Kaplan University

[HeavenslilAngel]

Has anyone ever gone to Kaplan? I want to change my career to High Education so that I can work in Greek life or other university related areas. I applied to a local state school (I live about an hour-2 hours from it; so it’s still somewhat local) but didn't get accepted for the semester I applied for. My application is deferred to the following semester and they offer the option of taking up to 12 hours as a non-degree student that could potentially transfer into the program.

I found Kaplan's website today and they seem to let everybody in, don't require the GRE, and the program is completely online which will save me from having to make the hour-2 hour drive weekly/multiple times weekly depending on when classes are. It just seems too easy and I've already taken one masters degree online and found it to be easy to get into but didn't really learn much. However, the current master is in IT and this one will be in Higher Education so maybe I would retain more/as much online versus at the state school.

What are your thoughts?

[KSUViolet06]

I personally wouldn't. Kaplan and Phoenix are more like "give us your money and we'll give you a degree" kind of places (if I am wrong please correct me, maybe it varies by program, but that's my general impression.)

Aside from that, Higher Ed is the kind of program where you actually want to GO to classes and interact within a higher ed environment.

Of course, this is your money and your degree, so you have to do what's best for you.

[HeavenslilAngel]

Thanks so much for your advice. Thats kind of what I'm leaning toward (staying with the state school). The programs cost about the same, its just the whole distance factor with the state school and the fact that admission to Kaplan seems easier (obviously) than the state school. I guess I was/am disappointed that I didn't get in and was hoping for an easier way (Kaplan) which part of me thinks is the wrong way of thinking.

My worst fear is that I end up with a Kaplan degree and then go for an interview at a university and they say something to the effect of "you got your degree from where? We'll call you. Have a good day." That would defeat the purpose of what will be a second masters degree.

[agzg]

Kaplan University is regionally accredited (meaning, its accreditation is by the same or a comparable accrediting body as any state school). For Master's Degree programs (that I've noticed, so YMMV), the importance of where you got it is much less than the importance of the fact that you got it, but of course there are the elites in many fields that get a little more notice.

For an ed program, though, yes, online only might not be as valuable an experience as actually going to class and interacting with professors/fellow students/students. Online programs are particularly difficult for students who need that interaction (aren't as big on the self-starting).

Also, typically Kaplan and Phoenix degrees are worth more (to your employer) when you already work there, if that makes sense.

[HeavenslilAngel]

Originally Posted by agzg

Kaplan University is regionally accredited (meaning, its accreditation is by the same or a comparable accrediting body as any state school). For Master's Degree programs (that I've noticed, so YMMV), the importance of where you got it is much less than the importance of the fact that you got it, but of course there are the elites in many fields that get a little more notice.

For an ed program, though, yes, online only might not be as valuable an experience as actually going to class and interacting with professors/fellow students/students. Online programs are particularly difficult for students who need that interaction (aren't as big on the self-starting).

Also, typically Kaplan and Phoenix degrees are worth more (to your employer) when you already work there, if that makes sense.

So basically your opinion is that in my case a degree from a degree from the state school would benefit me more since I will be new to the field?

I did my current masters completely online so I'm familiar and comfortable with that format and the extreme self discipline "requirement" thats involved.

Thanks and keep the advice coming. I love hearing different perspectives.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by agzg

Online programs are particularly difficult for students who need that interaction (aren't as big on the self-starting).

This is me right here.

As much of an introvert as I am, I am SO not an online class person.

I'm a very conventional learner and I learn best through someone discussing the subject with me/taking notes about it/listen to other people discuss it. I'm also that person who likes clear expectations on assignments.

I don't learn from people saying "read x and take a 10 question quiz on x."

I also have the memory capacity of a goldfish. Going to class everyday and the routine of it helps me remember when things are due. In my online classes (a couple of my courses were online only) I was that person who had homework due at midnight and didn't realize it until 10.

I've had people ask me "why don't you get your ed degree online? It's so easy and you won't even have to student teach!" Um, because I have never taught in my LIFE and I wouldn't have a clue what I was doing if all I did was read about it online?

[AlphaFrog]

Being that you want to WORK in a university environment, it would seem important to actually GO to a university for that degree. I know you went to a university for undergrad, but I would think it would look better to get your masters from one as well. Otherwise, it seems to me like a lawyer who had never actually set foot in a courtroom, or a doctor that had only ever performed "virtual surgeries".

[agzg]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I don't learn from people saying "read x and take a 10 question quiz on x."

Online classes (that aren't done by universities or taught by professors who don't care about online learning) are typically nothing like this.

Some of the larger "prestigious" state universities have the worst online classes I have ever seen in my life.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

This is me right here.

As much of an introvert as I am, I am SO not an online class person.

I'm a very conventional learner and I learn best through someone discussing the subject with me/taking notes about it/listen to other people discuss it. I'm also that person who likes clear expectations on assignments.

I don't learn from people saying "read x and take a 10 question quiz on x."

I also have the memory capacity of a goldfish. Going to class everyday and the routine of it helps me remember when things are due. In my online classes (a couple of my courses were online only) I was that person who had homework due at midnight and didn't realize it until 10.

Originally Posted by agzg

Online classes (that aren't done by universities or taught by professors who don't care about online learning) are typically nothing like this.

This. I took online courses through Northeastern University in Boston. They were fantastic! There was a great deal of interaction and one-on-one time with the professor and other students via video/IM/phone, etc.

We used BlackBoard, so the set-up was easy to follow. The classes themselves weren't easy by any means and I still had the same professor issues I've always had (e.g. profs that refuse to give people 100% on anything, even when the submission deserves it.)

Online learning worked well for me as a graduate program, so I could continue to work full-time and go to school full-time, while keeping up with my family and other obligations. However, I would not have survived an online program as an undergrad.

