Guide to Online Education > Online Education In-Depth > Meet Real Online Students > Bill, Ph.D. in Business Administration
What is the best and worst thing about distance learning?
The best thing is the ability to work on the lessons at my own time and place of choosing. The second best thing is the ability to do extensive research on the Internet.
Name: Bill Hurd
Age: 73
Marital Status: Married
Children: Five
Current Location: Oklahoma
Personal Quote: "The best thing [about distance learning] is the ability to work on the lessons at my own time and place of choosing."
School: Northcentral University
Target: Ph.D. in Business Administration, 2007
Perhaps the worst thing is the lack of contact with other learners. This did not affect my learning ability because a distant learner must be totally motivated. I did find that there was more dialogue with the professor than with other learners.
Do you have any advice or warnings about distance learning?
It takes a great amount of discipline to pursue a degree via distance learning. Do an extensive research of available programs before you sign up. Research the prospective universities thoroughly in regards to accreditation, relative cost, type of delivery, and reputation. I lurked on a distance learning forum for at least two years before I entered the MBA program at Baker College.
How did your employer view your online degree?
Both of my jobs at Oklahoma Wesleyan University and at the local newspaper were positive and accepting of my choice to pursue higher education.
From start to finish, about how long did it take you to complete your degree?
It took about 18 months to get my MBA, and it is now approaching four years to getting my Ph.D. The last year included a break due to prostate cancer treatment and recovery. But I still expect to wrap it up in 2007.
In the future, would you consider online education again or would you go back to traditional, on-campus experience?
That is a moot point since I am about 80 percent of the way through a Ph.D. via distance learning. However, the fact that I completed the MBA via distance learning and am pursuing a Ph.D. via distance learning implies that I would do it again under similar circumstances, and think it can be useful for others.
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