Which Masters would you choose?

Question

I need some good ADVICE. I have been living overseas and have been doing a Masters in Education ONLINE at Seton Hall (so it is accredited, part of the brick and mortar school). I didnt want to waste time, and that is why I did it. I completed one year of the 2 year program. Bcs I knew I was coming back to live in the U.S., I decided to apply to a local University to complete the Masters in person at the University. They "assured" me I would be able to transfer ALL the credits and finish the Masters in one year. Because of this, I took a leave of absence from the other program.

NOW, I get back to the U.S. and spoke with my advisor at the University local, and she told me that there was a problem and that all my credits will NOT transfer, and that I have to begin the Masters from scratch and do everythign over again (I can only transfer 2 courses). Because I took a semester off at the other one (I didnt want to pay for classes that I would have to take again), if I go back to take ONLINE, I will not be able to start classes again (it is a cohort program, in which we take classes at the same pace) until August 2010, and finish in Spring 2012, the same as the local University.

So, basically my choices are to start the Masters from scratch at the local University adn start in January 2010 and finish in Spring 2012, or wait until the fall 2010, and continue online, but only have one year of classes to complete. (and not have to repeat all the classes again) I know it is "better" to do it in person, but for this degree, I dont feel it really matters in terms of connections, because I will be taking the internship here in the U.S.

I am so confused, what should I do?? Would you take the entire program over again just to do it in the classroom? or wait until the fall and finish online and only have one year left. Either way, I will finish both programs in Spring 2012....what do you think I should do??

Answer 1

I happen to feel you learn more while in the classroom, but if you are doing well with the online courses, I see no reason to redo a years worth of education. The material will be roughly the same, and you do end up doing extra work with the online classes. It's just that little extra that is missing from the online experience (human interaction?).

Answer 2

Well, you're definitely in a pickle! If you have weighed the cost of how much it will cost to complete the degree online vs. how much it cost to complete the degree on campus and they are comparable, I would go with the online program. I say this for a variety of reasons. One, what is the benefit of completing the degree on campus when you will have to retake classes you've already taken (you would be wasting time and money). Two, if you take classes on campus, you have to be in a classroom on the designated day at the designated time. With online courses, you have more flexibility. Third, I completed a master's degree in education and was in what you might call a hybrid program. Some classes were offered on campus, others were online. I ended up spending just about as much time online for my on campus classes doing research and the like. So, I might as well have been taking the course online. I did not find that being on campus with an instructor present for a lecture lasting 50-90 minutes made a difference in my learning or overall grade for the course. Of course, everyone learns differently and this is something you would have to decide for yourself. However, it sounds as if you have been successful in your online courses thus far, so I would not change. If I were you you, I would take the time I had "off" from school to work and save up money and possibly try to network within the education field. Register as a substitute teacher and get as much experience as you can. This way you are making money, networking and you can set your own schedule.

Answer 3

Ascended? Keep in mind that this planet of ours is speeding through the space of the universe while it spins on its axis and orbits the Sun. So, there's no telling in what direction that anyone who "ascends" from the surface of this planet is going to go -- it's all pretty much dependant on physics, really. Factor in inertia, momentum, etc etc etc, and there's no telling where a missile that is shot from the earth's surface will end up. Kind of like Jesus, when he "ascended" into Heaven. The Bible says he went up, up, up, into the clouds. Well, of course we all know that you can't build a castle in clouds, because it's just vapor. So Jesus had to keep going, higher and higher and higher, up into the statosphere, where the air got so thin that he could no longer breathe and he lost consciousness from lack of oxygen, and plummeted back down to the surface of the earth. When he hit the earth's surface again, he either drowned in the ocean, or broke every bone in his body and became food for bugs and birds and wolves. Not much of a story, is it? Anyway, there's no place for anyone to ascend into. So, it's unlikely that anyone would return. Scam.

Answer 4

Many University's online division is not connected (different faculty, requirements, curriculum, everything) with the main university. If I were in your situation, I'd just finish up your online degree.