Hi. I'm a recent lurker who finds he needs advice.

Hi. Like I said I've just recently found this site and have started reading. I've always wanted to finish my quest for a degree. Why didn't I get it. My tale of woe? Misjudgments were made. Anyhow enough of that.

So I start reading on how I can finally get "back in" so I can get a degree... Then my boss pulls a power trip and reneges on some of the provisions that I was hired under. ("Get it in writing..." I know, and I didn't.) Anyhow to that he said that where could I go that I could get paid like he was paying me in this town. In other words: shut up and like it. And if I didn't like it he'd replace me by the end of the week. If I weren't married and had children...

Anyhow there I am. So now not only do I want to get that degree: I want it yesterday! So I am looking long and hard at the "big three" and am thinking about going the COSC route. I'm planning on trying to get the majority of my remaining credits through PLA. I here they are easy to work with, but I don't know. I'm not even sure how I could "prove" some of what I learned. (Programmer for a billion$+ company for four years then budget/departmental cut that reduced the MIS dept by 3/4ths. How could I "prove" the programs? I don't think that company will give me any of them.They were kind of paranoid about some stuff anyway.) I thought about the Clep/Dantes tests but the nearest Dantes test center is 75 miles from here... and I still have a job -for the moment- so time would be an issue. As in "having the".

Anyhow I'll stop ranting. Sorry about that. I'm just worried (a lot) and trying to think and hope I can get some opinions/advice. Thanks for listening.

 

I have heard the PLA route is quite time consuming. I have never tried it; I took the CLEP route for my BS from COSC.

Do you have any credits? How much $ do you want to spend? Can you schedule to take a few CLEP's at a time and do them on a weekend? Do you care what the degree is in - Business, computers, whatever...

I was able to complete my BS from CCU in less then a year. I did start with an AA and the class structure was different at the time.

 

I can't solve your transportation problems and I'd like to offer my sympathy for your having to tolerate a boss who's an ass. If you've only recently arrived at degreeinfo you might not have seen this link:
http://www.bain4weeks.com
It's well worth the time to plow through all the information that Lawrie has collected. If you really, really can't make it to the test center then you'll just have to choose another school that doesn't rely so heavily on CLEP tests, etc. Don't go the mill route. It may look like an easy solution but might backfire at a most inconvenient time. If you're more specific about what sort of degree you want then people will likely make specific suggestions. Good luck.
Jack

 

Hi,

How many credits do you have and what requirements do they meet? That you can probably figure out by yourself. You more than likely will have to use a combination of ways to earn credit from online courses, portfolio to testing.

Testing is probably quickest and cheapest and many have driven a lot more than 75 miles to take them so you might reconsider. Of course then I only had to drive 2 and 6 miles to 2 different test centers! Did I ever luck out! And at both places I could take them whenever I wanted!

Read COSC website and also here at the new to DL page to get good idea of what is expected.

 

Okay, take a deep breath and let's organize your thoughts and goals. (BTW, welcome!)

1. What state do you live in?

2. How many college credits do you have under your belt -- and in what areas?

3. What does your budget look like?

4. What kind of a degree do you want? (e.g. business? econ? cis?...) Or does it matter?

5. What is your long-term goal -- other than "having a degree"?

6. Do you work well independently? Online? Self-motivated? Organized?

A few others may have additional questions to ask, too.

 

...Sorry. Guess I left out some vital info.

1. I live in Arkansas. Northern part. (don't laugh)

2. Number of credits. I wish I had that right here. I think around the 60 mark. About 18 (or so) in criminal justice. About the same in computer sci stuff. Everything from networking to programming.

3. Budget... Not good, but getting desperate makes it not look so bad... to a degree. <pun>

4. I'm not too sure it matters. One one hand most of my experience is computer related. On the other; if I could wave a magic wand and be anything with a less Phd: it would be middle school social studies/history teacher. (I know.) But any degree is better than the one I don't have.

5. My long term goal? It would be nice to be fabulously financially independent. Failing that; a job where I wasn't treated like I was indentured would be nice.

