How long do part-time students take take to earn a BA

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by hermes, Jan 19, 2004.

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  1. hermes

    hermes New Member

    Or rather, how long *did* you take. Please advise whether you had 0-3 years of university under your belt already. Where did you graduate from?

    I panicked last night thinking about the time it's going to take to work full-time and study part-time. Geez, I won't even *need* a degree in five years for I expect to have moved onto something else (that doesn't require a degree). It's depressing at 48 years of age to think of six more years of university studies. Of course as the old wag said, "How old will you be in six years if you don't complete your BA?"

    All I can say to those in their twenties and thirties is, "finish your degree sooner rather than later."

    Suddenly all those life experience degrees become more appealing. I expect various levels of legitimacy to have different lengths of study.
     
  2. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    I fiddled around for years, taking the occasional course here and there until I finally buckled down and got serious. Once I decided to go for the degree, I started with about 12 credits and it took me a little less than 2 years. I got a whole bunch of credits from CLEP and DANTES exams, which shaved years off my program.
     
  3. seekinghelp

    seekinghelp New Member

    I'm starting with 80 credits from my nursing degree. I started looking for a way to complete a bachelor's degree the 1st day of November, 2003. I found this board and the BA in 4 weeks site about the third week of November (saved me from Kennedy Western, what did I know?). I sent my transcripts to COSC the first week of December (after researching costs and spending some time on the phone with COSC). By December 22, I had my official review of my credits. I scheduled my first cleps for January 15, 2004. NINE CREDITS in under 3 hours, total cost $119.00. I believe I will finish my BS in Individualized Studies in Nursing/Psychology/Management by August or September 2004.

    I'm 48 years old. I work full time as a surgical nurse and I have my own business on the side with my husband, who also works full time. We are paying cash for a son's college education and cash for mine. I do feel finanacially strapped when I consider the next 9 months. I also feel a little overwhelmed at the prospect of doing what I'm about to attempt considering the real life or death stress in my current job and keeping our business up as well as my son's private expenses going. But you know what? I also feel re-energized and optimistic and excited. It's given me direction. And whether the degree ultimately gets me anywhere later or not, I will have fulfilled something I have stressed to my son since he was old enough to understand what was being said to him. Get an education, period. I will never feel second class again once this is done. I'm currently researching masters programs. Don't know if I'll do it or not. Money is tight, but hey, it's only money.:D
     
  4. gmanmikey

    gmanmikey New Member

    Hermes,

    I needed an engineering degree to do what I wanted to do. Not just any engineering degree, but a B.S.E.E. With course work in digital signal processing and communication systems. Part time, it can take almost forever. It should have taken about eight years; it took me about ten. (Ouch!) I was 48 when I graduated. It was a great experience; I only wish I had done it when I was younger.

    If you want a BA, you can earn one much faster than me. Since you're here, you probably already know about this stuff, but on the off chance you don't...

    1. The BA in 4 Weeks Website

    2. Search these forums and the internet for: Thomas Edison State College, Charter Oak State College, and Excelsior College.

    Don't worry about your age. Just go for it.
     
  5. hermes

    hermes New Member

    CELPS and DANTES only for USA?

    Perhaps I am wrong but my understanding is that becuase I live and work in third world countries (right now I am in Vietnam, Nepal or Egypt could be next) I can't write DANTES exams. I already contacted them. They promptly replied that it was not possible unless I was near their centers, presumably military bases.

    If US, UK or Canadian consulates provided this service I would be happy to do these understanding exams.
     
  6. agilham

    agilham New Member

    Re: CELPS and DANTES only for USA?

    http://www.getcollegecredit.com/Individual_States/overseas_institutions.htm

    Nepal or Vietnam could be a pain . . . although you could schedule a stopover somewhere like HK or KL between your field assignments. Egypt is a doddle. More testing centres than the UK!

    For Clep, see http://www.getcollegecredit.com/Individual_States/overseas_institutions.htm although they use mainly the same centres.

    Angela
     
  7. airtorn

    airtorn Moderator

    I started at Embry in September 2001 and graduated in April 2003. I transferred in 66 credits that I had accumulated over the previous eight years. I took half of the remaining 18 classes online with the other half being in a physical classroom. During that time period, my son was born and I had two military deployments - plenty of distractions.
     
  8. Han

    Han New Member

    I did my Bachelor's at B&M schools.... it took me part time 8 years.
     
  9. Jodokk

    Jodokk Member

    Well, here's my tale.

    I decided back in 2000 to research everything for a year whilst working a crappy job. After many years having my own business and then losing everything, I was certain I didn't want to work in a non-degreed position. I also knew I didn't want to work full time and go to school at the same time. I'm 42 and had a college experience I don't really remember back in 1980. It lasted all of three weeks and no credits. My son is in school at the local university and my wife, my roomate and I decided to go back together. I bought Dr. Bear's book and got busy with the phone calls.
    I decided on Charter Oak for a degree school because it seemed the closest to a college that wouldn't look "distance" on a resume. It was a part of a statewide consortium and had a great portfolio program.
    Although I am a veteran (disabled), a twenty year businessman, and was a published writer, I decided to save those experiences for a later degree possibly at Excelsior or TESC and went for the Charter degree.
    My financial situation was perfect for finaid and full pell grants, etc. (three household members in college, two babies at home, independant status, under 12,000 yearly in earned income). So we began school well funded and hopeful. The local junior college had enough online classes to keep us at the house warm and snuggly while studying and it allowed me the freedom to take tests. I managed to get through school by taking only two classes on campus (because I really wanted to. Film studies and Theatre.). I took the lit GRE and squeaked by, then the Psych
    GRE and Aced it at the 81st percentile. I took a whole BUNCH of Cleps and Dantes tests and two excelsiors (Research methods in psych and Psych and mental health nursing. 8 credits!)
    So right now I'm just waiting to matriculate and hopefully, graduate. I accumulated 143 credits in a year and a half and would have taken less time if the darned GRE subject test wasn't spaced out so far. In fact, had I the right tests, the money, a quicked turn-around at Charter, and the scheduling, I could have finished in abouth six months, the only reason I went to actual classes was the receive full-time finaid. In future perhaps the educational system with accomodate both distance learners and testing folks better.
    So, what I'm saying is that with a bit of research and Dr. Bears book, I was able to do this and so can you. You need not spend four years in school unless you wish to.
    Now, I'm really having a time selecting the right graduate option. Arrg!
     
  10. P. Kristian Mose

    P. Kristian Mose New Member

    Accelerated cohort programs (not DL)

    I'm not an expert here, but at many schools you can portfolio your way halfway through a bachelor's degree, and then join a 15-month cohort-bsed accelerated program to complete the degree. It's not happening in Canada, but it's happening all over the US -- for maybe a decade now -- principally at smaller colleges that are looking at creative ways of snaring new students.

    All of these accelerated programs are pitched to the older, fully employed adult. They typically meet one night a week for 4 hours. Most people make it through, and feel very connected to their fellow cohort students as well. The whole program is structured -- there are typically no electives -- and it is not distance learning. But it's a rather fast way to get that first RA degree.

    Peter
     

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