[Hitman]

I'm going on 36 and with the lay off, dead job market and the realization that no one will hire anyone without some sort of education/expierence has lead me to start the process of a degree.

I can only do it online as I have to look for a job and when I find one I have to be flexible. I've searched and there are tons of schools out there. I've heard both sides of the University of Phoenix but I know 3 people that have nothing but good things to say about them. Don't know. Anyone here have, going thru, or know someone personally that has earned a online degree? Any advice would be great.

[65gto69]

I have no info for you on the online education thing, but know what you are going through.

I was laid off, I am 40 and have 20 years of AutoCAD experience and 15 years of Computer Technician experience, but without CERTIFICATIONS, no one will even look at my resume, it seems.

So I went back to school to get my CompTIA A+ Certification and also a Certification in Solid Works CAD 3D Modeling.

Maybe I will be able to land a job than.

Good luck with your venture and hope the online schooling works out for you.

Mark

[Stuart]

Another online school that has a good reputation is Capella University, they're based in Minneapolis. http://www.capella.edu/

[PonchoV8]

No advice on the school, but you need to do that if you can. There's nothing to replace education--except wealth. It's going to make a big difference once it's behind you.

[Ollie]

Check with your state unemployment office. When the unemployment rate is high, there are displaced worker retraining programs available. These programs allow you to attend school, collect unemployment and pay the tuition.

I attended a Tech school to obtain an Airframe Mechanics License. For a year, all tuition, and fees were paid, plus I colledted unemployment while going to school. I also got a Snapon Tool box with all the required tools.

[Rustie]

Originally Posted by Hitman

I'm going on 36 and with the lay off, dead job market and the realization that no one will hire anyone without some sort of education/expierence has lead me to start the process of a degree.

I can only do it online as I have to look for a job and when I find one I have to be flexible. I've searched and there are tons of schools out there. I've heard both sides of the University of Phoenix but I know 3 people that have nothing but good things to say about them. Don't know. Anyone here have, going thru, or know someone personally that has earned a online degree? Any advice would be great.

All I can tell you is that everyone i know that has that degree, doesn't have the great job to show for it. Having said that, my ex recently received his, made a point to have my son tell me that he finally graduated, and promptly got fired from his job. A degree from an on-line school just doesn't hold much weight IMO. Not only that, but it won't cover up stupid. In his case, it didn't cover up drinking on his lunch break...

[YVEYANT]

Stay away from University Of Phoenix online. They feed you the biggest lies in the world and are purposely misleading. My cousin who lived with us at the time tried it out for two classes.

First you can only manage one class a semester which you only gain three credits from. At this pace you will take twice as long to get a degree as oppossed to the traditional classes.

Each of those classes are over $4000 when all is said and done. They won't tell you exactly how long it will take for you to graduate. They told my cousin it will take her between 3-6 years for a degree.

The biggest part that was super misleading was they said she could do it in her spare time. That was bull. She averaged between 25-30 hours a week on just one class.

They make you read like you are in law school, up to eighty pages a day, yes 80. The other part that was frustrating, is the online professor makes you team up in groups with other online students to get together on projects. You have to be online at the same time. This becomes a big problem when students are on a different time zone. When someone does not participate, you are expected to make up for their slacking.

Stay away from University of Phoenix. Their main objective is to drag it out as long as possible to keep the check coming in their way.

Look into other programs and mention what I said, see if they offer you an exact time to graduate, if not run.
Your best bet honestly is to look into a local communtiy college and load up on saturday classes. You will get done much faster that way.
Once you are armed with a degree you are on a completely different level. Can never be taken away from you.
One of the best jobs to get into after a four year degree program is pharmaceutical sales. Easiest way to jump right into a six figure income bracket and they are always hiring regardless of the economy. They are thriving.

[tripower]

Originally Posted by YVEYANT

Stay away from University of Phoenix. Their main objective is to drag it out as long as possible to keep the check coming in their way.

Agreed, from what I understand here in Illinois, our state and other state agencies do not reconize UofP as a legitimate degree. Only a matter of time for the private sector to follow.