Guide to Online Education > Online Education In-Depth > Meet Real Online Students > Greg, M.A. in Organizational Management
What sold you on the University of Phoenix Online? Did you look at other schools?
Actually, the two schools I was looking at were Strayer University and University of Phoenix.
Name: Greg Salles
Age: 38
Marital Status: Married
Children: Two
Current Location: Boston
Advice to Online Students: "For those shifting from traditional to online [education] it will take some adjusting, but over time you should be OK."
School: University of Phoenix Online
Target: Master's in Organizational Management, 2007
At that time, these were the leading schools that were trailblazing with the online degree bandwagon. I suppose there were other schools that offered the same services and programs and conveniences, but these were the most visible ones. There was no particular feature that made the decision for me.
From start to finish, about how long did it take you to complete your degree?
Because I took many months-long breaks, as well as transferred jobs twice, it took me 3.5 years to finish an 18-month program.
How did your employer view your online degree?
The Air Force is usually not transparent about their views on whether or not a civil servant has an online or traditional degree, as long as we have it and earned it from an accredited university.
How did you pay for your education?
My employers paid the bulk of it and I paid the rest from my own funds.
Do you have any advice for students looking to have their employers help cover education costs?
Well, the best employer is the Air Force, since I am biased that way. Be it any branch of service, they have many options that would cover all college expenses, and the only drawback (if that) is that you serve your country.
Many companies have generous tuition assistance policies, ranging from $1,500 to $8,000 annually. The average is more or less $4,000. The best way to look is to go online or to call or email corporate or military recruiters and ask them what kind of educational benefits there are.
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