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How much did/is college costing you guys?
- Thread starter tkepongo
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I have a few comments...
First, please do your homework before you give such uninformed opinions. WGU is more accredited than most brick-and-mortar universities. They are making waves in the post-secondary educational world. Also, note from that link that WGU is first and the only online teacher education institution in the nation to receive NCATE accreditation.
Second, not a very respected degree? I beg to differ along with many other WGU students and alumni. From the school districts I am considering working in and have contacted, they ALL want me to do my student teaching in their respective school districts and to also consider beginning my career there as well. WGU is well-known for the quality graduates they produce.
Third, do you actually read? I said that at WGU you need a B (same as GPA of 3.00) to actually PASS a course. Not a bloody C or D like a physical university! This means their standards are definitely HIGHER than a physical university. They only show PASS or FAIL because their grading system is based on COMPETENCY. If you receive a PASS you are competent in that course material. I did not sit in a classroom to get a C or D like some university students do. Also, I have to be COMPETENT in courses other than my major.
Fourth, how do you know I am not suffering by taking 23 credit hours? Nice to ASSume things. For your information, I am disabled from a military accident, working almost full time as a Substitute Teacher, and I am taking DOUBLE what a regular university student takes for a course load. I average five hours of sleep a night - six if I am lucky. The reason why I don't find it too bad is because of my personal discipline. I don't go out much and when I do it is with my wife on a Friday night every week. Would you be able to handle this amount of work? I highly doubt it, because your attitude tells me that you would not even make it past the first six month term.
Lastly, if you were doing the hiring for any teaching position I would be applying for, and had that close-minded attitude of yours, I would personally tell you to stick your position where the sun doesn't shine.
what accreditation. I see a small handful and that is no where near what most brick and mortars have. A lot of those have a very long list of accredited degrees.
Also hate to break it to you but 23 hours is not impressive. That is the same work load as what most college students run in a semester. Normal semester for a brick and mortar is 4 months long and a 15 hours course load=. Your semester is 2 months longer and if you factor the hours to account for the extra 50% in time you have you see that it is the same work load as a normal college student. The difference in the hours in a single year is going to be made up over the summer terms which it is easy to take another 12 hours of credit.
I did my homework before I rip into it. The degrees are not impressive. It has the standard joke MBA and some networking degrees but it seems it specializes in teaching and from what I can tell on the site to me it would be the same as alternative teachers certification.
As for me being able to handle it. I sorry but no I could easily handle it considering I can promise you my degree is not easy. (Opinion based on people who gotten my degree then gone into teaching and transfered into it)
To me nothing from what you said or on the site seems to make me think very much of it. Distance learning just lacks so much with out the professor student interaction.
Accreditation
Regionally and Nationally Accredited
Western Governors University is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, one of the major accrediting commissions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The Northwest Commission is also responsible for the accreditation of other major institutions such as the University of Washington, University of Oregon, Gonzaga University, University of Utah, University of Idaho, and BYU, to name just a few. Although regional accreditation is considered the highest form of accreditation, WGU is also nationally accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).
A Unique Story in the Annals of Higher Education Accreditation
WGU has the distinction of being the only university to receive regional accreditation from four regional accrediting commissions. In part because of its founding by the governors of 19 western states, which encompass a wide geographic region, WGU was simultaneously reviewed by a special committee — the Inter-Regional Accrediting Committee — comprised of representatives from four regional accrediting commissions. In February 2003, the committee awarded WGU accreditation in all four regions, an extraordinary recognition that had never before nor since occurred. The Northwest Commission is now considered WGU's "home" accrediting body because the university's headquarters are located in Utah, which falls under the review of the Northwest Commission. WGU still continues to be an institution with a broad focus and a mission to expand access to higher education. For instance, WGU now serves students in all 50 states and several foreign countries and employs faculty mentors in over 30 states.
NCATE Accreditation
In October 2006, the WGU Teachers College became the first and only online provider of teacher education to receive accreditation from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). The NCATE accrediting team extensively reviewed the entire WGU Teachers College curriculum to ensure "that candidates have the knowledge and skills to be effective in helping all students learn." NCATE is the premier specialized accrediting body for teacher preparation and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. It accredits colleges of education that produce over two-thirds of the nation's new teacher graduates annually.
Now that your accreditation comment has been negated, I am going to continue.
23 credit hours not impressive? Please. My mentor is adding another 4 credit hours to my course load on Tuesday to make it 27 for the term. The advantage I have is that I can add as many credit hours as I want per term, as long as I finish them by the 15th of the sixth month. Want to continue spouting garbage? See, like before you are ASSuming things.
WGU is not producing graduates that just sit in a classroom and skim by with a C average. Sorry, but at WGU you need a minimum of a B average to even pass a course. At a physical university you can get by with a C or even a D. Want to argue further about who has the higher standard?
