Getting proctored

I had a great experience on a couple of proctored exams I took when I was taking Industrial Relations via LSU Independent Study a couple of years back. My local library here proctored my both my exams for FREE! I didn't pay one penny. Just sat on some table and took the exams. This is one of the reasons I think I would prefer PENN FOSTER over New Charter University. I understand they charge 60 bucks per course for getting proctered via web cam. A complete turn off. They are a couple of hundred dollars cheaper per term, however, Penn Foster seems to have been around much longer and have made quite a name for themselves in education even though their BA is not RA, but rather NA/DETC.
Can anyone provide anything as far as positives between these two schools? I'm really about right in the middle with them. I don't want big three schools, don't think testing out or clepping is right for me. I'm really just down to whom I will send my transfer credits to, and who offers a better self paced program where I don't get hit for crazy dues if I get too slow.

 

It's not really that I'm lazy or a slow learner. It's just that I have alot on my plate with time and hours. Kind of torn between putting in the time. Hard to do when I have flight benefits, and a Las Vegas run is all it takes to throw out my study schedule. I actually learn more while travelling than I do sitting down with a book, but the problem is that I don't get credit for visiting Mayan ruins in Mexico. (Forget those life experience essays, its easier if I just take the darned courses.) Besides, I'm shooting for business classes. BA in buisness.
So there it is. I want to take a school where if I decide not to take college courses after getting my butt kicked a full semester with a heavy load, I may want to ease off for a few months or so. Any problem with that?

 

Both are DETC - no difference there. New Charter charges around $800 for a 4-month term - not by credit-hours. The more you complete in 4 months, the more you save. It's an "if you snooze, you lose" kind of thing. Best option there, if you're going to work sporadically might be: work like crazy for 4 months, then take a breather. Don't re-register till you're ready to work hard again for another 4 months.

Penn Foster usually charges by the 15-credit semester - around $12 -1300, I believe. I don't know what the maximum time allowed to complete a semester is - suggest you ask. I've heard there's an 8-year maximum on the entire degree, so maybe they allow up to a year per semester. If so, there may well be the flexibility you seek, here.

Both are reputable schools, as I see it. As you said, PFC's parent-co. roots go back to the 1890's, so they know what they're doing. New Charter U. is well...newer, but they established a good rep. under their former name - Andrew Jackson University.

Johann

 

Also - I've read somewhere that if you're taking INDIVIDUAL COURSES through Penn Foster, there's a 6-month limit on each course. That (individual courses) might be something you'd want to explore with Penn Foster. I believe they cost around $210 per 3-credit course - pretty darn reasonable!

Johann

 

BINGO!!!! That's it. And I did find that on their web site. Here it is.

Q. How long will it take to complete my training?

A. It's up to you. With Penn Foster College, you set your own pace...complete your studies as quickly or as slowly as you like. You can take up to 12 months to finish each semester of a Degree Program.

And I thank you for that. I think PF is the one for me as of now. I like to SNOOZE but not LOOZE if you know what I mean. And sometimes I even like to BOOZE while on vacation. I can live with taking up to a year for this. I took an independent study course via LSU a while back, and to be honest with you, IT KICKED MY BUTT and it seemed like alot of sacraficing for only 3 credits, but I did ACE it. I wrote so much my hand was ready to fall off. (I couldn't hold my beer can up for two minutes.) I don't like NCU's version of asking for leave or taking a web cam proctored test. I'm going to do this at a later date, got some other things going on right now. For now, I'll get my transcripts in order and give them a call.

 

REALLY? That may be even better for me. That would be the bomb there. I can see light at the end of the tunnel. Next deal is HOW MUCH CREDITS WILL TRANSFER TO THEM??? I'll have to just submit my stuff, give them a call. Thanks everyone for all your help. I like this web site, and everyone here has been kind courtious and helping. I'll be sticking around here. I think this forum is a great exchange of information.

 

PF charges by semester a 15 credit deal there? That's 5 courses. My wife took Hotel Management in 1997 when they were called INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOLS. I picked it out for her while I was working out on the islands on Saipan. I was impressed with the information and fancy transcripts they send her. She got a job in the hotel industry the minute we put together a resume. That helped her alot. She's been working in the hotel industry since. She is now even a manager. This was not a degree, but a training certificate. It was all open book exams, and you called a number to enter your answers. It took her a few months to complete. What impressed me was the straight to the point right into the heart of the program. Nice to know something about hotels when you go apply for them.

 

Yep, yep and yep again. Semesters at PFC are mostly 15 credits - 5 courses. Their parent co. is indeed ICS and they still use that name in many countries. Through ICS in the UK one can study for any of several University of London Degrees. They don't "do" degrees in all countries where they operate. None here in Canada (although we can enrol for degrees in the US school) and none with ICS South Africa, as far as I know. The name Penn Foster is derived from Pennsylvania (where ICS was were founded) and Mr. Foster, the founder, back in the 1890s.

And yes -- that's typical of their career training courses. Straight to the point. I like that!

I wish you every success. BTW - I don't work for PFC ... or any other school. I'm 70 and long-retired. Still go to (distance) school, though...

Johann