Any experience with Washington State University's Global Campus?

[greencouch]

I'm considering transferring to Washington State University's online BS in communications program through their "Global Campus". They seem fairly CLEP-friendly, although their general education and graduation requirements look like a micro-managed mess. In speaking briefly with an admissions counselor, it doesn't sound like they accept credits from ACE-certified institutions like Study.com, so that's a bummer.

But the benefit (for me) would be that WSU is physically located in my town, so I'd gain whatever 'perceptual edge' that comes with graduating from a local university. 

I can find tons of reviews about their on-campus programs, but not much about their online programs. 

Does anyone here have experience they can share?

[videogamesrock]

There is no edge from graduating from a local university. Save yourself some money and go to the big 3.

[varJosh]

There is no edge from graduating from a local university. Save yourself some money and go to the big 3.

I totally disagree. During interviews at local companies and staffing agencies, the interviewers have had negative views of TESU. I can explain how TESU is among New Jersey Tech and Rutgers in the New Jersey Public University System and accredited by the same org. that accredits Princeton, but they have a look on their faces like "sureee... riiiight". 

There was even a young hiring supervisor that said TESU had a "unique" name, pretty much saying it is the equivalent of a for-profit scam school. 

I am proud of my soon-to-be TESU degree and know that TESU is bigger than my local state school and on par with the colleges in my regional university system, but a lot of people don't see TESU in the same way.



edit: I will add that the TESU degree did get me interviews, but I just cannot agree that it is the same as a degree from a local University.

[videogamesrock]

There is no edge from graduating from a local university. Save yourself some money and go to the big 3.

I totally disagree. During interviews at local companies and staffing agencies, the interviewers have had negative views of TESU. I can explain how TESU is among New Jersey Tech and Rutgers in the New Jersey Public University System and accredited by the same org. that accredits Princeton, but they have a look on their faces like "sureee... riiiight". 

There was even a young hiring supervisor that said TESU had a "unique" name, pretty much saying it is the equivalent of a for-profit scam school. 

I am proud of my soon-to-be TESU degree and know that TESU is bigger than my local state school and on par with the colleges in my regional university system, but a lot of people don't see TESU in the same way.



edit: I will add that the TESU degree did get me interviews, but I just cannot agree that it is the same as a degree from a local University.


I agree that in life sometimes there will always be some sort of bias.  I've noticed that with out holding companies name, bankers though it was more of a joke than legit.  If your resume is weak then maybe the college you go to might be of an issue, I guess OP would need to weigh pros and cons.  

[dfrecore]

There is definitely an "edge" to going to your local college IF they offer things like recruiting and fairs and help get people jobs. There is also the networking advantage that comes with it.

If my kid was choosing between a local university and TESU, and they were young and just starting out, I would highly recommend that they go to one of our state schools, rather than one of the Big 3. That will be my advice to both of my kids.

[jsd]

Without a doubt a local state school is going to hold an edge. Wether or not that edge makes it worth the extra costs is entirely dependent on your own particular situation though.

[greencouch]

Thanks for the input. I agree that these things are best weighed on a case-by-case basis.

My employer is comping 100% of the costs of my education, so price is only a minor factor. Additionally, I live in the Portland metro area, and for better or worse, there's an underlying "nativist" mentality to contend with that favors Northwest locals. If I'm up against someone with an identical resume, and all other factors being equal, a local degree might be beneficial (in this area, at least.)

Of course, every industry and situation is different.

If anyone has experience with WSU's online program, I'd love to hear it.

[High_Order1]

I don't know that 'local' is always a plus. We had an ITT Tech here in my area...

And, I'll get shouted down for this, but I still feel that so-called 'online colleges' will continue to have a negative initial perception, at least for this generation; until blended and distance learning becomes more 'normal', anyway.

For every good brick and mortar college there's just too many of those eye-roll inducing schools that has far greater name recognition currently. I'm proud to be part of the people that (hopefully) will help to sway opinion by example.

However, to echo another post, I really don't recommend fast track college education for young people. They need to slow down and actually LEARN what they are doing, and not beat the tests to get a credit.

So far, I haven't done anything in college that I've thought, 'wow, I wished I knew that / had that skillset prior to beginning my career', so, for me, checkbox degree path it remains.

[varJosh]

And, I'll get shouted down for this, but I still feel that so-called 'online colleges' will continue to have a negative initial perception, at least for this generation; until blended and distance learning becomes more 'normal', anyway.

I agree. Even my sister scoffed at my WVNCC diploma and future TESU degree, saying, "but it's online!". My wife was attending the local state college and was actually learning less than me (using StraighterLine and Study.com) and my sister is attending the local community college ONLINE. 

IMO, a lot of people are stuck in the past with thinking that a challenging and engaging education can only be had at a physically present institution and not online. 

Another opinion I have of TESU is that TESU is getting bigger and much more acclaimed. With the recent change to University status, the ACBSP accreditation and former consideration to merge with Rutgers by NJ Gov. Christie, TESU is already respectable and becoming even more so every year.

[High_Order1]

I agree. Even my sister scoffed at my WVNCC diploma and future TESU degree, saying, "but it's online!"

This is the attitude I came into this whole thing with, and had it not been for this site, where my degree-seeking would have ended.


The problem is optics - people associate 'online' with 'diploma mill'.

Part of that is because historically many online places WERE diploma mills, and partly because traditional colleges couldn't figure out how to make any money off of that channel, they pooh-poohed them too.

Now that the internet is fairly common, it only makes sense that people would want to use it for learning, and so online learning is more acceptable, and more colleges see the dollars they are missing offer online learning.

But to people who don't internet, they are still pretty much stuck in the, "Oh, that means you stroked a check or wrote a BS paper and they gave you a nonaccredited piece of paper" mode of thought.

(honestly, that's kind of what I wanted, too - I've actually had to work!) lol