Online Bachelor > Traditional Grad school?

Discussion in 'IT and Computer-Related Degrees' started by Tokyoboi, Mar 21, 2004.

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  1. Tokyoboi

    Tokyoboi New Member

    I am currently a student for Bachelor's of Information Technology at AIU. This is the third class so far. So far so good. I've seen pros and so many cons about AIU here on this discussion board. Some may think it's a degree mill. Yes, I have to agree earning 90 credits in 13 months online would be a little unusual. I've never heard of "Bachelor's of Information Technology" as it is not a B.A. nor a B.S. But I graduated from a traditional two year college in the States and I can't afford time to go to school, and I am Japanese living in Japan. So I thought AIU would be the best option.

    I mean I want to work in another country and having a four year degree would make my life easier to get a work permit. So I decided to study at AIU without quitting my job. I thought this would be an brilliant idea at first but I started to wonder... After graduating from AIU, I am planning to go to a grad school in the States or other countries. Are there any graduates who went to a traditional graduate school? I am wondering how acceptable it is to have an online degree for a traditional grad school entrance. I've read that excelsior graduates got accepted to enter many traditional graduate schools on thier web site but what about AIU? Or should I consider my chance is very small to get accepted to enter a grad school? I would be really devastated if a degree I will get from AIU is underestimated after going through all the intensive classes in such a short time... If you have any info, or experiences to share, please share it with me. That would be very much appreciated. Thanks.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 21, 2004
  2. decimon

    decimon Well-Known Member

    I'd think that your acceptability to grad school would depend upon your grades.

    You didn't mention employment but your being fluent in Japanese and English and your being accustomed to both Japan and the U.S. should be a great asset to you in finding employment. Many Japanese companies are interbred with U.S. companies and many others have U.S. subsidiaries. What they don't have is many people comfortable in both cultures.
     
  3. vonnell1

    vonnell1 Member

    There are Choices

    TokyoBoi

    I'm also in Japan and find your choice in AIU understandable .As for being accepted into other master's programs it's based on your grades and GMAT or GRE score. Also, even though AIU is 13 months it’s still an RA university with brick and mortar facilities also. I found that if I wanted to pursue an MBA I would need to take some prerequisite business courses, which I expected to do.
    I'm currently in Colorado Technical University Online (CTU), no problem being accepted. Actually they were too persistent in the beginning. I'll list a few schools that had no problem with my degree also, there are more but I’ve forgotten most of them honestly. You will definitely need to research a grad school carefully to ensure it fulfills your needs. Good Luck!!!

    http://www.tourou.edu/ Touro
    http://tel.occe.ou.edu/ap/pacific/yokosuka.htm Oklahoma
    http://degrees.uofphx.info/programs_grad.jsp Phoenix online
    http://www.tesc.edu/prospective/graduate/ Thomas Edison
     
  4. Tokyoboi

    Tokyoboi New Member

    Thanks for your reply, guys. The only thing I was nervous about was if these online programs were less valued or something.... I am gonna have to seriously start looking for grad schools to apply this summer. Were you guys able to get a letter of reference from some of faculty member at AIU? It seems hopeless so I am thinking of asking an academic advisor at my junior college instead. I don't even know who is my current academic advisor at AIU...

    Anyway, I still think this programme is good as I don't have to quit my current job and can earn a degree. But then, time flies by so fast. It doesn't give me a lot of time to concentrate on one thing which I would like to learn and absorb. That's the only drawback, I have found. I've been doing pretty good so far but VB.NET is coming up soon. I am officialy scared .....
     
  5. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Thanks for your reply, guys. The only thing I was nervous about was if these online programs were less valued or something.... I am gonna have to seriously start looking for grad schools to apply this summer. Were you guys able to get a letter of reference from some of faculty member at AIU? It seems hopeless so I am thinking of asking an academic advisor at my junior college instead. I don't even know who is my current academic advisor at AIU...

    What kind of graduate school do you want to attend in the US? Unless you have your heart set on MIT or CalTech, I don't think you have to worry. There are many good schools where admission will not be a problem as long as you have a Bachelor's degree, a pulse, and a full wallet.

    -=Steve=-
     
  6. speedkills20

    speedkills20 New Member

    FWIW I just got accepted to Georgia Tech's MBA program and the average GMAT score is a 658 (I have a 640) and have yet to finish my undergrad (should be finished right before classes start). I applied with the intent to graduate from UMass with a BS in IT (online) and Georgia Tech didn't seam to care much. Really cared about the GMAT (which wasn't that great) and more importantly they want to know about my job experience which is really my strong point.

    I think I may end up switching to TESC because UMass is just too damn expensive ($810/course now). That's more than I'm going to pay in Grad School (approx $600/course).
     
  7. miki_tokyojin

    miki_tokyojin New Member

    Hi, everyone especially tokyoboi!

    This is my first post and I have been reading tons of posts here for a week.
    Tokyoboi, I've found that I have a target similar to you. In a different point, I only graduated from the vocational 2 year college in Tokyo.
    Yes, I lack of education to get work permit in USA.

