Pecking order of school programs

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by PhD2B, Nov 30, 2006.

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  1. PhD2B

    PhD2B Dazed and Confused

    I was digging through some old threads and I came across this post on the pecking order of school programs.

    I would like to know what people think about this order.

    Do you agree or should the order be different? What should the order look like?

     
  2. jtaee1920

    jtaee1920 New Member

    I would probably flip-flop numbers 5 & 6. Other than that change, the "pecking order" looks like it would meet my preferences when hiring someone (not that education always plays a big part in hiring decisions).

    Of course, this is a distance learning forum so it would be unrealistic to expect anything other than a bunch of posts claiming DL is just as good, if not better, than traditional classroom education.

    In the end, if you had an 18 year old child, where would you want them to go to school?
     
  3. PhD2B

    PhD2B Dazed and Confused

    I think the order has more to do with employer perception than reality. I think DL programs are just as good as their in class counterparts.

    I would say that the order is correct as is. I don't think accelerating a program makes it any better; in fact I think accelerating a program takes away from the learning process.
     
  4. jtaee1920

    jtaee1920 New Member

    I agree that employer perception is key. W.I. Thomas once observed, "if men define situations as real, they are real in their consequences”. Even perceptions have real consequences.

    I agree that accelerated programs leave much to be desired. That is why I would rank a traditional program at a purely DL school above an accelerated program from a B&M school. However, with both pretty far down the list, I'm sure I'm just splitting hairs :)
     
  5. PhD2B

    PhD2B Dazed and Confused

    One thing [of many] that I learned from my active duty military days is "perception is reality." The reason for this is people will generally keep their thoughts to themselves, but what they perceive is what they believe. So if someone thinks you are guilty of something, then, in their mind, you're guilty.

    So you would switch 4 and 5.

    What if the accelerated program was from a top tier B&M school?
     
  6. jimnagrom

    jimnagrom New Member

    Still pretty much on target...a change in perception is going to take a while.

    And frankly, I think that there is much to be said for...and much lost...for a traditional 4-year undergraduate degree in a B&M environment. OTOH...that simply may not be an option for a person - such a serviceman/woman deployed to the Middle East.
     
  7. AuditGuy

    AuditGuy Member

    As a hiring manager, I would group 1,2, and 3 together. If it is a B&M school, the name recognition is the most salient point. I don't think I've ever asked a candidate whether they got their degree full time, part time, or online.

    I am most skeptical of the accelerated programs if a candidate were able to get a bachelors degree in 2 yeaers for example.
     
  8. AuditGuy

    AuditGuy Member

    And I say that having taken and taught accelerated programs, so I can't even identify why I feel this way?!?!
     

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