Distance Learning out of high school

I Have my reasons and I am thinking of obtaining my degree from an online college right out of high school The colleges I have read up on (University of Pheonix and Barrington University)(will read about more when I get time) all seem to be directed towards working adults. Is it acceptable for me to go there?

I am going to be a junior this year in high school so i am planning early. I like the idea of getting my degree on the computer. I am thinking of going for a BS or BA in Computer sceience because I would like to enter the Computer Security field.

P.s. My final GPA was 2.8 but i am hoping to bring that up this year.

~Xoom

 

Distance learning programs are oriented towards working adults to take advantage of the knowledge and experience they typically bring to the program. Also, adult learners tend to be more capable of studying independently. There are exceptions to everything of course.

If you are confident that independent study is for you, there are hundreds of schools that will offer you that opportunity. You might look at those schools offering structured correspondence courses, rather than learner-centered/designed programs.

The differences between UoP and Barrington are so striking that I am surprised you mentioned them both in the same context. Whatever "reading up" you did should have revealed this. Please ensure that you and anyone else involved in such a decision understands the nature of accreditation and the acceptability of degrees and credits.

Neither school would likely be the wisest choice for someone right out of high school. But only one of the two will result in an acceptable credential.

Rich Douglas

 

I would rethink the decision to consider Barrington. It has no recognized accreditation, and a degree from them would be pretty much worthless, IMO.

What field of study are you interested in? My generic recommendations are "the big three".

Thomas Edison State College- http://www.tesc.edu

Excelsior College- http://www.excelsior.edu

Charter Oak State College- http://www.cosc.edu


Bruce

 

You might think about using distance learning now to get a headstart on college. Many high school students can get dual credit for courses.

You could look at http://distancelearn.about.com/cs/computerscience1/index.htm for links to computer and information science programs. Also, check your library or bookstore for Get Your IT Degree and Get Ahead -- good general advice, including info on distance learning.

U of Phoenix is designed specifically for working adults; 75% of students receive some form of tuition reimbursement from their employers. I'd investigate further; you can probably find several other programs that would be more appropriate. As for Barrington -- don't bother.

------------------
Kristin Evenson Hirst
DistanceLearn.About.com

 

Hey Xoom,

As a person who started doing DL when I was 25 (heck of a long time ago), I sure wish I'd have thought a little more about doing my first degree on-campus (BA). My advice: Go to an on-campus school. Make some friends. Have some fun. Meet the girl/boy of your dreams. Have a lot of interaction with a lot of people.

If not (like you said, you have your reasons), make sure you attend a DL school that is regionally accredited. Unless you like doing things more than once - like having to go back to school and re-earn your degree when you're 30.

Look long and hard at your options. Read Bear's book. Read lots of stuff on the Internet. Talk to your school counselor and maybe even some respected business folks in the computing biz. Attend a couple of those career fairs and talk to the recruiters to find out what they are looking for. Plan to spend some serious time to learn as much as you can.

Most of all, make this decision yourself (with the help of parents /guardians). YOU will live with your decision the rest of your life. Its a big one.

Best wishes on the planning!

Barry Foster

 

Howdy!

Some thoughts:

(a) Yes on Phoenix (unless they have a minimum age requirement), but...

(b) I'd avoid Barrington; it's not regionally accredited, and regionally accredited is definitely the way to go for a U.S. bachelor's degree.

(c) To offer a flip-side to Barry's experience: I finished my bachelor's at 17 entirely through distance learning after homeschooling K-12, and I've never regretted it. But you'll definitely want to supplement your academic experience with some non-academic social outlets, or maybe even take a few courses on-campus at a nearby school. Or you may decide to do the entire program on-campus. It all depends on your learning style and whether you think you'd study better alone or as part of a structured class.

(d) Some other options worth looking at: Charter Oak State College, Excelsior College, and Thomas Edison State College.

Good luck!


Cheers,

------------------
Tom Head
www.tomhead.net

 

Hi, there!

Tom Head says to Xoom:

"or maybe even take a few courses on-campus at a nearby school."

Caballero says to both Tom and Xoom:

I highly recommend Tom's recommendation (echoe?). You don't want to go from the very beginning to the very end at a distance. It would be nice that you get a little bit of experience with on-campus studying, even if this means a few summers during your course of studying. You see, this is like having a little bit of both worlds, sort of being bilingual in two different adaptation languages.

Always faithfully,


Karlos Al "El Caballero" Lacaye
[email protected]

 

You could take a hybrid approach by doing a portion of your degree program via DL and a portion (in the first two years) at a local community college. This has the advantage of having some classroom experience and saving money. You could take non-core courses (English 101, e.g.) at the community college and the core courses at the DL institution. Planning is very important to avoid surprises. Definately talk to advisors at both institutions before proceding.

