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Land a Spot in a Top Online Graduate Info Tech Program

By WTOP Staff

For those looking for job stability, a career in the computer and information technology field can be a safe bet.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that jobs related to STEM fields — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — will increase by about 1 million between 2012 and 2022. Computer scientists are likely to have great job prospects, the group says, since many employers have challenges finding these highly skilled workers.

With the growth of online graduate computer information technology programs, people can now get in-demand skills without having to quit their jobs and move near campus. And there’s even better news — acceptance rates at the top schools aren’t jaw-droppingly low. Among the top 10 online CIT programs ranked by U.S. News, for example, the average acceptance rate is 84 percent.

Admissions criteria vary, but most school officials say they are looking for the same credentials in their online and on-campus applicants: students with a strong academic background or work experience in the field.

[Compare online and on-campus grad programs.]

Not everyone is a shoo-in for the online graduate info tech program at the University of Southern California, which has among the strictest admissions criteria within the highly-ranked programs. Students who are admitted into the No. 1 ranked program, with a 36 percent acceptance rate, must have an undergraduate background in computer science, says Candace House Teixeira, executive director of the Viterbi School of Engineering’s corporate and professional programs.

If students have a background in a hard science other than computer science, they can also apply to the computer science program for scientists and engineers, which has additional computer science course work built into the curriculum, she says.

The program requires students to submit a GRE score, though it doesn’t have a minimum or maximum, Teixeira says. Like many CIT programs, school officials care more about the quantitative portion of the exam. Letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose aren’t required.

English majors or career changes might have better luck getting into Boston University‘s online graduate IT program, where officials admit a broader range of students. School officials in the program, tied with Virginia Tech for the No. 2 spot, tend to look for applicants who have some exposure to formal reasoning during their undergraduate years, says professor Bob Schudy, director of the school’s Master of Science in computer information systems online program. But students who did well in any kind of master’s program are looked upon favorably.

In addition to a strong academic record, an applicant’s work experience can go along way toward getting a foot in the door, Schudy says.

“If someone has a lot of great IT experience, particularly in technical roles, they will probably get matriculated directly,” he says.

Students don’t have to submit GRE scores to Boston’s program, but admissions officials will consider them if students do, Schudy says. If applicants have no academic background in the STEM field and no relevant work experience, they can take an online transition course called Fundamentals of IT, which can prove to the admissions faculty they are ready, he says.

While grades factor into the admissions process at Boston University, they may have an even bigger role at Virginia Tech’s online graduate information technology program. There, applicants must have an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or above to be accepted, but they could have majored in any discipline, says Tom Sheehan, director of the master’s program in information technology.

[Explore how women and minorities are breaking into STEM fields.]

“We don’t use the GMAT and we don’t use the GRE — those aren’t good indicators,” he says. “The absolute best indicator of success, in our experience, is undergraduate GPA.”

Sheehan says the program makes exceptions to the GPA rule in cases where students had particularly rigorous undergraduate majors or when they have significant professional experience. In those cases, applicants are permitted to take four courses but will only be fully admitted if they maintain a 3.0 in those courses.

While applying to the top online graduate CIT programs can be intimidating for students who don’t fit the typical profile, they shouldn’t give up hope completely, experts say.

None of the top three online graduate programs require students to submit a personal statement, but all say students are welcome to if they feel like it conveys a part of them not represented in other parts of the application.

“We’re pretty focused on academic record, but if you finished your program 20 years ago and your work is highlighting what you are doing, submit a statement of purpose,” says Teixeira says. “That is your chance to share.”

[Explore U.S. Census data on STEM graduates.]

Unlike in other online graduate disciplines, students don’t need to use a statement of purpose to convince an admissions committee that they are tech-savvy enough to study online, Teixeira says. It’s simply assumed.

” Computer scientists are used to working in virtual environments, so it’s less foreign to them,” she says. “They already are wired that way.”

If applicants do choose to write a personal statement, says Schudy, with Boston University, they might be wise to emphasize their ability to stick a schedule. Many online students are juggling multiple work and family commitments, which can make studying harder than it is for a traditional student, he says.

“Discipline matters,” he says. “The students who are disciplined make it.”

Trying to fund your online education? Get tips and more in the U.S. News Paying for Online Education center.

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Land a Spot in a Top Online Graduate Info Tech Program originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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