Stacey O'Dell
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

Meet Stacey O'Dell: Nothing Would Deter Her

Stacey O'Dell was one practicum away from graduating with her Bachelor's degree from a traditional university when she was told that, because she was pregnant, the school wasn't going to let her finish. After giving birth to son Caleb, Stacey tried to get her Bachelor's degree again, this time at an online university. "It was a disaster."

Due to a computer malfunction, Stacey, as well as several of her classmates, were dropped from their classes. By the time the mistake was realized, Stacey had lost her scholarship money and faith in the program.

"I really wanted my Bachelor's degree and knew that I would have to earn it online, but after that first horrible experience, I was definitely leery of online educations." Sure that there was a legitimate online program out there somewhere, Stacey didn't give up. She did intensify her research efforts however. "The second time around, I did so much extra research and spent time figuring everything out 100% before I started. I wasn't going to repeat that first mistake."

After months of research, Stacey started at AIU Online in fall 2004. She graduated magna cum laude with her Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice this past February.

Stacey was initially drawn to AIU Online because of its accelerated pace; finding out the school was legitimate and being paired with an attentive and caring Admissions Advisor made her decision. "I can't remember his name anymore, but he really was great. He made sure I got as many transfer credits as I could and offered as much extra help as I needed."

Stacey also liked the accessibility of AIU Online's Virtual Campus. "I didn't have to go out and buy an expensive computer and fancy programs."

Now that she's finished with her time at AIU Online, Stacey says the school lived up to her expectations. "I learned a lot. There were so many avenues of learning things - tutorials, the Online Library, and even asking the facilitators. The pace was fast, but that was what I wanted and it didn't take long to discipline myself and find my niche balancing life and school."

In addition to caring for Caleb, Stacey worked full-time while going to AIU Online.

Since Stacey had nearly graduated from a brick-and-mortar school, she can compare traditional and online educations (she even studied the same topic at both - Criminal Justice). "I didn't get any less of an education at AIU Online. I'd say I even learned more at AIU Online. At AIU Online, most everyone I took classes with had some sort of police experience. I ended up learning not only from the course material, but also from my fellow students."

Stacey says it wasn't just her fellow students who had real world experience either. "My facilitators had worked in the real-world too. At the traditional school, classes were more about sociology and ideology; at AIU Online, the facilitators could teach us about practical things they had learned by actually being a police officer or an investigator."

"I was at AIU Online to learn everything I could for my money. When you first go off to college, it is a lot of fun. When you go back as an adult with a family and job, it's different. I was right down to it. AIU Online allows you to make your education what you want it to be. For me, the future now seems better as far as more opportunity. I don't feel stuck anymore."

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