Introducing myself to the Forum

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by berniejr, Sep 30, 2006.

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  1. berniejr

    berniejr New Member

    Well let me start off by saying that this is a great forum and in the few days since I have discovered it I have learned a ton of helpful information pertaining to me completing a DL degree.

    My background: I am currently employed as a Senior Technical Analyst for a Real Estate Investment Firm in Chicago. I've been with my current company over 9 years and I have a great deal of job security in my current position. Beyond that I have 2 additional years in this field with 2 previous companies as well. Recently I began considering a move into management, as it appears that I've about reached my ceiling in my current position. I've never really felt like I would pursue any type of management position in the corporate world, however it appears that's where the money is, and with 3 kids, the more money the better.

    From an educational standpoint I went to college (Western Illinois University) straight out of High School, and majored in the Art of Drinking (Actually my major was Computer Science). After 1 year my dad yanked my tuition as he saw that I wasn't serious about school. I returned to WIU for a second year paid for by F-Aid and proceeded to find new ways to party! At that point I decided (aided by academic suspension) that I needed to go back home and work on some things. For the next 2 years I attended 2 separate Community Colleges, earned an Associates of Science Degree and about 64 credits, all while working full-time. I then figured I was ready to try the big university again, so I went back to WIU for a summer session. I actually did well, however after coming home for break, I met my future wife, got married, had kids, and my career took off. I also attended Governors State University over the next 2 years earning 18 hours in upper level CS courses.

    Fast forward 10 years later (17 from when I first started) and I now have the itch to complete my Bachelors degree and continue forward with my MBA or MS. I have a total of 110 credit hours, 89 of which are lower level and the other 21 upper level. The last school that I attended (Governors State) has a program called the Board of Governors BA that is catered to adults looking to finish their degrees via DL methods. The only requirements that you need for the degree are meeting Gen. Ed. credits (completed by virtue of my AS), 24 hours in residence (I have 18), and 40 hours at the upper level (I currently have 21).

    I've been accepted into the program and was all set until I found this website and discovered the Big 3, all of which I had previously written off as Degree Mills. That is until I was educated, mainly by this forum, as to the legitimacy and the way these programs work. Now I have a choice to make and I would like input form you all.

    Excelsior doesn't seem to be a viable option as I have some older tech credits that won't transfer. So that leaves TESC, CSOC, and Governors State. I've done my own unofficial credit evaluation and this is these are the conclusions that I've arrived at; assuming all my credits (actually minus 1 PE credit) is accepted as I think they should be.

    GSU - take 2 online courses to complete residency requirement and also will count towards upper level requirement. Then take 5 Dante’s upper division test (or even do a portfolio for some) and I would be done. Because of the 2 online classes I wouldn't finish until the end of GSU's winter trimester which ends in April. Total price would be about $1800

    TESC - Take 2 CLEP and 2 Dante’s (I could just take 4 CLEP's) test and that's it, BA in Liberal Arts. Total cost is about $2800

    COSC - Take 2 Dante’s, 2 Cleps, and write the academic autobiography and that's all. BS Individualized Studies (Technology and Business). Total cost about $1900

    Given all of this information, what would you do and why? I'm looking for any and all constructive criticism. I know that I could just apply to the other 2 schools, let them do an official audit and have a definite answer on how my credits would be accepted, but quite frankly I'm pretty cheap and I would rather not spend $75 for an application fee only to find out that it wouldn't be anymore beneficial to enroll in COSC or TESC versus GSU.

    Thanks for taking time to read this extremely long winded post and I look forward to your input.
     
  2. edowave

    edowave Active Member

    If I were you, I'd do TESC, because it seems to be the fastest and easiet. Then on to the MBA.
     
  3. berniejr

    berniejr New Member

    I should also note that I have submitted a request to my employer for tuition reimbursement. Me having to pay out of pocket may play into my decision as well. If I'm paying out of pocket then I'm really trying to figure out if paying TESC $1000 more is worth a few months time.

    Also, how does the GPA thing work with TESC? As I understand you can request to have one given. Is it given based on the Clep/Dantes Test results? If I take 4 test and get 4 A's will my GPA be reflected as a 4.0?
     
