“Ambition is an uncomfortable companion many times. He creates a discontent with present surroundings and achievements; he is never satisfied but always pressing forward to better things in the future. Restless, energetic, purposeful, it is ambition that makes of the creature a real man.”  --Lyndon B. Johnson

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As I had mentioned a while back in a previous post, I encouraged and convinced a friend of mine to sign up at Kaplan University.  He currently reports directly to me at work, and is one of the hardest workers I’ve known.  If there were a management position open at my company, he would be a top candidate.  The only problem is that he did not have a degree.  Now that he’s a couple of months into his first term at Kaplan, I talked him into doing a two-part interview so that we can discuss his initial observations of the school.  This is part 1.

What do you do for a living right now?

I am a supervisor at a large media and Internet company in Austin, Texas.  I have about 20 people reporting to me at this time.

How did you get into this field?

I've always been some what if a computer geek and support just came natural.  Some opportunities came up to move from Customer Service into a more technical field, and then the opportunity for a supervisory position arose.  I jumped at it.  I’ve been doing that for a while now.

What are some of your hobbies?

I like to build PCs and play video games when I am not working.  Now that I’ve enrolled in Kaplan, my time for hobbies has been cut down quite a bit.

How much research into online education did you do before deciding to take the leap into it?

I did quite a bit of research before I decided to go back to school.  I looked at all of the schools that offer distance education, compared prices, the kinds of degrees offered, and everything having to do with the school.  Accreditation was also important to me.  So I spent a lot of time investigating that.

What made you choose Kaplan University over other schools?

My time is limited so a online school was the best option for me.  I looked at the degree plans offered, the cost of the program, etc.  The cost was a little surprising.  It is not cheap to go to school.  But after talking to you about it, I knew that I would get a good foundation in management when it’s all done.  At least I will be getting what I pay for,

What did you expect from distance education before you signed up for classes at Kaplan?

I wasn’t sure, to tell you the truth.  These are uncharted waters for me.  I am happy with the independence that I am afforded in my learning. I think there is some element of culture shock, but that seems to be across the board with all students. We’re all new students trying to get a grasp on what is going on.

What do you hope to achieve by obtaining a degree online?

I want to expand my knowledge in the field of management.  I want to prepare myself for promotions and a better paying job somewhere down the line.

You are in your first term at Kaplan University.  What are your initial observations in terms of the curriculum offered and the students that attend class with you?

The work that has been assigned seems to be relevant to the degree I'm working for.  Even in the early stages, I see that the school knows what they’re doing in terms of content and curriculum.  There are some classes that cover the basics that might not be directly related to the degree at some point, but from what I can tell in my degree program, it’s going to be a fun ride.

I know you are only in your first term, but do you think the expectations of you as a student are acceptable, too little, or too much?  Why?

I believe they are acceptable as I've been able to accomplish the tasks that have been given to me.  The instructors have been flexible, and they know the content.  They understand that we’re new students and might need a little extra care, but overall, the workload is fine and it’s pretty much what I expected.

What made you want to go back to school after all this time?

I need a degree to move forward with my career.  There is only so far one can go on experience alone.  I need the formal education that only a university can provide. 

WATCH FOR PART TWO OF THIS INTERVIEW ON SEPTEMBER 20th RIGHT HERE ON THIS BLOG.