WGU is NOT an alternative to teacher certification. It is the real thing and much more. When I do the Demonstration Teaching phase (student teaching), I have to be in a classroom from the time the school opens until it closes, including any extracurricular activities the school has. Students going to a physical university do not have to do this - they only have to be at a school part of the day and then go home. Who has the more immersive experience?
I looked at many physical universities before deciding to go with WGU. All others pale in comparison IMO. I am already getting school districts interested in me because of my WGU education and also because of my Computer Analyst/Programmer degree from 2002. This is one year before I even graduate...
BTW, professor-teacher interaction at a physical university is way over-rated. I have had classes in my previous degree where I learned more out of a textbook, university library, and the Web.
I going to repeat what I said before the accreditation is not impressive. It just means the program is accredited. All the school names they put on there is pure marketing. It has accreditation I never said it didnt just you are making it out to be so much more than it really is. It does not have more accreditation than a brick and mortar school. It has a hell of a lot less. It offers very few degrees.
It big one is apparently teaching.
It student teaching program is the same as a standard University. You have to be there as long as the students are there. It not really that impressive. I do happen to know a fair amount how the system works on it. My mother is a teacher and takes on a student teacher every few years and been doing so for a while now.
Also like to point out most school require a C for all course work put forth to there major. I would expect a online one would require a B because it a is easier to get a higher grade on a distance learning course. So please do not try there B as a higher standard.
Also I can list at least 3 reasons other than the college why you are getting called. A)You Sub quite a bit as is. B) you other degree and C) shortage of teachers.
Now A and B are 2 huge reasons why they are interested in it. All you are getting to me is just your paper work to do something you apparently enjoy doing quite a bit and that is a rare thing to find some one who likes to teach.
Just I do not like seeing the college talk up to be so big. It is not that impressive. If offer very basic degrees that a lot of people tend to go after. Teaching from what I have seen is more about experience than anything else.
It big one is apparently teaching.
It student teaching program is the same as a standard University. You have to be there as long as the students are there. It not really that impressive. I do happen to know a fair amount how the system works on it. My mother is a teacher and takes on a student teacher every few years and been doing so for a while now.
Also like to point out most school require a C for all course work put forth to there major. I would expect a online one would require a B because it a is easier to get a higher grade on a distance learning course. So please do not try there B as a higher standard.
Also I can list at least 3 reasons other than the college why you are getting called. A)You Sub quite a bit as is. B) you other degree and C) shortage of teachers.
Now A and B are 2 huge reasons why they are interested in it. All you are getting to me is just your paper work to do something you apparently enjoy doing quite a bit and that is a rare thing to find some one who likes to teach.
Just I do not like seeing the college talk up to be so big. It is not that impressive. If offer very basic degrees that a lot of people tend to go after. Teaching from what I have seen is more about experience than anything else.
^^^ The two of you need to calm down
Macintosh Sauce I think your additional degree and work experiences might be helping you out a great deal. One of my friends has worked in an elementary school classroom extensively, and even though she hasn't finished her degree yet (still a year+ away), a principal has contacted her and offered her a job.
On a side note, I have to express my mistrust of online learning. While you might be a very honest student Macintosh Sauce, what's to stop someone else from cheating? It's quite easy to have a friend write a test for you online. IMHO, there aren't enough ways to monitor who students are. I can tell you that it would be quite hard to fool my GSIs
In addition, I wouldn't want to take online classes in any case. They feel sterile and don't seem to offer the same learning experience that real classroom lectures can. You claim that you've had some horrible professors, but could it be that you simply took the wrong classes? There are many, many good professors. Most of mine have been great. Did you attend a major research university before? Perhaps attending one of those lectures would show you that not all professors are boring.
depends. If I get into the school I really want to, 40k a year for 3 years, (I have AP credits that test me out of a year), or I go to my second choice at 20k a year for 2 years because there they accept more credits.
The first has to be the funniest comment I have ever heard. You looked at many physical universities and they all pale in comparison to WGU? Apparently you didn't look too hard, there are colleges in my area with Liberal Studies and teaching certificate programs that have programs with local school districts guaranteeing you a teaching position after you graduate provided you meet GPA qualifications. But I suppose each is entitled to their own opinion, personally I would never attend WGU (have read some pretty shady reviews about it) and would proably never hire someone who solely possesed a degree from WGU.
I completely disagree that professor-student (since I am assuming you meant that and not professor-teacher) interaction is way over-rated. I've had both online and in class classes, and internet classes were far far less engaging. Maybe the school you previously attended didn't have very engaging professors or maybe they lacked relations with the students outside of class, but in my experience student-professor interaction is key to learning. I often learn as much talking to my professors outside of class as I do while in class. Not to mention getting references for graduate school, etc from an online school professor is slightly complicated when compared to walking into an office and speaking with the professor.
I also tend to disagree with the whole competency based approach, I really think it's important to know both theory and application, not solely application. It is often rather difficult for people to explain things when they know how to apply the theory but don't know the full explanation of the theory itself.
