Wait for AA or continue with BA

Hi folks,

this question is not for me its "for a friend" (bet you all heard that one before...LOL). She is one class from her Associates Degree in Business at an RA Community College, however she cannot get past Math. She took her assessment and it targeted her for "Refresher" mathematics, then "Beginning Math 1&2," then finally, intermediate algebra (the only one that will count towards her degree).

I was wondering if she should just focus on getting started with the long process of three math courses and graduate in December with her AA or start working with COSC, TESC, or Excelsior to get busy on her BA. Or does she even need the AA? I know that she will have to face math sooner or later but I don't want it to hold her back.

Suggestions please.

Regars,


Mike
AA Burlington College, NJ
BA TESC, NJ
MS SMSU, MO
PhD (Candidate) NCU

 

When I was in high school I was terrible at math. I passed the required courses but just barely, earning C's on most of the work.

Right after high school I tried to take a college algebra course via DL from the Community College of Colorado system. I withdrew the first week, I was vastly unprepared for it.

After that, I was absolutely terrified to take math on the college level. In fact I put it off just about as long as I could in my associate degree program. I started attending on campus courses at OTC and finally my adviser told me I had to take a math. I needed College Algebra but I choose to take a refresher and started off with Intermediate Algebra. I am extremely glad I did.

My instructor was absolutely wonderful! She had just moved up from the high school level but she was one of those people who truly had a passion to teach. She worked with me extensively, she would even let me come to class early. I ended up with an A in Intermediate Algebra, and then went on immediately afterward to take College Algebra and received an A there as well.

If your friend has problems with math I would advise her to try and take that on campus if it all possible. It just helps to have someone there that you can ask for help when you get lost.

I'm a strong DL advocate, I've finished the majority of my education via DL, but for those of us who are slightly deficient in the math department, I think on campus is the best way to go for those courses.

 

mdg1775,

You're friend actually has a couple options one she cA

 

I should have added to my earlier post that nothing would stop her from studying for and taking CLEP tests or things of that sort while she was working on the math.

 

mdg1775,

Your friend actually has a couple options one she can take the refresher classes which will take a about 30 weeks or she can take the clep or dantes test which will allow to get the college credit with minimal time. there are alot of books and testing engine availe that will help her pass the test and from what I have heard she doesnt have to be that good at math to pass the test . If she can find a good book read through a couple times and take the test she'll probably pass the test from what I have heard from other people who took the clep test. I would also recomend to take all of her math classes for a ba that way it will be cheaper for college and sher'll get through the rest of classes faster too! I would not recomenmd her starting her ba yet as she will probably have take that class and many other math classes also!Since you are a graduate of thomas edison state college then you can help her study for her exams . most school in the united states except clep exams that I have seen there is a huge list of schools on there site or she can just aske her counseler .

 

Thanks Oherra and CodeKiller

I will tell her some of the advice you both mentioned! I just don't want to see her quit (which she almost is at the point of doing since she saw how far behind she is in math). Also, Codekiller me help her with math? LOL I have to thank my lucky stars everyday for a professor at Burlington County College in New Jersey. I had him for both Trigonometry and Intro to Statistics...which I barely passed in both of them! I couldn't help my 10 year old with math.

But, on that same note and in agreement with Oherra, she should try to get into an on campus math class because the guy at BCC was on campus and he saw my teery-eyes every night when I came to class struggling! LOL I think that she is trying to do it all via DL because she has three kids, 2 jobs, and no help.

Regards,


Mike

AA Burlington College, NJ
BA TESC, NJ
MS SMSU, MO
PhD (Candidate), NCU

 

I would probably start working on the bachelors. Since she will need to take the math sooner or later to finish her BA (sooner is better), she can transfer the course back into the community college and get her AA. there is no real reason not to get both, but she probably does not need to wait for the AA before she can get started on the BA.

I was working on my BA at a university, when I discovered that an AA was available in the same subject from the same department and that I only lacked one course to get it (a P.E. course). I received my AA and it was nice to have something to hang on the wall until I finished my BA.

Tony Piña
Faculty, Cal State San Bernardino

 

High Desert

Hey Tony,

she lives in the High Desert and is going to one of the schools in the Inland Empire (in the Victor Valley area). She is thinking of going to Cal State San B., but as I mentioned...she is without help and she has three kids!

I am a little torn between

1. starting to work on the next level when there is an element missing (that element being the AA).

2. Waiting to move on because of something that will come eventually anyway.

I will pose all of these prospects to her and let her decide. One thing that she has going for her is that she is smart and resilient! Its just ashamed that every one of us have our own individual antithesis (math is one of mine...like a lot of people).

Regards Anthony,


Mike

AA Burlington College, NJ
BA TESC, NJ
MS, SMSU, MO
PhD, NCU (Candidate)

 

If, as I gather from your message, she is going to Victor Valley College (a good community college), she should visit the Learning Center, where they have tutoring programs for math. A good friend of mine is the Coordinator of Tutoring at College of the Desert (where I used to work) and I had the opportunity to observe many students enhance their math skills to the point of passing their college algebra requirements.

There really is no reason why your friend cannot start working on a bachelor's degree at TESC, COSC or Excelsior before completing her AA. She may be able to continue taking courses at the community college (certainly the least expensive route). When she is ready to take her algebra class, she can petition to receive her AA. I received my AA degree in my third year of study and got my BA a year later.

I have served as a college program counselor in the past. If your friend would like to contact me for some advice, send me a private message and I will give you my contact information.

Tony Pina
Faculty, Cal State U. San Bernardino

 

I was a whiz kid at math and was super smart at it. In fact, I was so good at it that my instructor asked me to take it for a second time.

In reality, "college algebra" is the only course that made me sweat while studying. Literally.

For utility purposes, I would recommend that your friend pursue the bachelors degree in lieu of the AA. However, for purposes of pride and accomplishment, if it were me personally, I would take the math because once you've got it behind your belt, then it's done forever!!!

 

BCC or VVCC

Tony, I saw her last week when I was in California on the way to Las Vegas. She mentioned that she took classes at Victor Valley before. I called her this morning and she says that she is at Barstow County College right now and she has about 80 semester hours completed. Her advisor told her that college level math is all she needs to graduate, however he does not think that she can pass it or a clep in the next 6 months unless she has some marked improvement.

I will advise her that I may have someone who can offer some friendly advice (you) beyond what I can provide...which is just moral support and encouragement.

Thanks!

 

GO FOR THE AA and then move on. If you want to go to another school you have the degree in hand. I am thinking seriously of doing my bachelors at AIU after completing my AS at TESC. They told me if I have the degree in hand that they will accept the entire package--if I have 119 credits they will evaluate and I'll lose some.

And remember, a little bit of something is better than a whole lot of nothing.