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Re: Walden University
Posted by Elaine on 4/10/08

    I would also like to respond to the topic. It's a good one - something
    I considered before joining Walden U.

    First, I worked unbelievably hard to gain my degree. In fact, I worked
    harder on this one because there were constant deadlines: papers and
    assignments due each week, quiz, classes, textbook readings and follow
    ups, discussion group postings and chat, podcasts, etc.

    I thought it would be an easy way to get a degree. This was an
    incorrect assumption. It seemed like a great solution to my schedule -
    getting a college degree from the comfort of your home. No parking,
    errands, etc. I was mistaken.

    I lived on this computer for an average of 16 or more hours each week
    for a total of 19 unending months. My butt got sore!

    I've taken classes at 3 different universities (including many from
    Ohio State University) to renew my certification and obtain
    professional development credit. I will never complain again about a
    work load from a brick and mortar school. This online degree was
    consuming and difficult. In fact, I have told my colleagues that they
    need to seriously weight how much time they can commit to daily and
    weekly deadlines.

    I live in a rural area, so this online option worked the best for me.
    Traveling a large distance to classes while driving several hours in
    my car prohibited my opportunity to attain a degree. The education I
    gained with Walden exceeded any course work I've completed in my
    graduate studies.

    Online degrees are not for everyone. There are tech issues when
    working with computers to research, complete work, etc. Many of my
    coworkers would never attempt this because they are uncomfortable with
    technology.

    Walden exceeded my expectations. This is NOT a fluff school, by any
    means. I can understand, however, everyone's concern about this
    educational option. As in any educational choice, research your
    college choices, get information, and check the college's reputation.

    Take care,
    Elaine

    On 4/05/08, Jim wrote:
    > I am currently a Walden student. I live in a major metropolitan
    city and have plenty of
    > choices to pursue my PhD, but I selected Walden. In my field of
    Public Administration, I
    > already have what is considered a professional degree with my
    Masters in Public
    > Administration from a brick and mortar school, so I really don't
    need a PhD; an MPA is all
    > you need unless you want to teach. I just wanted to advance my
    knowledge, and "top off"
    > my education. Now having said that, I would not have made Walden my
    choice for an
    > undergraduate, MBA or any profession that requires licensure, it's
    just not always accepted
    > by licensing agencies.
    >
    > Walden is NOT a diploma mill. Students must participate in the
    online environment.
    > Classes require you to post answers to questions and research papers
    at least twice a
    > week, if not, you get an F for the week and earn no points. Keep
    that up and you fail and
    > are kicked out, yes kicked out. Thinking back, it is quite possible
    to go through all of
    > college and a graduate program in a traditional classroom setting
    and never speak up and
    > still get the degrees, in the online environment, you MUST
    participate or fail.
    >
    > It is tough work, in a regular class, a professor just reads back to
    you what is in a book
    > and answers questions, and in the Walden environment you are on your
    own. You must
    > read, understand, use APA style, do scholarly research (peer
    reviewed), participate online,
    > and respond to other students and the professor(s), each and every
    week.
    >
    > Degree mills ruined it for the industry, this is true. The
    University of Phoenix advertised
    > too much, that was/is bad also.
    >
    > What I really liked about Walden is that the research I do is for
    ME. In the brick and mortar
    > school when a student starts research, it is usually for a
    professor, who then gets to
    > publish a paper and gives credit to the student. At Walden, all of
    research is mine.
    >
    > Major universities like the City University of New York and Penn
    State have online degrees,
    > and an employer can’t tell it is an online education from the degree
    or the transcript.
    > Currently, academic institutions hold the keys when it comes to if
    an online PhD is
    > acceptable or not for someone to teach in a major university, they
    get to protect their turf.
    > Do your research and see what your field requires, and then go for
    there.
    >
    > I enjoy Walden, it fits my needs and lifestyle. If anyone would
    like me to send them a
    > dissertation from the library just to show you the kind of work
    students have completed,
    > just email me: 'C L S T U F F ONLINE@yahoo.com' (just remove all
    the spaces from the
    > first part.).
    >
    >

     
     

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