by Ysolt Usigan
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"When they'd complain about [homework], I was less than sympathetic. I would point out that while they were watching TV, I was studying," recalls the father of four. "I'm sure they would've rather had [the type of] dad who came home from work and sat in front of the TV all night."
A typical weekday for Mark, however, consisted of working from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., going home to check e-mail and assignments, exercising at the gym, doing homework until dinner time, catching an episode or two of "Seinfeld," and doing more homework.
Although the 42-year-old says he only had about an hour of free time a day during his graduate studies, he's pleased with his choice to pursue a degree online from Boston University (BU, Boston, Mass.). He tells the story of how he came to the worthwhile decision as if it were destiny. "I asked a colleague, 'How can I move up?'" he recalls. "He [advised] me to get my master's degree."
That very day, Mark went home and found a postcard about BU's graduate studies. "I did my research, and once I saw the quality of their criminal justice program, I took a dive," he explains.
After enrolling, the cop/dad found himself knee-deep in classes about white-collar crime, analytical research methods, and criminology; discussion message boards with fellow classmates and professors; and juggling an education with a full-time career and large family.
Mark made it worthwile by taking lessons learned out of the virtual classroom into the field. "These [classes] help me every day as a practitioner; this is what I do for a living," he explains. "I put [my new] skills to work when I'm at work."
If you think online schooling was the easy route for someone with many obligations, Mark, who received an undergraduate degree the old-fashion ed way, says that couldn't be further from the truth. "Don't think online learning is easy. If it is, you're at the wrong school," he explains. "If you go to an online school that's topflight, the quality of the education will be better, and that school will provide you with a solid academic experience."
Mark may be taking advantage of the flexibility of obtaining a graduate degree on his own time, but he says at BU and other legitimate institutions, you're going to work hard for that degree. "[Since] all you're judged upon are your assignments, there's nowhere to hide from bad grammar and not keeping up with readings," he says. "And without a lot of personal interaction, it's even more demanding to be involved online -- you can't be a wallflower."
It's that same attitude paired with his academic accomplishments that makes Mark proud to set a good example for his children. With a daughter studying business and a son majoring in mechanical/aerospace engineering at the University of Arizona (Tucson, Ariz.), plus two kids on the way to college, Mark's goals are slowly being achieved.
"I didn't want just any master's degree, I wanted a prestigious one," he explains. "I want my kids to understand the importance of a good education, and that it's something that takes a lot of hard work."
Since Mark has completed his graduate degree, he says things have been calmer around the house -- he has more than just a mere hour to himself a day, he catches more than just a couple episodes of "Seinfeld," and he doesn't spend nearly as much time in front of the computer screen as he used to. As for his kids, however, dad still finds it hard to give them sympathy during finals. After all, he did manage to get A's while fighting crime.
According to the Department of Labor's "Career Guide To Industries", law enforcement agencies encourage applicants to take postsecondary school training in law enforcement-related subjects. In fact, they report that many agencies pay all or part of the tuition for officers to work toward degrees in criminal justice, police science, administration of justice, or public administration, and pay higher salaries to those who earn such a degree.
Beware of Online Scholastic Scams:
- Make sure the school is accredited by an agency acknowledged by the Council on Higher Education.
- If the school requests only payment for admission, it's a sham. You should be required to submit some academic information, like test scores, a GPA, and even an essay. Or, if degrees are granted soled on your career achievements and nothing else, that's a warning sign, too.
- Does the school of choice grant an adundance of degrees to U.S. students, yet operate out of a foreign country? Be sure to check its authenticity at a site like GetEducated.com.
- You're not the only one who needs a good report card. Check the Better Business Bureau to review any registered complaint against a school.
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