Do you realy learn

[jake.fl.1987]

I am a forum virgin. This post pops my cherry here. LOL. Anyway I have two questions.

Do you really learn from testing out of lot (or in some cases majority to all) of your classes. Does it just commit to your short term memory to be disregarded. Even if you do remember all that information do you know how to apply it?

My next question is do you feel your degree is useful. I realize all three Ex, Co, and TE are all regionally accredited. However do those schools have respect. What are the odds they will transfer to other regional accreditation boards. Mainly the south. Now I know that is a question for an admissions rep of a college. I just want to know your experience. Is your degree taken seriously by employers? Is it taken seriously by other colleges?

[GettinMyBA]

Hi,
Welcome to the group! So your cherry just got popped... congrats! You probably laid back, stared at the ceiling, smoked a cigarette, then went to sleep.

Please don't misunderstand my answer as being harsh or rude in any way - not my intention:

What you are really asking is: Do you feel that the degree you'll soon be obtaining is worthless? Do you think that you're just wasting your time, effort, and money by pursuing this?

I am not offended by the questions because I believe that you are asking them from the heart, but of course you must realize that if any of us thought as you indicated, we would have stopped the pursuit as soon as we came to the realization. Earlier this evening, in a private email to a member of this group (who has become so supportive of my efforts that I call her a 'dear friend' although we have never actually met and likely never will), I confessed that I cannot remember the last time that my wife and I went to sleep at the same time. This is because I spend my nights... almost ALL of my nights... until 3am-4am... studying. I've spent FAR less time with my two year old daughter than I would have liked to - again, studying. I've spent countless hours doing research and writing papers, studying for tests, and creating forum posts in the hopes of giving someone else (who's chasing the same goal as mine) hope and support. Do you think I would give up all this for something that an employer might scoff at? Do you think I give a crap what other colleges think? (For the record, colleges that do not offer 'degree at a distance' programs will certainly try to belittle the value, until their program kicks off, which will eventually happen because shortly, ALL colleges will be offering what the BIG 3 are currently offering). They're called the BIG 3 for a good reason.... the BIG 3 INNOVATORS.

Based on the (large) number of "degree mills" out there, a market definitely exists for cracker-jack box college degrees. That's the reason that the accreditations are so strict - to protect the reputations of the deserving schools. News flash.... The Big 3 are held to the same rigid standards of accreditation as all brick & mortar schools, have their processes, standards, and educators reviewed and re-evaluatted just as frequently, and by way of their having been granted their certifications... received the same designators as such schools as Harvard, Yale, Boston Univ, UCLA, etc.

Dr. Mark Kassop, a brick & mortar AND online professor, and esteemed Sociologist wrote a very interesting article called "Ten Ways Online Education Matches, or Surpasses, Face-to-Face Learning". Great article which has been referenced and reprinted more than 10,000 times by his count (I know him because I've taken 2 of his courses). Click here to see the article - very well done piece.

The response that I've just given could be construed as an 'attack' just as much as the post that I'm replying to can. I trust that the original was not meant to be an attack, as I hope that my response is not taken as an attack.

[Runner4064]

As I've said before: You can learn as little or as much as you want- regardless of where you do (or don't) do it. Here's a (redundant) story: Over half of my units were at a traditional college. Being young and immature I was HAMMERED in class over 50% of the time. I shoveled it well and still got good grades. I'm not proud of this but it just goes to show... Conversely, since joining EC (and growing up) I can say with full conviction that I've busted my @$$ and can readily go toe to toe with my "traditional" counterpart. Granted I don't race through tests. I also take time to augment my studies with multiple sources and or experience- Deliberately.
The bottom line is this, it's up to you how much you want to learn. Just remember this is training for higher things. If you BS your way through now- sooner or later you are going to have to pay the piper.

Secondly- Some uninformed people still perceive distance education as little more than a diploma mill. NOTHING could be farther from the truth. In my opinion, It's easier in that- You don't have to wrap your schedule around someone else's. You don't have to mess with parking, self-serving teachers, idiot students, etc. If you want to "go to class at 2am then you can with DL."
On the flip side: With distance education... You not only must learn the material but must first teach it to yourself & you must be AND STAY disciplined! You do not have the luxury of a teacher spoon feeding you the info. You must find the requisite information and then decipher it.

For those employers who ask for "self motivated starters" I can think of no better prospect than a distance grad. In order to graduate as such, these qualities must be second, nay- first nature. For without them such a monumental feat would be unattainable.

This isn't to say that that all employers and the administrative blue bloods of ivy encrusted schools will readily open the doors to accept us. Big deal, just to make it this far under these conditions proves we are accustom to adversity. Employers will soon learn the intrinsic value we possess from the path we have taken to get there. Most of us wear many "hats" and are more than students. We have numerous responsibilities that makes graduating that much more savory.

[Runner4064]

Hey "GettinmyBA", VERY well said! To further illustrate what you said, as you can see it's Friday night (on traditional spring break) -My time is 11:00 pm and since you are in Jersey, you are looking at Sat morning at 2:00 am. Look where we are at.

I also have to point out that I've had more help from this forum in one month than I did my entire time in traditional college. I'm very thankful and almost a little taken back at the help & generosity that is so readily given by students & grads who are scattered about the winds. I offer reciprocity through my own posts on whatever I can give that someone might find of value.

GREAT article by the way!
I guess there it is there.

