next »

[bdb1boy]

HI, I read through most of the extensive posting on distance learning - most of it involved Ph.D programs which, after getting my law degree already, and one semester of a masters program in student development, I can clearly state I have no desire in obtaining.

I'm currently enrolled in a masters program in student affairs at U of Iowa, however, I'm investigating enrolling instead in KAPLAN's masters program in student services.  The primary benefit to me would that I would be able to work full time, and take one course at a time, every 10 weeks.  I would be working in some capacity at the University of Iowa while I study with Kaplan, to keep in touch with student life, but the next semester promises 12 credit hours of course work, a 20 hour assistantship, plus a 10 hour a week practicum.  It's 40 hours before even cracking a book for one of the four courses.

Obviously, this would slow my progress to the degree, but I'm more concerned about maintaining my sanity while I do the schoolwork to achieve it.  I also want to have a life outside of grad school and the U, and didn't have that last semester and don't foresee it happening next semester.

Has anyone dealt with anyone with a degree from Kaplan?  I know they are a respected company for study aids, such as studying for the LSAT and bar review, and the like.  They also have an online law school at Kaplan, which really surprised me. 

Kaplan's program also requires two practicums, taken near the end of the program.  Does anyone have a grasp on Kaplan's reputation for online programs and distance learning?  How many more doors would a degree from Iowa open for me?

My semester here at Iowa has been only average on the whole, and still waiting to hear from a couple courses to see if I meet that 3.0 average.

ANY insight would be greatly beneficial, thanks!

[dale1]

My advice is to stay away from distance programs, especially in higher ed/student affairs/student services.  You can take a course or two this way, and perhaps specialize in online education or the like, but a degree from U of Iowa is much, much, much better and more preferred than an online program.

Remember, higher education is a very conservative place -- the wheels move slowly, the attitudes may never change, and the people who make hiring decisions didn't come from Kaplan, U Phoenix, Walden, etc.  I would be concerned about the quality of the degree, and the prospects thereafter.

Also, is there a way you can negotiate (you did pass the bar, right?) your work next semester?  If you're on an assistantship, taking 12 credits is crazy.

[bdb1boy]

Thanks for that!  I could negotiate taking fewer credit hours, but that would extend my time in grad school - they offer nothing during the summer - and unlike with Kaplan, it would be tougher to work full time when my money runs out after two years.  But I do appreciate your input, pretty much what I expected regarding the value of a Kaplan degree vs an Iowa one.

But I also thought boards of bar examiners are really conservative too, and to allow someone to become a member of the bar with Kaplans online law degree really surprised me, but that IS in California!

[zharkov]

Thanks for that!  I could negotiate taking fewer credit hours, but that would extend my time in grad school - they offer nothing during the summer - and unlike with Kaplan, it would be tougher to work full time when my money runs out after two years.  But I do appreciate your input, pretty much what I expected regarding the value of a Kaplan degree vs an Iowa one.

But I also thought boards of bar examiners are really conservative too, and to allow someone to become a member of the bar with Kaplans online law degree really surprised me, but that IS in California!

You're mixing apples and oranges.  I don't know about CA, but in other states, the bar associations and state licensing boards have been sued to allow non-ABA approved schools to offer law degrees and let grads take state exams. But being allowed to take the bar exam, passing the bar exam, and getting hired by a decent law firm are very different things.

[imawakenow]

HI, I read through most of the extensive posting on distance learning - most of it involved Ph.D programs which, after getting my law degree already, and one semester of a masters program in student development, I can clearly state I have no desire in obtaining.

...

ANY insight would be greatly beneficial, thanks!

My advice would be to take a hard look at what you want to do and where you want to go. You state that you already have a law degree (3 years of study) and a semester of study in student development that you are now ready to jettison ("I can clearly state I have no desire in obtaining").

Unless you're independently wealthy--and your other comments about working full time and money running out seem to preclude this--I suggest looking at graduate school as a step toward where you want to go with your career rather than as another sheepskin to put on the wall.

If you want to work in student development, a degree from Iowa will be worth more than an M.A. from Kaplan--any day of the week. That's because almost all (all?) student development positions are from bricks and mortar schools.

Also, unless you've already put in time as an RD or working in student programming, you're putting yourself in a position where your education will have outstripped your attractiveness as a job candidate.

What will a law degree and an M.A. in student development (online or bricks & mortar) prepare you to do?

Just my 2 cents.

[zharkov]

 Does anyone have a grasp on Kaplan's reputation for online programs and distance learning?  How many more doors would a degree from Iowa open for me?

Let me just add a point, which I will also be bringing up in the classroom forum....

Distance ed programs are, IMHO, really made for people who would have a lot of difficulty attending more traditional programs.  If you can get your degree from Iowa, then that is the way to go.  Kaplan has a good rep among the onlines, but a degree from bricks and mortar Iowa trumps any online degree.

[koufax33]

The Iowa program is well respected in the student affairs world. You would have no problems finding a good job with that under your belt.

Having chaired several student affairs searches, I can assure you that a Kaplan (or any on-line) degree as your master's would end up in the Reject bin quickly....the only area where it may not matter would be if you are looking at judicial affairs positions....