Advice

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Cap, Jan 31, 2005.

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  1. Cap

    Cap New Member

    I'm still stumped on my best course of action in my pursuit of a college degree. I have no college experience, just H.S. diploma, so the whole process is a bit confusing. Distance learning is the best option for me.
    A couple questions (more to follow):

    Before enrolling in an associates degree program (Indiana U looks promising), do I need to first complete General Education courses (core math and English), probably from my local community college. Or are these core courses included in the degree program?

    Thomson Education Direct. I've heard good things about their programs and their inexpensive. Would it be redundant or a waste of money to take one of these courses at the same time I'm pursuing my degree?

    I'm glad I found this board. You're all knowledgeable and very helpful. Thanks in advance for any advice.
     
  2. qvatlanta

    qvatlanta New Member

    I can't give you any firm answers, but you should know that it is not necessarily the best option to get an A.A before a B.A. It really depends on what program you decide on. Probably most of B.A. distance learning programs are degree completion programs, but there are also some of them out there that will let you do a B.A. from scratch, or get an A.A. on the way to a B.A.

    I am not sure about the advantages of Thomson Education Direct. Their programs can certainly be applied to a degree, but depending on your location it might be simpler to start taking classes at a fully accredited (that is, 4-year) college or university. For example, do you live in a state that has a public university offering online degrees at a discounted rate for state residents?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 31, 2005
  3. horne

    horne New Member

    The reason I have chosen to complete an AA before tackling the BA is the "motivation factor". Taking only 18-24 months to complete the AA seems more short-term than the longer range of 36-48 months it might take to earn the BA from scratch.

    If you intend to complete the BA at the same institution as the AA, then either route is valid. On the other hand, if you want to earn the BA from another school make certain the AA will transfer to the BA degree and the school.
     
  4. qvatlanta

    qvatlanta New Member

    Good point. I guess it depends on:

    1) Do you feel confident enough in your motivation level for the B.A., or would you rather set the initial goal a little lower then raise it later on?

    2) What are the general education requirements for the B.A. programs that most interest you?

    3) Would it be better to get an A.A. to fill the requirements? Take B&M community college courses? Distance learning or independent study courses? Test out?

    4) If you get the A.A. and B.A. at different places, would the A.A. you decide on be easily transferred to the B.A. program?

    Doing a lot of courses at different places can be the most efficient way to finish general requirements quickly and cheaply. On the other hand, if you're daunted with the new experience of dealing with higher educational bureaucracy, registrars, etc. it might take you MORE time because you are so busy figuring out the system, in which case going to one college or university that can offer you a clear path to the B.A. where you work with the same administration all the time might be best for you.
     
  5. Ryan IV

    Ryan IV New Member

    Cap-
    Congrats on starting your journey. Be careful, you may get hooked!!

    In my experience, your degree program will include your entire core curriculum. The school should be able to write out all of your requirements for the degree. Any credit you bring in should transfer in to your school, depending on that school's residency requirements, transfer policy, fitting into the degree, etc.

    FWIW, I would definitely recommend getting the AA first. I found it much easier to set my sights on the short-term goal. From what I've seen, the core curriculum at most schools can get you and Associates in Liberal Arts degree. It won't cost you anything extra besides a small graduation fee and if you stay with the same school, the AA credits should roll right into the Bachelor's program. Of course, the school's counselors can give you the best advice.

    I'm still new to DL, having just received my AA last summer, but getting that degree in my hand was definitely more rewarding than a transcript with ~60 credits would have been!!

    S/F and good luck,
    Ryan IV
     
  6. Bill Huffman

    Bill Huffman Well-Known Member

    I went the AA route via a community college and it worked out great for me.

    1. Very inexpensive classes here in California so it saved money.
    2. The community college was interested only in teaching and the classes were smaller and taught by teachers rather than graduate students.

    The problem to watch out for is making sure that the classes you take are transferable to your four year school.
     
  7. DesElms

    DesElms New Member

    Cap,

    You haven't really stated what you intend to do once you have whatever degree you get. Isn't it kinda' hard for the, in your words, "knowledgeable and very helpful" people around here to provide much terribly-useful guidance without their first knowing that?

    Just askin'

    I'm guessing IT's no longer on the table... no? ;)

    So, then... what else? Wanna' be a preacher? Or a lawyer? Or both? If so, then I have some suggestions -- better than my IT suggestions, I mean. If not, then what?
     
  8. Cap

    Cap New Member

    DesElms,
    I understand how you find it difficult to offer some advice. Obviously you've been there done that. Understand that I haven't. Someone entering any stage of higher learning rarely knows exactly what position they're after. Example; a friend of mine studied chemical engineering for two years and got his degrees. He's now into WEB DESIGN.
    Does a degree lock you into one position? I was under the impression degrees open up more opportunities.
    And I haven't thrown IT out the window. (What I said was ITT Technical School is out the window) In fact on another thread "Nadine" mentioned self-study for certification. Qvatlanta below also brought up independent study. I went to my local library and checked out a study guide for A+ certification. I may be setting my sights rather high, but I want to see what's out there, just what I'm getting into, before I invest thousands of dollars in an education, as well as time I really don't have to waste at 28.
    One concrete position I could say I'm interested in, outside of IT, is financial consultant. I also may want to look into Fiber Optics, as a service tech. That would be more for financial reasons as the field is wide open. Just don't know yet.
    I'm not asking anyone to tell me what I should do "when I grow up." I'm really asking about the college process. So whatever career I choose, I'm taking the most efficient, cost-effective route.
    Believe me, if I didn't find this board, as naive as I am, I would have chosen the first online school to send me an email full of broken promises. I knew nothing about the pitfalls of non-accredited schools before.

    Thanks to all for the tips, I am setting my sights on an A.A. Tomorrow I'm meeting with a rep from my community college. If I go the online route, AIU or Indiana University have great programs, RA accredited. After talking to reps I confirmed the core curriculum is included. Thanks Ryan IV.
     
  9. anthonym

    anthonym New Member

    Enrolling in Indiana U's associate degree program would be a safe approach. First, because Indiana is 4-year school you will not run into as much trouble transfering credits later on. Second, if you decide to pursue a bachelor's degree, there are many 4-year DL opportunities from Indiana state schools that will likely accept you into their programs as a junior without having to fulfill other core requirements. Third, if you finish two years of school and do not want to continue, you will have a degree from a well known school, and when you are filling out job applications you can check the box that says "associate degree" instead of the one that says "some college." And finally, since you're still undecided about what you want to study, a general studies two-year program will help you develop preferences. My advice is not to overthink your options, and find one that looks appealing and get started. Indiana's independent program is surely a safe way to get started.

    No. Your core requirements would be part of you associate's degree program. Generally, an associate's degree is made up almost entirely of core courses. The basic requirement is a high school diploma or GED. I wouldn't enroll in any courses outside the program, unless I was already a student and had an advisor's approval. I believe Indiana's independent study program has all the courses you would need to meet its degree requirements, so looking elsewhere might complicate matters.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 1, 2005

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