Interview With an Online Degree Graduate - Kathy Mabeus
Interviewed by Kirk Bangstad
Background Information
| Name: | Kathy Mabeus |
| Position: | Executive Assistant |
| Industry Sector: | Manufacturing |
| Employer: | KONE, Inc. |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science in Business with a Management of Information Systems Emphasis |
| Format: | Online |
| School: | Kaplan College |
| Notes: | The added value Kathy gives to her employer has led to greater responsibility and challenge in her job. She can see clear benefits for her career. |
Interview
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Cambridge Journal: | What go you believe an online degree has done for you?
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Kathy: | An online degree has definitely given me the confidence to take on new projects at work. The senior management for whom I work is more comfortable offloading responsibility onto me because they've noticed an improvement, especially in my management and accounting skills. The work is more challenging, and I can see benefits to my career. Many advanced positions within my company require a bachelor's degree; but, more than just for career advancement, I wanted to earn this degree for my own personal satisfaction. I completed an associate's degree some time ago and wanted to go on and earn a bachelor's degree. It was an investment with benefits that will keep coming for a long time.
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Cambridge Journal: | Why did you decide to complete this degree online?
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Kathy: | I earned my associate's degree at a traditional business college that was ultimately folded into Kaplan College. I became familiar with the Kaplan system and liked the business college atmosphere. When I decided to go back to school for my bachelor's degree, I examined Kaplan College again and saw that they offered programs online. I travel quite a bit because of work, and the program truly offered the flexibility that I needed to be able to succeed. The online format was right for me.
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Cambridge Journal: | How was your educational experience overall?
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Kathy: | Completing an online degree, while being flexible, was truly challenging. It takes a certain type of person to manage the time between a job and school, continue to do a good job, and ensure that all schoolwork is turned in on time. I think in a traditional school professors are sometimes more lenient for late work or people who miss deadlines. Our deadlines were very strict, and I had to really be on top of things to complete everything on time. However, although my instructors ran a tight ship, they were always there for me when I needed help. I could email them at anytime and they would respond with an answer right away. That type of interaction often isn't possible in a campus situation.
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