e-Insights

Student Perspective: The Story of a Drexel Online Student

Mary Jane Gray was ready to advance her career in a nursing leadership role. Since her employer was a partner of Drexel Online, she received a 25 percent discount to help with the tuition costs. This helped Mary Jane decide that Drexel Online was the best option.

"What I enjoy most about the online learning format is that I can attend a university and work towards a degree in the comfort of my own home. I am able to participate when my schedule allows," she said. Since Mary Jane has never taken online courses before, she was presented with some challenges in the beginning. "The first term was the roughest in terms of learning 'the system' and not knowing what to expect from classes and instructors," Gray said. "The so called 'drawbacks' [of online learning] became the rewards of taking an online class." Mary Jane explained that she would recommend Drexel Online to others. "Drexel has the staff, the technical expertise and the experience to provide an excellent educational format online."

Mary Jane plans to continue her education and move towards her goals. "My future career goals are to be able to participate in a nurse leadership role so that I can utilize my knowledge and experience. The degree I'm pursing, a Master's in Nursing Leadership and Health Systems Management better equips me to compete in the health care market."

Student Perspective: The Story of a Drexel Online Student

Jessica Davey, a Global and International Education student from New Jersey, decided she wanted to continue her education while living and working in Kigali, Rwanda. She currently has 58 students from more than 20 countries including Africa, Europe, Asia, North American, and Latin America. "Working in Rwanda has been quite an eye-opener. It is a fascinating mix of several worlds from local Rwandese and expatriate professionals to the United Nations," said Davey. "Living in this context takes what I learn in the Global and International Education program out of the realm of theory and research, and makes everything I learning instantly applicable." Davey hopes to one day work in policy development or an education program with a major international agency, such as UNICEF, in Rwanda. At first Davey was skeptical of online courses, but then found it to be very challenging and academically rigorous. "The online classroom has been impressively interactive. I enjoy meeting students from very diverse backgrounds and locations," said Davey. "For someone who needs the flexibility of time and location or for someone who simply prefers to work more independently, this is a great choice."

Chemist and father of three revisits dream of a career in the classroom

When his doctoral studies at SUNY Buffalo were interrupted, Derek Dunn opted to finish graduate school with a master’s degree and pursue a career as a chemist. Fourteen years later, Derek has decided to revisit his dream of teaching chemistry through Drexel’s online Post-Bachelor’s Teaching Certificate program.

“[My career] has been great but my love of teaching is still there,” he says. “Plus, the unstable nature of the pharmaceutical industry has driven home the importance of a fall back plan.”

A husband, father of three, and full-time research scientist at Cephalon, Inc., in Frazer, PA, Derek says two things fell into place that made his decision easy – a friend’s advice to look into online programs and a scholarship opportunity that would help cover the cost of his courses.

“I absolutely needed the convenience of an online program,” he says. “After the kids go to bed, instead of watching boring TV shows I’ll work toward my teaching certificate.”

Derek also says he would not have applied to the program if he hadn’t recently learned about the ACS-Hach Second Career Teacher Scholarship. Endowed by the Hach Scientific Foundation, the award is distributed through the American Chemistry Society to chemists interested in pursuing a master’s degree or becoming certified as a chemistry or science teacher.

The requirements for the Hach Scholarship are:

* a bachelor's degree or higher in chemistry, biochemistry, or chemical engineering
* work experience in a chemistry-related field
* must be accepted into an education master's program or teacher certification program
* must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident

“Let’s face it - the convenience of Drexel’s online program coupled with the Hach scholarship cut down on the time and money it takes to become a chemistry teacher,” he says. “I think if more people knew about these types of opportunities, more would be inclined to go back to school.”

Find out more about the ACS-Hach Second Career Teacher Scholarship.

Find out more about Drexel’s online Post-Bachelor’s Teaching Certificate program.

Student Perspective: The Story of a Drexel Online Student

Jeremiah Staropoli is a unique example of a Drexel University Online student. Although he works literally across the street from Drexel, he chose to enroll online. "If it weren't for taking classes online, I would never have been able to complete this program," Jeremiah says. "With my schedule, family, and work, it would have been impossible for me to attend on-site classes."

The President of Thompson Institute chose Drexel Online because of ease of course delivery and ability to work with his demanding schedule. With a child at home and another on the way, flexibility was important to Jeremiah. When first starting the program, he faced some challenges scheduling and transitioning to an online environment. "Learning how to come together with my cohort and utilizing technology while ensuring a great performance was a definitely bonus to the online program," he says. "The sheer amount of work that an online degree program demands was a difficult balancing act."

However, Jeremiah successfully graduated in 2008, and even hired three of his classmates to work alongside him at the Thompson Institute. He plans to continue his education and move forward with his goals. "I plan to get my doctorate in Higher Education: Leadership and Administration at Drexel University. It is my plan and I hope to continue making an impact in higher education throughout the rest of my career."

Student Perspective: The Story of a Drexel Online Student

Kerri Cummings, an online student studying in Germany, is a rare breed. Although she already has a B.S. in German and an M.B.A., with seven years of management consulting experience, she decided that her ultimate goal in life was to help those around her by becoming a therapist. In order to meet her goal, Kerri realized that a Bachelor's in Psychology would help her land in a PhD program. "My ultimate goal is to help others in challenges they face in this world, and I hope to earn the academic experience I need to start doing that as soon as possible," Kerri says. Although studying across the globe could present potential problems, Kerri has adjusted to the demands of being an online learning. "I am somewhat introverted, which leaves me relatively quiet in group-situations," she says. "The online experience has helped me get my thoughts, questions, and suggestions out there for everyone to hear." She has some words of advice for potential online students. "Make sure you are studying at a respectable university, like Drexel. Online students should see their studies like a job, and not put assignments off to the last minute. Drexel's program gives you a unique opportunity - you have to access to everyone in your class including the professor and the assistant, which is something you do not always have offline."

Student Perspective

Victoria Mitchell was an American Sign Language Interpreter in Abington, PA when she decided to pursue her Bachelor in Education degree at Drexel University Online. A mother of five, she had been active homeschooling her children and working, when one of her children fell ill. “The night of my online orientation, my youngest child became ill with febrile seizures. As I logged on from the comfort of my bedroom with my sick child sleeping next to me, I knew this program was for me.”

 

Because Victoria home schools her children, she sees many levels of impact from her education with Drexel Online. “I learn the most advanced teaching strategies and methodologies, and my children also directly benefit from the expertise of the professors in this program.” She also notes that her professors have been helpful and accommodating whenever she needed assistance. “My academic advisors, teachers, and administrators have called me personally whenever I had a question,” said Victoria. She is thrilled with her Drexel experience so far, saying, “I am truly overjoyed to be a student in the Drexel University School of Education.”

American Librarian in Egypt

Ann Coster, a library and information science student at Drexel University Online, is pursuing her master’s degree in Cairo, Egypt, what she calls “the land of pyramids.”  A resident of Cairo for twelve years, Coster chose Drexel Online because she found online learning accessible and flexible. “Two of the things I have most appreciated about attending Drexel completely online are the ways I can choose when I attend class and do the assignments and where I access the assignments,” she said. “I can be at work, checking the discussion board on my lunch break, or at home, any time of day.” In order to effectively balance her work and family, she adjusts her class schedule to fit her daily needs.