"Washout" Thread

The only school I ever dropped out of was Harrison-Middleton's Doctor of Arts program. At the time, I had a few health things going on, and also simply did not enjoy the format of the first class I took.
On a positive note, I did end up with the entire "Great Books" collection that looks great in the office...

 

I washed out of the UML MBA program. A lot of factors played a part - what was going on in life, my disillusionment with the program and format, etc. Took the spring and summer off and am now looking at options to complete the MBA elsewhere.

 

I dropped out of the University of London's LL.M. extension program after failing my first exam by three points. It happened to be the only "double" subject and my score could not therefore be taken as a "condoned" pass as it could have been had it been a single subject. It would also have been a very comfortable pass had I taken the course for undergraduate credit.

You get two attempts on a subject but when I looked at the mountain of material I had already read, I realized that it wasn't enough and that I didn't have access to an adequate library, and that the degree would not serve any useful purpose even if earned.

So I went off and got my LL.M. in Tax from Taft instead.

 

Well, I'll respond to this.

I had started a state school after high school with a major in Accounting. Dropped out after not showing up to class. Joining a fraternity in one's first semester and drinking, partying and getting laid without going to class will do that I guess.

A couple of years after that, went to community college away from the chaos and mayhem. Got on Dean's List that semester and transferred to a small catholic school. Had a 2.4 GPA at the end of that first year because I had slowly started to get back into my old habits of drinking, partying and getting laid. I dropped out and ended up being a washout for many years.

Many years later, I attended Western Governors University. Regionally Accredited, able to go to a B&M to obtain a Master's...I figured hey, why not?! In one and a half year's, I obtained my B.Sc. in Information Technology, and was accepted to NJIT's Graduate Certificate program in Management of Technology. Completed that, and matriculated fully into NJIT's MBA program with an MIS emphasis. All online, all DL. AACSB school, to boot. Start my fourth semester in a couple of weeks and look forward to completing the half way mark (I only do 6 credits a term. No more, and no less.)

I know this is a washout thread, but failure does turn into success if one applies him/herself.

 

This is another facet of online learning that has not been widely touted. The diversions from online learning do not generally include carousing....

 

When I was carousing, there was no online learning (this was in the mid 90s...) It was a failure on my part to simply attend class when I needed to. I had found my focus through online learning (that, and achieving the maturity needed where such carousing had been outgrown...lol.)

 

Online learning takes away a major distraction found on many campuses.

 

I just got an A- in my law class... ruined my perfect 4.0.

 

Touche....

 

1989 Western Connecticut State University--Undergrad
Decided to transfer and complete degree through Charter Oak State College. Graduated BS 1993 (Love Charter Oak)

1993 Admitted to Graduate School at Western Connecticut State University
...MA English Washed out half way through when I no longer had tuition reimbursement through my company.

 

Washing out of National University

I'm washing out of the MA Digital Journalism program at National University. The new course every 4 weeks thing does not work for me, having active lupus and a myriad of complications. I finally had to face the music - I need a regular 16-week semester. I've had to take incompletes in probably every class since my first one or two, as my health deteriorated.

I hate to quit. But, the personal cost is too high, and just not worth it. NU is not as flexible as they like to advertise. Their forte is getting you done fast, but only if you can handle the pace. As I've said before on here, if you have a chronic illness or other life circumstances that are highly unpredictable, NU is definitely NOT the school you want to attend.

I have other academic interests and would like to earn a PhD. So, I will turn my attention to that, starting with an online MA in American History (thesis option) from American Public University (they don't require a BA/BS in History), followed up by a traditional PhD in American History or American Studies (for funding). My primary research interest is not unheard of but a very small sub-field within a small field.

 

This is a very interesting post. Because of National's one-course-per-month schedule, it is considered very flexible by some. (For example, taking two weeks off for a vacation doesn't kill a whole semester.) Yet, for you, it's "marching forward" pace is extremely inflexible. I can see where a self-paced program would be more appropriate.

