Finishing my B.S online?
 

I'm finishing up my AAS in Aviation Flight Technology, and am considering transfering to Utah Valley State to finish my bachelors degree online.
Any body know about this school? Is it any good? I don't want to go to school where I have to take the tests at school.
-Jonas

if an airline has a choice between a pilot with an online degree, and a pilot with a degree from a traditional 4 year university, the one who graduated from the traditional university will get the job. that being said, i know that uvsu is totally online, and people seem to like it. it's not as good as a degree from a traditional 4 year university.

I disagree,

Given all things between two applicants being exactly even, it may come down to who had the better GPA or who went to a better college etc. But I would be willing to bet that is in the rare extreme cases.

UVSC is an actual campus where you can attend full time and earn a degree. Whether you attend full time at the campus or achieve your degree through distance education (online) the degree will not say which. It does not say "bachelors of Science (online) in........"

This subject has been beat to death....get the degree online, check the box, get the job...

oh yea..only if you meet minimums, and know someone to walk in your resume.

The continued spread of this myth simply amazes me.

Some ignorant stuff, no doubt.

What is best is, to find a traditional school (any state school), that offers courses online and finish one's degree that route. That way, the degree is from a school, and not a sole online degree mill type of establishment.

Not all degrees online, are the same thing.

Really?
 

WHY? The person who got their degree online is probably building time while they work on their degree. What advantage is there to sitting in a class? Let me know...maybe I will take personal leave from my airline so I can sit in a class or two.

There are two perception problems with online degrees:

1) Many older folks equate online degrees with fruadulent mail order degrees...this may not actually be the case, but it is a perception. Most people doing the hiring at major airlines are older, not younger.

2) Those of us who attended a traditional school recognize the tremendous value of the social interactions and teamwork in that environment. This is critical in the business world...when I was a manager at a large well-known company I did a significant amount of hiring, and I would automatically exclude folks with online, National University, ITT, etc degrees. The only exception would be for technician-level jobs.

I would suggest that a traditional degree will do you the most good. If that's not possible, then try to do a distance learning program at a well-known school which primarily offers traditional degrees. The degree will not state anything about online.

USMC: I have to respectfully disagree...I've been in the business world, and your perception does not match the folks who do the hiring. An online degree would not hinder your search for a regional job, but is that where you want to stay?

Right on, rickair7777. From an HR point of view, when I see online degrees (most of them..... although IU Kelley has an online/part time MBA program.....a top 20 program in the country) the application gets tossed in the circular file.

Get a regular degree from a state school, or use distance learning through a state school.

This all goes back to the "what should I major in" question. It doesn't matter, I used to hire people too. Having a real, residential University experience changes a person. This is what companies look for...its the degree that gets you the interview; who you are actually gets you hired. It will look bad in the interview when your potential boss talks about his college experiences and you tell him about your online discussion group.

Right on and right on with both of you. Regionals it won't hurt you at all, but with the majors it very well could. Do you think that HR reps from the major/legacy airlines really don't know how pilots with degrees from uvsc probably got that degree online?

I did my bachelors online, while working as a loadmaster in the military...and it worked just fine getting me into the top veterinary school. I didn't have time to go to school on campus between training, and traveling. Before you get an online degree however, check the school out real well. Like everyone mentioned, try to do it through a state school. i.e. University of Maryland. Avoid those all online program schools. If you can take a handful of classes on campus, do so. The social interaction is good...but it's not the only way.

You mentioned you didn't want to take the tests and such at school. Most online degrees allow you to do the coursework and such at home, but the tests must be performed at either a location college, or sometimes they allow someone at the library to proctor your tests for you.

If you do it online, have a very good reason for why you didn't complete it on campus. For those of us enlisted, it works out very well. For family men/women, who work full time and come home to kids and a spouse, it works very well also. My mother was a working mom, earned both her bachelors and masters degrees from the U of MD online, and now works for the FAA. It got me into the best vet school. I don't personally believe online degrees are bad, but it's important to make a smart decision as to where to go...and why.