some are harder but as a current student, one thing i can say, to be successful in any online degree program, it requires a lot of discipline and self-motivation. I work for a telecom company as a system engineer and do have most of industry certifications of my field but i needed a degree to move to management positions. I too use GI bill for my college and i do not think employer look at online degrees as any lesser than traditional one but i agree with accreditation. 
FYI, WGU is a private, nonprofit, online university based in Salt Lake City, Utah and is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, one of the major accrediting commissions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Regional accreditation is the highest form of accreditation. I would not recommend you a college like University of Phoenix which is a private for-profit college and basically a degree mill.
 

I wish you all the best for your 'student' journey ahead. 

[ronniebreda 120]

1 hour ago, carmel34 said:

 

5.  Brand name matters more than online vs traditional.  Many hiring managers and HR screeners still care a great deal about the name recognition of the degree.  I always tell students to enroll in the best school with the highest name recognition that you can afford/get accepted into.  Online is not typically marked on transcripts.  If it is, don't enroll.  Find out before enrolling.  It also matters where you are going to work after graduation.  Maryland, one example mentioned by someone already, would be ideal if you plan on working in that part of the country.  Fort Hays State would be fine if you are planning on a career in Kansas.  If you have no idea where you are going to settle down eventually for your career, or you will be moving a lot, then you should enroll in the school with the best national or even international brand recognition.

 

 

I get what you are saying, but you would be surprised how many people study with Fort Hays State Online all over the United States (with many military wives). You have given a lot of good advice as many others, but the college/university landscape is really changing in the United States. More and more are going the nontraditional way with online education, especially older people that already have career experience. In my opinion, I think more more of these online state universities are going to become more well known as more people are graduating through them. 

[Daisy.Chain 317]

I have done about every possible form ofollege choices possible, and for a four year degree I recommend taking community college classes (online or not; doesn't matter - same info on your transcript.) for all possible courses before finishing at a four year university. If you choose the online option at a college with brick and mortar classes, many times there is no difference in the transcript. You can call ahead to find out. I aImost always learn more in online classes than I do in person - no need to wait for someone else who may or may not have done their homework! I found practical classes (the CPR certification or self-defense karate I took for my gym credit) to be the most valuable in person. 

 

Depending on how academically oriented you are and what your spare time looks like, you may consider enrolling in multiple universities at the same time if you're in a rush. I just spent an exhausting summer doing 36 hours at three separate colleges that all transfer. I avoid that "max hours" snafu that way, but it only works for teacher credit hours or for general credits.

 

Feel free to PM me if you'd like the low down on any specifics! I am a self-described expert at legally manipulating the system to take whatever I want in the fastest and least expensive way possible 

 

Have you considered working for USCIS? I think it would help if we had more people like you looking at cases!

 

 

[Daisy.Chain 317]

3 hours ago, Roel said:

I'll graduate in criminal justice and become an immigration officer and I'll be mean to all new immigrants irl.  😈

 

But seriously, I thought about criminal justice because the program just sounds fascinating! 

 

As for health services, I also always wanted to work in a hospital environment. But not as a doctor, since blood freaks me out. 😛

 

and I want to thank everyone who post! All messages are so nice and helpful! 

If blood freaks you out... probably stay away from anything hospital-related, doctor or not!

 

I have a bff who does criminal justice and teaches online cj classes at a 4 yr university. She says there's no difference on the transcript.