Before Rono Chatterjee applied to the online MBA program at the University of North Carolina –Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School, he wanted an “honest opinion” about the program, he says.
So his co-worker introduced him to a former colleague who was a current online student at the school. They connected via email and phone, then in person, Chatterjee says.
“I just asked him the general questions: How many people are in a class? What classes are you taking? What are your experiences so far?” says the 29-year-old. The Boston resident hadn’t pursued an online degree before, so understanding the program’s structure was also important.
Chatterjee is far from alone. Many prospective online students connect with recent graduates or current students, either through the admissions office or on social media. It’s a step experts highly recommend — especially if they are new to online education.
[Learn how to use social media when choosing an online college.]
“I think talking to someone that’s been through it and been through it at the institution can be really helpful, because they’re going to really have the most genuine and accurate experience,” says Laura Anderson, assistant director for admission services and financial aid at Pennsylvania State University–World Campus.
Bridget Rewitzer, an enrollment counselor at the for-profit Capella University, says specific questions will vary depending on the prospective online student’s goals and preferences. Still, experts say the following eight may be particularly helpful.
1. What is your weekly workload? Some prospective students wonder how the quality of a degree program that’s online compares with one on campus, and whether they will be able to balance their job with an education. One way to determine those answers is by asking alumni or current students about the courseload, experts say.
Consulting the student community is something Chase Kelly, an online bachelor’s student at Penn State–World Campus, did while researching online degree programs. The college student learned that “student history, focus and realistic study habits all play a role in ‘actual’ time needed for different courses,” he said via email.
2. How are the online courses structured? Many prospective online students aren’t quite sure of how course scheduling works in the virtual format, says Susan Aldridge, president of Drexel University Online.
For instance, courses may be live, requiring students to attend class at a specific time on a certain day, or self-paced — or both. Prospective students may also wonder about the length of each course. This kind of information — along with the types of coursework a program entails — enables prospective students to determine whether it will fit into their schedule, Aldridge says.
[Explore how to decide between live and self-paced online courses.]
3. What advice do you have about balancing an education with a career? Many who pursue a degree online initially have concerns about juggling their education with a full-time job and sometimes family obligations. A current or past online student can offer advice on doing so, says Anderson, from Penn State.
“I think there is sort of a ‘tips’ component: How were you able to be successful given that you had multiple things going on in your life , but you still wanted to make school a priority?” Anderson says.
4. How responsive are the faculty to online students? Given their various responsibilities outside of classes, prospective online students are sometimes nervous about this topic, Aldridge says. Often, they want to ensure they will be able to complete assignments on time — and quickly, if needed. Part of doing so requires instant feedback from professors.
5. What student services are available virtually, and which are most helpful? Experts recommend online students inquire about how accessible the student support services — everything from the career center to technical assistance — are to online students.
Witt Salley, associate provost for academic innovation and support at Maryland University of Integrative Health, which offers online degrees, says he asked students about library and research support and the writing center before pursuing his doctorate online at the for-profit Northcentral University.
“I thought, who better to ask than a student that’s experiencing the program right then, rather than someone who’s trying to sell me the program?” he says.
[Discover what to ask about student services in online programs.]
6. What opportunities are there to interact with other students? Even though a program is online doesn’t mean it won’t require students to either be on campus or attend live classes. Students also communicate and network through discussion boards, student groups and team projects.
“They don’t want to lose the quality of the experience,” says Anderson. “Part of that’s educational — the actual content . But part of that’s building connections, networking.”
7. Was getting an online degree worth it for your career? Mike Ezzo, an online MBA student at Capella, says he asked former students about how getting an online degree benefited them professionally — specifically whether the investment was a good one and how employers in his industry have viewed the credential.
8. What do you wish you had known at the start of the program that you know now? “You don’t know what you wish you would have known until you’ve been a student and you have some experience under your belt,” Salley says. “I felt for those reasons it was especially apropos to ask that kind of question.”
Trying to fund your online education? Get tips and more in the U.S. News Paying for Online Education center.
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Consult Past, Current Online Students When Choosing a Program originally appeared on usnews.com
