And this is what i love about online schools

Some of you may know my story, but I had to go back to Penn Foster college. I actually feel great about the decision. I am doing this degree program: Industrial Electronics And Electrical Maintenance Technology Associate Degree - Penn Foster College But here is what I love about these online schools or Penn Foster college I should say because they are the only ones I have had experience with, I enrolled last night, in about 10 minutes everything was done, and I had my first courses ready to go. You have do two assessment exams[math and reading] before the real stuff starts, and I already did them, so I go into the program in less than 24 hours. Now I need my first books, and its bog down time. So here I go, I'm on the roller coaster again known as college.

 

Best of luck. Keep us updated.

 

I certainly will. Semester one now, and I have to do the whole thing. The other 3 semesters I have two courses in each finished with past credit.

 

Good to hear. A week ago you were ready to set the place on fire. Good luck.

 

This. You may be on a roller coaster called college now but I think I have been on the roller coaster called pfelectronicstech wants to go to college for a few weeks now. Glad you found the right fit.

 

Good for you. With persistence and perseverance you can be one of those small percentage of students that actually complete what they start. FWIW I think it's in you to do it.

 

Thanks guys, I have to finish it. I want it, and I kinda have no choice. Yeah I was all over the place over the last few weeks, but I kinda had to be with the way things transpired.

 

Since we are on the subject, why do think most students do not finish programs they start? Of course nothing is simple, and singular in reasons, but I think most of the reason is people think "online school" will be easy and they can cheat through it, but I am a perfect example of those assumptions being dead wrong.
The Electronics technician program was HARD, it was no joke, it was the real deal, and if you did not work at it, you would fail, period. You cannot coast through these programs, and courses. When people find out its actual work, they quit. That is my theory on why most do not finish.

 

I think there are WAY more reasons than your "cheating" rationale. But first, I'd agree SOME people do think they can cheat -- although I'd hate to think that potential cheats make up the bulk, majority or even a largish fraction of DL dropouts.

I think the reasons below might apply, but in different proportions to degree-seeking students vs. those in career diploma programs.

Here's my take:

(1) Lack of motivation. People just "run out of steam" and don't want the objective any more, as much as they want free time. Usually, this is an end result from a hasty decision. Some find they don't like electronics, psychology or whatever nearly as much as they thought they might. Yeah, many of them could do the work, but they just don't want to bother any more.

(2) Running out of money. This is probably more common in degree-seeking students, as that process is more cash (or debt) intensive.

(3) Being unprepared for academic environment. People find they do not have - and cannot quickly or easily acquire - the study skills, concentration, etc. that their program requires. One university recently noted that 50% of its freshman class required remedial reading or math courses. I suspect there may be more than 50% at some of the more "push-push, markety-markety" DL schools, that are known to enrol students who turn out to be insufficiently prepared.

(4) Life upheavals - sickness, death in family, end of job, money woes, end of marriage or relationship, suddenly forced to relocate etc.

I've probably missed half-a-dozen other reasons. Just wanted to say I believe that not (nearly) everyone who quits a DL course does so because it's "too hard" or "too much work." Somebody's probably earned a Ph.D. researching these reasons -- but being a non-doctor, this speculation is the best I can offer. :smile:

Johann

 

No, I wasn't saying the majority quite because they "can't cheat", what i meant was that most think they will coast right through because there isn't a teacher standing over them. Some quit because they think they can cheat, but I did not mean that to be the focus. Sorry if it came out that way.

 

This is what you said. (I read this stuff!) :smile:

However, it's perfectly OK to revise or re-state your opinion... no biggie.

Johann

 

Ok, it came out wrong, I meant they think the work will be easy and they can coast through it. In any even you correct there are LOTS of reasons why.

 

I think that #4 counts for many withdrawals.

 

Indeed it does. I once went through a "washout" thread - forget which forum - and there were many such accounts. For me, my "re-born student" phase began shortly after the end of marriage -- but I've often tended to do things in peculiar order.

I think maybe my return to school at around 40 (1983) was partially revenge-motivated. I figured the worst thing a man can do to his ex-wife is become a success after leaving. I never became much of a success -- but I did do fairly well in school -- and enjoyed it. :smile:

Johann

 

For me it was deployments. I started my degree while in the Navy and had to stop due to lack of time. Then I spent a few years using the excuse that I had no time until finally I realized that there is never going to be a time when I do have the time... So I started up again 7 years later and never looked back...

 

For me it was getting a divorce and becoming a single mom to a disabled child at age 21, moving and changing jobs a lot, not having any help or a support system of any kind. Then I married my current husband, had my daughter, my husband became disabled, and I now home school both my children. My husband and I both do online college and it works perfectly for us. But I had A LOT of starts and stops in life (and traditional college) before I was finally able to do it.

 

It was work that interfered for me. My degree journey was uneven wih extended breaks. I tried only to think about the subject I was doing and not the end of the program because I would be swamped by how out of sight it appeared.

I think this "concentrating on the bite size" ultimately paid off. No way I would have completed it if I thought about how long it would take. When I did a subject I also tried to see how I could use it either for myself to understand something or how it could be used in my work world. I tried to move the meaning from the award of the degree to the subject. The credential became less important than the knowledge. Each subject was knowledge and an end in itself.

 

Well I got a 100 on my first exam, but don't get too excited it was just 15 questions. Its kinda a preliminary short text book[45 pages] and a 15 question exam. Anyway I got a 100 so that can't be a bad thing. Onto "orientation to engineering technology". Having a good time so far, but the lessons coming up are gonna get difficult.
I also checked careerbuilder and there were literally 20 jobs in my immediate area that you can get with this degree with a salary range of 20 to 32 an hour. Not saying I would get any of these jobs, just saying this degree fits the description. I'm feeling good about choice here.