What is BA in 4 Weeks? - An Introduction

Below is the July 2001 rev introduction to the guide. It is reproduced here to provide much needed context to other recent threads


Lawrie Miller's BA in 4 Weeks -
[email protected]

C O N T E N T S

1) Introduction

2) Which College and When (to enroll)

3) Exam tips and books

4) Frequently asked Questions (FAQS)

5) BA in 4 Weeks - 1st Year

6) BA in 4 Weeks - 2nd Year

7) BA in 4 Weeks - 3rd Year

8) BA in 4 Weeks - 4th Year

1)

BA in 4 weeks - INTRODUCTION

This series is primarily written to benefit mature adults who, for whatever reason, failed to start or failed to complete an undergraduate BA or BS degree, and who
now seek some method of demonstrating and translating current competencies into academic credit and thence into an accredited, and widely recognized college
degree.

The series of posts collectively provide a road map detailing the nuts and bolts of the process of gathering credit by examination and converting the credit into a
bachelor's diploma, and why it is that you, the motivated intelligent student will likely succeed in that endeavor.

You may have spent the past ten or twenty years providing for and caring for your family, or have subordinated youracademic ambitions to finance or otherwise help
support those of your spouse or partner. You may have blown an earlier chance on a mis-spent youth and have long regretted the consequences. Whatever the
reason, one way or another you probably feel you have paid your dues and that now it's your turn.

The title of the series is "BA in 4 weeks". Four weeks is the practical minimum amount of time in which this process can reasonably be completed. The process
includes the completion of all degree credit requirements. There will probably be an additional delay while administrative gears whir and turn, before the actual
degree diploma is cranked out.

It's estimated that 15% to 20% of motivated adults could complete the process in under a month if inclined to do so. I think it entirely likely that fully 60% of
motivated adults taking on this project, could complete degree requirements within six months. I am as sure as I can be that close to 90% of motivated adults could
complete degree requirements within a year.

My opinion is based on the practical experience of having earned two bachelor's degrees largely by examination, encompassing forty proficiency exams for a total of
190 semester hours credit. I note that 92.6% of all credit hours appearing in my Regents/Excelsior college transcripts were awarded for passing proficiency exams.

The 15% to 20% passing in four weeks is not an estimate plucked out of the air. These exams are "normed" relative to the performance of a population of young
college students. It is my experience that many a mature, motivated adult, who sets himself the task of completing these exams, can constantly outperform his
younger brethren by quite a margin.

The 15% to 20% of students who can consistently score "A"s in these exams or score in the top 20% of all students, can likely pass most of the same exams (within
the top 50%) with no study at all. This is not because the exams are a sham, but because these adults have accumulated a wealth of knowledge over the course of a
lifetime that has direct application in these tests.

If you have less knowledge coming into the process, it will take you longer to complete it. How much longer depends on your existing knowledge base, how
efficiently you study, and your native wit.

Now clearly, if you spent your life reading Batman comics and watching "Days of our Lives", and were never intellectually curious, you're going to have a harder time
of it. However, most reading this series, and intent on completing a degree, are self selecting for success. To read even this far demonstrates curiosity and motivation.
This series isn't for everyone, but it IS for everyone who has the MOTIVATION to read it through to the end and IMPLEMENT the suggested strategies contained
herein.

There is nothing in the actions proposed in this series that I and others as average adult learners have not already proved doable, and that you, at least our equal,
cannot do too. This series is not borne of theory and wishful thinking but of practical experience and demonstrable accomplishment. It is not a prospectus for the
gifted elite, but a usable guide for ordinary men and women who dare to do something extraordinary.

PORTFOLIO CREDIT
It should be noted that examinations are not the only route to college credit. Portfolio assessment is one alternative. This method requires that you map some
demonstrable skill to a college credit course. For instance, assembly language programming 301 and (say) microprocessor systems design and peripheral interfacing
457 (from XYZ university) course requirements might be met and competency demonstrated by presenting narrative, source code, and schematic, of a Z80 based
single board computer *you* designed in the 1980s (liberal arts credit - engineering credit would be time limited). You may have written a killer budget report for
financial year 1995/1996 that could be used in evidence to garner credit in the equivalent Financial Management course FIN3AXD at UCLA. Alternatively, you may
just play the banjo like a banshee and have sniffed out a college credit course that maps to that demonstrable skill. The key point is that the competency for which
you request credit must have a corollary in some accredited college course. You choose the course and the college. Very flexible.

TRADITIONAL CREDIT
The other main source of credit is via the traditional route of class, assignment, exam/assessment. Many if not most adult learners starting out on this journey will
already have some credit, though it be decades old, upon which they can call. Note though, that for the purposes of this series we assume no prior credit.

BE ECLECTIC
It is likely that most people will earn their degree using credit earned in a variety of ways. The game here is not necessarily to earn all credit via examination, or by
way of portfolio assessment, or even to do it all in a month. The trick is to make efficient use of your existing credit and native talent to achieve your goal. "BA in 4
weeks" seeks to provide a template that you can apply in whole or in part to your particular set of circumstances where and when you think it appropriate.

COPYRIGHT
The works comprising "BA in 4 Weeks", "Earn a 2nd BA in 3 hours", and "A BUSINESS DEGREE IN 4 WEEKS", are the copyright of
Lawrie Miller 1997 - 2001


DISCLAIMER
The advice and information contained in this series is not endorsed by any education institution or agency. The opinions expressed are those of the author alone.

Information contained in this series should be used as a guide only and should not be relied upon as the sole source of information relating to its content. Additional
sources of information may be listed herein. No warranty, either express or implied, is made with respect to the information contained herein. The author is not
responsible for any loss, inconvenience, damage (whether special or consequential) or claims arising out of the use of the information contained in this series.

You are encouraged to do your own research and obtain your information from as many sources as possible. No one source can provide you with all of the
information you may need.


Note:
All references to colleges and universities are to regionally accredited institutions. "[A]ccredited" where it appears means regionally accredited.

 

Hi!
Is your book selling in amazon.com ?

 

Thanks for the post Lawrie. I have pointed it out to about 6 people who are like minded at work. May I have permission to put it in word and give it formatting (just 3 heading levels) and hand it out with your name still on it when people come up and ask me how I do it?

What I've done is passed 9 clep and dsst's. Last one was Business Law, now I'm going to start on the Psychology book you suggest, Amazon could thank you for that sell.

Jim

 

Actually, I did the same today... they were still laughing when I left the office... of course, we don't work at the same place. I personally have worked at places where I am sure this would be of great interest.
"cheese on 6 regs!"