What can education get you these days?

After earning many degrees, I still have yet to see the value in my education. I believe that people respect me better because i have education, but are there any other advantages for acquiring higher education? I have helped many students to earn their degrees. I always hear about how a degree now is worth very little as opposed to education in the past. I have taken advantage of every opportunity given to me. Times seem to be getting tougher than ever before.

So really, what can an education get you these days? I have been searching for my dream since the mid 90's. I've made many sacrifices. I paid my due many times over again. To this moment in time, I am worse off then I was after graduating high school nearly 16 years ago. I served in the military in the 90's as a medical technician, and then attended many great college to earn degrees. I have a handful of degrees, excellent writing skills and strong communication skills. Where has my education taken me?

I am still trying to figure out whether education is necessary. When you owe a fortune in student loans, you start to think if making the sacrifices to earn degrees is worth a lifetime of debt. If I don't live my dream, then I am forced to accept making little money, which will never be enough to pay off my student loan debts. It will take the latter part of my life to make a dent into the loans. It is not worth the effort to be looked at as being intelligent. Any person can learn to write, especially through reading books and communicating with people. Essentially, a person should make their own decisions in life, and avoid listening to what others are suggesting for them to do.

I noticed that my education has helped me to provide for others. Many students have graduated because I helped them to overcome their writing weaknesses and to influence them to realize their potential. Maybe that is considered my reward for improving my education. My professional writing dream is still waiting on the back burner. Until I make it there, I will continue trying to take advantage of every opportunity, possible leading me to become successful. I will prepare myself with confronting my weaknesses and improving my strengths. I urge you all to reflect on your mistakes to better prepare yourself. Good luck!

Online university versus a traditional university

Which is better? An online university or a traditional university? The only differences between the two are independence and cost. A working professional may look to online universities because of their busy schedules. Students that have the luxury of time and financial concerns should avoid online universities. Why?

Online universities are just as good as traditional colleges because many of the students comes from good colleges and the instructors have credible experience. There is catch though. The cost of online course are astronomical. Universities charge a flat rate for full time while online universities charge per course fees. Do the math. Would you want to pay $2800 per quarter for 4 courses or over $8200 for 4 courses. That should be an easy decision.

Online universities are becoming more popular because people have the flexibility to log into a college website to complete weekly assignments, which can be very challenging. Don't be fooled that online coursework is easy. In essence, online universities are more challenging because a student has to be disciplined and have good time management skills. A student has to take part in weekly discussions, complete course assignments, and communicate with their peers. It is easy for a student to fall behind, making the process seem unbearable.

Traditional universities are fun because you get to socialize with other students, see life in motion, and communicate with instructor - upfront and in person. The only challenge is that a students has to travel to college, pay for gas, sit in traffic, and fight to stay up during boring lectures. Also, they have to deal with classroom midterms, quizzes, and final exams.

What is the difference between online universities and traditional universities? The cost of education favors traditional colleges. Online universities give students more flexibility - having independence. The drawbacks of traditional universities are the lectures and the in-class examinations. Online universities overcharge for their education, have too many requirements, and place a student in an isolated environment, which may be harmful to their health. Communicating with people - in a social environment - helps one to be more proactive and productive.

Which format is better? If cost is an issue, go to a traditional university. Limited on time? You should attend an online university. From experience, both college formats have the same quality of education. Separating cost and time are two processes that will help make your decision easier. With the economy making the job market unpredictable, traditional universities may favor students. Professionals should consider online courses because of their time constraints. Either decision will still deliver the same results - a student will learn about their respective field and earn a college degree in the process.