6. I actually work better if people leave me alone. Give me an assignment and leave and know it will get done. The main issue when it comes to school is the amount of time I have versus the amount I need.

I've considered just trying to get an AA or AS in something so at least I could have something quick. I'm not sure if that would get me anywhere though.

When I was young(er) and dumb(er) I thought that knowledge itself was the key. So I threw my self at all sorts of things. Ate up anything I could get my hands on. Theology, philosophy, history, literature... whatever. Then I discovered, much to my chagrin, that you are only smart if a little piece of paper says you are. I've been pretty lucky with most of my jobs. Here in northern Arkansas: smart counts. This is mostly because that until late there hasn't been an over abundance of degreed jobseekers in the area. With that also said: I want out of here! To do that I would have to be able to impress upon someone, whom I have never seen, that I am smart and fairly capable. The only way I can see that happening is with a degree. If I can get the door open...

I'm open to any and all ideas. Thanks again.

 

Then try this one: Stop trying to resolve your employment problem with an emergency degree. Don't get me wrong... you definitely should be thinking about pulling together all your credits and figuring out if they all add-up to a degree; and then taking whatever courses or CLEP exams you need to take to fill-in the blanks and finally get a degree.

But you have a more immediate problem, and that's the problem, not your degree problem, on which you should be concentrating. You may have a cause of action against your employer; and talking to a lawyer could help... but don't bother. It's more trouble than it's worth unless whatever he's done is so obviously bad that the judge exclaims to the defendant, "You mean you didn't settle this out of court?"

First get it out of your head that you're a screw up. You've got "I'm a screw-up" written all over you... or so your words betray. And get it out of your head that you're lucky to have a job; or that but for the good graces of your boss you wouldn't have a job, etc.

You need to contentrate right now on one and only one thing: Getting another gig; and doing to your boss what he thinks he can only do to you. Don't go to "BA in 4 Weeks" or to the web sites of any of the "big 3" or to the CLEP site, etc. There will be plenty of time for those. Right now what you need to do is get into full-time, aggressive (but not desperate) job change mode. Polish-up your resume. Get your suit cleaned. AND GET ANOTHER DAMNED JOB! ASAP.

Getting a degree requires time and concentration and an unburdened mind. What you're talking about doing in your thread-starting post cannot be done on an "emergency" basis. You'll go nuts, and drive your family nuts, and you'll screw-up your job and end-up getting fired before you're ready to leave.

Refocus your energies on an orderly, calm, not-desperate job change. Get settled-in to a new gig. Start feeling better about things. Relax. Go see some sunsets. Recover from the abuse of your boss and his having successfully convinced you that you're lucky to have a job with him. Spend some time with your family and enjoy life again. Then sit down and put together a comprehensive two or three year plan that will result in your having achieved a bachelors in something you'll both enjoy and will do you good; and which you obtained by means of a well-thought-out and well-paced combination of your existing credits, some CLEP, maybe a PLA or two, and the rest in good, old-fashioned courseowrk -- be it via distance or at a brick & mortar institution.

All the other advice you've gotten in here is nice and interesting and fun to dream about. And there will come a time when it will all be very useful to you. But for right now, you've got bigger fish to fry.

So go do what you have to do and get control of your life back. Because a lack of control is precisely what you're feeling right now. It's in every syllable you've written here. You must regain control, or nothing else will work out.

Get into a position where you can peacefully, quietly, professionally, and with two weeks notice, leave on good terms with this jerk. Don't try to screw him. Don't talk bad about him. Don't be anything but the best employee he ever had while you still work there. But find another job -- as soon as possible -- and leave in an orderly, professional way and regain control.

Then come back here and tell us how you did and ask us for some help getting your three-year degree plan put together.

That's my $.02 worth... for what it's worth.

 

You can achieve that goal without a magic wand. Western Governors has a dl program to certify you to teach grades 5-12 social science. If this is your dream, quietly register for the program, bide your time with your current boss (why waste time with a job search and the stress of a job change if you plan to change careers?)
If you're planning a change, why not move into the career you've always dreamed of?


Here's the link to the Western Governors program, but there are also others.

