2014 was the year where I set a lot of things into motion for my career, my traveling, and my educational journey with The University of Phoenix. It was definitely a good year and one that I’ll cherish forever.
In this blog post, I’m going to break it down into sections and answer questions that many of my friends, followers and family members have always ask me about UOF. Let’s do this!!!
Enrollment:
Enrolling at the University of Phoenix was pretty simple. I would say all counselors were very helpful and knowledgeable. They made it super easy and took me step-by-step on the entire process. I did a lot of research and asked a lot– can’t stress enough how many questions I asked. It was crucial for me to know that my decision to commit to this college was the best option for my lifestyle and work life.
Note: I would recommend getting your general classes out of the way at a community college. Also, double check that the courses you are taking elsewhere will transfer to UOF or any school for that matter.
Why The University of Phoenix?:
At the time, I was working full-time and trying to figure out what my calling was. I didn’t have the time to commit to a traditional school setting and started to weight out my options. I knew I wanted to get my bachelors degree; I just didn’t know how I was going to make time to do it. My brother-in-law recommended UOF to me after he completed his Bachelors with them. Attending UOF allowed him to work full time, spend time with family and work at his own pace. That’s exactly what I needed.
Skeptical? :
Yes, I was a little afraid and skeptical that I was about to invest money and my time to an “untraditional college.” I was most skeptical because I had read some bad reviews and it got me thinking whether I should do it or not. I quickly learned that I shouldn’t let what others have to say affect my decision. Reality is, many colleges have good/bad reviews, and everyone’s experience and views are different.
Another “scare” I had was whether or not UOF would be viewed as a ” good college” when applying for jobs. Many people say they don’t care where people get their degree from, just as long as they have it. Other’s believe that having your degree from a prestigious college is necessary to land a great job. It took me one full year to decide whether or not I would attend The University of Phoenix. In the end, after a full year of debate, I made my decision and applied. When you invest in something big like this, it’s okay to take your time and weigh out the pros and cons.
Tip: Always do your homework. Never take someone else’s experience and think it will be the same for you because it won’t. Also, ask around; other people might be able to give you better insight or give you recommendations different options.
What was your major? :
I majored in Business and got a Marketing certificate.
What kept me motivated? :
This is an excellent question because whether someone takes classes on campus or online, it is easy to get discouraged or lazy. This is true, especially for students that are committing to an online college. From the very beginning, I knew exactly when I wanted to graduate. I hardly took any breaks in between and if I did, I would double up on classes to speed up the process.
Note, that UOF isn’t like a traditional class; if someone wants to double up on classes, people have to come out of pocket for the full amount. Courses at UOF aren’t cheap. Failing a class or receiving a bad grade was NOT a risk I wanted to take. Failing meant having to retake the class and paying for the course out of pocket. No Thanks!!!!
Knowing all of this kept me motivated every single day, even when I felt like giving up. For those in schools, remember that many sacrifices need to be made to succeed. I had to give up a lot of my free time and spent that time studying, reading, WRITING, all while trying to live out a normal life.
Having the support of my family and boyfriend made it easier for me to follow through with my education! Support is very important.
Resources:
I’d say that UOF was up to date with all the necessary resources students need in order to do well in their studies. They have math and writing labs, tutors, a writing center, a plagiarism checker, guidelines for writing, reference and citation generator, a university library and much more.
They even have a programs tab for students to check their current GPA and their current and upcoming courses.
How long are each course and the quality of education? :
Each class is about five weeks long. Which requires a lot of focus and dedication because there is so much information to be learned. A student can expect a lot of online participation and discussions. The instructors are pretty on it when it comes to grading, answering back to messages and assuring that all students are successful. I got pretty lucky to have great instructors that helped me along the way.
The quality of the education at UOF was pretty good. It wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t too challenging, either; I’d say it right in the middle. They do require a lot of writing from their students which could get overwhelming at times. However, I feel many students can get by, by doing the bare minimum. Since it was an online class, it’s easy to come by answers for test and essays on the web. However, this could be said about any college. I wanted the MOST out of my education, so cheating was NOT something I would even consider. This is something all students should think about when pursing an education.
Did the material covered in class help you out in the workplace?
What I love about UOF is that it caters towards the working people. I like that their curriculum was based on real-life experiences and topics that students could relate to in their current profession. While I was working at the bank, a lot of what I was learning applied to my position, which was very helpful.
Paying back the loan:
Unfortunately, I do have a loan to pay back–sucks right? However, UOF gives students a 6 months grace period after graduation to start paying back the loan. If any of you are currently enrolled with UOF, I’d suggest reaching out to them and start planning out the repayment process, this way you won’t have to worry about it once you graduate.
Life After UOF? :
My life after the UOF has been great and stress-free– THANK GOD. I’m currently a social media consultant. I’m hoping to grow and launch my blogging career into something much bigger.
I hope many of you found this helpful and if you have further questions, please leave them down below!
Thanks
-Dawn
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