My Review of TRU Online Computer Science Degree

Summary

In this video, the reviewer shares their experience with the Tru online computer science program, highlighting its flexibility and self-paced nature as major pros. They appreciate the program's equivalent degree to on-campus studies and the helpful professors. However, they also discuss cons such as limited course availability, lack of lectures, insufficient career support, a challenging start, and absence of final reviews. Despite these drawbacks, the reviewer finds the program life-changing and recommends it, offering tips on buying used books and seeking help during the initial tough phase.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Tru online computer science program is highly flexible and self-paced, allowing students to complete courses within a six-month window or even quicker if they are already familiar with the material.
• 🔄 Tru is accommodating with extensions, making it easier for students with full-time jobs or other commitments to manage their coursework.
• 🎓 The degree obtained through the online program is equivalent to the on-campus degree, ensuring the same qualification and recognition.
• 👨‍🏫 Professors in the program are responsive and helpful, typically replying to student inquiries within 24 to 48 hours.
• 🤔 The program fosters excellent self-learning skills, which are invaluable in the workforce, but this comes at the cost of less direct support compared to on-campus learning.
• 🔍 Not all courses are available through Tru, requiring students to take some courses at other universities, which can create a bottleneck in the process.
• 📚 The lack of lectures in the online program is noted as a downside, as having recorded lectures could enhance the learning experience.
• 💼 There is a significant lack of career help for online students compared to on-campus students, including limited access to Co-Op opportunities.
• 🆙 The beginning of the program can be very challenging, especially for those without a background in computer science, and additional support like tutoring could be beneficial.
• 📝 Final reviews are not as comprehensive as they could be, with professors often advising students to review the entire course material rather than providing specific guidance.
• 👍 Despite the cons, the speaker highly recommends the degree, as it was life-changing and provided an accessible path to a computer science education.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video review?

The main focus of the video review is to share the speaker's personal experience with the Tru online computer science program, discussing its pros and cons, and whether they would recommend the degree.

How does the speaker describe the flexibility of the Tru online program?

The speaker describes the program as very flexible and self-paced, allowing students to complete courses within a six-month window but also giving the option to finish faster if they are able to grasp the material quickly.

What was the speaker's experience with course extensions in the Tru program?

The speaker found the extension process to be very easy and accommodating, even when their requests fell outside the typical extension policy, as the supervisors were understanding and helpful.

How does the Tru program handle credit transfers?

Tru makes an effort to transfer credits from previous college courses and work experience, allowing the speaker to take the minimum number of courses necessary to obtain their degree.

Is the online degree from Tru considered equivalent to an on-campus degree?

Yes, the online degree from Tru is the same as the on-campus degree, which the speaker considers a significant advantage.

How responsive were the professors in the Tru program when the speaker had questions?

The professors were very helpful, typically responding to questions via email within 24 to 48 hours.

What is the speaker's view on the importance of self-learning in the Tru program?

The speaker sees self-learning as a pro because it's an invaluable skill for life and the workforce, but also acknowledges it as a con due to the lack of immediate support compared to on-campus learning.

What issue did the speaker encounter with course availability in the Tru program?

The speaker encountered that not all courses were available through Tru, requiring them to take some courses at another university, which added a bottleneck to the process.

Why does the speaker believe adding lectures to the online courses would improve the learning experience?

The speaker believes that having lectures, in addition to textbook readings, would provide an additional way of learning that could help solidify concepts faster and more easily.

What is the speaker's opinion on the career help provided to online students by Tru?

The speaker feels that the lack of career help, such as Co-Op opportunities, is a significant drawback for online students, as they do not receive the same support as on-campus students.

What challenges did the speaker face during the initial stages of learning programming in the Tru program?

The speaker found the initial ramp-up period very challenging, especially without the immediate support of tutors or professors that would be available in an on-campus setting.

What advice does the speaker give for students considering the Tru program?

The speaker advises to buy used or online books to save money, seek help when needed, especially during the challenging start, and to stay disciplined to succeed in the program.

Would the speaker recommend the Tru online computer science degree?

Yes, despite the cons mentioned, the speaker would recommend the degree because it was worth it for them and completely changed their career trajectory.