  4. TCord1964

    TCord1964 New Member

    If cost is a consideration, then GSU or COSC, obviously. However, if you are gettng tuition reimbursement I don't think you can go wrong with any of the schools. The ulitmate goal is the same, and they will all get you there.

    I don't think any of the schools on your short list are more prestigious than the other. I have read on this board that COSC is the easiest to deal with, and has better customer service. I have pretty much decided to go with them for my own BA, depending on what the credit evaluation looks like.
     
  5. glimeber

    glimeber New Member

    beniejr - Welcome! This forum is populated with some pretty good and knowleable folks. A word of caution - you will find a pretty stong bias for certain schools and against others. You will hear a plethora of ranting and wining against practices demonstrated by a particular school (or group of schools) yet the silence is deafening when the favored school (or group of schools) do exactly the same. A word of advice, always - and I mean always - check and double check ANYTHING you gleaned or pickup on this forum with another reliable source. Good luck!!!!
     
  6. berniejr

    berniejr New Member

    Thanks for all replies so far:

    TCord1964, in terms of the prestige of each school, I must say that at first I was a little concerned over the with COSC and TESC and their being looked upon as a legitimate college as compared to GSU which is B&M University. After reading the history of each, I've come to learn that both TESC's and COSC's history is similar in age to GSU. All three were established roughly 30 years ago for the sole purpose of giving adult learners alternate higher education options. However even with that said I can't help to wonder how my employer and potential future employers will react to TESC and COSC. Already in discussing my plans with others, the general reaction when I name these schools is that of bewilderment, as most have not ever heard of these instituions. GSU is met with that reaction probably only 1/3 of the time. I know in my own mind that they are the same, however the reality is that if the perception from the employers (the only one that matters in the hiring process) is negative in regards to these 2 schools, then it may be a waste. Ultimately if I decide to do Graduate school(likely), then I know this becomes less of an issue.

    glimeber, I definitely will check, double check, triple check any and all information found on this site.
     
  7. sentinel

    sentinel New Member

    For what it is worth, some managers with Morgan Stanley in New York City consider Thomas Edison State College (TESC) a viable and reputable school. The fact it is located in Trenton, New Jersey, might have some bearing due to familiarity with the state education system of New Jersey.

    Once you earn a graduate degree nobody really cares where you earned the undergraduate, provided the schools are legitimate.
     
  8. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    I'm a happy Charter Oak alumnus, but if you have to do two DANTES there but could do nothing but CLEP at TESC, and if you're not paying for any of this, then I'd go with TESC. With CLEP you get your result right away, but with DANTES you have to wait for them to mail it to you.

    -=Steve=-
     
  9. David H

    David H Member

    It's my day to mentioned my alma mater two times in the same day....why not finish where you started --- WIU.

    If you are going to move on to a master's degree, Western could be your answer.

    I had a friend that had a similar situation...he started at WIU, relocated several times and I suggested he talk to WIU. He finished within a year and went on to LSU for his masters.

    Check it out...it doesn't take much.

    Keep us up to date what you decide.
     
  10. berniejr

    berniejr New Member

    WIU...

    You know, I really, really wanted to finish at WIU for sentimental reasons, being it was where I started. However in the end it looks like I would have a hard time trying to find classes via WIU. GSU and WIU programs are pretty much identical, as a matter of fact up until 1999 they were both part of the same Board of Governors, hence both schools are pretty much equal in terms of prestige. WIU classes are a bit more than GSU's, but not too signifcant. With both schools I need 19 more hours to get to 120. At both schools all 19 must be upper level courses. However I only need 6 hours at residency @ GSU whereas at WIU I need 13 hours in residency. After looking at the course options available at WIU, I saw that my choices are extremly limited in terms of what courses I can take. Since GSU only offers upper level classes, the choice is greater in terms of online and independent study courses. Additionally since GSU is local for me (15 minutes from home), I can also take weekend long workhops that count towards my residency requirement for GSU. Another small factor is my GPA. I left WIU with a horrid GPA, and as a result I can finish up at GSU with a much better GPA, although in the end that may not be a big factor.
    .....
    With all of that said, I am about to go look at WIU's catalog one more time to see if there is any way I could pull it off!

    :D
     
  11. David H

    David H Member

    GO LEATHERNECKS!!! :)

    Just thought I would plug to ol' Alma mater!!!

    Good luck! Keep in touch!
     

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