To me, this is a no brainer.
1. I don’t do debt. Call me crazy, too conservative, or radical--but I do not do debt. Period. Debt robs choice and security. And I’m not imposing that on myself or my family. The only debt that I do is something that appreciates, is paid off in 15 years or less, and has monthly payments of no more than 25% of my net monthly. So that would yank Garrett--at least for me.
2. Most of the data that I’ve seen re: the distance education model has not been all that positive. At all. (In short, technology does not improve the classroom or learning experience.) In general, course evaluations over DE (in either a synchronous or asynchronous form) have been significantly poorer than the in-classroom model. So while this may be the easiest way to incorporate the rigors of the program into our lives, I honestly wonder if the experience is the same. I doubt that it would be. The data suggests that it is not. More importantly--I just don’t think that PhD synthesis and meta-cognition can occur over that format. Lesser degrees might, but a PhD is all about becoming an independent scholar. And it requires the dynamic interaction of 2+ people getting in each other’s faces and actively challenging (each other) on the spot. And not just online, or once a semester. It's gotta occur every dang day. So to be truthful, if it’s a degree worth its weight, then it cannot be done writing reflection papers. That’s not a degree--that’s a paper-mill (diploma-mill). Or at least, thats how science works. It’s nothing more than a sport: king of the hill. And that requires one being in the mix of it, and having a go. Not sitting home on your butt, isolated from competitive thought, writing reflection papers. But of course, that’s my own dogma.
That leaves Dwight L Moody.
Are you thinking of formally entering the program on a full- or part-time basis? Or do they offer an a la carte type of class offering? The only reason why I ask is the commitment. People that get this degree aren’t necessarily the smartest by any means; just look at myself, for example. The people that get this degree are the ones with the highest levels of passion, masochism or desperation. Actually--it’s a combination of all three. It’s the commitment that is the most challenging aspect of the process. And in my life, it was perhaps the single biggest and most challenging accomplishment, for (worse) or worse.
I’d also ask a heck of a lot of questions. Like--what’s your retention rate? What is the program of study? How long is the program of study? What percentage of your students actually follow this program of study? And how long does it (really) take them? How long have you been cranking out students w/ degrees? What percentage of your 1st years actually get degrees? And when do they get them? ... ... ... then, I’d go into the labs (do Bible schools have labs?) (ok--where the doc students are), and ask them the same questions. See if there’s a high degree of similarity.
Because the program can be “awesome”, but if they can’t crank out students--then it’s all a moot point. The program is totally secondary to how efficient they’ve got the process down, of herding students from point A to point B. People don’t often think of that, because they don’t even know it’s a problem. But it’s been my experience that this is a massive problem in higher education. Just because there are great minds in the dept does not mean that it's a great doctoral program. The two are different entities.
The biggest question, and one that you made no reference to, is how much familial support you’ll have. This degree, if it is to have the same rigor of which I am familiar, will radically alter you and your family dynamics. Remember how stressed I was, when I stayed with you guys in 2000? To be honest, the process has likely had a net negative impact on my life, at least psychologically. Maybe my program was hyper-abusive, which I suspect it was. But during those years, I’ve never been more miserable. So if your spouse doesn’t want this degree as bad as you do--then I wouldn’t even go there. You’re about to give up your nights and weekends for the next 4 to 6 years of your life. And it's not just time; you may very well end up becoming a perpetually pissed individual. And that’s a massive sacrifice that is being imposed on others. As well as yourself. That’s why I’d try the a la carte, if at all possible. Try it on, before making the emotional commitment.
1. I don’t do debt. Call me crazy, too conservative, or radical--but I do not do debt. Period. Debt robs choice and security. And I’m not imposing that on myself or my family. The only debt that I do is something that appreciates, is paid off in 15 years or less, and has monthly payments of no more than 25% of my net monthly. So that would yank Garrett--at least for me.
2. Most of the data that I’ve seen re: the distance education model has not been all that positive. At all. (In short, technology does not improve the classroom or learning experience.) In general, course evaluations over DE (in either a synchronous or asynchronous form) have been significantly poorer than the in-classroom model. So while this may be the easiest way to incorporate the rigors of the program into our lives, I honestly wonder if the experience is the same. I doubt that it would be. The data suggests that it is not. More importantly--I just don’t think that PhD synthesis and meta-cognition can occur over that format. Lesser degrees might, but a PhD is all about becoming an independent scholar. And it requires the dynamic interaction of 2+ people getting in each other’s faces and actively challenging (each other) on the spot. And not just online, or once a semester. It's gotta occur every dang day. So to be truthful, if it’s a degree worth its weight, then it cannot be done writing reflection papers. That’s not a degree--that’s a paper-mill (diploma-mill). Or at least, thats how science works. It’s nothing more than a sport: king of the hill. And that requires one being in the mix of it, and having a go. Not sitting home on your butt, isolated from competitive thought, writing reflection papers. But of course, that’s my own dogma.
That leaves Dwight L Moody.
Are you thinking of formally entering the program on a full- or part-time basis? Or do they offer an a la carte type of class offering? The only reason why I ask is the commitment. People that get this degree aren’t necessarily the smartest by any means; just look at myself, for example. The people that get this degree are the ones with the highest levels of passion, masochism or desperation. Actually--it’s a combination of all three. It’s the commitment that is the most challenging aspect of the process. And in my life, it was perhaps the single biggest and most challenging accomplishment, for (worse) or worse.
I’d also ask a heck of a lot of questions. Like--what’s your retention rate? What is the program of study? How long is the program of study? What percentage of your students actually follow this program of study? And how long does it (really) take them? How long have you been cranking out students w/ degrees? What percentage of your 1st years actually get degrees? And when do they get them? ... ... ... then, I’d go into the labs (do Bible schools have labs?) (ok--where the doc students are), and ask them the same questions. See if there’s a high degree of similarity.
Because the program can be “awesome”, but if they can’t crank out students--then it’s all a moot point. The program is totally secondary to how efficient they’ve got the process down, of herding students from point A to point B. People don’t often think of that, because they don’t even know it’s a problem. But it’s been my experience that this is a massive problem in higher education. Just because there are great minds in the dept does not mean that it's a great doctoral program. The two are different entities.
The biggest question, and one that you made no reference to, is how much familial support you’ll have. This degree, if it is to have the same rigor of which I am familiar, will radically alter you and your family dynamics. Remember how stressed I was, when I stayed with you guys in 2000? To be honest, the process has likely had a net negative impact on my life, at least psychologically. Maybe my program was hyper-abusive, which I suspect it was. But during those years, I’ve never been more miserable. So if your spouse doesn’t want this degree as bad as you do--then I wouldn’t even go there. You’re about to give up your nights and weekends for the next 4 to 6 years of your life. And it's not just time; you may very well end up becoming a perpetually pissed individual. And that’s a massive sacrifice that is being imposed on others. As well as yourself. That’s why I’d try the a la carte, if at all possible. Try it on, before making the emotional commitment.
posted by Greg | 9:56 PM
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