Institution

Why did you decide to attend Kaplan to get your masters degree in public health?

I decided to go to Kaplan because I wasn’t happy with my previous institution, which was Walden University. At Walden, I didn’t get much help when I tried to reach out to professors and advisors. So, I decided to transfer to a different online program.

In my research, I read about Kaplan’s program, and they conditionally admit all graduate students. That means that they give you a 5-week period to test out the program. You are not obligated to do anything until the trial period is over. If you decide to stay on, then you will be charged for tuition and the application fee. But if you don’t stay on, you are not charged for anything. After my bad experience with Walden, I really liked the idea of trying out the school before committing to it.

What are your school’s biggest strengths?

I think Kaplan’s biggest strength is that the school allows students to have a flexible schedule. Most schools charge you per credit, but Kaplan charges a flat fee per semester. That means that although a student can only take so many courses per term, there is no set requirement. I like that system because a lot of people who get their graduate degrees online are working their way through school. I am a full-time worker, so the flexible schedule means that I can work more hours in case unexpected expenses come up. It seems like Kaplan actually understands the situation that their students are in.

However, I would say that there is 1 notable weakness, and that is Kaplan’s advising team. Instead of having 1 set advisor, each college has an advising group. The effect is that you never speak to the same person, and they don’t really know you. You can e-mail or call the advising group, but you don’t have that sense of connection. I miss having that personal relationship.

Do you view Kaplan University as a community?

I think the sense of community I feel at Kaplan is another of the school’s strengths. Even though Kaplan is online, you can join student organizations that make you feel like you are involved in a university community. For example, I am a part of the Kaplan African American Student Union.

Like other student groups, the Kaplan African American Student Union has online forums for discussion. Usually those topics deal with supporting the advancement of African Americans and fighting some of the stigmas that we face. This group is out there to let African American students know that we are here to help and support each other in completing our degrees so we can break those stereotypes.

Because of the sense of community groups like this provide, I really am as proud of Kaplan as I was of my undergrad school, Louisiana Tech. These organizations, not to mention honor societies and scholarship opportunities, are the types of motivators that I would expect from a physical campus.

Cost

How are you paying for college?

Tuition at Kaplan costs several thousand dollars per semester, so I am paying for college through federal loans. But I am not living totally on loans like most graduate students at a physical campus do. I chose to go to school online so that I could keep my salary by working full-time. That has allowed me to take out fewer loans for my masters degree. It was important for me to take out as little as possible since I do eventually plan to go to veterinary school and I will have to take out massive loans for that.

How helpful was your school in assisting your financial aid process?

I didn’t ask Kaplan for help with financial aid. I do plan to apply for academic scholarships through Kaplan in the future though, which requires a certain GPA and a certain number of course credits in order to be eligible.

Do you feel like your overall cost of education is more or less than the cost of a degree at a traditional institution?

The nearest traditional institution with a similar program is Florida State University, which is quite a bit more expensive. Still, I didn’t compare the costs of my program to a traditional school very closely because I had already settled on getting my masters degree online.

Admissions Requirements

Can you describe the admissions process from start to finish?

The admissions process took about a month. I had to submit undergraduate transcripts, financial aid information and a personal statement. Kaplan also asked for some references, although they didn’t have to be in the form of letters of recommendation.

What did you write about in your personal statement?

In my personal statement, I wrote about how this degree would help me achieve my career goals and about the bad experience I had with Walden. Most importantly, I discussed my goal of becoming a veterinary epidemiologist, which means I want to look into the way that diseases affect animals.

Did you have an admissions interview?

Yes, Kaplan required an admissions interview. They asked me questions about my study habits and what kind of work environment I thrived in. Overall, the interviewers were trying to make sure that Kaplan would be a successful learning environment for me.

During the admissions process, did you interact with an admissions advisor?

Yes, an admissions advisor helped me through the whole process. He kept me updated on the status of my application and informed me about the kinds of materials I needed to submit. I really appreciated that he kept me on track and informed from the minute I sent in my application.

Classroom Experience

How is class material presented?

Students learn independently through a mix of audio, video and written lecture material. Teachers often provide links to specific articles or web pages that they want us to read. Sometimes they want us to watch a pertinent video as well. The format changes often, depending on the week’s topic and what kind of research they want us to do.

Usually I can access all of the course material whenever I need since the classes are set up for students who have very different schedules. But some courses require me to watch online seminars, and occasionally those are scheduled for a specific time. When that is the case, I have to sign in so the teacher can see I attended.