Western Governors

 

While Greg raises some good points a degree can also help you get some leverage at work. It is great confidence builder. Even an AA which you are already close to.I don't think the knowledge is power statement is a blind one. Many times it literally is just that. A certificate to belittle those that don't have one. Or at least some use it that way.

Learn,learn,learn and keep moving forward. I have always felt that the best way out of any problem. It may be the only way to make the change you seem to so desperately want but apparently can't. If it were me I would go for the degree in addition to being a model employee or getting another job as was suggested.

 

Good advice, Anthony.

I might add that using the credits he already has to earn an AA degree first then transferring the AA to the BA degree at Western Governors. I am working on an AA as a stepping stone to a BA because having an intermediate goal adds to the motivation to continue.

The original poster should focus on the degree he wants (history, elementary grades) and forget about changing jobs right now. He might be less than 45 credits away from his dream.

Greg did offer some good advice about not letting other people demotivate you or make you feel unworthy. Those who put others down are obviously insecure themselves so ignore them as best you can.

 

Well, it seems to me to be rather intuitively obvious to the most casual observer that you need to do something about that abusive lying jerkoff of a boss because he's quite clearly grating on your self-esteem and putting up with no end of verbal and psychological abuse is hardly a privilige no matter how much they're paying you for your trouble.

As for your desire to be an history/social studies teacher, it has been correctly pointed out that Western Governors University www.wgu.edu offers both a BA and an MA in Social Studies 5-12. I would first look into finishing up the AA through Charter Oak State College www.cosc.edu or Excelsior College www.excelsiorcollege.edu or Thomas Edison State College www.tesc.edu . Then I would find good distance learning bachelor's degrees in history and education. I would find out what the qualifications are for teachers in Arkansas (and whatever state you might move to, if you ever get around to getting out of there), as many states now require their teachers to get master's degrees. Since teachers are required to continue taking classes in order to keep their certifications up to date, why stop short of the PhD?

 

BA IN EDUCATION (CREDENTIAL TRACK) PROGRAMS VIA DL

Judson College www.judson.edu
Nova Southeastern University www.nova.edu
Oral Roberts University www.oru.edu
Prescott College www.prescott.edu
Saint Mary of the Woods College www.smwc.edu

 

BA PROGRAMS IN HISTORY VIA DL

Acadia University http://conted.acadiau.ca/distance/index.html (BG15, 153)
American Military University www.apus.edu (BG15, 97)
Arizona State University www.dlt.asu.edu (BG15, 98)
Athabasca University www.athabascau.ca (BG15, 98)
Caldwell College www.caldwell.edu/adult-ed (BG15, 156)
Central Queensland University www.dtls.cqu.edu.au (BG15, 103)
Charter Oak State College www.cosc.edu (BG15, 104)
Christopher Newport University www.cnuonline.cnu.edu (BG15, 105)
University of Houston www.uh.edu/uhdistance (BG15, 137)
Judson College www.judson.edu/academic/external/external.html (BG15, 117)
University of London www.lon.ac.uk (BG15, 138)
Madurai Kamaraj University www.mkuniversity.org (BG15, 120)
University of Manitoba www.umanitoba.ca/coned/de (BG15, 139)
Mary Baldwin College www.mbc.edu/adp (BG15, 162)
Murdoch University www.murdoch.edu.au (BG15, 123)
University of New England www.une.edu.au (BG15, 141)
Open University and Open College www.ola.bc.ca (BG15, 126)
Open University (England) www.open.ac.uk (BG15, 126)
Queens University www.queensu.ca (BG15, 128)
Saint Mary of the Woods College www.smwc.edu (BG15, 170)
University of Saskatchewan www.extension.usask.ca (BG15, 144)
University of South Africa www.unisa.ac.za (BG15, 144)
Southwestern Adventist University www.swau.edu (BG15, 173)
Thomas Edison State College www.tesc.edu (BG15, 133)
Troy State University www.tsum.edu/DL (BG15, 134)
University of Waterloo http://dce.uwaterloo.ca (BG15, 148)

 

My 2.3 cents........

