So what was your criteria when looking for a college/ university?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by NorCal, Aug 15, 2010.

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  1. NorCal

    NorCal Active Member

    So I've always been curious why some of the members on this forum choose their prospective college or university?

    I'll start on the search criteria which led to my decision:

    1.) Accreditation
    2.) Retention Rate
    3.) Graduation Rate
    4.) Program/ major

    (In no specific order)
     
  2. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    Number 1 and number 4.

    Abner :)
     
  3. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    No particular order:

    For all programs up to this point - Accreditation, Cost, flexibility of program (asynchronous), major, residency requirement (I travel a lot for work and would never purposely decide to take time from my wife to travel out of town for a residency requirement for school).
     
  4. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    small liberal arts college
     
  5. BlueMason

    BlueMason Audaces fortuna juvat

    I'm with Abner: #1, #4, #5 (cost) and #6 (entirely online). When I was searching for my degree, I was concerned with getting a discipline that I wanted, ensuring that it was regionally accredited (as I am in .ca, RA is important for recognition by Universities in .ca) that it was affordable and that I could complete it without ever stepping foot on campus. FHSU met all my requirements and I'll be finally done this December.
     
  6. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member

    Being able to purse courses in subjects that were of interest me (of my three degrees probably no more than 4 courses were of no interest me).
     
  7. TMW2009

    TMW2009 New Member

    Accreditation (Both School and as necessary, Program)
    Cost
    Major/Program
    Selection of Courses in the Major/Program
    Usability of the Degree/Program in question for my needs
     
  8. jfosj

    jfosj Member

    Accreditation
    Major/Program
    Reputation
     
  9. Woho

    Woho New Member

    1. Reputation
    2. Cost/Benefit
    3. Faculty Profiles
     
  10. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    I bailed on one school and I'm now at Liberty because of the B&M status and good reputation. Also, this new degree will be less expensive.

    So for me its:
    B&M with DL
    Reputation
    Price
     
  11. NorCal

    NorCal Active Member

    So explain to me what "B&M" means again?
     
  12. Abner

    Abner Well-Known Member

    Brick and Mortar (buttocks in classroom),
     
  13. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator


    B&M is short for a traditional, in-person university. Like stated above it's Brick and Mortar, meaning a school with a physical classroom that you must attend. The opposite is DL, distance learning where you are not present. In my case, a B&M with DL is a traditional school that is now offering some distance learning online.
     
  14. BobbyJim

    BobbyJim New Member

    For my associate, I did the old Regents College (now Excelsior College) because it accepted all of my credits.

    For my bachelors, after 20+ years of part-time college studies, I selected a local regionally accredited private university that would accept a combination of military technical courses, engineering & technology courses (DL & B&M), challenge exams and CLEP/DSST. My brick & mortar compromise solution was a technology management degree at a school with liberal transfer policies, weekend classes, and minimum resident course requirements. If I were doing it today, I would consider online with a state university.

    For a graduate degree, I’m doing the (currently unaccredited) online NationsUniversity MRS for personal growth.
     
  15. CargoJon

    CargoJon New Member

    For my bachelor's degree, I did UoP because, way back at the time, it was pretty much the only game in town to get your degree 100% online. Plus, they had not yet managed to terribly sully their reputation as they've managed to in the last several years.

    For my MBA, it was:

    1. Accreditation (AACSB)
    2. Name recognition / reputation
    3. Cost
    4. Program (frankly there were programs out there I liked better, but I went with UMass/Lowell because of #2.
     
  16. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    That's a good choice. The degree from UMass might counteract any negative influence from the UoP degree.
     
  17. BobbyJim

    BobbyJim New Member

    I forgot to include this - for undergrad:
    1) accreditation 2) credit transfer policy 3) program 4) cost.
     
  18. CargoJon

    CargoJon New Member

    That was exactly my intent, I'm pleased to know someone else is thinking along the same lines :cool:
     
  19. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    Great minds think alike. :)
     
  20. dlcurious

    dlcurious Member

    My first degree, an AOS, was from a private, for profit institution, and while it did get me into my current field (IT) I found it held little value in a tight job market when I went looking for work in late 2001 - early 2002. When I decided to go back to school I limited myself to public, not for profit institutions, and have found that they, at least in my situation, have received a more positive response. In finishing my BS at TESC I expanded my requirements for grad school to include a B&M presence and program accreditation, and UIS fit the bill perfectly. After taking some time off to relocate, upgrade my certs, and advance my industry position, I plan on enrolling in a local AACSB-accredited MBA program.
     

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