The Big Three: Compare and Contrast

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Tom H., Mar 28, 2008.

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Which distance education institution has the best reputation for quality?

Poll closed Apr 27, 2008.
  1. Charter Oak State College (COSC)

    12 vote(s)
    26.1%
  2. Excelsior College

    16 vote(s)
    34.8%
  3. Thomas Edison State College (TESC)

    15 vote(s)
    32.6%
  4. University of Phoenix (UoP)

    3 vote(s)
    6.5%
  1. sentinel

    sentinel New Member

    You chose the route of least resistance by traveling the pass/fail path towards your degree. As you said, you were less interested in the academics and therefore had you taken graded courses your GPA would have reflected that lack of academic investment.

    I have a lot of academic credit hours from Canadian post-secondary institutions that are shown on the transcript as, for example, "CS1003 Introduction to Computer Science 3.00 CR COS-111 *FOR *TE", but which are not included in the GPA since Thomas Edison State College does not transfer grades, only credit hours, from foreign institutions. The credit hours earned at schools in the US are included in the GPA calculation.
     
  2. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    >>

    This might be changed now. I'm finishing my first (and final) year at TESC, and while a GPA isn't included on the transcript, there is a "check box" on the transcript request form where you may ask for a letter attesting to your GPA. So, I don't know if this is a relatively new thing, or if they have always done it. I didn't actually know about the unreported GPA until recently, because if you look in your student services file, the academic evaluation always shows your cumulative GPA. When I requested my transcripts for grad school applications, I also requested the GPA letters be included. Since one school requires a certain GPA, I'll find out soon enough if the letter cuts the mustard.
     
  3. Vincey37

    Vincey37 New Member

    And my point is TESC allows that lack of academic investment to be hidden, while as far as I am aware, there is no traditional B&M that would permit all courses to be taken as pass fail.
     
  4. sentinel

    sentinel New Member

    If all the credit hours were simply pass/fail, what would the final GPA be? 0.0 or 4.0?
     
  5. Ted Heiks

    Ted Heiks Moderator and Distinguished Senior Member

    By definition, if the grades were all pass, it would have to be a minimum of 1.0, so 0.0 is out of the question. :rolleyes:
     
  6. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    >>

    You could secure your 4.0 by taking one course with a final grade of A.
     
  7. sentinel

    sentinel New Member

    How would a graduate school view such a transcript of an applicant? Most graduate schools, whether brick-and-mortar or virtual, want the applicants to have a solid academic background. I realize that testing-out is a valid form of earning credit hours which is the reason I raise the question.
     
  8. sentinel

    sentinel New Member

    Thank you, Ted, for proving once again you are all knowing. :cool:
     
  9. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    >>


    LOL Hey! Don't shoot the messenger! I didn't test out of my degree, just sharin' what I know. I will say, that if someone is planning on a specific school, they really should find out ahead of time if graded credits are required. When I looked into admission requirements for myself, I often found statements like "3.0 out of 4.0 on your last 32 graded credits" or similar.

    It's worth arguing that not EVERYONE requires graded credits! I think that in the online master's degree arena, if you have the $, you'll find a program. I think it's a solid buyer's market for open enrollment programs. It's worth pointing out, that TESC and EC also offer grad programs, so in a pinch- you could stay there. Remember, those degrees are RA! I don't believe for a second that a graduate with an RA degree wouldn't get into grad school. With biggies like Walden, Capella, UoP, TESC, AMU/APUS, etc.? No question in my mind, and they'd be happy to have you.

    It might not be this board, but I recall a thread discussing those who tested out getting into "good" grad programs. Seems very possible to me.
     
  10. Chip

    Chip Administrator

    I was surprised that no one mentioned Athabasca until John Bear's post midway down.

    Certainly, Athabasca is a long time player, is a Canadian public school, offers a great deal of flexibility, and (for those who care) is the only school with "university" as part of its name since Excelsior changed its name from University of the State of New York back in the late 90s.

