Thank you for sharing your personal experience with the Ivy League online programs, it always helps to hear what other students are saying about the programs. Thanks for pointing out the addition of a new online program at Dartmouth. I will be sure to update this post with the new information… thanks for sharing!

Alexander clearly has strong feelings about what should be, but has no clue about what actually is. Online offerings from Ivy League institutions is the most benevolently democratic action these elite universities could take. It is not “leveling the playing field”, it is giving bright individuals an opportunity to study with some of the most brilliant minds in post-secondary education. People who weren’t born with a silver spoon in their mouth, or who took a little longer to decide what they wanted to make of themselves should have the opportunity to demonstrate their ability in a challenging, rewarding setting. Harvard Extension School, eCornell and the Dartmouth Online Bridge from Tuck Business School are exceptional opportuniites for non-traditional students to excell and propel themselves forward. I am a degree candidate at Harvard Extension. I attend classes both on campus and online and it has been the most amazing experience to study with Harvard Instructors in an evening setting. I am also near completion of an online certificate at eCornell and it has been rewarding and has given me invaluable tools that I can utilize right now in my professional life. I’m not a traditional student. I took the road less traveled. I spent almost ten years in the military where I started a family. Telling me that I don’t sacrifice while trying to attend Harvard full-time is something you should take up with my wife and kids. How dare anyone try to take anything away from people trying to make a better life for themselves and their children. Isn’t that what this country is all about?

The most degrading thing to happen to the Ivy League is continuing to allow subpar students to enroll due to large contributions by their parents. How could you compare reaching out to the bright and capable with the ultrarich buying a spot that could be taken by someone more deserving?

For anyone who is interested, Dartmouth does offer an online program through Tuck School of Business. Here is a link:
http://www.tuck.dartmouth.edu/exec/open_programs/online_bridge.html

Offering a UPenn or Harvard or Yale degree online does little more than bring degradation to the Ivy League. The ancient eight are extremely selective for a reason – they do not exist to compete with “community colleges” or the like. Hence you must be there to absorb the unique educational experience; it cannot be downloaded via a broadband connection, it is not virtual. If you are Ivy League material; you should sacrifice and find a way to attend in person, not over a cable modem. Clearly this is less about convenience (although who ever promised you that?) and more about leveling the playing field.

That to believe this field can ever be level is folly; it is simply not reality. You who think you can take shortcuts and walkaway with the same value will find out you are terribly foolish and mistaken.

Thanks
Naved

Thanks for the positive feedback!

I found you at the Carnival of Business Success http://floatlikearock.com/business-success-links-10-29/