Anyone taking online college classes this summer?

Hey guys,

This summer semester presents a very unique opportunity for taking college courses in that all universities are offering online courses. We are not talking generic 101 courses either - all junior and senior courses will be online. It really is a once in a lifetime chance to knock out some classes online since most do not offer online classes.

I'm 10 classes short of graduating and I'm thinking about going back this summer to take advantage of this. I'd probably switch to a social science (psychology) as they offer many courses during the summer. I'd take 3-4 courses during the first six week period and possibly another 3-4 courses for the second semester assuming schools are still on lock down. I know this would require a massive amount of work as it is a complete overload schedule for the summer but it's only 6 weeks at a time. The goal would be have 3-4 classes left (or less) for the Fall semester and get the hell out of there.

It just feels like this is my opportunity to finish it and get this behind me. I've been taking college courses for the last 15 years - well, I've been a student, but I haven't taken a course in 10 years. College has haunted me for years - my dad has a PhD and my sister has a medical degree. It's something that I felt like I've had to do but I could never hold it together. This is my chance to get C's and just get this behind me. I know I'm not going to school for the right reasons (job prospects, quest for knowledge, etc.) but the weight off my shoulders would be huge.

Any one else returning?

Any thoughts?

Thanks

Yea, it seems like a giant waste of time and money.

How many credits (not classes) are you short?

You need to find something that really interests you, or coursework for a specific career path; having no motivation other than "I gotta get a degree" is going to make doing BS busy work very difficult. Online classes are much more busy work oriented because you're not sitting in a class interacting with a prof or students, so they force interaction through discussion boards, busy assignments, etc...

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i'll be honest bro. Don't waste your time. if you are smart use your brains and start your own business. Be your own boss and make REAL money. Invest in the stock market and invest in real estate. I am saying this because I have a college degree, and I would say it really didn't help me. If I could go back in time at 18 years old I would have started investing in the market and buying up houses. Just my 02...

nxhappy said:

i'll be honest bro. Don't waste your time. if you are smart use your brains and start your own business. Be your own boss and make REAL money. Invest in the stock market and invest in real estate. I am saying this because I have a college degree, and I would say it really didn't help me. If I could go back in time at 18 years old I would have started investing in the market and buying up houses. Just my 02...

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I will finish my MBA online in October this year. My ME degree opened a lot of doors for me and this Master's will open even more. I do agree that you can do very very well with your own business if you know what you are doing. I am fortunate enough to have the best of both worlds as I got into investing in real estate last year and it has been very rewarding so far. Like you said, I wish I would have started buying up houses when I was 18 rather than waiting until I was 34, but late is better than never. I own two investment properties so far and would like to acquire 2 or 3 more at least before I retire.

velocicaur said:

I'd probably switch to a social science (psychology) as they offer many courses during the summer.

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Sounds like a giant waste of money. How does this help you with future job prospects?

Get it done and get it behind you. It sounds like this is something you have been pursuing and want to complete. It will feel great when it is done.

I just finished an MBA in Michigan. There were times where it was painful, but I'm glad I pursued the degree. I "digitally walk" on Friday next week.

nobody is hiring anyway. hell you can't even go to a classroom. IMO internet class is even worse. piling on debt for what reason? you might as well take that money and invest. invest in the stock market while its at all time lows. Invest in real estate. invest in gold. these schools are charging WAY too much money it's a ****ing joke. average is 40,000 for a masters. And for what? 40 grand is a sweet investment in the stock market. Also a good chunk down for a house. Like I said for the next 12 months NOBODY will be hiring expect maybe the grocery stores and essential places that pay $13 per hour.

VRYALT3R3D said:

Sounds like a giant waste of money. How does this help you with future job prospects?

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I hope he is smart enough to see RECORD unemployment right now ....

Thanks for the replies.

It's just something that has been eating at me for the last... 17 years now? Of course, I don't know what it will feel like when I would finish but I think the amount of pressure and stress that I put on myself would be a huge relief.

It certainly wouldn't be for current job prospects and perhaps not even long term. I definitely won't hop into an office job or something like that. It's something that would be put behind me and I'll always have it for later. I could always jump into a future master's degree or something without having to put in all the BS requirements when transferring schools. I know I mentioned psychology because that is the path of least resistance in finishing the degree. The majority of my credits are in math, stats, chemistry (these courses are not offered in the summer/specific course sequence requirements so it would take MUCH longer) and things of that nature. I should easily be able to transfer into a master programs in one of those fields with little additional work if I ever decide to go that route. I'm definitely not doing it now, but who knows what life will be like in 10 years.

