What are...online school? Few questions

apumic
Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:16:29 +0000

I’d actually say there are a few more disadvantages to online education than have been mentioned.
First of all, you should consider that the value of a degree is not so much in the piece of paper as what you learn through the process of earning that expensive decorative piece. The opportunities available to you on a traditional campus are going to allow you to learn to do things you simply are unlikely to learn online. In an area like advertising, it would certainly be helpful for you to interact with other students in person (not simply on a forum) as you will learn from one another. Additionally, on a traditional campus, you are likely to have opportunities to help with actual advertising for programs. You might be able to obtain internships on and off campus much earlier in your training than someone who is learning online (because a school is more likely to hire one of their own students who they know they’ll have to mentor through the process than are most businesses).
Finally, you should be aware that there will likely always be a bit of a stigma against online degrees. If your university is small, it may be assumed to be a diploma mill but even if it’s larger, interviewers may view you and your coursework as second rate. One example of this I can give at the moment actually occurred to me as I was applying for a professional/graduate program. They asked for a list of courses completed relevant to the program as well as “ALL online courses, especially ones in [my field].” To me, that statement reveals a level of concern about the content and effectiveness of online courses. Surely, to this program at least, a degree that was completed entirely online would be, at best, dubious in quality.