Boston University

Last week while doing online research for something totally unrelated, I discovered that Boston University offers a fully online undergraduate bachelor's degree program.  I immediately began investigating further, and I was so excited by what I found!

While they offer multiple graduate degree programs online they only offer one online undergraduate degree, it is a Bachelor's of Liberal Studies with emphasis on the humanities and social science and a philosophical theory focus.  Not only are all of these of large interest to me, but they would serve a law degree particularly well! 

The classes for this degree are taught by the same instructors who teach their on-campus classes, and held to the same academic standard.  As a result, the university makes no distinction between it's students: meaning whether you are part of the on-campus program or online program is irrelevant, you are simply a Boston University student period.  The program takes 30 months to complete, and is designed for students who have completed between 52 and 64 credit hours, which I have.

Boston University is a top 100 school in the nation as ranked by US News and World Report (it's official ranking on the list is #60).  It is a school known for it's prestige and high academic standards, and getting a degree from this type of institution (even an online degree) would be of huge benefit when going forward to law school.

Before I made my decision to go to an online school, I did a lot of research on the credibility of online degrees, the results were mixed but usually positive.  Surprisingly online graduate degrees seem to be more accepted than online bachelor's, but as long as you're degree comes from a reputable school with accreditation, then typically it holds about equal weight with a traditional degree.  My research also showed that online degrees from traditional universities that had an online program could be of added benefit particularly if it is a well known and reputable school.

As with the on-campus Boston University, you have to apply and be accepted, however the online applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so I could still be eligible for the fall semester.  Additionally, the cost is double that of what it would be for one of the other schools I'm currently looking into, and whereas the other schools include books in their tuition amount, BU does not.  Still, I think if I were accepted, and I could make it work financially, it might be the perfect place for me. 

I had really wanted to pursue a traditional school, but what I want even more than that, is to complete my degree so I can continue onto my next goal which is law school.  Ultimately, I'd decided the best way to facilitate this would be to attend an online program.  Now it seems I might have the opportunity to do both, combine the prestige of a traditional program with the convenience of an online program.  It sounds like a match made in academic heaven. 

In the end it will come down to, where I'm accepted and what my financial aid will cover.  I trust completely that wherever that is, it will be the perfect place for me, because at this point I'm only pursuing schools I would be happy to be a part of.  That said, I'm definitely making Boston University one of the schools to pursue.