Best Liberal Arts DL programs

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Dzine, Jul 17, 2002.

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  1. Dzine

    Dzine New Member

    My son will be entering the JC system in about a year and I was wondering if someone could recommend a good DL liberal arts program that’s transferable to a B&M state College. We want him to spend at least a year or two thinking about what he wants to do later in life instead of dropping him head first into a Major that he may regret later. I personally feel that he should spend at least on full time semester learning to interact in the JC system; however, there may come a time when he wants to work and a good DL program may be the ticket. Any suggestions?

    I’d also be interested in something not overly expensive for myself. Most of my formal education is skills based and I’m interested in broadening my knowledge of the Arts and Science. I don’t necessarily want to earn a degree form the program. I just need a program that will keep me motivated.
     
  2. Hille

    Hille Active Member

    dl for younger student

    Hello, Sometime ago there was mention of colleges in your home state that offered an inexpensive tuition for high school students. I can't currently locate it. I encourage you to read all of Dr. Bears books and Lawrie Millers' page for encouragement and ideas. With the current job crunch I think many parents will be looking at other options for their kids. In my neighborhood the recent college graduates are babysitting and having yardsales. The moms discuss health insurance for their twenty somethings instead of teething. The only school I'm informed about is TESC. They will discourage you because of your sons age but I have doubts that is actually legal. He may have to be a high school graduate for their program but I'm not 100 percent certain. They may sound like odd statements but there are many weaves and turns at TESC currently. Hille
     
  3. Dzine

    Dzine New Member

    Thanks!
     
  4. Wes Grady

    Wes Grady New Member

    I realize this might be the wrong place to say this :D ... but, a lot of growing up in college happens because of the interaction of the students and also between the students and the faculty. To start him off on DL might not be the best thing for him. Why not pick an inexpensive liberal arts college nearby and let him try a year of traditional college. The worst that can happen is for him to say he doesn't like it. It may turn out that he will jump right in and do well.

    Wes
     
  5. Dzine

    Dzine New Member

    I agree 100%. We actually thought he should spend a minimum of a semester carrying a full load.
     
  6. Orson

    Orson New Member

    NOT AT ALL. I say....!

    THE "wrong place to say this?" NOT at all I say!

    The established American secondary (and now "Middle School") tradion is precisely to enculcate socialization of the young over learning (see Joel Spring's workd). This has its hazards as well as its benefits. Learning is devalued, nerds are persecuted--or worse, ignored entirely--and "finding a place for everyone!" (as my local "PC" High School puts it on their sign), is championed above all.

    Few colleges aspire to be feasts of the mind like the University of Chicago, or even feasts for the grind like MIT. Those who are suited to such intense training are fewer, too! Hence, our large public multiversities, where the average student does a lot a face-time and some amount of work (such as is validated by CLEP and DANTES exams), are the norm!

    THose of us who had their share of such dalying before, and are anxious to move onward and upward, focused upon graduate or else professional training surely realize this.

    And when I teach, I know the reality will be that for most young people, excepting only a fraction (even if large), the socialization opportunities will be more meaningful than the quantity of "brain coaching" I'm able to instill. That's pragmatic reality.

    In fact a psychiatrist of Jewish extraction whom I see occasionally fully understands this: his son has chosen to attend University for social reasons. Chosing between ASU, San Deigo State, and Santa Clara--he ultimately chose that sybaritic Valhala--working his way into UC-Santa Barbara via Santa Barbara City College.

    As most adult learners on this board can attest to, "finding oneself" can take time. And having experienced the narrow winnowing of European educational systems that don't allow or encourage carreer changing or access to higher ed later in life--I much prefer the diversity of opportunites the American system allows!

    There are many many things served and achieved by US higher Ed. A piece in the NYTimes this week about the salutary effects of College athletics as understood by visiting scholars from SOuth Africa atests to this diversity of interests that combine to support our primarily or originally private higher ed system: it serves socialization, "school spirit," publicity, a deeper appliacant pool, and alumni loyalty. Just consider such isolated big universities as University of Nebraksa, or Oklahoma, or KSU--who would remember them without football?
    C'est la vie--l' America!

    I say of all these different reasons to be in US higher ed--use them! It's America! Enjoy it.

    --Orson
     

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