Good luck in your quest.

 

Thanks, Rich!

Don't get me wrong, I do think it's flexible up to a point. But, the 4 week pace is just too fast. You get sick or something happens, and you're off-track and out of sync and not graduating on time. Unlike some schools on an accelerated schedule, NU doesn't have, say, a week break between classes so students can catch their breaths. Sometimes, there's only one day between the end of one class and the start of another, you're lucky if you get three days -spring break and Christmas break, notwithstanding.

APU has 8-week and 16-week courses. I can choose whichever is best for me. As I already stated, I need 16-weeks. Interestingly, though APU is for-profit it's less expensive than NU. NU's graduate tuition is $384 per credit. APU's graduate tuition is $325 per credit. NU uses quarter hours, so one class is usually 4.5 credits. APU uses semester hours, so one class is usually 3 credits. To make things equal, a 4.5 credit grad class at APU would be $1,462.50 while a 4.5 credit grad class at NU is $1728.00.

Neither school does anything for discharged veterans, just active duty, National Guard/Reserves, and Retired (NU). But, I'll pay less at APU, have traditional semesters, and they're also RA. Bonuses: 1) there's no application fee and my alma mater sends out official transcripts for free, so it'll cost me zilch to apply 2) it's cheaper, by a couple of thousand dollars a year, than attending grad school at a public uni in my state 3) I don't have to retake the GRE (old scores) and 4) I don't have to go back to undergrad and get a BA/BS in history to do APU's MA in History.

 

When NU began in the mid-1970s, its course-per-month (all classroom-based) was amazingly innovative. They were able to do this by leveraging state-of-the-art computer systems to manage it all, and relying heavily on adjuncts to teach it all. The flexibility came from being able to take courses at different centers all around Southern California, and taking a few weeks off here and there without blowing an entire semester. And changing your schedule meant spending a few minutes in front of a counselor (and not being charged for it).

 

Washing out of American Public University's MA in History before I even enroll in my first class. I've done research and my chances of getting into a fully funded brick and mortar PhD program with a MA from a 100% online university are practically nonexistent.

So, I have to do the MA the traditional way and put my butt in a seat. What sucks is that now I'm going to have to hop back in undergrad and get a second bachelors in history because 99.9% of history MA programs require a history degree (APU didn't). Oh well, gotta do what I gotta do.

 

Remember that "MA from a 100% online university" and MA "in a seat" are not your only two options. Have you considered a distance master's in history from a B&M school? (Most are!) Or a blended program? (For example, the Harvard Extension School Master of Liberal Arts is offered in History and in several related concentrations.) Did the research by which you answered that PhD admissions question address distance or blended programs from very traditional schools?

If your research addressed APU specifically, remember that APU might also have stigma among traditionalists from being a for-profit.

 

I was going to mention the slim chances of going from APU to a fully funded PhD program when I read your earlier post, but you already figured it out.

Instead of doing a second bachelors, you may want to give serious consideration to doing a masters of liberal arts/studies from a quality school and using that to get you into a funded PhD program. I personally know of several folks who have done that. The key is to find a program with experience sending its MLA/MLS graduates to funded PhD programs. The best way to find that out is to talk with the school's career center. A good career center will have a plan ready for you regarding how best to select courses/teachers in order to accomplish your goal.

 

I have, but there are several universities within two hours of where I live that have the MA in history, including the two top ones in my state - one being the flagship. If I add another hour, that opens up schools in a couple of other states, including their flagships. The main reason I was considering APU is because they don't require an undergraduate degree in history first.

Most B&M master degree history programs do. Actually, APU is the only graduate history program I found that doesn't. I can move and so, all things considered, there's really no reason for me to do the MA by distance. Plus, the fewer loans I have to take out the better.

 

A possibility from Sam Houston State University; from their MA in History FAQ:

And you shouldn't expect any undergraduate history prerequisite requirement at the liberal arts programs mcjon discusses.