For those who doubt DL degrees, the big three and the like...

I have a B.A. from Thomas Edison State College (distance), a B.S. from Nova Southeastern (distance) and am working on an MBA from Grand Canyon (distance). All RA of course but also all distance. I have never had trouble getting a job (I also have 12 years experience) but I quit my job as Director of Quality Assurance with Fidelity and landed a new job as Manager of Retail Quality Services with Louis Vuitton. Interestingly enough, LV pointed out that a) they were impressed with my undergrad degrees and b) they were impressed I was working on my MBA.

I then volunteered to them the info that each degree was or is being completed via distance. LV was dually impressed with the discipline required to do that and loved the idea of distance education. As we speak, I am packing to move...

The point is never ever let anyone discount your DL degrees so long as they are accredited. Two of the largest companies in the world (Fidelity and Louis) hired me (and I'm a bonehead )

 

Well... your being a bonehead certainly strengthens the point, doesn't it. [just kiddin' around]

But seriously... this is a point I've made many times around here. As long as it's accredited, the fact that it's DL not only shouldn't matter, but is, in my opinion, none of the potential employer's damned business!

DL courses and their brick & mortar (B&M) counterparts should be more or less identical. In fact, the DL version is often more difficult -- or at least more time-consuming and self-discipline-requiring -- than the B&M version. Any potential employer who dismisses DL degrees that are, nevertheless, accredited, is an idiot... plain and simple.

Anyway... congratulations on your new job! And... oh, yeah... say "hi" to O.J. Simpson whenever he next stops in to buy a bag. [grin]

 

Beachhoppr,

I see so many threads defending DL degrees, and people avidly arguing the equal utility of said degrees compared to B & M earned versions.

I agree with your observations that take this view one step further, my humble opinion is that a DL degree is in many ways a better reference than a B & M equivalent. Juggling job, home and studying commitments requires discipline, hard work and perseverance. I would always be impressed to see a DL degree on a resume/CV. It says so many positive things about the person.

Best of luck with the new job!
Do you get discounts on a handbag for my wife??!!

 

Congratulations!

Another of the countless success stories of achievers, not dreamers!

Anyone that is a Beachhopper cannot be a complete bonehead!

 

You know...I get asked about the handbag discount more times than I can count! But let's use our collective DL educations to do some math.

1. A decent LV purse is about $4000
2. An generous employee discount might be, what, 20%?
3. Therefore, the women we know are still not getting a purse

Actually, LV also owns Fendi, Marc Jacobs, DKNY and Tag Heuer. I am hoping for a watch discount myself!

 

Wow. At $4K I would need a 90% discount to think about it!

Changing tack, how much time do you find you are spending on your MBA per week?
(I am hoping to start one this year).

 

Assignments are due every Wed. with a total of 8 weeks per course, 2 courses per 16 week semester. Its not bad as I spend 1-2 hours a day per course. So far every course has consisted of writing papers each week, solving problems (stats) or collaborative group projects. I had one course that had an online midterm and final but you had the full week to do them. If I were taking 2 courses at the same time, it would be too much for me, personally.

Also, I kinda wish the courses were compressed into 6 weeks. I find 8 to be a big dragging down the homestretch.

 

In 2000, Vault.com did a survey of HR managers regarding DL degrees. The results indicated a significant, but not overwhelming, bias against them. But I suspected then--and really believe now--that HR practices are different. I suspect--based largely on my own research--that HR managers really don't know what they're looking at when they see someone's educational records. If you ask them, some will feel negatively towards DL. But most don't know and don't check. (Which is why degree mills like those touted in Jamesville thrive.)

My bachelor's degrees were earned mostly by examination, and my Ph.D. was done at a short-residency school. (My MBA was done in the classroom.) I don't know if I've ever lost an employment opportunity because of my degrees, but no one has ever questioned them to me. Ever. And when the subject of my Ph.D. comes up (rarely), people tend to be intrigued by the learner-centered nature of it. No one has ever, ever even asked a single skeptical question. Not once.

 

My second ex-wife considered Coach bags to be better than LV.

Frankly, I always thought it was mostly snob appeal talking.

 

My wife (still my first!) buys far too many bags and shoes.

But I watch far too much soccer and download far too much music from iTunes.

It all makes perfect sense in the end.

 

Re: Grad school!

For any doubters I've been accepted to Indiana University's fall MBA program. I'm doing it via DL due to time constraints but my numbers were sufficient for admission to IU Bloomington as well.

Not only were there no questions about my Excelsior degree I actually highlighted the DL and testing via examination aspect in my personal statement. Had there been any questions I'm sure they would have come up then.

It goes to reinforce that your grades, work experience and GMAT score counts a lot more than where you matriculated.

Cheers,
Mark

 

Re: Re: Grad school!

Do you happen to know what sort of numbers you need to get into Indiana's DL MBA program? I'm not asking what you got, just if you know what one should figure on needing to get in.

I realize that this is probably pretty subjective depending on work experience etc.

Thanks in advance, I'm always curious about what the higher recognition online MBA programs are looking for.