    I know we have a number of Phoenix faculty as contributors here, but other than the fact that it advertises far more aggressively than other schools, I hardly see it as remotely in the same class as the "big 3." The flexibility offered by the big three, and the value of their programs make them, from my perspective, a MUCH better alternative than UoP for most people.

    On the subject of obscuring one's lack of investment, Oberlin College (and a number of other progressive, respected B&M schools) have for many years offered a "credit/no entry" program and, last I checked, *all* of Oberlin's classes were "no entry" meaning that if you fail a class, it simply isn't reported on your transcript at all, rather than reporting a failing (or even a D) grade. The argument in favor of this is it allows the student to try things they might not otherwise attempt without the risk of damaging their GPA. It does get abused in that students carrying a 4.0 GPA who are going into finals with a low grade in a particular class can simply ignore the final and fail the class, thereby not affecting their GPA, but this doesn't seem to happen often.

    All of the schools, bricks-and-mortar included, have ways that students can game the system... but I believe the options given by the "Big 3" (or the *real* "Big 4, if you include Athabasca) do offer a lot of flexibility and choices for the student looking to complete a degree.
     
  11. isellpower

    isellpower New Member

    TESC is terrible. Don't waste your money. I once called to talk to a counselor and they made me an appointment for a week later. What a joke that place is.
     
  12. sentinel

    sentinel New Member

    You base your opinion on a one-time event?

    Whenever I have to "talk" to someone at Thomas Edison State College I always get a response to my emails within 48 hours and any appointments are typically scheduled when the academic adviser assigned to you is available. The school handles a lot of inquiries and processes mountains of paperwork (transcripts) and academic evaluations for their students.
     
  13. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    >>

    They won't usually talk to you unless your an enrolled student. In any event, each person comes up against brick walls...you just have to choose which ones are worth derailing your degree for.
    I'm a student at TESC, they are slow- understaffed- and a few more things I could say about the service. It's not stopping me. Not even a blink.
     
  14. CoachTurner

    CoachTurner Member

    Harvard University must be a bigger joke then because I once called there for an appointment to speak with someone at the extension school and my appointment was two weeks later. Yep, how quickly I can get an appointment with admissions is an indicator of how well I regard a school. After all, if they were worth a darn, they would be sitting there with nothing to do, waiting for me to call. ;)
     
  15. Bruce

    Bruce Moderator

    The best restaurants always have a lengthy wait at dinner time for a reason.
     
  16. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    LOL Exactly- it's because they are busy! It's never a good idea to eat in an empty restuarant.
     
  17. I am one of those examples - BS in General Business, 4.0 GPA, 120 credits through testing out (with a few P/F exams) from Excelsior. After reading the legendary "BA in 4 Weeks" site I took every kind of possible shortcut (including "Here's To Your Health" ;) ) and completed the degree in little more than a year while working full-time. This was back in 2004/2005 when Excelsior hadn't yet retired many of their exams, but nonetheless it's still possible today if you design and navigate it correctly.

    I'm now finishing off my MBA and MS in Strategic Mgt at Indiana (Kelley Direct). I made a point of highlighting my testing out in my admission essay and it didn't make a difference. They still used my GPA and GMAT score as the criteria along with my work experience and references.

    Now that US News and BusinessWeek both give Indiana a Top 20 ranking I'm even more pleased with my choice.
     
  18. ShotoJuku

    ShotoJuku New Member

    Both of my undergraduate degrees are from EC.

    As a working adult (married 25 years w/3 kids et al) EC was the most flexible and affordable alternative I had to complete what I started as a kid.

    Go E.C. Globes!!
    :D
     
  19. backtoschoolnow

    backtoschoolnow New Member

    NA transfer to Big 3

    What is the current status of NA credits transfering into the Big 3?
     
  20. pugbelly

    pugbelly New Member

    Asfar as I know, COSC and TESC won't accept them. Excelsior may accept them after an appeal process.

    Pug
     

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