Why are schools like U of P looked down on by the majority of people?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by bicycledude, Dec 4, 2009.

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  1. Han

    Han New Member

    Could not disagree more. This forum has had this debate many times. I don't spell check any of my posts here, as it is an informal setting. I do in fact check-doublcheck-triplecheck for journals, conferences, chapters in books, etc. etc. etc. etc. IMO one is not tied to the other.
     
  2. bazonkers

    bazonkers New Member

    If your post was filled with misspelled words, misused words, sentence fragments and incorrect capitalization, I'd have to wonder how you passed your college English class. It might not be fair to tie the two together as you might be the most gifted writer in the world off this forum, however, I don't get to see your gifted writing. The only thing I have to go on is how you post here.

    I'm only saying that if I went to a school that doesn't have the greatest reputation when it comes to giving students an education, I'd be trying to fight the stereotype whenever I could.
     
  3. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    I have to agree. When ever I post something here, I try to be professional. Heck, you never know who is reading it! I adjunct for a few schools and I got them all through leads from this board. While everyone makes spelling error (I sometime hit oyu instead of you), I question when people misuse words like "to, two, too" or "there and their" or "waste and waist". This is beyond spelling.
     
  4. ITJD

    ITJD Guest

    This goes both ways.

    I'm torn about how I feel about anyone who corrects grammatical and spelling errors on forum communities and news sites. I was thinking some of the same things when replying to the OP, but I chose not to succumb.

    The advisory that someone doesn't spell well or use proper grammar is obvious to anyone who does and insulting to the person that doesn't. It doesn't serve a purpose to inform anyone and it's likely to alienate the OP, who may then either not post anymore (assuming that there are jerks on the board), flame people (causing more trouble) or ignore the matter (thus making the person pointing out the grammar transgression look like more of a jerk.)

    In any case two of the three outcomes above are bad for the community. So I have some minor advice:

    1. If you're a budding English professor, go be a English professor where you get paid to do it.

    2. If you've got something to say that furthers the conversation along such that it benefits people, post away.

    Eventually, if you continue on the education path, proper grammar and spelling comes with time.

    This is only being posted as I'm bothered by this sort of activity, everywhere I get my news and data. "Comments" does not mean "correct me"
     
  5. bazonkers

    bazonkers New Member

    The only reason I posted anything about the original posters grammar was that they said that "HR personal won't give my resume the time of day" and asked "why are schools like U of P looked down on by the majority of people". I was offering advice to make sure they were considering all aspects of their application materials and weren't just putting the blame on the fact that they have a U of P degree. If their resume has errors and mistakes, spending a ton of time and money on a graduate degree won't likely increase their job prospects.

    Normally, I'd agree with you and usually don't say anything in regards to grammar of a post. I felt it directly relevant to the posters question in this case, however. I didn't correct them because I'm a grammar policeman. I've never corrected anyone's spelling or grammar in the past.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 4, 2009
  6. RFValve

    RFValve Well-Known Member

    The degree is only a small portion of your resume. I doubt that HR would not consider you only because your BS from UoP. Rather than looking for a master's degree, I would try to build my resume with working experience and good certifications. In some fields like Accounting, Finance and IT, employers tend to look more for certifications rather than University degrees.

    The reality is the University education is overrated, University degrees don't mean much nowadays without extra achievements. Many employers don't trust them anymore as Universities (all not just UoP) have lowed their standards in order to raise income.
     
  7. bazonkers

    bazonkers New Member

    This is a very true statement. The sad fact is, many schools are "highly regarded" simply because they have a football or basketball team that many people have heard of. They might be the worst ranked program for a specific field of study but most people have no idea and think it's a good school.
     
  8. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    >>


    Everyone is quick to defend UoP, but if you would have posted that you wanted to ENROLL at UoP, you would have had a zillion people post alternate suggestions. What's done is done. If you can go to grad school, and can go to a state university- I say go for it.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 4, 2009
  9. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    >>

    Or as is my case, spilled soda from years ago makes my entire upper left keyboard skip and stick lol. Sometimes I correct it sometimes I let it slide (here).
     