[barcotta]

Here's a thread that should prove enlightening. http://www.instantcertonline.com/for...ess-story.html

[jake.fl.1987]

I hope you all did not percieve my question as an attack. It was more inquisitive on your perception.

I can admit when I first heard of online classes I thought they where nothing more than a degree mill. Then I took a few in HS. I loved them. I felt I learned more in those than I did in actual class.

As far as my current AS at Rasmussen, I can say I learn more from internet classes then my on grounds. I take 3 internet and 2 on grounds. My two on grounds I only show up turn in assignment and leave. I do the bare minimium in there to maintain my 3.8GPA. I do enjoy my online classes because of the freedom to work on my schedule.

I work two jobs. I work 3p-7a saturday then 3p-7a sun. Then have class from 8a -12 monday (A+P II, mondays are labs so I cant miss, although I have only attended on wednesday class). Then I work Tu -Th as a work study. So they are flexible with my time.

My online instructors are more strict on assignments.

My major fear of these colleges was more or less are they percieved as a diplioma mill by society. At first when I started looking in to the Big 3 that is what I thought. Well until I started picking up some textbooks and BAM that rate and describe colleges. None of them said anything bad about any of them. Then when one of the books was titled something like best and worst, and after reading about the worst and the fact they where not in there.

After that poing I decided they just might be reputable and decided to post my questions on here. Also Ihave been reading a lot of post on these forums and have formed my own opinion. It is not easier and just might be harder. However better, faster, and more convienent for a determined driven person.

Again I hope no one percieved my questions as attacking. They where not meant that way. Then today I signed up for here, the monthly membership. I have been glancing through some of the test and relize this might be a challenge.

After reading these test I am exited. My problem with my brink and mortar class is me and them work at different paces. Then the fact that I am not a daytime person does not help. I dont like to get up before 3pm if I can help it. However I have worked night shift wince I was 16.

Sincerly,
Jake Johnson

[Runner4064]

Jake, Thanks. It's cool I think you hit the nail on the head with some of your comments. Nobody will view these schools as mills. In fact this concept is gaining acceptance. In a frenzy to play catch-up, a lot of traditional schools are offering online programs & classes. When you think about it, it makes sense. Everything (including business) is conducted over the internet so why not school?
Although distance learning can be difficult, you have several advantages, one being the ability to have school wrap around your schedule. There are some "breaks to be had" as well. For example with 4-6 hours of study, you can likely pass CLEP Sociology w/ instantcert. 2-3 hours can get you DSST- here's to your health. You can rack up like 17 *free FEMA credits in a few days. I guess it's the ebb and flow. Trust me you will have tests that leave you wobbling out of the test center that leave you feeling like you got slammed by a mac truck. As in life some is easy, some hard, and a good portion somewhere in the middle.

[bawhitsett]

I personally have used the exams to test out of some subjects that I otherwise would've just crammed for the tests and discarded the information afterwards in a normal classroom setting anyway. It has allowed me to obtain the credits while at the same time dedicating my efforts torwards those subjects that are more important to me. And in reality, isn't this what every student does? I have over 100 credit hours on my transcript from 2 and 4 year institutions, and what TESC has allowed me to do is be flexible in selecting the mode by which I learn, which I think has made me a better student. I won't be able to test the credential in getting into grad school for a while, but I'm thinking a decent GPA, competitive score on the GMAT and a work history in my field of study will make me a solid candidate. Like someone else said, you may not get into an Ivy League grad program, but I personally am okay with that. That was never my goal.

[Runner4064]

In some cases it's not about academic success and finding the best candidate. Often times it has more to do with "who you know" and "what they have in exchange" versus who is the BEST!

Case and point: Look at our president. He went to Yale. The same uppity advisors that let him through the "ivy emblazoned hallowed halls" would probably reject any of us outright, without so much as looking through our file. Is this to say it is because Mr. Bush is far superior in intellect than every big three grad (or applicant)? Absolutely NOT. He came from money and lineage. I'd be willing to bet dollars to doughnuts that his "C" average was in part, a gift.... like the millions in reciprocated donations. I'm sure in his own ways he is smart but I am a little taken back when he steps in front of the world's stage and uses words like "Iraquians".

These schools perpetuate people of power, to admit people of power, to perpetuate the cycle. Granted they occasionally let a handful of really insanely smart kids in who they know will do great things in order to "validate" themselves. Have you seen the price tag? Who can afford that? Exactly. This means that by sheer proclamation who goes there? Bingo. They were shot out of the cannon with the connections, support, and means to sustain it.

Ponder this: Take a cross sample of students from all schools. Without the "title" - and with equal resources and connections turn them loose. How would the scenario play out? I'm guessing that it would look like a broad shotgun pattern, all the way around.

And in one parting salvo... My cousin went to Berkeley for an undergrad. She then got a masters at Chapman. One day she was wearing a "Cal" sweatshirt and her boss asked her why she was wearing it. She told me she was so deflated to learn that her prestigious school wasn't even noted by the man who hired her.

Bottom line: Don't worry about it. Just do it- well.

(p.s.- this wasn't meant as a political or partisan put down. I could care less who the affiliation is.)

[Chebasaz]

Extremely well thought out responses by everyone.

I have a feeling that none of you will have a problem defending your theses.

I learned a new word for the day.. The plural of "thesis" is "theses". I was leaning towards "thesi"