Lever 94 - isn't corporate america a wonderful place

I have to fully agree with Mr. DesElms response to you. As a matter of fact, this was THE best piece of advise I've seen in these forumns for a while and he can be a hard nose at times, but we have seen the "father" aspect of him come out in a very positive way.

Companies can get the best of you.....you didn't get as far as you have without some storage in that brain of yours. Use the feedback in here and keep pusing.

It's up to you to make a change and most of us in here have had our own wars we have gone through in the work place. In corporate America today, if you don't have a least the 4 year degree , even though you might have the experience, it's like spitting into the wind. Set your goals, and push yourself until they are complete. You can scan hundreds of threads in here and get a feeling that alot were in your shoes at one time.

Best of luck.............

 

I thank you for all your suggestions and comments. I'm still "stressing" a bit though. I've read some posts on the WGU and the ammount of work they require. (Some people have mentioned 90+ page papers.) And while I know I have to do something, I am really becoming convinced that teaching may well be my ultimate goal.

I 've done some self evaluation... and am becoming concerned. I work (for now anyhow) over 10 hours a day (in the fall and spring it averages 60+ hours a week. - no overtime, I'm salaried with no benifits.) I commute about 1.5 hours a day. Prep time for myself and kids tends to be around 1 hour in the morning and about that at night. So far about 14 hours. I can sleep on 6 - less as of late - so there are 4 hours a day I can fit in any family time/education time. (With lots of cramming on the weekends!) That worries me. I'm sure it can be done though. Just not as fast as I hoped, I'm afraid. (without going the "big three" route)

Furthermore looking at the teaching reqs at some point you have to go "teach". (for credit and evaluation) That's not a problem for me... but it might be for my employer. I couldn't quit yet because I would still be in school and so would still need my job. Just venting. I don't think there is an easy(-ier) answer here.

...still thinking...and reading...

 

When the time comes for teaching practicum you will / should be close enough to completion that it might be feasible to take out a small student loan to cover expenses so you can quit the job in which you are presently employed.

You will find there are a**holes in every profession and every workplace. Once you reach the point you know you are well-qualified and would be a valuable asset to any employer nothing anyone says about you means anything.

The sacrifices you make today will pay off on graduation day.

 

Re: My 2.3 cents........

Dammit, RUKIDNME98... you made me blow coffee out my nose. Your should preface a post like this with the admonition, "Don't read while drinking coffee," or something like that.

There. Coming from you, that feels more like it!

Like this is the first time. Too bad the SEARCH feature's broken. You've apparently missed alot of my posts around here that are not dissimilar to the one to which you refer; and sans the SEARCH feature, I don't know how to tell you to go find them.

You know, RUKIDNME98... if you keep-up this sort of thing, I could be forced to like you, in spite of yourself. And that would suck the fun right out of it.

 

With my last post in mind; I was talking with a friend of mine and we were joking around about some commercials and various ads. Anyhow they recommended that I look into a public relations degree. (They didn't even know about my currents dilemma.) Does that sound like a decent degree? I don't know anything about there being a "big need" for PR people, but it seemed interesting that she mentioned that without prior knowledge.

Does anyone know of any such DL degrees from any good schools? Or does it sound like I'm grabbing at straws. (That's what I'm afraid of.) So I'm still looking long and hard. Keeping the teaching option in mind. (I still think I'd like that better. I'm just trying to keep the 'time' issue down to the minimum.)

I am glad I found this site. You have all been more than helpful. Thanks.

 

OK....lever94...stop and take a deep breath.

Lever94........

YOU need to take a few steps back and make yourself a plan. WE do not have the answers, only opinions. Time to go on the inside and find the true Lever94 and what he wants. You can drive yourself insane by reading what everyone has gone through because we are all different and it might not be what's best for you.....only u know.

Mr. DesElms

One of my missions in life is complete...u on the verge of thinking I'm an OK guy. I re-read what I wrote and it must of been during a conference call where my mind was wandering because it was too "mushy" even for me .....I think Lever94 needs some more of your advise.

 

random gross-out; now, back to topic

Our infectious laughter, too.