Alumni, Family and Friends
Name: Julian Kluk
Class Of: 2017
Program: Master of Science in Information Technology with a concentration in Information Security
I thought it was too good to be true at first. I didn’t have the time to attend night classes. As a recent undergraduate student who has just purchased his first home this month and is getting married in March of 2016, I also didn’t have the money to spend on more expensive online programs of other universities.
Prior to finding out about SNHU, I thought my only options were to spend a ton of money and attend night classes somewhere, or attend a cheap for-profit online school that any employer would probably scoff at. Then I found SNHU through the TV advertisements: A non-profit, accredited school that is also incredibly cheap? It was way too good to be true.
But then I did some research into the school’s history and the financial decisions correlating with the 2006 financial crisis that contributed to SNHU’s exploration of online programs. I realized that SNHU is just a legitimate school that wants to be a pioneer for the online learning culture, while making it very cheap for students to do so. In our country’s current educational system where the bottom-line is all that matters to colleges, finding a university that puts students first was refreshing. It was a no-brainer for me after this realization.
My only hope was that it would be worthwhile; that the quality of education would not be hindered because of the lower price tag. But that was not the case at all. I have learned more in each 10-week course at SNHU than I did at my undergraduate school – a private traditional day school. That is not to say the quality of education at my undergraduate school was not good, because I loved my undergraduate school. This is instead a testament to the fact that SNHU is a very high-quality education.
Absolutely. I originally came to SNHU as an MBA student. I have a wonderful advisor who constantly gave me support and one-to-one attention via phone and email. Then I switched to my current MSIT program. Guess what? Same story: A great advisor. Both have been phenomenal and both have answered all of my questions the same day I’ve asked them.
Further, when I was considering transitioning between programs, it was SNHU’s online career services center which helped me determine what was right for me. There is a whole array of tools they provide you with (in the form of personality tests) that let you examine different programs, degrees, and see what types of jobs fit you. Additionally they can tell you what jobs to look for post-graduation. So if you’re not sure what you can do with any of these degrees, just ask!
As mentioned, both of my advisors so far have been amazing. The biggest thing they’ve helped me with is by staying on-track. If they see that you have missed an assignment or are falling behind (it happens to all of us at some point), they give you friendly reminders via phone or email that help you get motivated to get back on-track. Further, when you do a good job after the term, you can look forward to a very positive phone call from your advisor.
One of my current professors, Dr. McConnell, who teaches my Information Technology Project and Team Management course, has already taught me a very important lesson: Read the grading rubrics! Don’t just assume that what is listed on each Module assignment description is the complete task that is expected of you. The professors make the grading rubrics for a reason: You’re supposed to be doing your work based on them! This can be translated into a very important life lesson: Read the fine print, especially in a technical field.
For example: If you get a job as a Systems Analyst after graduating and you are given a Project Charter to read, reading only the Summary isn’t going to cut it!
Being an online student, I haven’t had the opportunity to join in on any SNHU-based events. Although I did attend a virtual employer spotlight this January: The FBI Q&A Session. As homeland security is a potential field that I would like to apply my MSIT knowledge to post-graduate, this seemed like a great opportunity to learn more. There were hundreds of other students in attendance and it was great to see the direct interactions taking place between the presenting agent and the students.
That is an extremely open-ended question. I’ll start with the basics and then get philosophical on you. I’m an online student who is currently pursuing an MSIT degree (Masters in Information Technology) with a concentration in Information Security.
I’m also extremely lazy as a student. I hate reading for long periods of time. I hate studying. Which is why SNHU is awesome for people like me: The curriculum forces you to be engaged; it challenges you to rise to the occasion. You either do the work or you don’t.
The required weekly discussion board posts help you to learn and reinforce the curriculum, gain different perspectives, and learn through the personal experiences of peers that you would not otherwise get to experience. The curriculum, while it does make you read, has always been interesting and has always held my interest.
In most classes there are usually optional videos to watch as well which help to reinforce the module and textbook material. This is a major saving grace for us visual learners!
As I’ve alluded to above: Actually doing the work. In traditional day courses, everything is handed to you directly. Online courses take a great deal of dedication and organization to succeed, especially when you’re a “lazy” student like me! But despite being lazy, I have yet to receive below an “A” in any of my classes (alright, I have ONE A-), because I’ve remained organized and have carved out time each week in advance to get my work done.
More importantly, the curriculum is developed in a very clear and concise manner. This helps out tremendously when trying to get your work done. The tasks are there waiting for you to do them. Your reading assignments are right there, waiting for you to read them. All you need to do is log on, follow assignment directives, and get it done. This method of teaching helps a lazy student like me stay organized and on top of things because there are no surprises. You get out what you put in and the expectations are clearly laid out each week. If you fail, it’s on you. If you succeed, you can be even prouder of your accomplishments because of what it took to get there.
