Excelsior Unofficial Eval - Suggestions Please

Okay, this is what I received.

I called the school and was unable to speak to anyone due to high call volume, I've emailed them as well. But this is what I received:

General Education (Arts & Sciences Requirement)
21.00 semester hours at the upper level

Depth Requirements
A depth in the Arts & Sciences

A second depth in any academic area, including applied
professional/electives

AND

Applied Professional Credit or Additional Arts & Sciences
9.00 semester hours lower level in any academic area
6.00 semester hours upper level in any academic area **

Please Note: RTV*3000, ADV*3000, and PUR*3000 from University of Florida will be reviewed upon enrollment for upper level credit. Please note this will not change the number of credits you need to earn. It will only change how many of the credits will need to be upper level.

Information Literacy Requirement


I can't tell if this means I need 21 UL, plus 9 LL, plus 6 UL, plus Info Lit for a total of 37 credits.

I hardly care at this point what I receive a Bachelors in as my plan is to go to grad school. I prefer Physician Assistant School (will have to take (and retake due to age of credits) some science classes at the CC level) but if I don't get in I still plan on going into the health profession, second preference is counseling so extra science classes won't really be wasted.

Any suggestions here? It looks like I need a bunch of UL credits to meet either a Major and depth or two depths. Is this correct? Most of the UL seem to be EXE tests only plus taking a shot that the subject area GRE's will give me the correct distribution of credits.

Thank you.

 

If you PM me a list of courses you have completed (transcripts that you sent to EC) and the degree you are applying for I can check them against degree requirements (to give you a rough idea of where you stand)., I'm pretty busy right now but could get to it early next week.

 

Ian:

That is overly kind of you.

 

Okay, I also have posted this on the degree forum.

And think I'm getting closer - maybe.

I already have a lot of LL credits (including Intro to Pysch, Sociology, Marriage and Family and Stats). So I'm thinking even if I took the Psych GRE the most I can get out of it is 18 useable credits at UL.

I know that according to the BS requirements I need a major which is 30-33 credits and one depth or two depths. A depth is considered 12 credits with at least 3 UL.

I don't know how they've distributed my existing credits.

So trying to feel my way through this I could perhaps still take the Psych GRE and knock out the major. And 18 UL out of the needed 27.

So I'd need 9 UL and 9 LL plus their Intro to Literacy course. It also looks like I need to distribute them so that I'm getting an additional 3 credits in UL Arts & Science and the rest in Applied Sciences (which can hopefully be my other depth).

Am I getting any warmer?

 

BIG THANKS to Ian

Okay FINALLY with the help of Ian I believed I've ironed out what hoops remain to be jumped through.

Worse case scenario I need a total 37 credits (subtracting out two courses taken Pass/Fail) of which 26 must be UD credits (should they not accept my 9 credits of 3000 level courses)

If I get 80% on the Psych GRE that would give me (subtracting for my Into course) 27 credits of which 18 would be UD and a Psych Depth.

I could take 3 credits UD in CCJ to satisfy a CCJ Depth.

Then I would still need 5 UD credits and Intro to Literacy (1 credit), and one additional credit to be done with it.

Thank you guys.

 

Do to high call volume? What is it, a credit card company? Sheesh...

 

If you do in fact get an 80% on the Psych GRE, you will have enough to actually have a major in Psych. With the major option, you'll need one additional 12 credit depth in any subject area.

I should add here that getting into PA school is no easy task. I'm not sure how they will look upon a transcript with a major that consists of just one intro course and one Psych GRE exam. If you're looking to get into a counseling program, you could face the same issue. It might be preferable for you to take some courses in your major if you want a shot at getting into a competitive graduate program. Just my $.02. Actually, I'm facing the same issue, as I am finishing up an A.S. in Liberal Studies through Excelsior, and I'm contemplating staying on with them to complete a B.S. in Psychology. I have my eye on the Psych GRE exam to complete (or help to complete) the requirements for the major, but I'm wondering if this might decrease my chances of getting into a good graduate program (psych or linguistics) with just this exam under my belt.

Best,

 

Sources for Upper Division Credit.

WNMU has a distance BS in Criminal Justice. Perhaps you could take an UD course there for quite low fees.
http://www.wnmu.edu/VirtualCampus/BS_Criminal_Justice.htm

WNMU also has a masters program with Criminal justice and psychology options. You could take some masters courses to apply to your Excelsior BS UD needs
http://www.wnmu.edu/VirtualCampus/InterdisciplinaryMasters.htm

WNMU fees are listed here
http://www.wnmu.edu/admin/businessaff/Tuition_Fees/2009/Silver%20City%20Campus%20Non-Resident%20Tuition%20and%20Fees%20Fa%2008-Sp%2009%20revised.pdf
Out-of-state student fees are "low" for first 6 units (per term) then jump up dramatically for any additional units.

American Public University has distance BS programs in both CJ and Psychology. You could take courses there.
http://www.apu.apus.edu/Academics/Degree-Programs/index.htm

 

[ I have my eye on the Psych GRE exam to complete (or help to complete) the requirements for the major, but I'm wondering if this might decrease my chances of getting into a good graduate program (psych or linguistics) with just this exam under my belt.

[/QUOTE]

PA school is not an easy task, they weight GPA, volunteer hours, health care experience, GRE (not all require), science GPA. Letters of Recommendations, and a bit of the whole person (maturity, etc.). It doesn't matter what you majored in though, as long as you meet all of their prerequisites (generally 2 Bios and Lab, 2 Chems and Lab, 2 A&P and Lab - plus some schools throw extras in there) (and preferably score high there). Some schools don't even require a Bachelors; however, due to the competitive nature a Bachelors I deem required

Regarding psychology, I was looking at Masters in Counseling programs (again most don't care what your degree was in) if you are looking at PhD programs then I am sure your entrance mileage will vary

It is a tough call but I figure I'm not getting any younger.

 

Since you mentioned PA school here is a course offered in residence at one of my local community colleges. Not a degree course as far as I can see (???) but prepares students to take the California State PA exams. CA is short of PAs. Definely a good career choice. I have had a PA perform minor surgery on me.

 

I agree it is a good career. And hopefully your PA did a bang up job

California has several affordable programs. Surprisingly the NY, MD, CA, places that one wouldn't necessarily equate with affordable are some of the more affordable school options. If anyone is interested shoot me a PM I have a chart of all the PA schools and their tuition.