For those of you that have gotten an online degree, or are considering it I imagine you have probably ask yourself, "Does my online degree really count?"
Believe me I have asked that question too, even before I finished earning my first on line degree. My Bachelor's degree was a mix of both an online program and one that I attended at a "ground campus," but the similarities between the two had a lot to do with the fact that I was in an accelerated program. I completed my Master's degree 100% on line.
Let me start out by saying I am a real advocate for education. My get it where you can attitude may not be shared by all, but I think it is important to look at your circumstances. Don't get me wrong, the quality of one's education is very important, so when I say get it where you can, I really mean "Seize the opportunity....Strike while the iron is hot!" First and foremost make sure the college you choose to attend is accredited. That alone is the difference between trying to pass off a piece of paper as a degree and actually having a valid degree that can lead to a real job.
Oh....and we can never forget the importance of looking at cost. I have taken the attitude that student loans are an investment in my future, but I also understand that I have to pay those loans back. Then there is the issue of my daughter’s education. I felt like I owed her the benefit of one. So there are two educations that need to be paid for.
When I decided I wanted a Bachelor's degree my daughter was still fairly young, and I was a single mother. Attending school full-time, while paying a babysitter, and being away from home long hours either due to working all day, or attending school all night for me just was not an option. So I chose to attend school on line. What did I gain from that? Well I went from a secretary, to an upper level administrative assistant, (administrative coordinator), to a supervisor, project manager, and now school teacher. I would not have made those strides in my secular career without my degrees, so yes it paid off.
The importance of a college education boils down to this, having one prepares us for the real world or the workforce. What is so nice about education today is that students have more choices than 10 years ago. When looking at my daughter's choices we looked at everything cost, convenience, location, and the programs of study available to her. She needed to decide what was best for her. She also looked at whether or not she would attend a brick and mortar school, or an institution online. She decided the best choice was a traditional "brick and mortar.” Of course that is subject to chance as she advances in her education. She has talked about possibly earning a Master’s degree on line one day depending on what programs of study are available to her when it is time to make that decision.
In terms of where technology can take you I am one that enjoys social networking with others on line that share many of the same interests as me. I am not one who runs ads for other organizations, but a really good group to join if you’re looking for professionals on line and ways to advance your career is LinkedIn. In addition, many top employers, and recruiters hire members from this site. You will find a variety of talented people there, in addition to some very successful individuals who attended a variety of colleges both on line and off who like me are very proud of the schools we attended and the alumni associations we are a part of.
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