Student Testimonial Archives | Page 2 of 4

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No Time Like the Present: Healthcare Leadership Graduate Testimonial

By admin | May 22, 2018

Rachel McClain didn’t know what her life was missing—not until she almost lost her chance to find out.

After unexpectedly suffering a stroke, Rachel realized she wanted to live life to the fullest and achieve more. She found the perfect place to start at the University of Louisville. Earning a degree 100% online in Healthcare Leadership set Rachel up for career advancement and personal fulfillment.

Rachel started her education at a local community college right out of high school. When she got a full-time job in sales that didn’t require a college education, earning what she believed was decent income, she decided not to finish her degree.

Years later, she found herself passed up for jobs in lieu of others who had a bachelor’s degree. Despite having the necessary experience and intellect, her lack of a college diploma held her back from career progression.

Rachel’s mindset then was to live in the moment. As a result, she rarely found herself thinking much about the long-term and continuing her education wasn’t really on her mind.

However, when life intervened, her perspective changed. After recovering from a stroke, Rachel knew it was time to go back to school.

“I woke up one morning and it was really blurry. I ended up losing feeling in my face and ultimately, I had a stroke. I was debilitated for about six months. I went to occupational speech and physical therapy, where I learned to walk again, talk again and have motor skills again. And that’s when I really took the turn and said no time like the present. It’s time to go back to school.”
Rachel McClain

Start to Finish in Less Than a Year

Continuing her education and finishing the degree she previously started became her primary mission.

Rachel initially enrolled in a traditional four-year program, but it didn’t feel quite right. When she discovered the Healthcare Leadership (HCL) program, the first competency-based education degree delivered 100% online at UofL, she knew she’d found the perfect fit. Not only did the HCL program allow her to balance work and education, but it gave her the chance to capitalize on her decade-long professional experience and helped her reach the finish line much faster.

“[The Healthcare Leadership program] was everything I wanted. It instantly made me smile. It was perfect.”
Rachel McClain

Competency-based education (CBE) looks at prior education and/or working experience and rewards students with course credits for mastered competencies. In other words, students can test out of classes where they are knowledgeable and immediately start another class where they learn new concepts and skills. This method allows students to progress toward degree completion at a pace that fits their learning style.

For Rachel, this model allowed her to graduate with her bachelor’s degree in just about 10 months.

Since graduating from the healthcare leadership program, Rachel has been promoted within her organization and her life has changed for the better. Her experience as an online student and the degree she earned allows her to shine and gives her confidence to pursue even bigger dreams for her future.

Take The Leap

“To someone that is considering this degree: take the leap. There’s no time like the present and I think this program provides so much flexibility that it’s kind of a no brainer. Don’t put it off until tomorrow. I really think that this program has only given me benefits in my life and I would recommend it to anyone.”
Rachel McClain

Although Rachel worried about the commitment she had to make to finish her degree, as well as having another stroke during the process, she knew she couldn’t let anything hold her back. With the support and encouragement of her friends and family, Rachel took the leap to better her future—and it paid off.

This is Rachel’s story. Inspired by a shift in perspective, she went back to school to change her life and further her career. This is her why!

What’s YOUR why?

Check out our YouTube page to hear testimonials from other UofL Online programs and students, or read more student success stories here.

UofL Online

University of Louisville offers various degrees and certificate programs 100% online. These programs deliver quality online education to non-traditional students who are not able to come to a physical campus and want to earn a college degree or certificate to start or advance their career.

Master of Science in Social Work at University of Louisville

Advice from a Non-Traditional Student

By admin | May 19, 2017

Sara Keinath isn’t your traditional student. An active wife, mother and career professional, her passion for social work led her to pursue her Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) at UofL — an online degree that provides the learning flexibility she needs.

How did you start your social work career?

“I am a wife, mother and non-traditional student who went back to school a little later in life. I was unsure whether social work was my true calling until late in my undergrad career, but now I feel like this career is most certainly my home.”

Why the MSSW program?

“When I was pursuing my undergrad in psychology, I knew I would need to continue my education, but was unsure what I wanted to do. I tossed around getting a Psy.D. in clinical psychology, because I thought I wanted to do counseling. That was until I did an internship that focused more on case management. Then I did my research and realized that a MSSW degree would allow me to do case management work along with the clinical/counseling side, plus offer the job opportunities that are more widespread.”

Did you consider a specialization?

“I did not specialize, simply because I wanted to have a more general experience and it allowed me to pick and choose my electives to get that broader educational experience.”

Why did you choose UofL?

“I chose UofL, because at first I was looking at local programs and I was impressed with the Kent School’s curriculum and reputation. The majority of social workers I had talked to had been educated there and had positive things to say about the program. Then when UofL started to offer the online program option, it became the obvious choice for me.”

What did you find most valuable in the online format?

“I liked that the online courses offered the same content and the same professors as the on-campus program. I am a non-traditional student who went back to school once my children were in school. Due to my family’s schedule, a traditional format wouldn’t have been ideal. I needed flexibility and the online program afforded me that. Being able to spend time with my family and be an inspiration to them are very important things to me.”

How has the internship helped you in your current position?