I've been working general bitch jobs for the last few years. I was doing landscaping for a few years but the pay is dreadful and there aren't many benefits. I recently got a job as a custodian which has fantastic benefits but again, the pay just isn't there. I recently got put into a new building where I have to clean 55 bathroom stalls and 25 urinals... it is nasty. I think I'm going to go back to landscaping this summer when things open up again. These jobs are hard on the body and it's another reason to finish school off now. I can still handle it now but I know I'll be over it in another 10 years.

I have 30 credits to go. It'll be about 16000 in tuition (30*~540). Toss in another 1k for books. I should get about 5k in Pell grants so we're looking at about 12k overall. It is a decent chunk of change but it isn't the end of the world.

I definitely agree that looking into starting a business and such is the way to go. I don't have many marketable skills and my personality for it is...lacking (anxiety/depression/awkward). I can see myself getting into the real estate business. I say getting back into because my family used to be in it. We had about 80 units but sold them off back in ~2003 which is unfortunate. Well, it was great at the time but a terrible decision in hindsight. They would almost be paid off and generating about 30k/mo and worth about 5-6 million in assets. I wouldn't have had to work again... what could have been.

If you’re working full time 3-4 classes in 6weeks will be stressful. Like mentioned above online classes require a lot of busy work. Reading,discussions, research papers.

I have 3 discussions a week(have to read 6-20 page articles for each) post 3 times in each discussion.
A 4-6 page paper every 2.5 weeks
2 group projects
And basic lecture videos from the professor.
This is for 1 8week class. That x4 I’d lose my mind.

I think the plan to load up on that many classes in a 6-week period is unreasonable. Not just "oh man, that would be hard" but really, impossible. I don't think the school would even allow it (as they shouldn't). If I recall correctly my school had a max of 18 credit hours during the summer.

I have learned that people that go to school just for the sake of going to school do not do well. I am not in your exact situation, but close adjacent. I am 34 and leaving my job of the last 15 years to pursue my education. However, I am doing it with a purpose not just to have a degree for a possible "what if" in the future.

If you are hell bent on going back you need to actually look at the program you are going for and what that degree would net you in the future. Whether it is to continue into grad school or have a career in the field of your degree. I have to shake my head when I talk to people going for a criminal justice degree thinking that will get them into the FBI.

I'll be finishing up my Masters in Aeronautics with dual concentrations in space studies and aerospace management here in Oct. Between full time rotating shift work and one class each semester, I'm spent and just ready for it to be over.
I think as long as you choose a degree that you find interesting, can provide value in your life, and are in it for the long haul, then go for it. If your hearts not in it then it's probably not worth the time, money, or effort.

76IHscoutII said:

I'll be finishing up my Masters in Aeronautics with dual concentrations in space studies and aerospace management here in Oct. Between full time rotating shift work and one class each semester, I'm spent and just ready for it to be over.
I think as long as you choose a degree that you find interesting, can provide value in your life, and are in it for the long haul, then go for it. If your hearts not in it then it's probably not worth the time, money, or effort.

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Pretty much what I did, finished a BS in Aeronautics (Management Minor) at ERAU taking 1 class per semester while working shift work. Thinking about enrolling in their MBAA program next year.

I'm currently taking online classes to finish my BS in Enterprise Security, I got an AS in 2013 for Network Engineering and at the time had a good paying job (for my age) and was over school, just wanted to work. I'm at the point now where I am hitting some walls with trying to advance my career as the company I work for, while an AS is TECHNICALLY the minimum requirement, every job listing and every hiring manager is really looking for a Bachelors degree. I almost didn't get an interview for my current job due to my degree but I was given a chance and an offer two days later.

My employer has education benefits so my online college is 100% paid for. I'm 75% through my degree and am slated to graduate March of 2021. I hate being back in school but I know I have to get it done if I'm going to get past this proverbial brick wall I feel like I'm stuck at.

If you want to go back to college you need to go for a useful degree that you can use to benefit yourself in a new career, going back to get a useless Psych degree just to say "I have a degree" is absolutely, absolutely a pointless waste of money. I have a friend who got an art design degree from the art institute of Philadelphia like 13 years ago and he currently works at the TSA. He'd be the first to say that degree was a total waste of his time and money.

honestly dude, at a certain point experience trumps a degree. Degrees are mostly just to help you get your foot in the door. Unless its some specialized degree that's required to get a job in, I wouldn't consider it worth the time. I'm in IT, no degree, made it to multiple management level positions (none of which required a degree). I've had companies offer to pay for me to go back to college and finish, but honestly, I wouldn't be making anymore money, and it wouldn't be worth the time and energy spent balancing a full time job and college courses.

I've got an Asian taking some for me this summer.