Allison Coleman
Alumna Allison Coleman (MET’20) Lauds BU MET as Outstanding “Leader in Distance Education”
Web Application Developer, California State University, Bakersfield
MS in Computer Information Systems (MET’20); BA in Communications, California State University, Bakersfield
Why did you choose BU MET for your graduate studies? What set BU MET apart from other programs you were considering?
Of all the schools and programs I considered, BU MET had the best combination of everything that was important to me. I was drawn to the Master of Science in Computer Information Systems (MSCIS) curriculum and its relevance to my personal and professional goals, the flexibility of the program, and the fact that BU had one of the top 10 online graduate IT programs in the nation. Also, my initial communications with BU (I’d reached out to a graduate admissions advisor) left a great first impression, which made a world of difference for me as a prospective student considering multiple schools.
Were you able to use faculty as a resource? Is there a particular faculty member who enhanced your experience at BU MET?
With the help of Dr. Vijay Kanabar, I landed a graduate research assistantship during my last semester, which allowed me to develop new module content for the course I’d taken with him Web Application Development (MET CS 601). It felt great to give back in a way that would help future students, to contribute to the evolution of BU MET’s curriculum, and to be entrusted with such an opportunity, while studying fully online. I received word from Professor Kanabar that the material I worked on was a success with the Summer 1 students, which I’m very happy about!
How were you able to adapt to some of the challenges of balancing work, home-life, and school? Did you benefit from BU MET’s flexible class delivery options?
I owe a lot of my ability to adapt to my supportive family, friends, and colleagues. Having a solid support system was important, as was my recognition that I would have to make sacrifices during my pursuit of the program. My employer, fortunately, was very accommodating toward my academic commitments, which was also a huge help. I definitely benefited from the flexible class delivery options. I likely wouldn’t have considered BU MET had those options not existed, as I live in California and work full time.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Not all distance education programs are created equal, and I found BU MET’s approach to be exceptional. Resources were plentiful, courses in the program were well-conducted, and both faculty and staff were very responsive to any inquiries I had. BU MET is, without question, a leader in distance education—a notable strength, no doubt, and especially so in the midst of the current pandemic.