Grad party gift

**isucyfan** · 07-09-2010, 11:29 AM

In my experience, most employers want to know that you have the slip of paper (diploma), and don't care so much where you got it.

**Stumpy** · 07-09-2010, 11:46 AM

Online universities have gained some amount of credibility over the last decade, particularly for people who are non-traditional aged and already employed full-time. It certainly doesn't replace the socialization of the collegiate experience for students straight out of high school, and it isn't for everyone; however, if it fits into your current life situation and provides relevant knowledge and experience, employers are going to respect that.

IcSyU, do you have any experience or evidence to support your opinion of it?

**isucyfan** · 07-09-2010, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by Stumpy

Online universities have gained some amount of credibility over the last decade, particularly for people who are non-traditional aged and already employed full-time. It certainly doesn't replace the socialization of the collegiate experience for students straight out of high school, and it isn't for everyone; however, if it fits into your current life situation and provides relevant knowledge and experience, employers are going to respect that.

IcSyU, do you have any experience or evidence to support your opinion of it?

There are definitely pluses and minuses to online degrees. I know for a fact that when I was younger, if they would have been around, they would not have been for me. There's simply too much independent study that has to be done...I would have procrastinated and not done well. You really have to stay on top of things and disciplined, or you are not going to do well.

I would make the argument that online degrees are harder to get in many respects...there is a LOT of writing and research in my program to compensate for the lack of tests, classes, etc.

**dmclone** · 07-09-2010, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by isucyfan

In my experience, most employers want to know that you have the slip of paper (diploma), and don't care so much where you got it.

True.

**cloneu** · 07-09-2010, 12:02 PM

I would say that an online degree would be looked upon with favor, unless the person with that degree was 22 and just did the online thing instead of going to a real college.

**IcSyU** · 07-09-2010, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by Stumpy

Online universities have gained some amount of credibility over the last decade, particularly for people who are non-traditional aged and already employed full-time. It certainly doesn't replace the socialization of the collegiate experience for students straight out of high school, and it isn't for everyone; however, if it fits into your current life situation and provides relevant knowledge and experience, employers are going to respect that.

IcSyU, do you have any experience or evidence to support your opinion of it?

The first part I will definitely agree with, but that isn't saying much simply because of the "diploma mill" reputation. Read online, talk to HR professionals, go to job/career fairs, and they'll always tell you that a degree from a brick and mortar accredited school will be above an online degree. I don't remember who they were representing at career fair last year, but someone said, in regards to U of P degrees, that they "were just above a community college, but far behind a state university," and that "a bachelor's degree from Iowa State carries more validity than a Masters from nearly any online school."

The University of Phoenix has a LONG ways to go before it is a respected institution because of the belief that plagiarism and lack of instruction are prevalent. It has the view that you're "buying" a degree.

Being accredited is most online universities biggest issues.

**isucyfan** · 07-09-2010, 12:07 PM

I've worked my butt off in my online degree program...that's all I know.

**VeloClone** · 07-09-2010, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by IcSyU

A card asking why they got a degree from the University of Phoenix? I mean, not that employers see that on a resume and throw it away or anything...

Originally Posted by ISUKing

His current employer actually started to require a degree to be in the position he was already in, so the helped him pay for it

Zing! It sounds like it won't be thrown away...

On line degrees aren't viewed quite the way they once were. Even degrees from conventional colleges and universities can often have many courses completed online.

To get my attention the degree should be from Iowa State University, though.