Is it just about getting the piece of paper? Maybe I’m being too idealistic, but I’m actually just as interested in learning new things as I am in getting my degree. My general impression from many of the posts in this forum is most people here are more interested in having the title/degree. Am I wrong? Of course, my life-mate is convinced that going back to school is a mid-life thing for me. (I think she’s relieved that it’s not a sports car or a new girlfriend – so she is supportive.) But back to the main subject – are most of you simply interested in getting the degree as fast a possible? Or is the learning experience enjoyable for you as well? -Eric (forum newbie)
In my case the answer was different for different degrees. In the case of my Regents business degree it was definitely just the piece of paper. I learned pretty much nothing that I hadn't known before, but the diploma verified the fact that I had learned all that stuff someplace. My other undergraduate degree (psychology/math) and graduate work (computer science) was much more learning for its own sake. The MS in computer science, in particular, probably would have helped my career some had I completed it, but the subject matter had nothing to do with my work in applications development. (None of this stuff was DL.) TommyK
Universities have three (or four) basic functions: education (which might include research and/or teaching), service, and credentialing. These can be quite separate. Because so much about distance learning is rooted in the "fringes" of higher education, questions arise regarding the validity--even legitimacy--of credentials earned either by distance learning methods or from distance learning schools. Twenty years ago, many "alternative" schools operated outside recognized circles (i.e., accreditation). Not so much today, of course, but the debates rage. You can get an education in many places, some of which do not involve enrolling in a university. You can also get a degree without doing much more learning--or none--than you've already done. Education? Degree? Both? I suspect it is the degree that pulls this forum together. As I said, education can be accomplished just about anywhere. But people come here, by and large, to get information about schools and degrees.
It really depends on the individual and their circumstances. Many people need a degree to get a job/better job or a salary increase (which seems to be the majority of those who come here), others just want to learn. The argument could be made that one can learn by simply reading at the library, but some people need the structure of an academic course....if not actually going to a classroom, then a lesson plan of some sort. In my case, I started off needing a degree for a salary increase, but along the way I found that I enjoyed going back to school. I'm still mulling over doctoral options, even though the salary increases stopped at the Master's level. Bruce
No, I think that you are right. In general, anyway. There are exceptions. I did a DL M.A. in interdisciplinary humanities, and what could be less occupational than that? (Actually most of the students in that particular program were secondary teachers I think, but I didn't fall in that category.) Most people on Degreeinfo seem to lust after Ph.D.s. At times I don't have the faintest idea why, and at other times I'm one of them, filled with maddening insatiable doctoral desire myself. You gotta admit: people bending their knee and kissing your class ring. It's pretty attractive She'll realize her error soon enough. The books piled everywhere, the tweed jacket and the pipe smoke... that strange square flat-topped hat... For me it's mostly the learning experience at this point. That's why degrees and even accreditation are a little less important to me now than they once were. I'm more interested in taking classes for their own sake, simply because they interest me. But that's probably unusual. It's different for everyone.
I think the paper and the learning are two seperate issues. Most people want the paper for their careers, and some want the learning for their pleasure. Ironically, most people I have informally polled have told me that very little specific information they learned in college actually helped them in their occupations, even if the paper kicked open a few doors. Most, and I would include myself, believed that a college education did enhance their abilities with composition and analytical skills in general.
To some people, it's just a piece of paper. Others are more interested in tangible accomplishments such as owning real estate, having investment portfolios, being owners of corporations and possessing other material goods. Earning a degree is a personal accomplishment. It doesn't guarantee wealth or fame. There are thousands of college graduates with advanced degrees (MA and MBA) that live pay check to pay check. In fact, there are quite a few self made millionaires in America who never went to college. It's true that you need a degree in order to get a better job. You need it in order to compete in todays market. I believe that education is an investment in yourself. It shouldn't be looked at as a vehicle for securing employment or wealth.
I don't think you're being too idealistic but you may be a bit oversimplistic. The idea that you can separate these two variables, #1 I'm interested in the paper and, #2 I'm interested in learning, and describe them as being essentially contradictory is a faulty premise. You're assuming that these are mutually exclusive motivations. They are not. One can be interested in both. As a personal aside I'd say that as I grow older I become increasingly careful as to how I spend my time. I have none to waste. Because of this I would never embark on a large project like a degree program "just for the paper," it would have to carry not only my interest, but some sense of importance. At the same time, I could just as easily buy and read the books, even publish the essays, without being enrolled in a degree program. The paper is part of the value as well. Jack
True enough. I'm interested in the degree, too. So it is both. What made me start this thread was another thread about "cheesy sounding degrees". It made the impression that people were getting their degrees to look good or to impress someone else. That and references to the " get your BS in 2 weeks" (or whatever it is) website. So, no, it isn't really two separate things. And I'm not trying to be critical of those who want their degree quickly. I just was curious about motivations, since my motivation seemed to be a bit different from many others on here. I found it interesting that Rich Douglas made the distinction between education and credentialing as being quite separate. I hadn't thought of it that way before. Many good responses! Thanks! -Eric
For me, the BS was for the paper, just get it quick. The MS-ITM is for my job; to advance my career. I am lucky enough to have a wife that has just returned to school and is taking alot of general education classes. I am able to learn new material while helping her study. When she is finished with school, I will have completed my MS and will probably return to the community college to take classes for me rather than for my career .
I think there are lots of ways to look at advanced degrees. I also think it can be both about the learning and the piece of paper. Some individuals learn better in a collegial way, i.e. being with other students, interacting, challenging, etc. Others learn better under the crunch of milestones, either personally imposed or imposed by the degree plan. Still others, need the degree to advance in thier work or to have credibility in their work. Under these circumstances, the quality of the institution may become an issue. In my own case, the degree helped me to advance, I happen to like learning in a collegial environment, I need milestones imposed by a program to push myself or my work gets in the way, and finally, I wanted a credible doctorate because no one in my family had ever earned one and my grandfather planted in me the desire to get there.
...but I would point out that you needed the BS to open the door to pursue your MS in order to advance you career. Anyway, keep up the learning it should never stop. John