[Munchkin03]

I am a major skeptic when it comes to online programs. A class here or there as part of a larger degree program, if a long-time employer's paying for it, or for a specific certificate program (say, IT) seems fine. I just doubt that, outside those three scenarios that an online degree is really worth the time and money. I'm getting to the point in my career where I'm starting to review resumes with HR, and I can't ever imagine preferring someone with an online-only degree (be it BS or MS) over someone who actually, you know, went to class. Pray tell, how does one get a BS in Nursing online?

My friends in student life/Greek affairs rely so much on the connections they made in graduate school for jobs and fellowships--are you really going to make connections like that at "online graduate school?"

I'm not sure that not requiring the GRE is a "good thing," either. Taking it--and preparing for it--is a good sign that you're serious about going back to school, and that you're prepared for graduate-level work. A school that doesn't take it (unless it's a school that requires auditions or portfolios) might be teaching to the "lowest common denominator," which is never good for anyone.

[AlwaysSAI]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

This is me right here.

As much of an introvert as I am, I am SO not an online class person.

I'm a very conventional learner and I learn best through someone discussing the subject with me/taking notes about it/listen to other people discuss it. I'm also that person who likes clear expectations on assignments.

I don't learn from people saying "read x and take a 10 question quiz on x."

I also have the memory capacity of a goldfish. Going to class everyday and the routine of it helps me remember when things are due. In my online classes (a couple of my courses were online only) I was that person who had homework due at midnight and didn't realize it until 10.

My mom keeps steering me towards an online program for graduate school (because many state schools are going that way) but I just can't get her to understand that it's just not for me. I just......need to be able to look a professor in the face if I need help.

[Gusteau]

I'm pursuing a career in Higher Ed as well. The field is becoming increasingly popular, and consequently, competitive. I wouldn't recommend it, especially if you're interested in Greek Life which in my experience has some of the most competitive assistantships, not to mention job postings. For example, I was told that almost 90% of the participants in GARP at South Carolina last year applied for one graduate assistantship in Greek Life.

The American College Personnel Association has some great resources for programs that you should look into as a starting point for your research.
http://www2.myacpa.org/

[agzg]

Yes. If you're currently employed (and are doing a second master's primarily for career advancement), Kaplan and Phoenix are really good options. For starting a career, a state school is going to look "better" on your resume.

[KSUViolet06]

^^^^This is so true, particularly if you're going into the education or other fields requiring state licensing (eg. counseling and such.)

Some states will not accept degrees for licensure requirements if they're from Kaplan/Phoenix/etc. Onine courses via actual schools apply (ex: online coursework from KSU/Case/etc), though.

[agzg]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

There's so much scamming going on with some of those for-profit universities. There are a lot of stories about schools fudging FAFSAs to increase Pell Grant amounts, which is money in the bank to them. It's just a hot mess. They often hide behind "accreditation," which doesn't really mean that much since there are so many accrediting bodies.

Kaplan University and University of Phoenix both have regional institutional accreditation. There are only six of them, broken up by geographic area, and are the same six that accredit all public four-plus-year universities as well as most community colleges. When you're talking institutional accreditation, it's the best you can get. And they work hard to maintain that accreditation. I think where you're thinking there are "so many" would be national accrediting bodies, which are typically for two-year and technical/vocational schools. If you're getting a mechanics certificate or certified nurses aide, you're probably at a school that's nationally accredited (if it's a decent school - others aren't accredited at all and you really need to watch out for that).

If you're talking programmatic accreditation, that varies. Not all programs are have a programmatic accreditor, and some have many different ones that vary in terms of the rigorous nature of the program. For example, the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) for all Dental programs (meaning Dental Assistant through DMD) is A. Required for graduates in many states for licensure and entry-level positions and B. a very rigorous accreditation process, with lots of work to maintain that accreditation. Typically, a Dental Assistant graduate from a for-Profit college versus a community college will have the same skillset and be equally prepared for a career as a dental assistant.

Originally Posted by littleowl33

The Chronicle has also reported that while for-profit online programs (particularly at the undergraduate level) are not as difficult to start (what with constant rolling admissions and the ease of attending "in your PJs"), they are very difficult for many students to finish. Their graduation rates are pretty poor. However this could be correlation, not causation, since many students chose online coursework because they already have very busy lives that make attending a traditional program difficult.

It's correlation, more than likely.

A while ago there was a study reported by the Department of Education that listed 7 risk factors for students who drop out:

1. Being an independent student (students who receive no financial support from their parents.
2. Working full time.
3. Having dependents.
4. Single parents.
5. Delaying entrance to college after high school.
6. Not having a traditional HS diploma (having a GED, "modified" diploma, or no diploma at all).
7. Attending college part time.

The overwhelming majority of the student population at a Kaplan or a Phoenix hit 4 of the risk factors on average.

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

^^^^This is so true, particularly if you're going into the education or other fields requiring state licensing (eg. counseling and such.)

Some states will not accept degrees for licensure requirements if they're from Kaplan/Phoenix/etc. Onine courses via actual schools apply (ex: online coursework from KSU/Case/etc), though.

This really widely varies by state. Folks hoping to go to schools like Kaplan or Phoenix should do additional research on their own into state licensure requirements and realize that the schools are more than likely based and accredited in a state where they don't live. Phoenix is Arizona while Kapan is Iowa.

Just like there's a lot of misinformation one way in favor of for-Profit schools, there's a lot of misinformation out there against them, as well. There have been a number of folks who even testified to Congress that have made misleading statements, particularly the guy who's a shortseller and stood to gain a lot by a rapidly decreasing stock price (I think he was the first to testify). There have also been a lot of misleading articles in the press.

All good stories and bad stories should be taken with a huge grain of salt.