A Damning Article About Online Education from NYT

merlinjones
Tue, 01 Aug 2006 17:46:00 +0000

Well, I hate to sound like a dishonest person. But, can you not just make a current resume and staple a copy of your diploma behind it without anyone figuring out you did your BA online? I mean, I guess that would work if you did not go to a University which was solely an online University like the University of Phoenix? No offense to the University of Phoenix, that is just an example.

I am finishing up my BA at Southern Christian University as well as BYU and I am not telling any employer that I am finishing or shall finish my BA online because my diploma will not reflect that at all. My respective courses of study are Literature and Liberal Studies with an emphasis in American Studies and a minor in theology, so I am semi out of the loop with some things pertaining to employment because I shall be going to grad (state) school soon. Not a state school that I have researched minds that I am finishing things up online because I am working with two schools which also have regular classes and dorms and what have you.

However if one is studying something very technical, then I can see where an online BA would not work in your favor because your employer would desire to see your transcripts in addition to your Diploma and more than likely think up something negative.

Did you guys know that LSU offers scads of classes and certificates and one graduate degree online? They do, if you want to look it up.

I think, even though it is hard to do depending on where you live, that networking is super important when you are obtaining your schooling online. If you do not try really hard to obtain some experience in your field while you are studying hard, then sure, you may not get hired as an accountant or what have you. It is really important to network if you are an online student and I sometimes wish that more online students would band together to network in their communities.

I am a grown lady and I made a myspace page solely to network with my fellow students (in a wholesome way). And, I am searching high and low for volunteer work which pertains to my educational goals solely for the experience. People have the right to put down online schooling if they choose, but all of us students are at fault also because we need to start banding together for the sake of our futures. A lot of online students just work and stay focused on finishing up without thinking of their long term goals sometimes (with regards to employment opps) and I think that if we had more backing and worked together, then things could be better with regards to employment opps.

I am not saying we are lazy, it is just sometimes hard to balance three or four major things like family, work, school, and keeping things open for school related experience.