Name

Sonia Riley

School

University of Phoenix

Degree Program

Graduated in 2008 with a Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Nursing Education

Previous Degrees

Bachelor of Science of Nursing from Lamar University, 2000

Research Interests

Teaching, OB/GYN issues

Advisor

Michaela Green

Hobbies

Traveling, skiing, camping

Graduate School – Application Process

How did you select your graduate school and program?

I selected University of Phoenix because it seemed like their curriculum was geared toward working parents. I earned my undergraduate education through a brick-and-mortar school, and the classes were set up so that you had to sit through a lecture for an hour and a half and then go home, do some more reading and more homework on your own. I don’t have time for that now. The good thing about University of Phoenix is that it puts learning into your hands. There is no on-campus lecture component. I do the reading on my own and learn on my own, all from my house.

What did you do to prepare yourself for graduate school?

I did not have to do much to prepare for graduate school because I had done well in the last half of my bachelors degree program. At University of Phoenix, the graduate admissions advisors examine the last 60 credits of your undergraduate education to assess your dedication to academics. If you did well enough during that time, you don’t have to take any standardized tests, like the GMAT or GRE, to be admitted.

What kind of information did you include in your personal statement?

In my personal statement, I wrote about my future goal, which is to work in nursing education. I made sure to write about the ways that earning a masters degree in nursing would positively affect my future.

How did you choose faculty to approach for letters of recommendation?

I chose not to ask faculty for letters of recommendation. Instead, I asked some of my nurse managers to write letters for me, because they knew me well after years of working with me. They could speak to the way I handle different situations since they acted as my career mentors.

Do you have any other tips for a student who is considering applying to graduate school in nursing?

My advice is to take some time and work in the field as a nurse for a few years before going on to get your masters degree. In my case, I worked for almost 20 years before going to graduate school. But I think you need a minimum of 2 years on the job after you get your bachelors degree to truly understand all of the components of nursing. You will be a better student if you take that time to gain practical skills before earning an advanced degree.

Graduate School – The Program

How long is your program and how is the curriculum distributed?

The average master of science in nursing program takes 1 to 2 years to complete. At University of Phoenix, this program was focused on management rather than on practical nursing skills, which students were expected to have already. The first half of my program was more general. It focused on finance, organizational management and human resources techniques. The second half was more tailored to my specialty of education, so I learned about teaching techniques and curriculum design.

What is the focus of your thesis research?

University of Phoenix does not require its master of science in nursing students to write a thesis.

Does your program have an internship component?

No, there is no internship requirement for students in the master of science in nursing program at University of Phoenix.

Does your masters program require comprehensive exams prior to graduation?

My masters program does not require students to take comprehensive exams prior to graduation.

How does a masters program differ from undergraduate study?

The difference between a masters program and an undergraduate education is that nearly everything you need to succeed is given to you as an undergraduate. In a masters program, you have to seek out information for yourself. The instructors are there for you to use as resources, but they aren’t there to babysit you. It is a more independent learning process.

Graduate School – Paying for It

How much does your masters program cost?

I believe that my masters degree program at University of Phoenix costs about $20,000. That costs seems to be around $5,000 to $7,000 more expensive than the offline schools I researched. But I think the extra money is worth it. An online degree program provides me with a better academic experience than an offline program at this point in my life, since I can access my materials at any time and work it into my own schedule.

How are you funding your education?

I am partially funding my education through tuition reimbursement from my employer. They paid up to $3,000 a year for my education. In addition, I earned a few scholarships to help lessen the personal cost to me.

Graduate School – Living Life

What are the time commitments for a masters degree in nursing?

I would estimate that I spent about 20 hours a week on my coursework. I spend about 6 hours reading each week and another 7 hours writing weekly papers. I also spent about 6 hours each week working on mandatory discussion posts. It was a lot of work.

How has graduate school affected your personal life?

Graduate school affected my personal life because I had less time to spend in my own pursuits. For example, I wasn’t able to spend as much time doing regular household chores.

Graduate School – After Graduation

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

In 5 years, I want to be researching at a university on a post-doctoral assignment. Ideally, I would like to conduct research into vaccines while teaching nursing as a professor.

Graduate School - Advice

What insights can you offer a student who is interested in pursuing a masters degree in nursing?

First, I would say to take the time to prepare your family or significant other for the amount of time you will have to commit to school. If the people close to you aren’t prepared for your new set of priorities, they will have a difficult time adjusting to your schedule.

Second, you should prepare a back-up plan in case your computer unexpectedly shuts down. I use two different Internet providers for my home computer and my smart phone. Online schools make it clear that computer problems are not a good reason for late or missing work.