During my process of researching graduate schools, I began considering fellowships and assistantships. I spoke to several admission officers and they told me that they ONLY give fellowships and assistantships to on-campus students. Many also stated that they do not offer any type of merit scholarship for their online students.
When I asked why, their reply was, "We don't know? It just is."
So, if I am required to do the same course work and the same thesis work…
- Why am I not afforded to the same perks as the on-campus students?
- What does this say about an online education?
- Are schools saying that online classes are different from the on campus course work?
- If this is true, then why do these schools offer online classes at all?
I honestly find it more difficult to be online than it is to be on-campus. There is an never ending amount of time consumed in an online class, while an on-campus course is more defined. A person may come to class approximately three hours a week and maybe complete two hours worth of reading or writing. An online class is usually a daily check on the discussion board to see the responses to posts, then more responses to those responses. Finally, since I think University's are skeptical about the rigor of online programs, they assign about three times more work than the norm. It is the fate of being discriminated against. You have to work ten times as hard just to been seen as equal. My two B+'s came from my toughest online instructors. I received all A's from my on campus classes (even chemistry, I stink in chemistry!)
If institutions truly believe in their online programs, why do they treat them as if they are less? Why did FAFSA decide not to provide financial aid to online programs? Does anyone know?