Dumping 'trainee'

[Conservative in Virginia]

This may be the wrong heading to put this and for that I apologize.

YES.. I took on two Trainees during boom time. Sorry, but it was ONLY TWO (and we did not work for AMC's and we did NOT lower our fees!) ---One was a young guy who lived in an area north of us. He lasted about one year and left almost two years ago when the sky started falling in Northern VA... The other was my son who did earn his license long about last June (sad,very sad) Now he is finally listening to me as I have been telling him to run.

He is looking at a program with The University of Phoenix - which is a college that says you can earn your degree online. He is looking at information technology - computer sciences. He does have some base college credits which should transfer.

Has anyone some advice, tips, experience with U of P?

 

[Joyce Potts]

I'm right there with you. I finally talked my younger son out of it as well and he's now at Florida State (FSU). Yes, very sad.

 

[Conservative in Virginia]

Joyce, have you heard from Pam this morning.. I am very concerned...

My son really worked hard at this.. was training during the boom time when orders were plentiful. He loved the math part of the biz. It was really right when he got his licence when reality set in around here. He looked at me and said, "Mom, why does everything I like go away?"

Now after a year I am directing him out and he is starting to listen. I hope this 'University' will work out. I wish I were young enuf to start over too.

Let me know about Pam.

 

[Joyce Potts]

Pam, Jim, Cynthia and Tut are fine. The smoke isn't too bad where they are. They didn't end up evacuating, but broke out the camping gear as the power keeps going out. She was up this morning with the coffee brewing thanks to the camping stove and still no electricity. The schools are closed and it appears most of the fires near them have been contained, although the vinyl fence around the community pool melted. The winds are moving to the south and southeast towards the ocean, so Orlando has not seen or smelled much smoke (yet).

Her cell phone is dying and not she's not taking too many calls at the moment. She also refuses to burn the gas in her car to charge her phone.

I'll try and keep you posted, but many TV stations, the weather channel and the Orlando Sentinel are pretty much giving it round the clock coverage.

 

[Wendy]

.....He is looking at a program with The University of Phoenix - which is a college that says you can earn your degree online. He is looking at information technology - computer sciences. He does have some base college credits which should transfer.

Has anyone some advice, tips, experience with U of P?

I don't know this school except for from the ads on the radio and TV - I'm a little leary of that. I'd encourage your son to look at the major (read: established state schools) universities in your area. Most large state universities offer lots of classes online.

Even if the main campus is a bit of a hike - consider it as he will probaly only have to go there a couple of times a semester.

A degree from a well-known and established state school will most likely garner more respect on a resume.

Just my 2 cents......

 

[Metamorphic]

My wife got a Masters in Education from Phoenix, but it wasn't an on-line program. For the most part I would not recommend it for a college age kid. Part of the college experience, aside from the "college experience" is proving you have the discipline to do this hard thing. When an employer is considering a entry level professional, the degree is less about proof of what they know, or can do, but more about their ability to learn, and follow through. I think short cut aspect of the UOP programs dont provide that same level of achievement. For a young person that has not earned their bones yet this is a big difference, for an adult that's already proved they can hack it in a previous profession, the UoP degree that show's knowledge and skill is sufficient and well received in the market.

 

[Ken B]

I know nothing about UP, but I have to wonder why a local school is not an option? I say VCU all the way. Great school, even if it is inner city. As my daughter said to me when we were doing the college visit thing, the thing she liked most about VCU was it is in the city and the thing she liked least about VCU was that it is in the city. My daughter and stepdaughter both graduated from there and I took graduate-level courses in real estate and land development there. They have one of the best engineering schools to be found on the east coast. It is certainly worth a look. Of course, with all checks I wrote out to VCU over the years, I might be a little biased.

 

[Alison Swain]

My wife got a Masters in Education from Phoenix, but it wasn't an on-line program. For the most part I would not recommend it for a college age kid. Part of the college experience, aside from the "college experience" is proving you have the discipline to do this hard thing. When an employer is considering a entry level professional, the degree is less about proof of what they know, or can do, but more about their ability to learn, and follow through. I think short cut aspect of the UOP programs dont provide that same level of achievement. For a young person that has not earned their bones yet this is a big difference, for an adult that's already proved they can hack it in a previous profession, the UoP degree that show's knowledge and skill is sufficient and well received in the market.

This is the same info I was recently given by a firend of mine who is a big earner with a 100-year old + pharm/medical company. She earned her MBA here locally at Rollins College, but recommended the U of Phnx. She says a lot of people she works with are getting second degrees with them and they're viewed positively by the business world. I agree that a college-age kid ought to go get the college experience, though.

Who knew? And I thought it was just a diploma mill.

 

[Willie]

"Mom, why does everything I like go away?"

.

Tell him to try commercial appraising. Much more of a future.

 

[Vernon Martin]

When things got slow in the commercial appraisal business, back in '98, I went into the IT industry. Back then, they were taking almost anyone, but after all the consolidation and dot-gones, they became much more selective in their new hires. The quality of the school made a big difference, and resumes from certain schools (like DeVry) went right into the waste basket. A distinction seemed to be made between selective schools and schools that took all applicants. I suspect that U of P accepts all applicants, and I would wonder if one could get a complete IT education through taking on-line courses.

On-line education seems to help people in fields where the degree is just a credential and nothing more, like teaching or social work, but when degree holders are actually being hired for their skills, there seems to be a preference for those who are classroom or laboratory-taught at colleges with selective admissions.

Commercial appraising is still alive and well, though. Has your son considered that?