So far, I’m extremely proud of my GPA. I did not have a good GPA in my undergraduate school (see “lazy” above). But at SNHU I have tried my best and it shows, as I currently have a 3.945 GPA. You can do that too if you try. SNHU sets you up for success. You just have to take the steps laid out in front of you to get there.
I’m also very proud of the fact that I received a scholarship. Out of all the applicants, they chose me? It’s humbling and a fantastic reinforcement to keep me motivated.
This might sound odd, but it was when I did the career/personality assessment tests with career services. This was completely optional but it is available to every student. Taking the time to learn more about myself, my skills, and how to apply those skills (and into what field) was a very eye-opening experience for me. In a world where you can feel overwhelmed by not knowing “what to do with your life”, taking those few minutes to learn more about yourself can really provide you with a lot of clarity. If nothing else, it helps to narrow down the options.
If you’re an online student: Stay organized! Your success or failure is entirely up to you. The professors at SNHU’s online program give you the materials and resources you need to succeed, but it’s your choice to use them or not. You need to schedule time aside in your week to get the work done. Find quiet places to work. Work where you won’t get distracted. Speaking of work, if you’re lucky enough to have an office job like myself (with a supportive boss), you can take your books to work and study or even get work done on your break/downtime.
Protip: There is a week break in-between terms. Module One for your new classes starts the same week your old classes end. Pretend like your Module One work is due the same Sunday that Module One actually begins, and you’ll always be a full week ahead! That way when life inevitably gets in the way, you’ll have a week cushion to fall back on. This makes graduate school incredibly less stressful, ultimately making it easier to learn.
If you’re a traditional day student: Pay attention in lectures! My undergraduate degree is in Clinical/Counseling Psychology. In my studies I learned of something called “active” (a.k.a. attentive) listening. That’s when you respond to the speaker by paraphrasing what they’ve said or by asking highly-relevant questions. Do that! Your professor will love you for contributing and by doing so you’ll be reinforcing what the professor has said to you. Just don’t be “that” guy/girl who asks too many questions or has to contribute every single day. Nobody likes that person. But seriously, by simply paying attention in class you will learn at a much faster (and easier) rate. Believe it or not, I almost never studied in my undergraduate courses because I paid attention during class. If you zone out in class and simply wait for it to end, you’ll pay for it later by having to study harder.
I would love to continue to support SNHU after my graduation. My goal would be to someday make enough money to where I can afford to offer SNHU a scholarship for students just like myself. As somebody who transferred a lot in his undergraduate studies, I have experienced both the good and the bad of online learning. I would love to give back someday if I can. If not, I still want to receive their newsletters and stay up-to-date on all things SNHU.
Personally I want to see a SNHU college football team and have it reach Division I (B1G conference works too) of the NCAA. That probably won’t happen anytime soon, but a man can dream!
Picking one would not be fair to the others! They’ve all been great. Although I will say, I’m extremely excited to take the classes for my Information Security concentration. I can’t wait!
I recently gave myself a challenge: Read one new book a month. Not an easy task for a full-time worker who has just bought a house, is getting married, is a graduate student, and sometimes works on the weekend!
My current book is “The Great Transition: Shifting from Fossil Fuels to Solar and Wind Energy” by Lester R. Brown. So far it has been a great read!
Favorite movie is tough…It’s probably the The Prestige. But I’d also say Cinderella Man and Inside Man are both extremely close seconds. But favorite Disney Movies? Aladdin and Mulan, by far.
TV Shows: I don’t have a favorite. But my fiancé and I are big fans of Falling Skies. If you ask me, I think they ended the show way too early! We also have watched Pretty Little Liars pretty religiously over the years (hey, don’t judge; guys can like it too!). Anime fans represent, because I’m also a huge Attack on Titan fan. But nothing will ever surpass the mighty Dragon Ball series (watch the original, not just Z) and Cowboy Bebop fan.
Does the NFL count? I watch my Saints (yes, I’m a Saints fan living in PA) every single Sunday during the season, without fail. I just started getting into football in 2006 after hurricane Katrina. The Saints’ first game back in the Superdome after the hurricane was against their division rival: The Atlanta Falcons. After the Falcons’ drive failed, Steve Gleason (who is now doing so much to raise ALS awareness) actually blocked their punt, resulting in a touchdown. The dome went wild. It was all I needed to see to become a fan for life.
Does work count? If I can get paid on a slow day to get schoolwork done, that’s a major win-win for me!
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