Online Masters

[hokies2018]

Just got my wings and am wondering if now isn't the worst time to begin an online MA program. I've perused the forums and internet for info, and my reasoning is as follows:

- I understand that online degrees are sometimes looked down upon, but I wonder if the advent of COVID and widespread distance learning will change all of that.

- I also understand that many wait until their shore tour to begin such programs. However, between ROM and HPCON restrictions, I spend a lot of my free time wondering what the heck to do to stay occupied. Though I'm sure my life will get much busier in the fleet, it seems like I'm wasting a golden opportunity to knock out some credits as a bored, dependent-less guy.

- My understanding is that the GI Bill will cover tuition over the course of 72 months if you pursue a degree part-time. So when deployment or real-job responsibilities hit I could hit pause for a term.

All that being said, I'm sure there's a lot I'm failing to consider and this isn't as cut and dried as I'm seeing it. Looking for any advice you all might be willing to offer up. Thanks in advance!

 

[FinkUFreaky]

Eh. Play some video games. If things haven't changed, I wouldn't use the GI bill while in. TA I believe is an option, allowing you to transfer your GI Bill. Unless you know you plan on staying single and childless in the future. EIther way if you will transfer it, don't wait too long! (I did). Incurs I believe a 4-year commitment, concurrent with your current one, but only after all the I's are dotted and T's crossed.

 

[hokies2018]

Eh. Play some video games. If things haven't changed, I wouldn't use the GI bill while in. TA I believe is an option, allowing you to transfer your GI Bill. Unless you know you plan on staying single and childless in the future. EIther way if you will transfer it, don't wait too long! (I did). Incurs I believe a 4-year commitment, concurrent with your current one, but only after all the I's are dotted and T's crossed.

Thanks for the reply. Would you say just avoid using the GI Bill or avoid a masters this early altogether... or both?

 

[FinkUFreaky]

Unless it will further your more-immediate dreams, my personal advice is wait until your shore tour. Since you mentioned MA, not MS, I'm guessing you aren't planning on using the shore tour at TPS? That would be the only reason I'd be going for a masters during your first fleet tour. Other opinions may differ, of course!

I meant the GI BIll can be used after you are out, or transferred to others. TA (Tuition Assistance) is a different program; I'm not smart on it's current usage but I believe it would pay for a couple classes per semester, after you've checked into your fleet squadron. So if you are deadset on getting the masters now, I'd use that program (assuming it still exists), rather than the GI Bill. Want to say it can't be used for a second bachelors, but can be for a masters, but again I've never been in charge of it or used it. Some JO in your fleet squadron will be the guy or gal that knows about it because they have to.

 

[Mos]

During the end of my JO tour going into my shore tour, I finished a graduate degree that I started before the navy. I think in terms of time commitment, the experience will depend on the institution and how demanding they make their course of study.

I did one course at a time when I resumed the program. Each course required 100 to 300 pages of reading each week, some forum participation, maybe a short paper and ongoing work on a mid-term or final paper, which ranged from as small as 8 pages up to 50 pages.

While I think it's in the realm of possible to gradually work on a masters while also getting warfare qualified and doing a ground job during the first half of a JO tour, I think you would need to have decent time management skills to do that without one of those things falling to the wayside.

I didn't use my GI Bill or TA. If you want the financial resource, I think TA may be a better option simply because you wouldn't be dipping into your GI bill. It incurs a two year obliserv concurrent with your existing obliserv, and you have to go through counseling and report your grades to the navy. I didn't really care for that kind of motherhood and had only a few courses left anyway so I said no thanks and just paid it myself.

 

[Hair Warrior]

Congrats on earning your wings. I would recommend you consider gaming the system more. I don't know your particular situation - or why the urgency to get a masters now - but consider this alternative:

Instead of an online masters now, consider getting a free DoD masters degree in-residence during a shore assignment from NPS Monterrey, NWC Newport, or other war college. Put simply, you will get paid to go to school for free and focus on only school, rather than trying to balance your Navy job with an online degree. War college will also satisfy JPME I, which will make you more competitive for O-4 and beyond. You'll be able to save your GI Bill for a spouse or child. The connections and networking you'll get with classmates at war college will benefit your Navy career and any follow-on aspirations in defense contracting. Lastly, if/when you end up in the corporate world, when you encounter people with Ivy League degrees or similar, you can remember to yourself that no amount of money or fame can buy its way into a DoD/IC master's program (or naval aviator flight school). Obviously, if you still have FOMO, you can always get that online masters or in-residence masters later from a civilian institution after you separate/retire.

 

[BigRed389]

Lots of good advice above.

If you ever get dependents, the GI Bill is likely going to be FAR more valuable from a $$$ perspective passed to them.

If you want to use the GI bill for yourself, do it when you're out and can really dedicate yourself to your education and really maximize the value of what you are paying for. Even though it's "free" to you, it'll probably feel different after you've finished your obligation to the Navy.

