Ok, i've been doing alot of research on the internet for online colleges. It seems that the average tuition cost for an accredited(sp?) school is anywhere from $20,000-$30,000. This is for a Bachelor's in Marketing/or Business Management. You can aslo get a Certificate of Business Leadership Skills from Cornell for about $7500. Not sure if that s even worth it. My biggest question is; I work for a good company now and have a great chance to move into a management position, and possibly a higher postion from there. This company bases your performance and eligibility on your work quality, not solely whats on the resume. Is spending 30k going to an online school going to benefit me? I know it will not have any adverse or negative effects, but is it entirely necessary? Im at an age now, 21, where I still have some time to do some living and exploring to what I really want out of life IMHO. I'm open to suggestions and mostly looking for some other guy's and gal's input on their take of the situation, or situations they have gone through, Thanks!
After 35 yrs in business, and sometimes helping decide on hiring, I hate to tell you this but online college coarses mean didly squat to most HR people.
Big John is CORRECT. Your money would be better spent at a local community college taking some course that will help you... or maybe even lead to a 4 year degree down the road in what you're interested in. Knuckle down and do the work, get great grades and it can lead to scholarships and even help from your company if they do that sort of thing. But an online degree..... about the same impact as a GED. Spend your money else where.
BC, for the most part these guys are correct. Where an online degree actually comes into play is where you're actually learning a specific trade/skill set. Business is not one of those degrees. You're 21 years old and I'm not sure what type of firm you work for now but the possibility that you stay at job forever is extremely low. In all honesty, the degree says as much about your work ethic and commitment level as it does about the subject you actually studied. First of all, you would be much better off taking online courses from an actual university or college as opposed to an online college. Is it possible that your company (excuse my ignorance) has some sort of tuition assistance program? There are a lot of companies that offer these and don't advertise the benefit. Definitely look at a community college or something to where you could take classes around your work schedule if possible.
Go to school now. Do it while you are younger. Believe me, I waited until I was 37 to start college. Some local colleges will have online courses that supplement the face to face course work. The value of a college degree is more than you probably understand at this point in your life. As mentioned, you will more than likely change jobs. What if the company goes under, moves locations, downsizes, etc... You will have experience, but no degree, and will be competing for jobs with those that have both a degree and experience. Unless you know someone in management there, you will not be able to compete. For proof, look at job listings for the jobs that you might be able to move into at that company. Any management position is going to require a degree these days. Another point to consider, the average college graduate earns between 1mm and 1.5mm more in their life than someone without a degree. The investment of the 30K should seem worth it. At least it did to me and I have worked nearly half of my career.
DO NOT TAKE ONLINE COURSES FROM AN ONLINE COLLEGE. They are a scam. They pay 5x the amount of money on self marketing and advertising than they do on actual education. They are also not respected by anybody. If you want to go to school, go to a real university. There are so many grants and scholarships nowadays, you will not have to pay full tuition. Not only will you get a better education, you meet new people with new ideas and will more than likely be introduced to new things if you are open minded. I encourage every young person that isn't sure about there future to go to college. Preferably away from home as well. It will do you wonders. If I were you, I would either A) stay where you are and see how far that takes you or B) go to a real university.
I can't speak from personal knowledge but I inquired of a couple of my profs. Their opinion of online degrees was very low. They pointed out that you can attend a junior/.community college, which generally has lower tuition, and transfer the first two years to a four year college. Junior/community colleges usually have more flexible schedules as well. You may not need a degree in your present job, but if you ever need to change, you will likely be competing with people who have degrees for your next job. Please don't call it a "sheepskin" though
Thanks for the replies guys. I've done some more reasearch and may have found a college I like. Its a community college in Coeur D' Alene ID.m I can take an Associates of Science in Business Administration, then use that to move onto a larger 4yr for my Bachelors if desired. The cost is also about half of what the online stuff would be. I will have to wait until the next school year due to it being the end of May already. This will give me a year to do some saving. I also think I will have to live in the dorms the first year, just till I can get a steady enough job to do the whole rent thing ( I was dumb with credit cards and car loans, thus lots of payments) Thanks for all of your advice guys! it was greatly appreciated
Instead of living in the dorm, I found a husband who owns a house. He lets me stay in the house, do household chores for him and have babies for him while I go to school. Actually he helps with the babies and the chores, but it's a great deal for both of us. Maybe you could find a deal like that. :D She also does the shootng when they hunt and cleans the fish when they go fishing
Go to school learn as much as possiable. just try not to party to much. And dont get caught up with the females. then you will succeed........
Or if you're smart enough, you can balance school, partying, women, hunting, sports, and anything else you enjoy, and still be successful.
That shall be the plan lol. I got alot of the partying out of my system, kinda weird that my drinking slowed now that im 21 ha. And the women...well thats a must
Well now my big question is what do you guys think of a associates vs. a bachelors? I'm almost thinking that while im at it I should just go for a bachelors
An associate vs. Bachelor is a Supervisor vs. an AVP or higher. I am back right now to get my management degree to go forward.
Yes you should.... and when you're almost done with the bachelors or after you've worked a few years an MBA or some Masters will be on your target list. It's a progression to success and opportunities. There is some sacrifice along the way.... but the rewards down the road will please you greatly. I never got a degree.... but I have about 5 1/2 years of college credits. I just kept changing fields during my life. LOL Started in music, then teaching, then business ... then computers and just some fun courses. I've attended 4 different colleges. LOL If I had a steadfast mind I might have been something. LOL
Thanks again for the replies guys. Now that my mindset has changed from a two year to a four year i'm starting to wander on majors. Which i'm sure will change. At first, business what an easy two year idea for me, still something I was interested in though. Now i'm starting to lean towards something i've been drooling over for years. Forestry. I'm about done with research today, my head is killing me and I still have to work all night tonight
College......oh man, the absolute craziness of it all. And yes I agree with Hooker, there are ways to balance it all. I mean like 78% women, 15% beer, 5% sports, and 2% school.
Before you dive into taking the classes for your associates/bachelors, check with the guidance counselor to be sure that the classes you're going to be taking at the community college will actually transfer to whatever 4 year university you may be attending. It sure would suck if you took all those classes and only a few of them actually transferred.
