Online Student Spotlight: Jessica Frede, Bachelor’s in Communication

Jessica Frede is currently enrolled in her second online program at the University of Cincinnati. When she decided to go back to school several years ago, she knew she'd need flexibility to balance her classes with her career, family, pets, and more. 

Through it all, UC has given her the ability to do just that. We had the opportunity to hear from Jessica about her experience as an online learner and how UC is paving the way for her law school aspirations. 

Prior to becoming a Bearcat, Jessica worked at the Hamilton County Domestic Relations Court, which exposed her to the court system and legal field.

"That experience planted a lot of seeds for where I’m headed," Jessica said. "I’ve always had an interest in how the law works at a human level, and that job made it concrete for me." 

At this point, Jessica knew she wanted to stay in the legal field. Going back to school was necessary to continue moving forward, which led her to UC Online.

Jessica started by completing her associate’s degree with UC. From there, she decided to take the communications route—"a natural fit given where I want to go professionally," she added—and enrolled in UC's online Bachelor's in Communication. 

When asked why she chose UC Online, Jessica emphasized the flexibility that the online format offers. Stopping at her associate’s wasn't an option, but she also couldn't leave the workforce and go to school full time. An online program allows her to keep working while making steady progress toward her degree.  

"The fact that UC Online made it possible to do that without blowing up my life was a big part of the decision."

Online learning has many advantages compared to traditional in-person programs; however, it's not without unique challenges. Jessica spoke candidly about what it's been like to juggle multiple responsibilities alongside her degree: 

"It's been a lot of plates spinning at once, not going to lie. I work full time from home. I have a husband, two bonus kids, and a house full of pets, so there's no shortage of things competing for my attention."

When you aren't required to come to campus or attend scheduled lectures every week, school can fall by the wayside. Homework becomes easier to put off another day. So how does Jessica get everything done?  

Her strategy involves treating school as a non-negotiable part of her life and making time for it accordingly. 

"What's made it work is treating it like it has a permanent spot on my schedule, not something I squeeze in when it's convenient. UC Online has been genuinely flexible in a way that makes that possible. I'm not sure I could have done this in a traditional classroom setting." 

As mentioned, Jessica's full-time job keeps her busy alongside her degree program. Luckily, her coursework and job often overlap in ways that are beneficial to her learning and her career.

"I work as a demand letter writer for a personal injury law firm," she said. "My job is to build out settlement demands by pulling together medical records, billing, and evidence to make the strongest possible case for injured clients. It’s detail-heavy work that sits right at the intersection of writing and legal analysis, which is a pretty good description of what I want to be doing long term." 

Her coursework has pushed her to think critically about how information is framed and delivered. It's also sharpened her writing—a key skill for anyone interested in legal writing.

Jessica's criminal justice minor has also been applicable to her work. She said, "Coursework covering the court system, policing, and corrections has given me better context for what I’m seeing in my day-to-day work—especially when cases involve law enforcement reports or legal proceedings." 

Jessica's current job ties nicely into her plans for the future: law school. 

"The more time I spent around it, the more I realized I didn't just want to support the work. I wanted to do it." 

Students take many different paths to law—and since law schools don't require applicants to have a specific degree for admission, law students often major in a wide array of subjects. For Jessica, she believes that her UC education has prepared her well for the legal field.

"I think a communication degree is genuinely underrated as a pre-law foundation," she said. "So much of lawyering is about constructing arguments, understanding your audience, and writing clearly." 

When it comes time to apply for law school, Jessica hopes that her communication degree and criminal justice minor demonstrate the intentionality behind her education.

Jessica urges others considering online education to stop waiting for the right time. Especially for non-traditional and adult learners, she says that the right time won't show up.

"There will always be work, family stuff, money concerns, or some other reason to postpone. The online format exists precisely for people in complicated life situations. Use it!" 

She also encourages adult learners to remember what they bring to the table. While adult learners might have more to balance alongside school, they also bring focus and motivation to their studies. They know why they're investing in their education and where they're headed.

Jessica will be graduating with her bachelor's in Fall 2026—a year early in what's essentially a four-year program. Her story shows that going back to school is possible, even with a busy life. You just have to decide to do it.

From all of us at UC Online, we wish Jessica the best as she moves forward with her degree! 

Have you also been considering going back to school? If you think online may be a good fit for your schedule, connect with us today. Your Enrollment Services Advisor can help you explore your options!