 

At an Excelsior (then Regents) commencement about 5 years ago I met a young graduate of 16 years of age. He completed his bachelors degree, had his own computer company, and was thinking of working on his masters.

The programs are doable out of high school just be sure you are taking the accredited route.

John

 

If you're interested in looking at some more information on the subject, check out these two books on Amazon.com:

1. Bears' Guide to the Best Computer Degrees by Distance Learning; and
2. Get Your IT Degree and Get Ahead! (Bear, Bear, and Head)

Either is worth the money. The second one focuses on all computer-related programs and not just distance ed. ones.


Tom Nixon

 

Wow thanks soo much I only expected 1 reply LOL you guys are sure smart well some of you mentioned meet the person of your dreams well thats the whole reason I have been considering the distance learning was becuase, at least i think, I have met the girl of my dreams well its been 2 years now...and I was planning on going with her and we live off-campus together becuase she is thinking of julliard (spelling?) in New York because she is really into ballet I'll look around alot and be sure to make the right choice again thanks for all your help

~Xoom

 

There is a nice distance learning ballet program at Punxsutawney College. All the dancers stand in front of a webcam in their respective living rooms and a high-speed computer in Punxsutawney digitally combines all distance dancers into a single video stream and sends it back to the dancers. In another text window, the instructor makes light of their situation. If you want a URL for that site, send me $50. ( )

 

good 1 that'd be the day

 

Hello, Bill!

Thank you for your interesting and jovial comments about ballet by distance learning.

Interestingly, out of the funny context, this makes me remember the old days of AED when similar remarks where posted about kung fu/karate and barber preparation via distance learning. As bizarre as it may sound, there are indeed resources to study those fields by distance learning, and I posted the information on AED. By the same token, there are resources to study ballet by distance learning. One of them is eDance at:

http://www.mrhappyfeets.com/web_dance/ds_ballet/ballet_index.htm

Of course, as the instructor mentions, there are limitations to this approach, but the benefits outweight any inconveniences, I think.

I hope this helps.

Always cordially,


Karlos Alberto "El Caballero" Lacaye
[email protected]

 

And as a flip side to Tom's experience, I did an A.A. and two Bachelor's at the same school (when it was The University of the State of New York's Regents External Degree Program) at the age of 20, all while serving in the U.S. Air Force. Military life (well, Air Force life, anyway ) as a young enlisted person was a lot like college: dormitory living, a campus-like base, a job, taking classes, etc. When I left active duty (only to return as an officer after a couple of years in the AF Reserve), I held two good bachelor's degrees, had three solid years in a field I would someday make my career, and was a year ahead of my high school peers.

Best of all, I was surrounded by people doing the same thing. Joining the Air Force after turning 18 was the smartest thing I've ever done, except marrying Paula.

Rich Douglas

 

Hi Xoom--

It's great you're trying to think ahead and are considering alternative options for the future of your education. May I suggest a few other things to also consider?

1) Keep your options open. You have two more years of high school ahead of you and a lot of things could change. I certainly hope you've met a strong soul mate and wish for the two of you the happiest of ever afters. In the meantime, now is the time for you to be applying to every traditional school you might consider attending. You can always decline later.

2) Opt in to whatever requisite tests might be required for some of these. (In my day they were the SAT and the ACT.) On-line schools may not require them, but the traditional schools almost certainly will.

3) Are you counting on financial aid to finance at least part of your tuition? Will the distance learning school you choose have a financial aid program that meets your needs?

4) Are you planning on being declared an emancipated student (i.e., not reliant on your parent's resources)? At what age and under what conditions will this be possible for you?

5) Are you planning on obtaining full-time employment and going to school part-time? Will your and your girlfriend's combined resources support both of you going to school full-time and still allow you to meet your living expenses?

6) Have you considered trying to find a full-time (or part-time) job that will pay for at least part of your college expenses? This might be easier to do if you have, say, an A.A. or A.S. going in, and you would also be able to take advantage of any placement, co-op, work-study, and/or internships in your chosen field that might be offered through your community college.

None of these are meant to be questions for you to answer for here, just food for thought. My personal advice would be to go for the on-campus experience first, perhaps in conjunction with some advanced placement tests/courses you can take advantage of during your next two years. Read, research, visit campuses, ask questions, consider carefully at least some of the advice you're offered. And most important, hold onto your dream. No degree will ever replace the absence of one or the vision to pursue it.