Mountain State University

Hi:
Has anyone attended Mountain State University? I have checked out their website and they seem like a good school that has Regional accreditation. Very reasonably priced ($175.00 per credit), this is comparable to many DETC accredited Universities.

I am currently a student at the University of Iowa Guided Independent Study program Bachelor of Liberal Studies. The reason I am considering transfering to MSU is they accept credit for past life/work experience, UOI does not. I believe I can complete my degree quicker with MSU.

I think I read somewhere that you must complete at least 18 semester hours with MSU for the Bachelor's, this is not a bad deal because most school want you to complete at least 30 units/ or semester hours with their school.

I was accepted into the Bachelor's program at UOI with 101 community college credits.

I would appreciate any comments.

thanks and happy New Year!!!!

Abner

 

MSU is a very good institution.

Me and my wife took several courses from them and we really had a good experience.

I would recommend them without hesitation.

Sometimes administration can be slow but, with a bit off pushing you can get things through fairly swiftly. This is the norm with any school I with any school, I would think.

 

I agree, and I like it. I am not sure about the experience credit, but they do give credit for CLEP, DSST, ECE, etc.

 

MSU

Ok, thanks everybody for your input, I can't wait to send in my application along with all my transcripts, etc.

Happy New Year!


Abner

 

If you have that many credits you may want to look at www.bain4weeks.com if you want to graduate quicker. The big three do not require any credits to come from them, and if you think you can pass exams you may be better off going that route. But, read up, because many say that these schools drag you along (I do not know).

Good Luck!

 

Hi Abner: I have no first hand experience with Mountain State, but everything I have ever heard about them has been positive. Scott's advice to check out bain4weeks is good. Welcome aboard and best of luck to you. Janko

 

Bain4weeks.com

Thanks for the great info. I do have a quick question, by the Big Three do you mean Excelsior College, Charter Oak State College and Thomas Edison State College.?
I briefly looked at bain4weeks.com From what I gather, there are various test that can be taken. Is the goal to then take the credit granted from these tests and have them applied to one of the big three, or any other school that will accept them?
Please advise,

Thanks and happy New Year!

Abner

P.S. I would like to ask anybody who feels like to please take a moment of silence or prayer in memory of Senator Robert Matsui, he passed away last. May he rest in peace.

 

Re: Bain4weeks.com

While you could apply them to any number of schools, the advantage with Excelsior, TESC, and COSC is that they don't have residency requirements. You could transfer in all those units that you already have, take a few tests, and you might be done (or very close).



Tom Nixon

 

I caution that you have over 100 hours of community college credit. Each of the Big Three and most other BA/BS programs will require you to complete upper level distributions.

Many B&Ms restrict transfer from community colleges to no more than 60 or so semester hours. Then again, you didn't mention whether these are 100+ quarter hours or semester hours.

Further, many/most BA/BS programs are only going to transfer from the CC those hours which are considered transfer program credits and will likely not allow vocational/technical credit to a great degree.

Since you also didn't mention why you were looking at DL programs, it's very possible that you might want to look at the local State University for their degree completion program. No matter where you get a BA/BS, you will need about 120 hours. You may be right on the decision point of being able to attend a resident program nearby for as little as a year.

You also didn't mention what manner of life experience you wish to get credit for. If we're talking about military school or certification credits then one of the Big Three may indeed be the better choice simply because they are very skilled at assessing and applying those credits.

I visited the Mountain State University campus in 2002 right after they changed their name from College of West Virginia and found it very nice -- though hilly. The staff and faculty I met there were very cooperative and helpful. We elected to move to the beach because it's COLD in West Virginia.

I don't suggest this lightly but, you seem to be in a position where the services of a professional academic counselor would be very very useful to you. I believe there are several members of this list who offer such service........ otherwise, you may wish to discuss your need in person with someone at a local university.

 

Re: Re: Bain4weeks.com

Good point, thanks. Do you happen to know which of the three is most affordable? I noticed Excelsior has some kind of pay as you go plan. It was kind of funny, just to look at the tuition, fees, etc. the Excelsior website wants you to fill out a profile thats asks for a lot of information, including, social security number, etc. Maybe I will go ahead and fill it out.
Also, if I do pick one of these schools, what is the first step? How much is application, fee?
I will appreciate any advice you can give me, especially coming from an expert such as yourself.

Thanks once again,
Abner

 

Re: Re: Bain4weeks.com

Mr. Nixon:

I thought of one more question, do you happen to know if any of the Big Three do assessments of work/life experience portfolios?
Just wondering.

Thanks,
Abner

 

Re: Re: Re: Bain4weeks.com

Check out this thread

We discussed some of the costs there. You can search the websites of the three schools and find their costs. I also had quick emails from each of them when I had questions.

clint

 

Now That's Service!
Just got off the phone with Mountain State University, dealing with them was a breath of fresh air! The History Masters"thingy" I have been pursuing, works as follows w/Mountain State:
3hr. methodology course
27hrs. in the concentration (transfer)
6 hrs. thesis
For an Interdisciplinary studies degree
best, Gavin

 

This week's Mountain State University news from the Associated Press: Man Accused Of Selling Grades To Appear At Plea Hearing

 

......this is not good!

 

It is old news (last year) and MSU has not been implicated in this genttleman's scam. So don't let it change your plans. MSU is here to stay and is growing every day.

 

From Jan 7, 2005 Denver Post: Man guilty of selling false college credit to immigrants

 

Mountain State

I will graduate from MSU after this semester and I have never had any problems with anyone or anything there. When I applied they gave me approx 40 credits for my police academy training and they accepted all of my A.A. degree credits and all the credits I transferred in from a state university. The only classes I had to complete were the core Admin. of Criminal Justice classes.

Mountain State has approx. 300 independent study classes in just about every major that can be completed via distance learning and there are no GPA requirements for the graduate school.

The grade selling incident should not have any bearing on your decision one way or the other to attend MSU because it was done by a person who was contracted by the university to do a job, and they alone were responsible for selling the grades.

Good luck in whatever path you take.

 

Re: Mountain State

Thanks for your input brother Badger!

I have heard a lot of good things about Mountain State! I will keep them in mind, I keep debating back and forth between MSU and Charter Oak State College, I think I will apply to both to see who gives me the best deal.

Did MSU basically credit you with 100 units? 60 for your A.A. and 40 for your police Academy training? I think a student must complete 30 units/credits with MSU? Please advise.

Thanks once again for the advice,
I am not worried about the bad actions of one man who was on a contract basis with MSU.

Take care, Sensei Abner I.

 

you only need 18 hrs through msu to graduate there.