Online degree program fits working professional's career

Robert B., who is currently working full-time in the Internet industry, has been working on his Bachelor of Science in Business/Marketing at University of Phoenix.

A new resident to California, Robert has brought his online degree program with him state to state, as his career has taken him across the U.S.

World Wide Learn chatted with Robert about his online education choice, and how he fits studying into his busy work schedule.

World Wide Learn:	Why did you decide on an online degree program, and why University of Phoenix?
Robert B:	I had just finished up my Associate's degree at Chattanooga State in Tennessee and started looking into the University of Tennessee's programs. Nothing there really excited me very much, and there were some pain points associated with attending a campus school. Things like: one class will be available one semester, but not the next semester, waiting in week-to-month-long lines to talk with a counselor, and the commute time between the University and my home in the suburbs. I worked a 40-hour work week so none of these pain points made the local University very attractive. I was also fairly sure my career would be taking me places beyond Tennessee very soon, and didn't want to commit to a program that I might have to get out of, and lose credits from upon transferring. I researched online schooling by chance to see if there was another way I could get my degree while addressing each of the things that made it difficult for me to go to school. I happened across University of Phoenix and filled out a request form asking for more information. The speed at which they got back to me was very impressive. Three different people were available helping me with financial aid, degree choices, and class scheduling. If you had a request or question, UoP policy was to get back to you within the same day by email or by phone. It was very different from the type of treatment I was accustomed to from campus schools. Suddenly I found myself in a relationship with responsive counselors, no commute time, and credits that didn't need to be transferred if I moved somewhere else. University of Phoenix seemed to be the perfect fit.
World Wide Learn:	What has surprised you so far about your program? What are some things that you hadn't expected?
Robert B:	I didn't expect to encounter any of the interactive learning software the classes will sometimes throw at you. There are very well put-together simulations where you call the shots in various business scenarios based on your knowledge of the subject matter and the advice your simulated advisors give you. It's pretty cool and the themes vary depending on what class you're currently in. I get a kick out of them.
World Wide Learn:	How do you fit your coursework into your busy work schedule? How much time do you spend per week?
Robert B:	It's not easy but it doesn't kill me either. I usually end up doing the majority of my assignments over the weekend and keep up class attendance during the week. Monday - Thursday is usually 1-2 hours a day interacting with the class for attendance and going over the material, and some of that time is also spent with team members preparing for a group project. On weekends I spend anywhere between 5-7 hours on personal and group assignments depending on the workload. If I'm feeling energetic I can get it done in one day, but if I'm lazy I'll take the second day to do it. University of Phoenix only requires you check in 5 days out of the 7 in a week so if I do finish on Saturday (and that happens pretty frequently), then my Sundays still belong to me.
World Wide Learn:	What are some challenges you've faced with respect to your degree coursework?
Robert B:	I found the business accounting course very challenging. I've never been a math wizard and I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to make the cut. Luckily the teacher was very helpful and the PDF documents the University provides were pretty instructive. In the end I made it through the class with a decent grade. Sometimes working in team groups in an online environment for certain projects has been challenging as well. I'm currently in my 14th UoP class with only 4 left to go. After working in so many online group projects, you eventually learn to establish ground rules very early and the rest of the project runs smoothly.
World Wide Learn:	How is it communicating with your instructor, or other students, in a completely online environment?
Robert B:	Efficient! I like how the environment forces us to get right to the meat of any problem or discussion. Every thing that is ever said is neatly organized in threads so note-taking isn't needed. You never have to second guess what someone wants from you because there's a record of it that stays for the remainder of the class. Sometimes being in a different time zone than one of your team members for a project can make things a little tricky, but as long as everyone is accountable and agreeable, it doesn't affect the final outcome of your finished group product.
World Wide Learn:	What advice would you give to someone considering getting their degree online?
Robert B:	Make sure you're willing to commit the time to completing the degree. Just because you're at home doesn't mean you get to relax and drift through the course. Being an online student puts the onus on you to reach out and grab hold of the program material. If you're capable of properly motivating yourself to learn from home in an online environment, getting an online degree can be a very rewarding and efficient alternative to campus schooling. If you work full time and or plan to move throughout the course of your college career, definitely look into what an online university has to offer. It's worked out great for me, and I'm looking forward to graduating with a bachelor's in marketing this coming April.