I try to watch all of the seminars, but I can’t always make them because of my work schedule. The professors understand that you may miss some presentations, but students should always let the professor know ahead of time.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of this style of presentation?

For me, this class style is entirely beneficial. I am not a person that needs to be socially interactive during class. I just want to have the material and be able to study it without distractions. Another thing I like about learning independently is that I don’t have to structure my day around class. I can work during the day and do school when I come home.

Are you able to stay engaged in your online coursework?

I stay engaged because I know the importance of getting this degree. I have that intrinsic personal motivation, which I think is necessary for successful online study. Even when I pursued my undergraduate degree at a physical campus, I didn’t like to talk during the lecture. I listened to the professor the whole time.

What method of communication do you use to keep in touch with your professors?

The most common way to interact with professors is through chat. Most of my professors give out their instant messenger names so students can log on and chat during office hours, which are usually held 3 times a week for about 5 hours. If students are not able to reach professors during that time, they can always send them an e-mail.

Please rate your faculty in terms of the following criteria:

Criteria	Rating	Reasons
Overall	Good	Their teaching is grounded in hands-on experience they gained from holding positions in public health.
Qualifications	Excellent	Many of them have 3 or 4 degrees. I didn’t expect online professors to be that educated, but they are fantastic.
Knowledgeable	Excellent
Lectures	Content: Good Clarity: Good
Assignments	Relevance: Excellent Reasonable: Excellent Clarity: Excellent Assistance Provided: Excellent Feedback Given: Excellent	I learn something new and valuable with each assignment.
Grading	Good	Grades are not just handed out, but if you work hard, you are rewarded with good grades.
Responsiveness	Good
Reliability	Good	Professors are always available during their office hours.
Interest taken in class as a whole	Good
Interest taken in student as an individual	Good	Professors care about my success and take the time to respond when I have questions.

What resources does Kaplan University provide to help you succeed in the classroom?

Kaplan really sets its students up for academic success. They provide an awesome library that has tons of databases. They also have a tutoring zone. In my opinion, students should never have excuses about not knowing where to turn when they are struggling in school because of the great resources.

What advice would you give to students to help them succeed in an online classroom?

The best advice I can give is to plan your time wisely. Before you start school, you should have a plan for how you are going to balance your personal endeavors, schoolwork and career. You definitely need to hone your time management skills because it is very easy to fall behind when studying online since your learning is so self-directed.

Program

Why did you choose to enroll in your public health program?

I enrolled in the masters of public health program because I need the degree in order to get into veterinary school. But I specialized in epidemiology because I am interested in diseases. Specifically, I am interested in the zoological aspect of diseases. I want to study where and why diseases originate, and what factors contribute to people and animals contracting them. And on a bigger scale, I want to know what resources scientists can use to reduce the number of cases that occur.

Does your program include a practicum component?

Yes, I am required to participate in a practical internship. Most, if not all, of Kaplan’s graduate programs require an internship before you graduate so that you can apply all the knowledge that you gained through your coursework in an actual public health setting. I am excited about the internship because I am such a hands-on learner.

What are your program’s biggest strengths and weaknesses?

Kaplan’s online public health program is by far the strongest one out there right now, so I can’t say much in regards to a weakness. But the program’s biggest strength is that it has an epidemiology concentration. I get to take 5 or 6 courses that pertain to my interest within the field of public health, and many schools don’t offer that. In fact, when I was first looking into online graduate schools, I couldn’t find any that did, including Walden. Kaplan developed that concentration recently, and so I feel like my education is tailored to my needs now.

If you were to do it again, would you sign up for Kaplan University’s masters degree in Public Health?

I would sign up for this program again because I strongly feel that Kaplan wants its students to succeed. If Kaplan would have had this same program a few years ago, I would have started with them in the first place. But they didn’t develop the program until after I had already finished 2 semesters at Walden, so I had to come into it late in my college career.

Closing

What general advice would you give to a student who is considering a masters degree in public health at Kaplan University?

Generally speaking, I would advise you to always do your research before deciding on a school. Don’t just go with a school because it is a big name. Even though Kaplan is a great place for me, it might not be the right fit for you.

Also, if you know you want to go into public health, you should do some research in the field because public health actually encompasses a lot of different concentrations and each school with a public health program specializes in a different area. You want your education to directly relate to your future career.