Associate's or Bachelor's?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by royalstation, Jul 30, 2003.

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  1. royalstation

    royalstation New Member

    Hi! I've been reading this board for about 2 weeks now. Boy, I have learned alot about DL degree's!!
    I would like to hear your thought's on this...
    I have about 10 credits with a community college from 6yrs ago. I want to go back to school now. Oh yea, I have alot of work and life experience, too!
    My query is this - should I finish my AA or just go straight into the BA? I would like to do all of it online through DL.
    I'm leaning towards TESC for either, as I live in NJ and the fee's are reasonable. The cost for COSC is a wee bit out my range right now. Even though my company pays for everything!

    Would love to hear your thoughts!!

    Thanks!
    Cathy
     
  2. Mike Albrecht

    Mike Albrecht New Member

    Can you use all of the corses for the AA for the BA? How much longer will the BA take over the AA (assuming maximum use of CLEP and other test, plus portfolio's, etc.)? How soon do you NEED the degree? How much extra will it cost for the AA?

    Answer these questions and you have the answer.

    Basically if it doesn't cost much more, and there is a "significant (to you)" time difference, then why not. If there is not a "significant" time difference, and the costs are worth discussing, then why bother.
     
  3. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    If you can pick up the Associate's on the way to the B.A., I would. If it involved taking extra courses that wouldn't apply to the B.A. then I wouldn't bother.

    If you do go through TESC, I believe that you will be awarded an Associate's degree on the way to the Bachelor's.
     
  4. royalstation

    royalstation New Member

    Yes, all the credit's will transfer over, if I go to TESC.
    If I go the long route, no CLEP, etc., it will take about 5yrs. I figure for the BA. I can probably do the AA in 2 yrs.
    I'm in no big hurry for the degree.
     
  5. 9Chris

    9Chris New Member


    I know you said you are not in a hurry, but have you looked at this website yet?

    http://www.bain4weeks.com/introduc.html
     
  6. uncle janko

    uncle janko member

    Hi royalstation: By all means get the interim AA if it's offered. You never know when other commitments might temporarily intrude, and you would still have a usable credential until you could get back and finish the BA. Think of it as a partial insurance policy--maybe even worth an extra course or two. It would also serve as a solid index of progress--more impressive than a list of 60 hrs of credit w/o the "decoration". Best of luck.
     
  7. royalstation

    royalstation New Member

    I heard that if I wanted an AA and a BA, I should go two 2 different college's. Have you heard this?

    Does it really make a difference if I stay at the same school for both AA & BA?

    Does TESC really award an Associate's degree on the way to the Bachelor's?

    Has anyone had experience with New Jersey Virtual Community College Consortium (NJVCCC)?
    I would like to go back to Middlesex, but I work too far to get there in time andthey don't offer degree programs online.
     
  8. Mike Albrecht

    Mike Albrecht New Member

    In the past you had to, because most schhools who offered AA's did not offer BA's, this not the case anymore. There is not "requirment" that you do so. The other side comes from people who get ther bachelor's, master's, and doctorates form the same school. This can be frowned upon as not showing any growth, but at the AA/BA level this should not matter.

    If the offer both, no.
     
  9. Veteran101

    Veteran101 New Member

    Royal

    If you have the credits try AIU.
    American InterContinental University. They are RA and online.
    Main campus is Atlanta, Georgia.

    You could finish your AABA degree in 8-10 months. Under the program the AABA classes would tie into a BBA. Basically, you could have an AABA and BBA within 22 months.

    I checked out TESC in Trenton when I lived in NJ for 10 years.
    After visiting the establishment in person I still try to figure out how they maintain the RA, plus when the name is brought up in local circles such as Villanova, Rutgers, College of St. Elizabeth, Caldwell, Stockton, etc,. TESC gets a good laugh.. Just my opinion.


    Good Luck
     
  10. royalstation

    royalstation New Member

    Thanks Vet 101!
    I will check them out.
     
  11. NNAD

    NNAD New Member

    I'm a Regents (now Excelsior College) grad, their program seems much like the COSC or TESC programs. I've been admitted unconditionally to two traditional grad programs and never gotten a B in any grad class. Unless you are going IVY leage or shooting for another ultra competitive grad program you should be more than OK.

    If you are a job hunter with work experience that counts for more than what school you've been with, provided the accreditation is good.
     
  12. Veteran101

    Veteran101 New Member

    NNAD-

    How was your experience at Excelsior? The cost etc.
    Im thinking about testing out for the BA degree?
     
  13. NNAD

    NNAD New Member

    I was enrolled with Regents about 1 and 1/2 years before I graduated. I transferred in an AA and some distance learning classes, then tested for about 30 SH. If you are good at tests (it is a skill) and study for them (get a book at the library, do internet research, etc., read the study guide), you can pass most. I've since taken several more tests and picked up a total of about 45 hours that way. The only one I missed was business law. Regents/Excesior will let you add to your transcript post- graduation, for a 25 dollar fee. I'm trying to load up for teacher certification. I'm military and benifit from free tests.

    I love the Exclesior philosophy, and would like to see them expand to the Doctorate realm. Customer service and alumni contact is very good if you take advantage. Cost is good if you subtract the tuition you pay for most courses.

    My favorite sweatshirt is a Regents college graduation self-present from 1998. I'm going to have to replace it soon with an Excelsior brand.
     
  14. mboston

    mboston New Member

    I'm at a physical school that offers both AA's(AS')s and BA's(BS's). I decided to grab the associates because I wasn't sure if I could finish the bachelor's due to finances, etc. Now I can at least put on my resume that I have an associates. This has helped me significantly with employment opportunities. I am about halfway towards my bachelor's. When I get that, I'm not sure I will put both on my resume, since the two degrees are in the same field, from the same school and all the AS requirements were applied to the BS. :)
     
  15. lloyddobbler

    lloyddobbler New Member

    Re: Royal

    Man... I respect your opinion, but I sure hope you're wrong about TESC. Over the last 6 months or so I have done a good amount of research on and comparing of distance learning programs and in the end I chose TESC. Of all of the posts I've seen at various web sites and message boards, yours is one of the few uncomplimentary opinions that I've seen voiced about the school (talking about quality, not a complaint about an advisor or something like that).

    I've seen nothing but good things written about them in respected publications(non-advertisements) and I've searched google and found quite a few TESC grads who have went on to graduate schools and law schools, including Rutgers law (albeit Rutgers Newark).

    as an example, this Philadelphia law firm employs Kathleen Burns, who(assuming the site is legit) graduated TESC and went on to earn her law degree at Rutgers:

    http://www.duanemorris.com/news/pub168.html

    Aside from all that, TESC was created by and is run by the state of NJ... and regardless of what one might think of the state of NJ:cool: , I think it can be agreed that a state created and run school is highly unlikely to be disreputable.
     

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