College choice question

TheyCallMeLiz

I've been seeing commercials for colleges like "University of Maryland University College" and the like and I was wondering if bosses these days really care where your B.A is from or not. I like the idea of some of these online schools, of course because of them being online. But at the same time I don't want to be a joke when my resume crosses the desk of a potential employer and have them laugh at me. Thoughts?

LXLX

http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/54894958.aspx

http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/54441422.aspx

http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/49137427.aspx

And my favorite:

For-profit colleges recruit at homeless shelters

Here are some news articles:

The Dangers of For-Profit Colleges and Universities

Probe finds fraud, deception at for-profit colleges

Spend your money on a real school, not a scam.

chinchilla fiesta

I've had some HR professionals tell me that they do look into schools like that and judge accordingly.

Kristin&Kelly09

From what I remember I think that the University of Maryland University College is somehow associated with UMCP.  I know a bunch of people up there who went to UMUC in the evenings to their degrees.  I don't know that I would put it in the same boat as University of Phoenix.

LXLX

Kristin&Kelly09:

From what I remember I think that the University of Maryland University College is somehow associated with UMCP.  I know a bunch of people up there who went to UMUC in the evenings to their degrees.  I don't know that I would put it in the same boat as University of Phoenix.

From my brief googling, UMUC is the for-profit arm of Maryland University system so what I linked still applies.

TheyCallMeLiz

Thanks LB for posting those links. It's along the lines of what I was thinking but needed confirmation.

summer08bride

Lucille Bluth:

Kristin&Kelly09:

From what I remember I think that the University of Maryland University College is somehow associated with UMCP.  I know a bunch of people up there who went to UMUC in the evenings to their degrees.  I don't know that I would put it in the same boat as University of Phoenix.

From my brief googling, UMUC is the for-profit arm of Maryland University system so what I linked still applies.

UMUC does offer in person classes as well. It was started to support military, and has many campuses on military bases around the world. I definitely not put UMUC in the same boat as Univ of Phoenix, Regency, NOVA Southeastern and the like. When I worked at UNF and now working at UMD, we don't take any transfer credits from those schools, but UMUC is a fully accredited school. Kristin is right, UMUC is more of the adult education, offering classes in the evening and now online for the working professional.

As for employers looking at the school, I think they do. I know working in higher education, if you try to get a degree from one of the for-profit places, your application is immediately thrown out.

 

ETA: The schools I mentioned, you don't need an actually PhD or any teaching experience to teach there.UMUC has mostly tenure or tenure track faculty.

LXLX

Thanks for the clarification.

So it is accredited, but still for-profit?

summer08bride

Lucille Bluth:

Thanks for the clarification.

So it is accredited, but still for-profit?

I'm trying to find that out. They get state money, so I don't think they are for-profit, but I'm not 100%. 

Martiza

I think that some of this may be field specific. For example, I know of 4 of our executives that have their Masters degree from places like Webster, U. Of Phoenix and NOVA. Brick and mortar is still your best choice. Even UF and FSU offer online programs now. You can look up school accreditation on chea.org

Kristin&Kelly09

Martiza:

I think that some of this may be field specific. For example, I know of 4 of our executives that have their Masters degree from places like Webster, U. Of Phoenix and NOVA. Brick and mortar is still your best choice. Even UF and FSU offer online programs now. You can look up school accreditation on chea.org

Very true.  I got my Master's online (minus 2 semesters) through FSU and the college I got it through was highly rated (or at least it was when I went). 

jenhappy

Nova is a brick and mortar school, for what it's worth. I never realized they were lumped with places like university of pheonix etc. I have a friend who got a DO at their Ft Lauderdale campus and one who got a PA at their Jax campus. I don't know anything about their online programs or how GOOD of a school they are, but they do have physical campuses with medical degree programs.

LXLX

jenhappy:

Nova is a brick and mortar school, for what it's worth. I never realized they were lumped with places like university of pheonix etc. I have a friend who got a DO at their Ft Lauderdale campus and one who got a PA at their Jax campus. I don't know anything about their online programs or how GOOD of a school they are, but they do have physical campuses with medical degree programs.

It's also very clearly noted that it's a not-for-profit university as soon as you google it. You shouldn't have to dig to see if a school is for-profit or not.

I have a huge problem with these for-profit schools for a bunch of reasons which is why I got all uppity.