Hey 20 somethings, do you consider a DL bachelor's degree lame?

My 20 something daughter tells me that her generation considers an undergrad degree earned online to be lame. I'm not asking about utility or ROI or any of the other things we regularly discuss; I want to hear from the 20 something year olds out there. Does your generation consider a DL bachelors to be lame?

(Intentional vague and general question; please interpret it as you see fit)

 

It depends. If you are doing an online degree instead of going to a 4-year campus after high school, it would strike me as strange.

If you are doing an online degree because you are unable to go on-campus, then I see no problem.

I'm a strong believer in traditional education for those just graduating from high school.

FWIW. I'm a twentysomething, but I am married with two kids. Your mileage may vary.

 

No. However, I am 25. I have been married for 6 years, and I have two kids. I am lame. Therefore, I think my opinion will vary from other twentysomethings.

 

A 25 year old man who is successfully married and supports 2 children considered lame? No way! You are a hero!

 

Why do you surmise 'angelgurl' is a man?, or do you know something the rest of us don't know?

 

I agree on all counts.

 

I would echo with Stefan as well. I am now 27, and started distance learning when I was 20. I started doing it because I was on active duty in the Marine Corps. If I chose college right after high school, I would rather attend on campus.

 

You are absolutely right, nanoose. I did not consider the screen name "angelgurl_9".

My apologies angelgurl_9; with a name like that, you are obviously a female. However, that does not change the fact that you are a true hero!

 

I was about 23 when I started taking online courses, but they were graduate courses. I'm glad I went the traditional route after high school. It was GREAT for networking and extracurricular activities. While I am a huge advocate of DL, I think high school grads should go to a traditional B&M school for the experience. Save the DL stuff for grad school.

-Matt

 

I enrolled in an online program when I was 26... but I am sure that my life circumstances were much different than most people in your daughter's case. If I were an early 20-something going to college (I was once), I would probably also consider an online degree lame... simply for the social aspects and independence normally associated with going to college. However, if I were in my early 20s, working, married, or too busy/unable to go to a traditional school for another reason... I would probably choose DL for the same reason that I did when I was 26. I am now 29.

Whatever her choice ends up being, it should be based on what she feels that she can gain the most from. Whether educational, social, or any other reason for going to college... it all factors into personal growth and development in some way.

 

No on any account. I am 28.5 and I have done nothing but DL college and I got my BA that way. I started college in 2003 or 2004 and Dl was the only way for me because of my husband's job and the moving/traveling it requires (we have been together since 2001). DL was the only way for me to get a degree and still is currently.

Even with that though I think the college experience as a whole is changing rapidly to reflect the new generation's interest in degrees via distance learning. While I think attending a traditional on campus college might be good for some it is not one size fits all and distance learning might be better for others.

Personally I would never want to attend a 4 year college day in and day out in order to earn my degree now that I have experienced a good education via distance learning. I did however take a few weekend courses here and there and feel I got some of the same things people say you get from attending such as meeting people, networking and interaction.

I am curious as to how old exactly your daughter is? Im guessing younger than 24 and I could see where they might consider a DL degree lame because they consider just about everything lame .

 

LOL, I can understand this comment as I look at a lot of young people. Fortunately for me, my daughter is extremely cool and one of my best friends. She is wise beyond her years at only 22. She is finding that she will have to wait for a year and a half just to get into UCI and is not willing to do this. She is now looking at SUNY online or UMass online for completion of her English BA. She has already attended community college and likes the college atmosphere but she is not willing to wait that long. The great state schools here are unbelievably overcrowded.

 

I honestly am not looking forward to my almost 4 year old being old enough for college!!!! The stages I have heard about from my siblings and friends with old kids is enough to make me very fearful....sounds like you got lucky

 

Thanks! I got blessed! :smile:

 

Can I chime in even though I am under twenty? After all, the same things that apply to twenty-somethings should apply to under-twenties too, right? Although I am not like most people my age so I cannot speak for teens in general.

I do not consider a DL degree lame. A DL degree requires focus, determination, and the ability to study independently without the help of teachers. It requires much work and self-determination.

I agree that each person is different and a DL degree works for some people while a B&M degree works for others. In my case, I am doing my bachelors through DL and my masters through a local B&M univ. That way I can finish my bachelors quickly and move on to my masters. I will still get the "college experience" but I will be finished sooner and will not have wasted as much time. Besides I am not interested in the "college experience" anyway, I just want to study. DL works quite well for me. I love the freedom that DL gives me, not the kind of freedom that students go away to college for, but the kind of freedom I prefer, the freedom to study what I want, when I want, as fast as I want. The freedom to do whatever I want each day and not have to go to classes every day for 4 years. I am not the kind of person that needs to go away and spend time in classes or socializing everyday. And I certainly can do without college parties. I am not a teenager who wants to run away from parents and be independent. I prefer to live at home and save thousands of dollars. :biggrin: Some kids my age... just seem wild and immature and want to rebel. I look forward to entering a grad program when I go to college, and working with older and more serious students.:shysmile:

Let me add that I was homeschooled and studying on my own at home really works well for me. I don't have any need or desire to go to school.

Sorry for the long post!

 

You sound like a very mature and level-headed young lady. I am impressed. Best wishes for your success.

 

All I can say is that I wish I was as mature as you when I was under 20. When I was under 20 my main goal was to figure out a way to go to clubs in NYC (Studio 54 and the likes) more then 3 times a week!