Life in the military carries with it the likelihood of being called upon anytime, anywhere. That can mean other goals are placed on hold; part of the sacrifice servicemembers make to the nation.
Often, it’s school that must wait.
“It’s been a long-term goal for me to finish college,” U.S. Army veteran Steven Lesko said. “Being in the military and being deployed sometimes makes it difficult to achieve that. When I found out that I could actually do it online now, it was a blessing.”
Lesko enrolled in Florida Institute of Technology’s 100% online Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a Specialization in Computer Information Systems degree program.
“I did a lot of research,” he said. “I was actually an ROTC instructor at Virginia Tech; I could have easily gone there. However, [Florida Tech] just seemed to be a really good fit for me.”
The flexibility and convenience of Florida Tech’s online degree programs also appealed to Wes Geyer, whose U.S. Coast Guard service requires relocating every few years. Geyer was impressed by the quality of education offered by the regionally accredited Florida Tech, which has been consistently ranked a Tier 1 Best National University by U.S. News & World Report.
“Between Florida Tech, [University of] Phoenix and then a couple others, just in terms of the actual graduation rates between them, that’s why I chose Florida Tech,” he said.
Geyer enrolled in the Master of Business Administration with a Specialization in Project Management degree program, also offered 100% online.
“I liked that the program stayed the same for the log-ins,” he said. “So, whenever you get set up, everything is going to stay the same for formatting of the class: the log-in; the emails; how you submit your assignments; how you check your grades. That’s a really, really big portion that I really liked.”
“The assignments are tough, the assignments are challenging,” Geyer said. “In terms of the work, you have to actually study and read the material. Having been out of college the last 5 ½ or six years, it is good to get back into studying again.”
Geyer and Lesko received their diplomas during commencement ceremonies at the Melbourne campus in spring 2013. Both men credited the strong support they received at Florida Tech, which has been named a Best College for Veterans by U.S. News & World Report.
“The professors were great,” Geyer said. “They were always available. A handful of them provided their cell phone numbers in case you had any difficulties after-hours.”
Lesko said he had excellent enrollment representatives who made sure he stayed on track.
“They were a wonderful team that helped me along the way to get to the dream that I am at right now,” he said.