Crossing the College Finish Line
Posted on March 23, 2009 by Jennifer Brady
Did you know many students entering college today will not complete their degree within four years?* That historical tradition has given way to the modern realities of life and work and the intervening events that can make it very difficult to remain in college non-stop to graduation. As a working adult earning a degree, this can be especially challenging.
Recognizing this, and knowing there are many working adults who often contemplate going back to school to complete their studies, UMassOnline offers 13 specific degree completion courses tailored for people who started to get their degree but have not yet completed the course requirements.
A complete list of these degree completion programs is available on the UMassOnline site. Might these be right for you? One way to decide is to examine the specific offerings. Another influence on your decision might be the personal stories of some people going this route today. One such person is Christine Shea, a married woman and the mother of two children now in their twenties. In 1981 she received her Associates Degree from Mt. Wachusett Community College. Now in her mid forties, working as a director of customer services at LoJack Corporation, she decided it was time to get her Bachelors Degree. Today she’s well on her way to earning that distinction within the next year or two by way of online courses offered through UMass Amherst’s University Without Walls (UWW). But here’s where, in response to several questions I asked her via a UMassOnline questionnaire, I will let Christine tell you in her own words how and why she made this choice and whether or not she is finding the online option suitable for her. If you don’t have time to read her answer to every question, please don’t miss the very last answer she gives because it may be the most important piece of information of all.
Q: Why did you decide to earn your degree online?
A: Due to the demands of full time job/career which includes travel.
Q: What criterion was important to you in selecting a school?
A: Reputation of school and accessibility as well as cost. Both of my children graduated from UMass and I had confidence in the programs as a result.
Q: How do you manage balancing work/school/personal life?
A: Sometimes it is a challenge and I need to limit the number of classes I can manage at one time. Doing some each day is the only way to keep up.
Q: In your opinion, what is the best thing about distance learning?
A: The flexibility of the learning environment while accessing high quality teaching professionals.
Q: In your opinion, what is the most surprising thing about distance learning?
A: How involved you can be with your fellow classmates through the discussions.
Q: What’s the biggest myth about online learning or an online degree?
A: That it is easy and you don’t learn as much information.
Q: Would you do another degree online in the future?
A: Yes.
Q: What advice would you give to prospective students who are considering distance learning?
A: Don’t underestimate the demands of the learning or the value of it.
Q: What have you learned about yourself throughout this process?
A: That after all these years away from college learning, I can still keep up.
Meanwhile, if you’re currently enrolled in one of these degree completion programs via UMassOnline, I’d love to share your story with our readers here. I am curious to know what motivated you to return to college now and how your current learning experience fits in with your other duties and responsibilities.
[*Reference Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/education/25hartwick.html?ref=education]
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