Guide to Online Education > Online Education In-Depth > Meet Real Online Students > Barry T., Bachelor of Business Administration
Name: J. Barry Turner
Age: 47
Title: Executive Director of Public Relations
Employer: Ogeechee Technical College
School: American InterContinental University
Target: B.B.A. in Management, 2006
"So that's why it became a personal goal to get the degree behind me, so that I wouldn't miss another opportunity just because I didn't have that piece of paper," Barry says.
With that goal in place, Barry explored a few different options. What with his career, family, and community commitments, he knew he was not at a point in his life where a traditional classroom setting would work for him.
"If I were an 18 or 19 year old who could fully commit to going to school everyday that would be different," says Barry. "And I would never underestimate the value of traditional learning for some, but I personally needed more flexibility."
He first tried correspondence courses, but became impatient having to wait for assignments and texts to arrive.
He then took a few online courses before finding the right fit at American Intercontinental University. He praises an admissions counselor named Kimberly for making him feel personally welcomed and looked after in a program where no one may ever see his face.
"She was very persistent, making sure I had everything I needed, checking up on me to see my progress," Barry says. "Working at a college myself, I know that people's attitudes can affect the way students perceive the quality of the attention they receive."
With such a busy schedule, he found time budgeting to be key. A self-proclaimed night owl, Barry enjoyed being able to do his classwork late at night. And he could work from anywhere - literally.
He recalls logging a couple hours of coursework from a hotel room while on vacation. AIU's online course delivery system made it easy to spend his time doing actual work instead of fumbling around to get everything he needed.
"They have a fantastic site which provides everything relative to the education process," he says. He advises knowing the college, the website, and the procedures prior to beginning any online degree. And like most other distance learners, he funded his education partially through student loans.
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