Also, come on Mac Sauce, you're really saying a B a WGU is harder to get than a C at a good brick and mortar school? With some professors that may be true, but on the whole thats more than likely complete garbage.
I wish the best of luck to you and am glad you enjoy WGU, but unfortunately (or fortunately, depending upon how you look at it) most people (especially outside of the teaching profession and proably many people within it) will look at your degree as inferior in comparison to something from a brick and mortar university.
Oh, and I can't help but think you work for WGU, you sound like an infomercial.
I go to school in Manhattan for Illustration. I have two more years left and so far I'm about 30-40grand in the hole. Figure that will triple at least if I pay back all my yearly interest every summer. Everyone has debt though and everyone will be paying it back, unless your parents pay for everything which in terms would be sweet, but less rewarding i think.
It's a godsend isn't it? I <3 BART
Yup, I spent plenty of quality time on BART and the 51 line bus.
Yup, I spent plenty of quality time on BART and the 51 line bus.
LMAO. I've been on the 51 a few times so far to interview lawyers for our research paper. There were so many darn people requesting stops though, that the next 51 actually overtook us
I went to a private Catholic university. It was good experience, overall school sent me on my senior year my cost. $100k for 4 years and I only ended up owing 16k in loans the rest was payed with scholarship, grants and working 20 hours with 16 units workload. I save a lot of money because I did not dorm.
My friends who came from same High school that did dorm stopped after Freshman year, it was a 15k/yr loan they had to get to live on campus.
My friends who came from same High school that did dorm stopped after Freshman year, it was a 15k/yr loan they had to get to live on campus.
College is currently costing my mom my rent for my apartment minus the 2k that's left over from my financial aid. So for my first two years it cost $2680 and this year and (hopefully) next year $3100/ yr.
As for me, I have taken some classes during the summer and had to pay out of pocket so thats about $1320
In total for my undergrad degree it will cost about 13-14k. Which I guess is not bad considering my tuition is taken care of through financial aid.
Law school on the other hand is gonna cost an arm, a leg, and who knows what else
As for me, I have taken some classes during the summer and had to pay out of pocket so thats about $1320
In total for my undergrad degree it will cost about 13-14k. Which I guess is not bad considering my tuition is taken care of through financial aid.
Law school on the other hand is gonna cost an arm, a leg, and who knows what else
I went to one of the best universities here in Costa Rica, the UCR (University of Costa Rica). It is a public university, heavily subsidized by the state. I had full scholarship for my grades, plus started working as a teaching assistant after the second year, and as a network administrator in the university after the third. I used to pay the equivalent of roughly ~$10 per semester. Even if you have to pay full tuition, I think it is currently ~$100 per class or so.
Now I am getting a masters degree in another one of the four public universities, the Costa Rican Institute of Technology. Post-graduate degrees are self-sufficient, though, so it is more expensive - I pay around ~$275 every other month, plus another ~$100 for books and other university-related expenses (total for the two-year program will be around $4,500 in tuition). It is still pretty inexpensive compared to other places, and even to the private universities in the country. And the public universities are consistently rated as the top ones in the country (and do very well in Latin-American rankings).
Now I am getting a masters degree in another one of the four public universities, the Costa Rican Institute of Technology. Post-graduate degrees are self-sufficient, though, so it is more expensive - I pay around ~$275 every other month, plus another ~$100 for books and other university-related expenses (total for the two-year program will be around $4,500 in tuition). It is still pretty inexpensive compared to other places, and even to the private universities in the country. And the public universities are consistently rated as the top ones in the country (and do very well in Latin-American rankings).
i would have gladly paid 10 times that for what i got out of going to that school.
and i went as an older student, so i still had to pay rent, car payment, all my supplies, etc. myself. hence the debt. mom + dad already footed the bill for my first try at college, this time i was on my own about 120k for 3 years of college in the end it'll cost.
1st Year - Wentworth Institute of Technology - 26-30k + other expenses
2nd Year - FullSail University - No Credits Transfer From Wentworth - 33k
2nd Year Continued / Start of 3rd Year - 33k
3rd Year Completed - 33k
+ Other misc costs.
1st Year - Wentworth Institute of Technology - 26-30k + other expenses
2nd Year - FullSail University - No Credits Transfer From Wentworth - 33k
2nd Year Continued / Start of 3rd Year - 33k
3rd Year Completed - 33k
+ Other misc costs.
But with such a small tuition, how are the deans and and his minions, including the top heavy administration in the UC system, supposed to earn their six figure income? Do you know what gas alone costs these days here?
</SARCASM>
I feel lucky I went to school in the '80s when there were still reasonable amounts of financial aid available. I worked work study jobs all four years, took out about $11,000 in loans. My mom paid about $25,000, and the rest of my $80K tuition was paid by grants.
Zero.
Got my undergrad in England at a time when the government still covered all tuition costs, then got a full scholarship to a university in the US for my graduate work.
Got my undergrad in England at a time when the government still covered all tuition costs, then got a full scholarship to a university in the US for my graduate work.