by Linda McNeil
(Marion Station, MD)
At age 40, I completed a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology through the University of Phoenix Online (UoP).
It took me 20 years to get my college degree. I had made a promise to my children that I would graduate with my college degree. I had attended colleges in an ad hoc fashion after the children were born.
When the children reached high school, I discovered the world of online asynchronous education. It was perfect for my busy schedule. Within two weeks of speaking to an enrolling counselor, I had my financial aid in place and was starting my first class. There were many online tools, such as electronic books and interactive websites. These were part of the price of the class. Considering I could work and get some tuition reimbursement from my employer, the cost was effective.
The learning experience was well designed for the adult in mind. The courses were condensed to five week blocks. I took one course at a time in a contiguous fashion. The quality of the classes were well developed which gave an excellent transfer of knowledge from the content, faculty and cohort base. This rivaled much of my previous educational experience with the brick and mortar colleges of my past.
Overall, my bachelor's degree at University of Phoenix was a very positive experience. I have just completed my Master's degree at a local brick and mortar college and have found that the education I have received from UoP did indeed prepare me well for my future endeavors.
Just to mention, online education is not for the faint at heart. It requires dedication and perseverance. This means that the student needs to log onto their online class everyday, post thoughts and ask questions. Just like a brick and mortar school, the student will reap what they sow.
You can request free information from University of Phoenix and learn about their online degrees to help you decide.