If you are just looking to "learn" and are less worried about the degree, I would look at Distance Learning Grad/Professional cert classes and go with TA if you want the Navy to pay for part of it. There's a lot more flexibility in those to start courses when you just happen to have time instead of having to plan a curriculum out months in advance.
Or just pick up a hobby.

 

[hokies2018]

Thank you to everybody for the replies. Sounds like 1) there is no rush on get a masters degree now and 2) there are far better ways to get a respectable masters degree through the Navy than the single way I was considering. Sounds like I'll kick this to the right a few years and pick up a hobby.

 

[snake020]

Good gouge - don't waste your GI Bill whilst you're still active. In addition to TA, if you're just after a degree that you don't have to commit a tour for, NPS has distance learning certificates and degree programs as well.

 

[Renegade One]

Congrats on earning your wings. I would recommend you consider gaming the system more. ..

Instead of an online masters now, consider getting a free DoD masters degree in-residence during a shore assignment from NPS Monterrey, NWC Newport, or other war college. Put simply, you will get paid to go to school for free and focus on only school, rather than trying to balance your Navy job with an online degree. War college will also satisfy JPME I, which will make you more competitive for O-4 and beyond. You'll be able to save your GI Bill for a spouse or child. The connections and networking you'll get with classmates at war college will benefit your Navy career and any follow-on aspirations in defense contracting. Lastly, if/when you end up in the corporate world, when you encounter people with Ivy League degrees or similar, you can remember to yourself that no amount of money or fame can buy its way into a DoD/IC master's program (or naval aviator flight school). Obviously, if you still have FOMO, you can always get that online masters or in-residence masters later from a civilian institution after you separate/retire.

^^^ THIS. I mean, like "Just fuckin' A, man" this.

 

[Pags]

Congrats on earning your wings. I would recommend you consider gaming the system more. I don't know your particular situation - or why the urgency to get a masters now - but consider this alternative:

Instead of an online masters now, consider getting a free DoD masters degree in-residence during a shore assignment from NPS Monterrey, NWC Newport, or other war college. Put simply, you will get paid to go to school for free and focus on only school, rather than trying to balance your Navy job with an online degree. War college will also satisfy JPME I, which will make you more competitive for O-4 and beyond. You'll be able to save your GI Bill for a spouse or child. The connections and networking you'll get with classmates at war college will benefit your Navy career and any follow-on aspirations in defense contracting. Lastly, if/when you end up in the corporate world, when you encounter people with Ivy League degrees or similar, you can remember to yourself that no amount of money or fame can buy its way into a DoD/IC master's program (or naval aviator flight school). Obviously, if you still have FOMO, you can always get that online masters or in-residence masters later from a civilian institution after you separate/retire.

Except that NPS isn't due course for aviators and to get the in residence MS from NWC you need to be due course. Also, I'm not sure how useful the NWC MS is in a post-mil career. I doubt it alone is going to get you a job.

OP: you're going to be REALLY busy during your first two years in the fleet deploying, getting qualled, doing the ground job thing, partying, etc. The last year in the fleet you'll be REALLY busy getting guys qualled, doing a real ground job, partying, etc. It's a lot easier to do a Master's on your shore tour when you're already qualified, etc. For instance, you'll go from being a very busy, highly qualled senior JO and then show up to your shore squadron and get an FNG guy job. Except you're now a qualled FNG and this time around you know that Mess Officer is a BS job. That's a great time to hammer out a master's.

Concur with others that you should get TA or whatever other random programs are available to pay for a master's and leave the GI Bill for later.

Also, if you know you're going to get out, some master's have a useful shelf life. So save the MBA for right before you get out and then your network will be current.

If you're just bored, concur with others. Get a hobby; learn to carve, lower your handicap, get shredded, brew beer, make models, write the great American novel, build an airplane, etc.

 

[Hair Warrior]

If you're just bored, concur with others. Get a hobby; learn to carve, lower your handicap, get shredded, brew beer, date models, write the great American novel, build an airplane, etc.

FIFY

 

[Randy Daytona]

If you simply want a masters to check the box, it might be a good idea to get started now if, and I say again, if you have substantial free time. Never know how busy you are going to be in the future so if you get a chance to take a few classes, might want to consider it. With some programs, you don't have to take everything sequentially, you can take semesters off when your workload is too heavy.

As said above, you probably want to save your GI Bill for later and/or family so tuition assistance would be a better choice

 

[Pags]

FIFY

Written by someone who's obviously never been to Pensacola.

 

[Sonog]

It's definitely not black and white whether you should use the GI bill while still active. Lots of factors come into play as to why you would or would not use the GI bill. But just view it as asset. Think of it as a $120,000 bonus you get on top of your normal pay. Just make sure you're getting value out of however you use it.