Thanks John Bear!

Dear Dr. Bear,

A number of years ago, I purchased a copy of the “Bear’s Guide” from my local Chapter’s Bookstore. The book changed my life. Prior to having read your book, I had only dreamed of completing a master’s degree, but didn’t think that it would be possible due to a demanding job and hectic family life. The prospect of returning to school in the traditional sense just wasn’t an option. The Bear’s Guide opened my eyes to a number of viable, alternative options available via distance education.

Dreams do come true (albeit it, with a lot of hard work and perseverance). Earlier this year, I completed Oxford Brookes University’s “MBA in Management Practice Programme” (excellent school: great, responsive faculty and administration, lots of support and resources, an all-round terrific experience).

I received my official completion notice and degree award last week in the mail. What an incredible feeling – no more late nights, no more putting off activities with family and friends, no more walking through my day in a tired, stressed-out stupor. I’ve made it through…….I’m on top of the world!!!! (please forgive the outburst, but I can hardly contain myself).

Anyway, I really wanted to thank you. While we’ve never met, you have influenced my life in a very positive way through your work. I’m sure that there are countless others out there who would concur with my comments.

God bless you!

Sincerely,

Rob Costanzo

 

From one of the many who've had similar epiphanies: congratulations!

 

Congrats!

Outstanding. Congratulations on your worthy achievement.

 

Congratulations!

 

Congratulations! Barvo!

 

Another satisfied customer of John Bear's Guides joins the MBA Club! Congrats!

 

Thank you so much, Mr. Costanzo, and congratulations on your splendid achievement. I confess, I never tire of hearing such stories, and I have such admiration for people who put in such hard work to reach their goals.

I believe today was actually the day when those two fine folk who are carrying on the tradition, now that I'm pretending to be retired, Mariah Bear and Tom Nixon, were to turn in the manuscript for Bear's Guide 16. And of course in the great tradition of fifteen previous missed deadlines, they're missing the deadline. But it won't be too much longer. I do look forward to reading it, not writing it.

John Bear

 

Since you didn't write this one, I hope that it doesn't bother you as much when a few days after you submit the manuscript, you hear of a juicy new program that wasn't covered.

 

Congratulations!

The book did the same for me.

Carlos

 

Bear's Guide (and Bears' Guide) has been and invaluable resource to me for over a decade and a half. From it, I received the first (and still best) explanation of accreditation and have used it for research (my dissertation references four publications by Dr. Bear) and as a tool to help family, friends and colleagues to find the degree programs that best met their needs.

In the early 90s, when I served as a contracted vocational/education counselor for the Dept. of Defense (helping military retirees with their transition into civilian life), I made certain that the latest edition of Bear's Guide was always within arm's reach.

Thank you, Dr. Bear.

Tony Piña, Ed.D.
Administrator, Northeastern Illinois University

 

I'd respond to your allegations, but I'm hip-deep inside a database.




Tom Nixon

 

But it will me.

The one big surprise for me has not been the new ones. It's been how the old ones changed. Many more programs, but most at the same schools.



Tom Nixon

 

Congrats on your accomplishment! Yes, Dr. Bear is the Man!

 

I've commented several times lately on the dearth of new DL schools. We've got plenty of new degree mills, of course, but where is the next NCU, JIU, or Capella?

 

Congratulations! Now you can start on your next goal.

 

Quite true. There are many, many, many new totally DL programs, but they fall into these broad areas:

a. low residency programs which have become no residency (a rather interested, but very noticeable migration);

b. universities which were offering just a few programs are now offering many, many more;

c. yet even more MBA programs, but at schools already offering programs;

d. and so on.


Mostly (b). You have to remember that the research for the last book occurred in 2002 and earlier. Big difference from today.

So why you should you buy the next book? For the new programs at the old schools. There are literally hundreds more.

One interesting sidenote: I'm not sure that it is possible to list all of the programs anymore. Those who have gone before us have done a tremendous job, but new programs are happening so quickly these days. We've certainly done our best (thanks to lead writer Mariah Bear).




Tom Nixon

 

sounds like someone needs to find himself a good DL DBA programme, eh?

 

Not the first time such a thing has occured. BG used to list night and weekend programs, but these became so common that they were not longer considered "nontraditional."

Perhaps a migration is in order, from BG to 100 Best, but with the much greater detail (and girth) of BG. Or maybe a focus on stand-alone schools.

Is it really useful to keep up with every B&M school offering a new DL program? Probably not. But a great deal of information about the best 100 of them (stand alone and those from B&M schools) might remain relevant, along with the other, very useful, surrounding information about DL and higher education in general.

 

Hmm. I think we ought to keep Bears' Guide as it is. And the Bears' Guide to Degrees by Mail & Internet would serve as the "100 Best" edition. Drop the "Best" from "Bears' Guide to the Best" series (Computer Degrees, Education Degrees, MBAs), transform the MBAs book into "Business Degrees," possibly have Dr. Walston contribute a new one for "Religious Degrees," add a new guide for "Liberal Arts Degrees" and other fields as necessary.

 

Interesting thoughts. I'll pass them along.

Something related: Of the 3 "Best" books, the education book has sold the best.



Tom Nixon