Going to college at 28 years of age.?
I was in the military for 6 years after high school. I’ve managed to get a pretty good job and have been living well since getting out. I work for a very well respected multinational corporation that I’d like to stay with. I’m married, and have a mortgage to pay, so I’ve got no intension on quitting my job to become a full time student. Anyway, I feel like I may as well use my GI Bill for some kind of education program, as it would be a waste, not to use the k in college money that I have already earned.
I’m thinking that a degree in business management might be helpful for climbing up the ole’ corporate latter. University of Phoenix offers programs that I could do while also working and get my degree in a relatively short period of time. Do companies take these kinds of degrees seriously, or would I be better off just taking a class or two at a time in the evenings and hashing out an AAS from community college, and transferring to a state university?
Tagged with: 6 years • aas • college money • degree in business management • education program • evenings • full time • gi bill • good job • intension • Mortgage • multinational corporation • period of time • short period • time student • university of phoenix
Filed under: Mortgage
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Do not go to University of Phoenix:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/044/RipOff0044901.htm
Since you were in the military a school associated with the military such a Park would be a much better choice IMHO:
http://www.park.edu/
Again do not go to Phoenix, Westwood, Kaplan or similar colleges. They have a VERY poor reputation.
Thanks
Bill
do the community college and then state school. it’s the best way. businesses don’t take online degrees seriously at all.
There are plenty of degrees you can earn after hours at traditional Universities rather than the online sort. Most schools offer BA and MBA programs tailored to people who already work, and yes, it is beneficial to have the degree. It gives you more leverage for raises and should you ever need to look for another job. Besides, as you say, the money is there and you earned it, so why not?
I would stay away from the University of Phoenix. They are coming under a lot of fire for shady practices and low graduation rates:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/11/education/11phoenix.html?ex=1328850000&en=5c8573d57de4bffe&ei=5088
Community colleges are actually cheaper, and especially if you use these classes to get into a university, you will be getting a great value for a good education.
I’d go with online classes from your local university or community college, you’d be surprised how much they’s offer.
You have to look at those kinds of tech schools as businesses. They’re in it for the money. In fact, I’d say the only tech school worth a damn is DeVry.
Avoid them, you’ll end up paying 3 times as much money for 1/3 of the education.
I’d go the community college/university route…as other posters have said, employers (or at least, any serious employers with opportunities for serious career advancement) aren’t going to take an online degree seriously, and it’s a waste of the GI bill money.
I’d also talk with the HR department at your company….often large companies will pay for you to attend school, especially since you’re hoping to stay with them long-term. It might make sense to use the GI bill money first, but they might work with you to finish this degree, or pay for your next one.
There are also some special programs out there for older students seeking to go to college that might be worth looking into. Columbia has one, for instance, through their school of General Studies, and there are similar programs sprinkled around the US.