“I am currently employed at Hosparus and have always loved hospice work. That was my goal even before I started the UofL MSSW program. They have employed many interns over the years, and due to my internship there, I was offered a permanent position. Without that ‘in’ I highly doubt I would be an employee there. I am very thankful that it worked out that way.”

What are your professional plans for the future?

“As of now, I honestly just really like where I am. I have no desire to go anywhere else. Having said that, I am currently pursuing my LCSW and once I finish that program, I do hope to do some private practice work on the side.”

What advice do you have for other students in an online social work program?

“My advice is to stay on top of the work. It can be easy to say, ‘I’ll do that later,’ but then before you know it you have dug a hole that is too deep to crawl out of. Also, getting to know your classmates and networking with professors has to be approached differently in the online learning setting. I highly encourage students to make the effort to form those relationships, because this program can be difficult and they will need that support from those students who are in it with them.”

About UofL Online Learning

If Sara’s story resonates with you and you’re interested in pursuing a master’s in social work, visit our online MSSW program page.

The University of Louisville currently offers more than 20 online programs in various areas of study for adult learners who are not able to come to a physical campus, but want to earn a college degree or certificate and advance their career.

Seize The Day: Advice from a Recent Graduate of UofL’s RN-BSN Online Program

By admin | August 11, 2016

Forensic Nurse Specialist Emily Neal Makes the Case for “No Time Like the Present” as She Follows Her Own Passion

Seize the day. That’s the advice of Emily Neal, RN, a forensic nurse specialist and recent graduate of UofL’s online program for the RN-BSN degree.

“The online RN to BSN program at UofL is excellent,” says the recent grad, who, like many other nurses, had put off the decision to advance her degree. Once she joined UofL’s online program, however, the ease and convenience of the flexible format made the transition back to school much easier than she expected.

Her advice to other nurses looking to enroll?
“Just do it.”

“You have to start somewhere,” she adds. “And today is as good as any.”

Neal, who graduated in December of 2015, also expressed her appreciation for the program structure. Of particular note was the ability for nurses in the online program to tailor research topics, assignments and reports to areas of their own specialty.

Neal is a forensic nurse with a passion for child protection and child welfare in Kentucky. As an online student, she was able to apply her coursework to this personal interest. And as a forensic nurse, she could also emphasize this nursing specialty in her courses and key areas of learning.

“Throughout the classes—from the research classes to the health communications classes—the instructors allow students to pick topics that interest them,” Neal says. “You can focus papers and assignments around them, so it creates a more personal learning experience.”

“The ability to customize my assignments to child welfare helps me be a better nurse in my chosen field of interest,” she added.

Neal is excited to move forward in her career with her new degree, and she encourages other nurse who are on the fence to make the jump and enroll. “It’s very doable,” she says. “The classmates are great, the instructors are wonderful. I can’t say enough good things about the program.”

Don’t miss Emily Neal’s interview video about her experience at the University of Louisville and her advice to prospective students seeking their RN-BSN though UofL’s convenient online program.

Learn more about the RN-BSN program here … or explore the many benefits of the online experience on the UofL Online Learning website.

Online Educator Honored Among UofL Top Faculty Favorites

By admin | October 20, 2015

There is no denying that the professional rapport formed between college educators and their students is of paramount importance both to learning and to the attainment of educational goals. The acclaimed and diverse online degree programs at the University of Louisville allow students to both learn and interact with their professors and classmates, regardless of geographic location. These online classrooms utilize cutting-edge software, allowing maximum levels of interaction and a strong sense of campus community to be built amongst online students. With current technology, online educators at UofL are able to inspire their students in much the same way as their traditional counterparts, leading to students nominating their online educators for the annual campus “Faculty Favorites” list.

Assistant professor Dr. Roman Yampolskiy, who teaches computer science courses at the Speed School of Engineering, and has had his research widely published, has now been recognized by his online students as both a Professor of the Year as well as a Faculty Favorite for several years running. Yampolskiy himself strives to bring the very best in tools and educational experiences to his online students. He recognizes the value in his online classroom and makes sure to treat his students as human beings, not just as names on a screen.

According to one of the students who nominated Yampolskiy for his Top Four placement among the Faulty Favorites, Yampolskiy was “very available to students with questions.” Other students commended his approachability, intelligence, passion for education, open-mindedness and his ability to inject humor into some of the more ‘dry’ subject matters. One thing is abundantly clear from all of the student nominations – Dr. Yampolskiy knows his students, and his students know and respect him, regardless of the fact that many have never met him face to face.

The quality of online instruction from the award-winning faculty at the University of Louisville truly speaks to the level of education being offered. When online students are able to feel as passionately about their professors as traditional students do, the online campus community is clearly not just existing, but thriving. With the diverse and nationally ranked online programs available to choose from, prospective students can rest easy in their decision to pursue degrees online. The quality of an online education from UofL shines through the dedicated faculty and staff, like Dr. Yampolskiy, who tirelessly work to build and solidify a sense of true community via the virtual classroom.

To read more on the talented Dr. Roman Yampolskiy, please click the following link – http://uoflonline.com/2014/09/roman-yampolskiy/. For further information on exploring the many benefits and flexibilities of an online education at the University of Louisville, please visit us online.

Tag: Student Testimonial