Brian Saulmon

Meet Brian Saulmon

Name: Brian Saulmon

Age: 38

Marital Status: Married

Children: 2 sons; ages 13 and 16.

Current Location: Panama City, FL

Advice for Students: Discipline yourself and set aside enough time to study and do your work.

School: National Polytechnic College of Engineering and Oceaneering

Target: A.S. in Marine Technology

For someone like Brian Saulmon, who is quick to point out that his job with the U.S. Navy "is not even work" because he enjoys it so much, earning his degree was less about making a career change than standing out in his current one.

"If you get a degree, it puts you ahead a notch, shows you have more motivation to better yourself," says Brian, "and if you do it within your field, it just increases your knowledge."

Brian earned an Associate of Science in Marine Technology degree with a concentration in Homeland Security Management from National Polytechnic College of Engineering and Oceaneering, which he discovered while searching online.

It was one of only two regionally accredited schools that offered a degree in diving.

And because National Polytechnic credited so much of his diving experience in the Navy toward his degree, along with previously completed coursework at a traditional community college, Brian knew that he could get his associate's degree in a relatively short amount of time.

"Plus, diving is a very possible 'next career' option after I retire from service," he points out.

Brian is the kind of person who likes being on a traditional campus, but he knew that sitting in classes would take more away from family and personal time than he had to spare.

In addition to offering the fastest avenue to a degree, National Polytechnic also ended up being inexpensive for Brian, who received tuition assistance through the military.

Though he had to pay out-of-pocket for textbooks, after reselling them online, his educational expenses came out to a mere $200.

But before he started, Brian was concerned that the online platform would be too complex for him, and found to his surprise that it was very easy to navigate.

"You just open up your course room: you have links to your studies and links to your reference materials. I didn't think it would be so easy to pursue and acquire materials, but everything's already set up for you."

For Brian, the biggest challenge was finding the time to squeeze in schoolwork with everything else.

National Polytechnic provided a curriculum that was focused and the classes were rigorous and challenging. "It was a little tough," he admits.

"The last couple of classes were pretty intensive. Work — there was no bending there, but every now and then I could do some school during lunch; I devoted one to three hours a night to my studies."

Sometimes Brian would even try to stay ahead so as not to jeopardize time with the family.

Throughout his educational process, he made a commitment to not to miss his teenaged boys' ballgames and to be able to eat dinner with his family every night.

"Taking the time to all sit down together is important," he says.

But it takes more than a little organization and discipline to make sure everything gets time.

"Granted, there are still things that have to be completed on time at the end of each week, but you do not have to rush to try and have it done by the end of class, like in a traditional classroom environment."

"I can work in the comfort of my own home, on my own schedule and pace without watching the clock waiting for the class to end or bell to ring. I also do not have to rush to class and worry about being late." Brian says.

However, a distance learner might have to be available for online meetings such as chat sessions. Instructors are accessible via e-mail, but Brian tells prospective students to be prepared to have to write and type questions in place of face-to-face interaction.

"If you have a difficult question that's kind of hard to translate through e-mail, it can take a longer time to get clarification," says Brian.

On a positive note, having answers written out means that they can be referred to later, which can help in the studying process. Though any elearner should be prepared to do quite a bit of writing and typing, this is the kind of skill, Brian says, that becomes easier and easier over time.

After having completed his associate's with National Polytechnic, Brian has begun working towards a bachelor's in business with a specialization in finance at another university, also online.

He is taking it at a comfortable pace, currently enrolled in just one course, entitled "Developing a Business Perspective." The field of business offers wide and varied opportunities, so Brian knows that he can use this type of degree down the road in any number of ways.

He doesn't seem worried or rushed to come up with a solid plan as yet.

"I have a little bit of time left," he says. "After I retire from the Navy, maybe I'll do some work in finance or something else if I come up with a good idea, but it's all business—I just have to come up with an idea."