Hi guys, I am really frustrated with distance learning. I live in Somalia and I work there as a Telecom engineer, I started looking, 7 months before for an accredited affordable university with a degree in either Telecom or IT. I started with Unisa applying admission at school of computing, Four months before I send them copies of my Ethiopian High school cerfticate, my Somali passport copy plus a diploma in computing from unaccredited institution in Somalia. Several days later the matriculation board of Unisa sent me an email saying that they don't accept High school qualification taken from foreign countries. I asked them why, but they say that’s the rule. Then I send an application form, copies of my passport, my Ethiopian High school, and a diploma in computing to External programme University of London. I waited for several weeks and it ended up rejection claiming that the Ethiopian High school certificate or the diploma in computing from the Somali institute doesn't qualify for university entry. They advised me to take Cambridge A level examinations in order to gain entry. At last I tried Fort Hays State University, sending them all my documents the admission was easy, but prior learning assessment which is based on job experience and trainings was not available at FHSU, because prior learning assessment can both save you time and $. Both Unisa and University of London their tuition against the time was reasonable, short in duration, cheap in tuition. Also they refused me to count my credits I gained from my Diploma in Computing from the unaccredited Somali College towards my Degree I applied for, Bsc in INF and Telecom. I think credit transfer from African institution is not allowed in US. Starting credits from scratch seems to me Hell, since I am working currently with a very tight schedule. It would not allow me take more than 5 or 6 courses yearly; this means that it would take me 7 to 8 years to finish this degree. There is a great gap between what I was looking for, 3 to 4 years to finish a degree is reasonable. I got stuck here, and I am upset with distance learning. Please help me figure it out. FHSU is a very good choice for me in terms of $ Therefore is there a way I can go around to gain some credits in affordable way which will help me later to counts towards my degree. Which is the best way to go through? I think I have 4 uncertain choices. They are 1. To take the Cambridge A level examinations will take at least 6 months of duration and cost of US$2000 (because I have to travel to Kenya, there is not exam center or a British Council in Somalia)to prepare for it and then gain access to University of London. 2. I can go to Ethiopia and take an Ethiopian passport in order to match together my Ethiopian High school Certificate, since the Matriculation boards from Unisa doesn’t allow High schools qualifications taken from foreign countries. Even if I do this still I am not sure if Unisa will accept me because I am not aware of the Million hidden rules used by the Matriculation board. 3. To take 124 credits completely from FHSU and wasting both time and money, taking years to finish. 4. To gain affordable credits from accredited colleges or schools from US and then later transfer it to FHSU, so as to reduce the credits. Please help me out, which choice do you think is the best? I don’t have enough experience to choose out. if option 4 is the best please can you mention some institution which would be ideal for me Regards Abdel Moalim
On the issue of prior learning assessment credits, I've heard that Charter Oak State College www.cosc.edu , Excelsior College www.excelsior.edu , and Thomas Edison State College www.tesc.edu are very generous.
Thanks Ted for your quick reply, Also I have some additional questions does the credits gained by Prior learning assesment from these colleges allows you an in-credit transfer to any accredited legitimate institution, like Fort Hays state univeristy? As soon as I gained credits from one of these college can I transfer them directly to any accredited institiution without taking courses from these colleges? Regards
No. If you do a prior learning assessment at a university, it only applies at that university. That's not the case -- American institutions are largely free to accept whatever they wish as transfer credit. Another route is that you can consider is Southeastern University, a regionally accredited school in Washington, D.C. I work there as an academic advisor and transcript evaluator. Most of our programs are available online although they're not yet being marketed widely. No promises, but if one of them appeals to you, I'll work hard to try to get you credit here for the academic work you've done in Somalia. If this interests you, email me at [email protected] and we can decide how to move forward. Regards, -=Steve=-
