Athabasca U or Thompson Rivers?

Hi forum goers,

I came to this site earlier because I was hoping to find out what the transfer credit experience was like at Athabasca. Here's my background:

- I have been spending the last 8 years working on a BFA from an art college and haven't quite reached the halfway point (ugh, I know!)

- I graduated with a 2 year library technician diploma over 10 years ago. If I had known it wouldn't amount for squat, I would have gone for my MLS. But I was only 18 at the time...

- I would like a degree of some sort. School is starting to interfere with a career. I have at least 4-5 years of school left. I could go full time, but I know it would tire me out and make me crazy. Plus studio based learning is not for me anymore, as I discovered this semester.

I used Athabasca's transfer credit tool to figure out how many credits I could possibly get for both programs. I fear my library diploma might be too old as I graduated in 1997 and the oldest year in the transfer tool is 1998. Athabasca does have transfer agreements with the two colleges I have gone to here.

I have been in touch with TRU and created a knowledge resume. The program advisor said that the BA program would generally accept the most amount of credit. I was hoping to get an associate of arts degree instead. I can switch programs if I like for a fee. I haven't been able to find the expiration information on TRU's website. TRU does not have transfer agreements with the two colleges I have gone to here.

I really don't know what baskets I should put my eggs into. I know it seems pretty nebulous to ask here, but I have to wait until April until I'm done with the art college, so I'm trying to figure out all the information I need now instead of trying to wrangle it then.

 

I'm not familiar with those schools.

Are you set on one of those schools? I'm planning to go with Charter Oak State College. It seems to have the lowest costs, and I've read good things here about it.

As far as what baskets to put your eggs in: What are your goals? Do you want a degree for its own sake, or do you have in mind any specific majors?

 

Thanks for the replies Steve and Maurreen. Yes, I am Canadian

It is sad how slow it has taken me to go to school. There was never enough money to quit and go back to school, and I aged out of bursaries and grants available. I was not ready to assume the weight of student loans.

I started my degree in 2003 and at the time I wanted a better career. However, now I'm at the point of a better career and it's only seeming like a nice to have.

Is it a good idea to apply to both schools and see who offers me the most amount of credit? I realize that could get a little expensive, but perhaps the cost will justify not having to take more classes? I have never done online learning before, so I'm a total newb at it!

 

Christio, Athabasca is a great school and they have a lot of resources for undecided undergraduate students. Home : Counselling Services : Learner Support Services : Athabasca University I would go to this site and do an online or phone consult with them. You could try Charter Oak or other programs like that that take one's mish-mash of credits and help one determine the best path to a degree but given your location and Athabasca's strengths, I'd try them first. They really are good at distance learning for adults and then you'd have the name recognition locally, which may or may not be a benefit to you but can't hurt. I am not familiar with Thompson.

 

Thanks again guys I talked to my home institution and it's possible I can do 4-5 courses from Athabasca to help with my degree. Despite being an art college, there is also a programming bent, and as I am a computer programmer, it's possible I can knock off 12 credits for prior learning. My home institution apparently has an informal PLAR process which I did not previously know about I might have been trying to solve the wrong problem!

 

..just to throw it in, TRU is a very good school - as a matter of fact, TRU recently opened its doors to students wishing to pursue a law degree ( LLB ) - the first new law school in Canada in over 30 years. christio, also keep CLEP / DSST exams in mind (if your home institution recognizes them) to also knock off credits. Also, while Athabasca is quite good, they are not cheap and as such I would also encourage you to look at US universities which offers RA status, as often courses taken there are much cheaper than in good ol' .ca...

 

You, and lots of other folks on here. That's one of the nice pluses of many of the online programs-- they will help you pick up where you where.