i've been spending hour a day going over all of the schools and strategies and blah, blah, blah. man, i am more confused than when i started. i need my degree fast! i m tempted to just enroll in one of the big 3 on a coin flip. it's killing me! someone tell me what helped them.
Given your new understanding of the matter (confusion), how about outlining again your goals and your current education level. With that you may be better advised as to which school would best serve your needs.
Fin Aid For me it was about financial aid. TESC offered a comprehensive package but they were so rude to me I decided against them. Excelsior I used for some testing but ultimately I chose Charter Oak becasue they had the best of all the possible worlds for which I was seacrhing. Except for my GRE's. I could have had 30 credits rather than 18 for my psych. Otherwise, they have been excellent in every way. If you are still checking around, call Kerry Ann Kowar at COSC and she will explain everything. Mention my name for a ten percent discount... I wish!
It depends on how far along you are already. I have about 70 semester-hours of regionally accredited credit, and what I have almost completely fulfills the Information Systems concentration for a B.S. from Charter Oak, so I'm going with them. If I were starting from scratch, however, I'd consider Lawrie Miller's advice on BAin4Weeks and do it through Excelsior. In fact, thanks to Lawrie's advice, once I'm done with my IS degree from Charter Oak, I'm considering cramming for the Psychology GRE and getting a second Bachelor's, the second from Excelsior. Charter Oak has the best reputation for customer service also, and that's probably important to you as a "confused" consumer. Caveat lector: As a disclaimer on how much weight you should give to my opinion, I haven't personally dealt with any of the big three other than to chat online once with a Charter Oak admissions counselor -- although I did indeed find him very helpful. -=Steve=-
i am 30 yrs old with five kids and a very demanding job in sales that pays me near 6 figures. looking down the road, i realize i can't keep up the travel for much longer and need more time with the family. i have 12 years in a manufacturing setting, many positions held in that setting. i have a few tech courses related to maufacturing. my sales job is also in, you guessed it, an industrial environment. i lack the credentials to get me close to the same pay in another job. i think i will stay in sales but switch (maybe) fields. maybe get into pharm or something like that. i can back off of the travel for only 9-12 months because my sales will suffer. so i only have a small window of time to get this thing done. i think a manufacturing/tech degree would be best because of my current knowledge. there you have it. help
It sounds as though you'll be starting, credit wise, from scratch so if you're looking at da Big Three then it's at this point a tossup between them. That confusion you're experiencing seems to be the norm for people first exploring these possibilities so the best thing may be to take a deep breath and have yet another look at the schools. With that, the more knowing people here may be able to answer any specific questions you come up with.
Skidadl writes: > i need my degree fast! i m tempted to just enroll in one of > the big 3 on a coin flip. [...] i am 30 yrs old with five kids and a > very demanding job in sales that pays me near 6 figures. Have you decided whether you want to claim most of your credits by exams or by portfolios? With a near-6-figure income and not much time, why don't you enroll simultaneously in all of the Big 3 and Western Governors University, and see where you finish the fastest?
i guess i have no idea what you are saying here? why would i enroll in all three? seeing that i don't have time and all?
Go to COSC Hey Skidadl, I'm in almost the exact same situation as you. 6 figures, sales, wife, kids, no time. I am also a student at TESC, Jodokk has it right. TESC is a pain in the a*#. Expect no HELP from them. I mean that literally. My tuition for the comprehensive plan was near $5,000, and they removed the best part of it, Portfolio assesment, thus making it nearly impossible to finish my BSBA in 1 year. I started with 72 CCollege credits, after their review, they only counted 54 towards my major. If you want a degree fast, go to COSC. Everyone I know who uses them, rave about them. You will be able to graduate extremely fast, with a lot of support. You might want to go to www.BAin4WKS.com Great free website with everything you'll need. Good luck.
I found it confusing at first too. I chose COSC because they spent time with me via phone and emails to help figure it out. TESC wouldn't speak to me and I'm still waiting after 3 months for Excelsior to send me their catalog, just too big with too many students, they don't have time or the inclination to help you unless you pay them 850.00 to enroll. COSC will help you without spending a penny to determine what you need to complete a degree. To get your current credits reviewed for acceptance you will have to pay 175.00 and forward your transcripts. I seem to recall another post of yours that you don't want to spend much time to get a degree, if that wasn't you, I apologize. No matter which one you chose, you are going to have to spend some time, whether it's by port folio or going the testing route. You have to prove your compentensies, and this will take some time and effort. If you want the degree you will have to spend some time on it. What will probably confound you the most is the core requirements you are going to have to meet, college writing, math, humanities, sciences, etc. There's no way around testing or taking classes for those with the Big 3. If you are determined enough you'll get through it.
Skidadl writes: > i guess i have no idea what you are saying here? why would > i enroll in all three? seeing that i don't have time and all? Remember, these are assessment institutions, not places where you have to take classes. Sending a transcript to 4 places is only a few more strokes of the pen than sending it to 1 place. One may be more generous than another in granting you credit for what you've done, and then you can proceed with that one and drop the others.
mark, ok, i get it. but either way i'm not going to get credit for experience am i? i know the portfolio process, i'm talking about credit for experience.
Confused too >>COSC will help you without spending a penny to determine what you need to complete a degree. To get your current credits reviewed for acceptance you will have to pay 175.00 and forward your transcripts.<< Now, I'm confused. I sent my app to Excelsior since COSC said in an email the only way they would be able to discuss my degree requirements was after I paid the $175. How where you able to get them to discuss your degree without spending a penny? Deb
Re: Confused too To my knowledge, the only places that give you direct credit for experience are degree mills. There needs to be a standardized portfolio process or competency exam to prove you can demonstrate experience and grant credit.
Hi Deb - I picked up the phone and called them. I went over my transcript on the phone with the admissions counsellor. I think the second phone call was over an hour in length. I worked it out on paper while I was on the phone with her. What I worked out just talking with her and what actually was given to me as credit by COSC once they evaluated my transcripts was even more credits than I thought I would get. Since that time, without matriculating yet, I have talked numerous times to the counselor, she has looked up classes for me when I've inquired and told me whether they would give credit for them and at what level and where they would fit. I have also corresponded by email frequently with her. As in anything, when you talk to a real person you usually get better service. My counselor is A1! I don't think my experience is unique. Another poster with a different contact has had what is reported as excellent service. Maybe you should call them rather than email. I think it helped that I had an idea of what I was trying to do and had a understanding of the testing, port folio, etc., information. I also had their bulletin in front of me so I could site a page when I had a question. I couldn't get any help at TESC or Excelsior on the phone, I couldn't get a live person.
everything about cosc is making me think i will go that way. i just wish they offerwed majors, that is the only sticking point for me. the whole general studies thing just makes me think it looks like a weak degree to potential employer. then again i am looking at graduate school so maybe i can go to a more recognized school with a more recognized degree and that will get the same results that i want.
Ditto Absolutely! When seekinghelp says "I don't think my experience is unique. Another poster with a different contact has had what is reported as excellent service. Maybe you should call them rather than email." I think you should. They have been first rate in every way. In fact, with institutional fin aid, not even touching my federal aid, I have and will have paid a total of around $500 complete for my bachelors. They are a great school. Dan B
