Colorado Tech Online Students and Alumni
Meet Robert Ball
BBA with a concentration in Information Technology
What made you decide to continue your education?
I always wanted to continue my education. I am the type of person that if I won the lottery, I would still want to continue my education because I enjoy learning. I enrolled in college before I was 20 years old and I was going to major in music, but when I had my first child at a very young age I had to drop out in order to work full-time. I tried to go back to college several times, but I was not motivated enough to go through with it. I finally decided that if I am going to go back I will wait until I am willing and able to put all my effort into it, so I can excel at it rather than just get by.
Why did you choose Colorado Tech Online?
I knew I would need to attend school online. I have a wife and family. I work full-time and have what I call an overtime job in the U.S. Naval Reserve. I looked into many online universities and wanted to make a careful choice. I was not impressed with many online schools because I felt they were nothing more than diploma mills, but I was impressed with Colorado Tech Online from the beginning for several reasons. First and foremost was the technology at work. The Virtual Campus was state-of-the-art. I was also impressed with everyone I spoke with at Colorado Tech Online because they were knowledgeable, professional and answered all my questions. Colorado Tech Online also seemed to have the right balance in that it seemed like it was going to be challenging, but was something I knew was not beyond my capabilities. Colorado Tech Online had a good reputation in many industries in both the government and private sectors. Finally, after speaking to some people who attended Colorado Tech Online and had good experiences, I made up my mind to enroll.
Which degree program did you choose and why?
I chose to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Information Technology because I already had ten years of experience in IT. I also wanted to take business-related courses in order to become a better manager and I felt it would open up other opportunities for me should I choose to make a career change in the future.
How was your learning experience through Colorado Tech Online?
It went very well and I graduated summa cum laude. I was impressed with the instructors because they were very knowledgeable, attentive and accessible. The Virtual Campus was technologically advanced and easy to navigate. The course structure was very flexible in that I could attend class and ask questions when it fit my schedule, or read the material and listen to the lecture later if I could not attend. One of the things I liked most about it is that there was a lot of interaction with other students. There was a lot of discussion in the classrooms and discussion boards as well as outside of class. In very difficult classes students collaborated amongst themselves and helped each other learn the concepts. Colorado Tech Online was a great learning experience!
How do you feel your degree is helping you in your career?
I learned how to manage my time better. My writing skills have greatly improved. I am in a field where a lot of people have certificates, but not many have degrees. Having earned embedded certificates along with a Bachelor's degree sets me apart from my peers. I have been able to apply a lot of the technical things I have learned through my courses, such as computer programming, database theory and IT management to my current position. I think the most important things I have learned, however, involve more personal things such as giving feedback to people, learning how to be a better manager and developing leadership skills. A well-rounded education is valuable in any profession and I feel it will also help my career in the Navy. I am an enlisted sailor and the process of getting promoted to Chief is extremely competitive. Having earned a degree gives me an edge there as well.
Do you have any words of advice for current or potential Colorado Tech Online students?
Yes, I do…a few practical things such as learn how to manage your time in order to keep up. Communicate with your instructors because they are there to help and will always work with you to help you succeed. Find a way to keep yourself motivated, because self-motivation is the key to success in online learning. Lastly, hang in there, because it will be over sooner than you think. When you are done you will be proud of your achievement and you will have opened new doors of opportunity for yourself.
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