    I live in tokyo and work as a bunisess process analyst at HP.
    I learned that there are a few people in Japan who got degree via DL.
    I am very interested in Bachelor's Information Technology at AIU.
    Since tuition is not cheap, I consider whether I should give it a challenge for long time. I think I need to make up my mind in this weekend.
    I cannot waste my time. So I am here now. Is it possible to hear more about AIU?

    Oherra ,Senior Member posted that the transcript wouldn't state that the degree was obtained online. thedman stated the transcripts now state AIU-Hoffman Estates, IL.
    Does anyone know Immigration office and American embassy accept AIU online degree?

    If you have any information to share, please help me out. That would be very much appreciated. Finally sorry about my english. I am not familiar with a preposition... Thank you for your patience.

    Miki
     
  8. edowave

    edowave Active Member

    Re: Hi, everyone especially tokyoboi!

    I've known a few people from Japan to get work permits with degrees from online schools, so it doesn't matter, especially if the school is RA. The hardest part is usually finding a company in the US that will sponser them.

    Tokyoboi - I've also started my MBA via DL from Japan, and had no problems being accepted into graduate school for a PhD. You shouldn't have any trouble getting accepted to a tradiational graduate school either. As others have said, it's mainly going to be a factor of grades (most graduate programs require a minimum 3.0 GPA in your upper division courses), GRE (depends on school), and in your case, TOEFL as well.

    As far as getting a letter of recommendation, I would ask the professor of a class you got an A in. Most graduate schools have "recommendation forms" now and the person reviewing just has to check a box asking how this person did. (For an example see http://gradschool.rgp.ufl.edu/pdf-files/recommendation-letter-form.pdf)
    If you did well in their class then they probably won't have any problems checking the upper boxes.

    Letters can also be from employers or even high school teachers. Personally I think letters of recommendation nowadays are more a formality. What determines if you'll be accepted is going to be the things above (GPA, GRE, TOEFL)

    Hope this helps. Ganbatte!
     
  9. miki_tokyojin

    miki_tokyojin New Member

    I am not sure which school I should enroll...

    Hi, edowave. Thank you! I'm glad to hear that.
    And yes, I agree with you. I know the hardest part is finding a company in the US.

    Today, I've learned Fort Heys State Uni and Excelsior College got positive posts. So I checked their web site. Because The American InterContinental University has both of negative and positive posts moreover AIU costs more. I can view the class demo at AIU, it looks good for me, Japanese. However I can't see any tools at FHSU and Excelsior. I wish I could know much more about how class goes before enroll. I checked out the Online Syllabus and FAQ at FHSU. These look good, too.

    Then, now, I am not sure which school I should enroll...
    Is there anyone who lives outside of the US and has a problem with those school?
    Is the time defference a big problem?
    Anyway, I've sent email to AIU, Excelsior and FHSU today.
    Let's see how fast and nice their replies.

    Again, Thanks edowave!

    Miki
     
  10. Jeff Walker

    Jeff Walker New Member

    And even if you want MIT or CalTech, entrance may not be a problem. I leveraged an online BSCIS from Excelsior largely earned by tests into admission to the computer science masters program at University of Illinois which is generally considered a top 5 program in computer science.

    An earlier poster was correct - if you manage good GRE scores, the "elite" won't really care where or how you earned your undergraduate degree.
     
  11. bo79

    bo79 New Member

    Re: Re: Hi, everyone especially tokyoboi!









    In this case most US grad schools would waive the TOEFL, because his bachelor degree is from an English speaking school.
     
  12. miki_tokyojin

    miki_tokyojin New Member

    Telephone number

    Up to today, I have not recieved any emails from those 3 school.
    I guess i should wait for a while since Monday is a Columbus day.

    BTW, I would like to talk with admin staff at FHSU.
    Their web site only says;

    Toll Free: 1 (800) 628-FHSU
    Fax: (785) 628-4037

    I don't know how to push the number FHSU.
    What does 628-FHSU stand for?
    Please tell me the last 4 numbers. I need to talk with staff ASAP.

    Miki
     
  13. manjuap

    manjuap New Member

    Re: Telephone number



    (800) 628-FHSU = (800) 628-3478

    I am not sure if you can dial a 1-800 number from Japan..
     
  14. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Re: Re: Telephone number

    You probably can't. Try calling +1 785 628-3478

    Good luck,

    -=Steve=-
     
  15. edowave

    edowave Active Member

    I've called 800 numbers from Japan before. It works, but it is not toll free.
     
  16. miki_tokyojin

    miki_tokyojin New Member

    It worked! Thanks everyone!

    I talked with a lady at FHSU on the phone.
    After that, I tried 3 times to send online application form but I could not submit my form.

    Then I emailed thier support.

    The Answer is following;
    Make sure that you are completing all the required fields. If you leave a required field blank, it will not let you move on to the next page.
    Thank you,

    FHSU Virtual College Support
    1-800-628-FHSU
    [email protected]
    www.fhsu.edu/virtualcollege

    I retried to fill in all the required fields. Again fail. https://www.fhsu.edu/cgi-bin/intladmission
    This page can not be displayed.
    I've already emailed to Support. I didn't receive the reply.
    I will try to call FHSU tonight. But is it Not Toll Free????


    Miki
     

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