Online college for the chronically ill?

I have several medical problems that are unpredictable and make it necessary for me to rest often. Despite these issues, I am determined to continue to go to school (online), because I enjoy school.

Unfortunately, I recently had to withdraw from South University Online because I was unable to keep up with the overall workload and accelerated deadlines. I underestimated the impact my illnesses would have on my ability to go to school, and the impact that going to school would have on my illnesses.

I am in no rush to complete my degree - I do wish to earn my degree eventually, of course. It seems that all of the programs I'm finding are eager to sign you up and rush you through. Due to my illnesses, I will need to be able to go at my own pace and have a more reasonable workload.

Are there any colleges out there that would be good for someone with chronic illnesses, or is going to school, even online school, something that is just going to be too much for me no matter what?

It's hard to face the possibility that going to school is just something I can't physically handle anymore. I want to find that out before wrecking myself trying and possibly failing at other colleges.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

I would recommend Thomas Edison State college. They will transfer all of your credits and they allow you to CLEP and do other forms of testing to pass required courses. You can send in your transcripts, pay the 75 dollar fee and they will give you an evaluation on a bachelors degree. You will also be given access to their student advisor web application which you can use to perform your own queries on how close you are to completing any of their other degrees.
Once you get the eval, you can use the resources on this and other forums to determine a path to degree completion using CLEP/DSST/Straighterline/TECEP/ECE and other sources of credit that you will learn about if you spend some time reading forum posts.
This will allow you to go at your own pace and take as long as you like to complete a degree.

 

A couple others similar to Thomas Edison State College:
* Charter Oak State College
* Excelsior
* Empire State (I think so, but I know less about this one.)

 

Most often when people look for self-paced programs they are trying to accelerate their studies. My sense is that you might be trying to slow things down a bit. If that's the case the you might want to look at the University of London. They are a high quality provider of distance learning at a relatively low cost. You study the provided material and take the final exam at the end of the year. Check it out as another option.

Distance learning with the University of London International Programmes: flexible study options

 

You also may want to check out Western Governors' University.

 

Good ideas

I was also going to suggest Louisiana State University and Western Governors, although WGU has a different tuition plan where you pay the whole year in a lump sum, instead of individually by credit which might be a problem. But don’t take my memory for gospel…check it out.

How much credit do you have? It might help us to know if you’ve got enough for an AA degree or if you are working on general studies for the first two years.

Two other things: You don’t say if you’re in the US but I’m assuming that you are. Have you considered getting accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act? I have had several students at different schools use it. It allows for extra time to complete assignments and if you were to need an extension (or take an incomplete) the ADA allows for that. The ADA is a very useful tool and keeps your illness from becoming a barrier to your studies.

The other is to go to a program with longer sessions (e.g. 16-18 weeks instead of 6-8). Some state universities (like Washington State University) have semesters the old-fashioned way, and while you might still have trouble, the ADA protection would allow you to catch up since the pace is slower. Check your local school.

I really admire your determination to get an education, despite the challenges, especially since I have a chronic medical condition also. Please let me know if I can help you in any way.

 

Thank you all for your support and advice! I wasn't expecting to be presented with so many options. I was starting to get upset thinking that there was simply no program that could fit my needs.

I have some general credits, but no AA or AS. I would still have to take quite a few core classes.

I do live in the USA. East Tennessee, to be more specific. I do have a college close by (ETSU), but I am pretty much bed-bound and I ran out of classes that can be taken online with them.

I tried playing the ADA card at South University Online, but they were not able (or willing?) to accommodate me. Most of their courses are 5-1/2 weeks long, but some are 11 weeks (usually, the 11-week courses have two parts, such as lecture and lab).

LSU sounds great for taking specific classes, but it doesn't look like it's set up for completing the entire degree online. I could take as many classes there as I could that would be needed for a degree and then transfer, though.

For the record, I am interested in science or health-related degrees. I was going for a BS in Health Sciences at SUO.

Before deciding on South, I was interested in Thomas Edison State College, but the proctored exams scared me off a bit. I have difficulty sitting up for more than 15-20 minutes, so there would have to be some accommodations for sure.

The next few days will definitely be spent contacting the schools you all have mentioned and getting more specific information. Where there is a will, there is a way. I am not going to let a chronic illness get in the way of me doing what makes me happy.

 

Hi Cassiopeia,

Perhaps the following program would meet your needs: Bachelor of General Studies (Independent Study) | Online & Distance Education

Also, my alma mater, Bellevue University offers an online BA in Health Science. Based upon what I've read in their Disability Services document, they appear to be disability-friendly. Pg. 9-10 provides information on physical disabilities and pg. 16 offers info on distance learning.

In addition, Bellevue will accept up to 25 credits of FEMA courses in transfer (no transcription is required). Search this forum for more information on FEMA courses (short version - short free courses that you may complete online and apply as elective credit to degree programs at several schools, including Thomas Edison and Bellevue). Bellevue will ALSO accept a regionally accredited associates degree in direct transfer (meaning that they will accept the entire degree as meeting your gen ed requirements for a bachelors degree). This is rare, as most schools tend to pick and choose which credits they will accept in transfer (comparing what you've already earned against their own requirements).

Best of luck,

 

Looks like a good program

Cassiopeia, the programs Japhy lists look really good, especially the UND one. Having nine months to complete a class looks like it is custom-made for you and the fact that it is intended to be a full program - not just classes here and there - make it more attractive. I also agree that you could try some FEMA classes.

Have you contacted the local community colleges? I find that they often have innovative programs and advisors who are dedicated to helping people get through the first two years of school. It would be cheaper, most likely, than out of state programs.

Otherwise, I'd give the UND program a try.

 

Most of TESC's proctored exams now are done through their online proctor service, Proctor U. I am sure that they would accommodate you since it is all done at your own home and web based.
My proctor is also a gem. She is very nice and runs the library at a private college in my town. She would accommodate your situation as well.
I have taken 5 TESC proctored exams and since I was well prepared, none of them took longer than 20 minutes even though they allowed 90 minutes I think. So you will do fine with TESC.

 

In taking another look, it appears that a number of schools offer programs similar to the BGS offered by UND (some are actual BA and BS degrees). Also, UND has a BA in Social Science (via independent study).

click on the following link to search in google:
bachelor "independent study" site:.edu - Google Search