Thanks, and The Future is Now!

I have said little here through the years. I found this site long ago. I had, and still have several editions of Bears Guide. I called early on and had the great privilege of speaking to Dr Bear, after sending him a snail mail, and he replied! I am forever grateful for his guidance and work in nontraditional higher education. If not the, he is one of the pioneers, testifying before the FBI Dip Scam, and working in countless ways to help folks like me find a path to learning and higher education!

I regularly see things here that this online, nontraditional limits one's ability to achieve academic rank, and that is true to some degree. I won't tell the entire long tale, but only that I found this site, and the older Degree Discussion, and others. This has proven to be the most valuable! I have served a number of institutions, tenured with the rank of Full Professor, and continue to teach adjunct for several institutions today.

What prompted my post was a discussion I had this morning with someone who called, and asked guidance in completing his degree. He wanted a Doctorate at age 65! Longtime military man. He just started today, and I sent him here, and to several institutional sites. He went to work, and two hours later, he's got information coming from several places, and wants to move forward!

People like those on this board are valuable resources and sometimes, don't realize it. But in the early 1970s. Dr Bear helped this young man, and I have been able to help others through the years. With the constant barrage of press, "College isn't worth it!" we can help. We know opportunities many do not. The future lends itself to new and different methods! Take the time to help someone else on their journey! I appreciate each of you!

 

Thanks for the recognition! I have worked full-time since I was 17 years old and have never been a full-time college student. I can attest that a college degree is always worthwhile; choosing the right path does not lead to hefty student loan debts is the best choice. Nowadays, I have heard people saying you don't need a college degree to succeed; it is true, but only a small portion population is in that category. I have been in the workforce for more than 23 years; I observed that the majority of people without a college education tend to lack work ethics, due care, and due diligence.

 

Welcome, Professor McDonald. I discovered Dr. Bear back in the 80's and still have some of his books from over the years. No question he has changed and influenced untold numbers of distance learning students and was certainly ahead of his time. To me he was a godsend, after sitting in traditional classes, sometimes faceless with another 300 students in 100 level courses in my freshman year, spending multiple hours commuting to class, I knew there had to be a better way. Fortunately, Dr. Bear's writings were there to help light the way.

I also agree that, with our respective experiences, we should all do our best to help others, whether online or in our daily lives. I occasionally come upon those that have completed a few classes at a local college and are now working full time and raising a family, but still would like to complete a degree. It's a great opportunity to steer them to this site and show them that there are plenty of opportunities to complete that degree for a lot less money than they expected. One of the benefits of the pandemic was in educating the public that college level distance learning could be a viable option for the right student. Something that most of us on this forum have known all along, with the help of a Bear.