Texas resident, mother of two and a full-time employee, Jill Rose had always dreamed of attending The University of Alabama, but it wasn’t until she discovered that UA offered an online Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Business Administration that her dreams became a reality.
“It wasn’t easy, and it took a lot of time, but I am incredibly thankful that I was able to gain my business degree from The University of Alabama,” Jill said.
She began her search for a degree program when her children were 18 months old and five years old. She knew she couldn’t leave Texas or quit work, so she browsed the web to find programs that would fit her schedule. She discovered the UA Online website and, after researching programs, decided the online BS in Commerce and Business Administration at UA was for her.
“The school’s reputation had a lot to do with it. I originally selected three schools offering online degrees that interested me. I did research on all three and UA came out the clear winner,” she said.
Jill described her classes as challenging, interesting and unique. She said she often references her classes when making business decisions. One of the highlights of her experience was that she was able to connect with her fellow distance learning students.
“Being a distance student, sometimes you don’t make the connections with other students like you would in a traditional school setting. Through a project I made a great friend – one I still communicate with often.”
Jill faced questions about the quality of her degree, but she was able to easily dismiss those doubts.
“At UA, all of the major exams were proctored – something that made the experience feel more real, but that also gave the program more credibility. This, along with the numerous papers and projects, helped to dispel the thoughts of others that I was getting ‘less of a degree’ because it was online,” she said.
Her favorite thing about the experience was that she felt like a member of the UA family from the start.
“I was never labeled as ‘distance’ in email, on transcripts or otherwise,” she commented. “I liked that the degree I received is the same as the degree offered on campus. It made me feel like I was an actual student and not someone sitting in Texas taking classes.”
The classes even inspired Jill to pursue a new career venture.
“When I decided to finish my business degree I had intended to do so to assist in advancing in my current career; however, after taking International Business and Retail Marketing I found myself interested in pursuing something greater. A little more than one month after graduating from UA I began the process of launching my own business, Du Monde Furnishings – a home accessories boutique that only offers high-quality imported products. I truly believe that a spark was lit by both of those classes and it has resulted in the creation of my own business venture.”
Jill works full-time as director of photography for Now Magazine and launched Du Monde Furnishings in 2014.
Published: March 18th, 2018