Achieving MS at online college then applying prestegious Universities?

Hi, I'm new to this forum and I don't know much about online colleges.

I'm wondering like if I achieve 3.9 GPA and extensive research experience at masters program of Aspen Univ or any other accredited online colleges, will that really be counted towards applying into Phd program of prestigious Universities such as UC Berkeley, U of Illinois, U of Toronto, University of Cambridge, etc. Is taking online college the right path for me for this goal? Any of you really got accepted into prestigious colleges after getting a degree at online colleges?

 

The main issue with Aspen is not that it's online, but that it's not regionally accredited. It's nationally accredited. That could limit your options for graduate programs at RA schools in the U.S. I haven't really looked into this, but I know others have discussed schools in foreign countries only accepting RA degrees from the U.S.

 

No, those prestigious universities will not recoginize a masters degree from Aspen University because it is only nationally (DETC) accredited.

Those prestigious universities will only accepted online masters degrees if they are regionally accredited.

 

There was a time when NCU would accept a MS from Aspen for admission into a PhD but don't know if this is longer the case.

Some PhD programs have explicit policies against online degrees. I know McGill had a policy against it.

However, if your MS is from a traditional schools with online and on campus programs, it would be very difficult to know if it was earned online or face to face. Many traditional programs have now a blend of online and on-campus courses.

If your goal is to get accepted into a prestigious PhD, I would avoid Aspen, NCU, Walden or any online for profit school. You should aim for an online program from a school like Stanford, Harvard, etc.

 

You are mentioning Standford and Harvard like they are easy to get in for online programs, which I don't think they are easy to get into. Now that I know that I need RA accreditation, I want to get into any Comp Sci MS program that are RA accredited , undergoes research, and that application deadline does not reach until May or later. Are there any?

 

Why makes you believe that getting into a prestigious PhD is any easier? You are asking if an online Masters can help you to get into a prestigious doctorate, my answer is to get a prestigious online Masters so you can get a chance to get into a prestigious doctorate.

McGill for example, has an acceptance rate of less than 10% for its PhD in business and so other schools at the same level. It is not very realistic that you get admission into a good school with a low tier masters unless it is a program that is not in high demand. You have also to add the fact that you will earn an online degree, many schools have already a bias against online degrees so the better the school the better the chances to reduce the bias of online education.

 

I did not be particular with online college with the last post. Now I'm wondering if there are any MS program in Comp Sci (don't mind if its real attendance) as long as it's RA accreditation and still accepting applications until like May or later for the same year's Fall.
But I'm also questioned whether the prestigious college biases a degree from a college that is nameless although it's RA accredited and is real classes.

 

What you're thinking about is possible, but very difficult. Some things to consider:

Quality (or perceived prestige) of the master’s degree: RFV is correct on this one. If you want to enter those top programs you mentioned, as a relatively new for-profit with only DETC accreditation, Aspen will not cut it. Whether you choose to see those as issues of quality concern or academic snobbery, the people who sit on admissions committees at the top programs are motivated by both.

Letter of recommendation: Arranging for a detailed reference letter can be more difficult in an online program. Start thinking now about ways to overcome the lack of regular in-person contact with a professor. Don’t wait until the last minute and wind up with a letter that says you got an A and regularly participated – that’s almost worthless for the kind of goal you’re talking about.

Demonstrating your research abilities: Since we are in different fields, this may not be as big of a deal for you, but if your MS offers a thesis option, I would encourage you to take it.

Perhaps not. Even a top notch residential MS is no guarantee, but I would encourage you to consider those options as well, as it sounds like they would offer fewer potential limitations.

 

My wife did her Master's 100% by home study (and telephone) at California State University, Dominguez Hills. She then applied to Harvard, Princeton, Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt, and Loyola. They all accepted her (a 799 on the GRE didn't hurt!), but the general theme was that the Master's was not needed at all, since their PhD programs included a Master's along the way, when the qualifying exams were passed. However, the courses taken for the Master's were accepted, reducing the full time PhD coursework from three years to two. And now she has an 'extra' and unnecessary Masters: she's BA, MA, MA, PhD. This scenario is not uncommon. (Since Stanford and Harvard offer online degrees, they surely are aware of and supportive of the concept.)

 

As with all such things, it would be advisable to ask. Inquire at schools you might be interested in. See what you can come up with.

All the cautions in this thread about the quality of the school you're considering are sincere and very real. But each situation is different. If you're a desirable candidate, the school is going to want to qualify you. But if the source of your degree is your only qualification, it better be a darn good one.

Speaking of which, I assume you already have a bachelor's degree. As John showed in his post, that credential would be the qualifier. Is it a good one? Or are you seeking to do a master's in order to improve your chances? If it is the latter, doing one at a school like the one you're contemplating probably won't help your cause much.

 

Here are a couple of threads from the Chronicle of Higher Education’s forum addressing this subject. I hope reading the opinions of some of the faculty proves helpful, but want to point out that I do not endorse all of them.



Online M.A. as path to traditional Ph.D. in History?

Sample response 1: “I am a huge advocate of online learning, but this is going to be tough. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of prejudice at work. Also there is a real disadvantage in online preparation. The classes can be absolutely as good and rigorous as any in the classroom, but you are missing out on the professional socialization that happens in grad school.”

Sample response 2: “Nope. Reputable PhD programs in history just won't accept an online MA. Sorry.”



Non-prestigious master's program to a prestigious doctoral program.

Sample response 1: “I'm not in history, but rather science. However, I was in the same boat as you - getting my Masters at a small state university that no one outside of our metro area has heard of. I got into a top 5 PhD program for my field essentially based off of what I did in my Masters plus development of a connection with my destination lab by going to weekly lab meetings (since the PhD program is in the same metro area as Masters U).”

Sample response 2: “I can think of a few people who have been accepted into top Ph.D. programs after excelling in a masters program at a mid-level school. It's certainly possible, but they couldn't have done it had they not been standout students, with brilliant writing samples and unusually enthusiastic recommendation letters. Try to listen to your professors' feedback on your work, and, as you get closer to finishing the program, discuss your prospects with them.”