I had a discussion with a friend the other day who mentioned that traditional schools will soon HAVE to transition to offering more online courses to compete with not only each other but with these full-online schools, such as Capella University.
I began to think about competition. Honestly, HOW can traditional schools compete? Traditional schools that offer online programs carry with them the requirements to enroll. These requirements are often more demanding than the online for-profit schools that DON'T REQUIRE SAT AND GRE SCORES (I know from experience, Capella did not require GRE scores when I applied over a year ago).
If I were a BA graduate, already working but seeking an advanced degree to increase my pay, I would naturally look for a program that offers flexibility for my busy life; an online program would be great for me to pursue a masters.
If I'm busy, the last thing I want to do is jump through hoops to sign up for the program.
Opting for a traditional school would mean that I need to take time to study for the GRE or GMAT, prep samples of work to submit, transcripts, references, etc -Then if I'm awful at taking tests, I'd fail the mathematics portion!.
Opting for one of the for-profit online schools, all I have to do is write a few paragraphs about my intentions, send references, a transcript and a check. It may cost me more, but at least I'm in and I get the degree.
Questions: What can leaders in Distance Education do to remedy this situation? What can be done differently? Does the difference in application process affect quality of the program?