  10. ITJD

    ITJD Guest

    Fair enough. Consider me corrected as it pertains to your intentions and my apologies if my post caused bother.
     
  11. bazonkers

    bazonkers New Member

    No worries, we are all good. :)
     
  12. Ian Anderson

    Ian Anderson Active Member


    I have defended U of P based on several fellow employees who earned either UG or PG degrees but with these caveats:
    (1) If the classes are held at your employers facility or near your home and no other campus is convenient (and DL is not for you).
    (2) Your employer picks up your tuition tag (otherwise there are lower cost options available).
    (3) The degree content aligns with your career goals (every U of P degree holder I knew obtained a business degree).
    (4) What else is available where you live - In the somewhat remote area where I live there is a Cal State satellite campus that offers a UG degree in management/finance/accounting but it is hard to get the classes you need plus for an extension student is is expensive. So the local U of P satellite campus thrives.

    So I would say if you earned a U of P degree then good for you - if not, then there are most probably better options.

    Incidentally I earned a bunch of business credits in the 70s awarded by the University of Redlands, but managed and taught by the Institute for Professional Development (IPD). What is the IPD? It was the forerunner to the University of Phoenix.
    http://www.ipd.org/about/factsheet.html
     
  13. bicycledude

    bicycledude member

    Thanks guys.

    My native tongue is not actually English. I come from a small island off the coast of Australia called Tsunayong. It's not even on the map(don't even bother googling it, we aren't a state or colony). We are very primitive. I have a rich uncle in the United States that took me in at an early age and educated me.

    Sorry about the grammatical errors. I wasn't aware that excelsior graduates were the poster children for the grammatical police.
     
  14. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    >>

    Ian, I'm not slamming UoP or giving them kudos...they are what they are. IMO, they are too expensive- but that's because I hang out here and know better. I have never taken a class with them, and I'm sure they are fine. I've just always been about finding the best value for my dollar.

    To the OP: you asked about grad schools that would accept UoP degrees- they all should, UoP is RA. There is sometimes criteria beyond that, so keep that mind. Also, if you earned your degree, pat yourself on the back. MOST people don't. And, I would argue that a completed degree from UoP is much better than part of a degree from anywhere.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 5, 2009
  15. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    It is what it is...

    DegreeInfo.com should accept advertising from UoP. Having said that, is UoP a good RA university? It's waaaaay to expensive, but outside of that, it's acceptable. :)
     
  16. bazonkers

    bazonkers New Member

    Is grade inflation an issue at U o P? I worked with a guy that had a BS degree from there and had a 4.0 average. He wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. He might have been great at school work, however, so I can't exactly say that U of P inflated the grades he should have gotten. I will say, however, many of us were very surprised to hear he had a 4.0 GPA.
     
  17. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator


    Not in the classes I took. One class was really damn hard and was luck to pass with an A. There were 10 students in the (campus) class and there were 4 A's, 5 B's, and a C.
     
  18. mbaonline

    mbaonline New Member

    I've never commented on another poster's grammar before but I almost wrote the same post that Bazonkers wrote. I don't think that postings on this forum need to be perfect (and I'm certainly not) but some are unintelligible. Having been raised by a high school English teacher, I'm used to having my words corrected. Normally, I put my posts through spell-check. However, once I went back and saw that I used "here" when I meant "hear."


    I have to admit that I have purposefully not given advice to posters who post asking for help finding online teaching jobs if they have horrible grammar and/or English writing skills. Sure, you can be a very good engineer or scientist without being a good writer, but IMHO you won't be a very good online instructor.

    Back to the OP: If your business writing is of the same caliber as your original post in this thread, I would encourage you to take a business writing or research paper writing class and to have someone proofread/edit your resume and job search materials such as cover letters before you send them out. Or attend a job search workshop.

    Beyond that, a degree from UoP is reputable but won't open doors by itself. This is the worst job market in 20+ years and there are a lot of highly educated and/or experienced folks who are unemployed. It will take more effort to find a job now than it would have two years ago.
     
  19. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    Same here - I think is is appropriote when someone is asking resume/job seeking advice.
     
  20. morganplus8

    morganplus8 New Member

    I think is is appropriote ................. What ???????????????

    Liten op poeple!!!
     
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