My Two College Experiences

Our post this week is by a Monticello College student.

Brandon Mitchell sent me his experiences with higher education on 1/26/2013.

Shortly after high school, like many kids my age I started attending the local state university to get training for my career.

I took a few introduction classes in accounting and computer science to decide which one I would choose as my major.

I quickly chose computer science and proceeded to get my bachelors degree, graduating with honors. After about eleven years as a successful software engineer I decided it was time to further my education by getting a Masters in Business Administration.

While studying for my entrance exam I learned that Monticello College was starting its first year of online studies for a bachelor degree. After some pondering I decided to go with Monticello College and put off getting my masters degree. After one year at Monticello College I would like to share my experience of my two college experiences.

For my first degree I was at school to please my professors and conform to what they thought and said so I could receive a good grade. When questions were asked there was always just one right answer which the professor was expecting. Asking questions or challenging the professors when you thought they might be wrong or that an idea could be improved upon was discouraged.

At Monticello College my mentors always encouraged us to question and challenge.

It was very clear that students and mentors were learning together and improving themselves.

Everything was open for discussion.

At Monticello College I also had one-on-one time with my mentor every single week to talk about studies and just life in general.

If I was struggling with my studies one week because of personal issues my mentor was aware of it and could work with me. I never felt like just another student or that the mentor was just there to get a paycheck.

While getting my first degree I purchased textbooks but rarely read them since the contents were spoon fed to me in lectures. I usually had to spend over one hundred dollars per book and had no use for them once class was over. If I was lucky I was able to sell them back for around ten dollars. I would usually only have one book per class, which ended up being two to four books a semester.

Monticello College uses classics and original sources instead of textbooks. Books for the first semester were a little expensive but that is only because I had to purchase The Great Books of the Western World. Since these books are used every semester it makes the book purchases for following semesters fairly inexpenxsive. The cost of the rest of the books ranged from three dollars to twenty dollars each.

I was required to read around 40 books and documents each semester; this gave a wide variety of thought on the subjects that were studied.

Every one of the books has a place in my personally library and will continue to get used outside of school.

Since almost every class at Monticello College holds a discussion on the readings it was required to actually read the books.

It was very obvious to the entire class if you were not prepared so the books actually got used.

While getting my first degree I made no lasting friendships since each person showed up to class, listened to the lecture and then went on with their life.

I could not give a single last name of another student from my college.

At Monticello College I feel as though my fellow students and my mentors are my friends. I keep in contact with them outside of school and I am interested in how their lives are going.

During all the discussions you learn a lot about each other and quickly become friends.

I can’t even imagine the bonds that will be built with the on-campus students.

I am amazed at the quality of both the mentors and the students at Monticello College.

After experiencing just one year at Monticello College I don’t have any desire to return to a modern university.

As I visit with my co-workers, who are all working on their master degrees from local universities I constantly hear them complain about the classes and projects they must complete.

All they hear from me is how much I am learning and enjoying my studies. Monticello College has shown me what a true education should be and I will not settle for less. I would highly recommend everyone investigate Monticello College whether for a degree program or one of their continuing education programs. These programs will change who you are and put you on the path to being the best person you can be.