Advantages/disadvantages of distance education without work experience...

Exactly.
Getting an internship or working part time is also a good idea. Lots of kids get degrees in computer science and are unemployable because they didn't learn any job skills. Those who created websites, wrote games, built iPhone apps at home are more immediately employable in today's fast-paced environment. So I would encourage him to work while going to school. That is much easier to do when doing a Big3 education with lots of flexible testing out options.

 

Broadly I'm sympathetic, but remember that everything he's interested in doing is in direct health care.

Certainly he could volunteer independently with patients or long-term care clients; he could do a CNA, EMT, etc. program, etc., from a non-collegiate provider "in the community."

But let's not lose sight of this: Programs to enter direct health care professions are one of the things B&M undergraduate schools are really good at, and the Big Three hardly show up.

(Excelsior rocks in nursing, but their program for initial qualification as an RN isn't "entry" in the same way: students already have to be qualified as an LPN, paramedic, military corpsman, etc.; there's a very short list. TESC has introduced a program for entry into polysomnography, sleep study technology; there are on-the-ground clinicals.)

Big Three degrees are convenient, versatile and, as degrees go, a steal.

They'll almost certainly still be all these things two years from now, or ten. The option will be there for him if he wants it. But eligibility for those Pell Grants would be extinguished partly with the conferral of an associate's, wholly with the conferral of a bachelor's. And these could help substantially with a more coursework-heavy – even a more B&M – path that could also do very, very well for him.

 

A side note, a nursing degree opens many doors besides bedside or office nursing. Those who are unit directors, and middle and upper management are often from a nursing background. You can teach, work in corporate America, work in research, informatics, or go for advanced practice. Yes, they will require a Bachelors and/or Masters but these can be paid for by your employer. As a male nurse, he would have one advantage, he would be a minority which would help him move up quicker. Now I am not trying to steer your son or you into nursing, but the field is broad and many never realize it.

 

This is my favorite advice of the thread.

You and I have already talked, so I'm not really saying anything I didn't already say, but I do want to point out that having an associates degree does NOT mean you lose out on Pell money. The bachelor's degree closes all undergrad forever. So, you absolutely CAN get an AA then BA with Pell (if he qualifies).

Finally, I hear an undertone of wanting to cover all possible scenarios. I hear this because I tend to do this too, lol. Here's the thing, it is possible for him to earn every credit. He can take every CLEP, every SL, every class. He can earn any and every degree. But to what end? At some point, he'll have to commit to a career option and just go for it. Remember, in life there are re-dos. This board is a fantastic example of that!! So, he goes into PT and later when he turns 30, he decides to become chef So be it. It happens. It'll be on his dime then lol, but it's ok.

I think it's smart to work a plan with an integrated "plan B" (ex. using pre-reqs that count in more than 1 degree would be an example of buying time to do a few job shadows and firm up a game plan). I think trying to create a plan with plans a, b, and c make too many hoops that can push back the goal post. They also are diluted and not focused. I hear this coming through in the uncertainty of what his undergrad should be in as a "just in case" he doesn't get into a PT program. If he wants THAT, then he should DO THAT. Go for it, wait the year if it happens, jump the hoops. Do the plan. I've said before people are guilty here of suggesting the faster/cheaper/easier plan as if all degrees take you to the same finish line. In order to know HOW to use alternative schools and alternative credits, you must first know where you want to go then bend the CLEP to fit what you need. Don't bend what you need to fit the CLEP options.

He needs to start job shadowing. Look for a PT office in your area, talk to the doctors, get him in there watching the action. He can answer phones in a free clinic. Get him up close with patients. Patients can be dirty, smelly, angry, frustrated, and rude. People are at their WORST when ill. It takes a special kind of person to deal with that on a daily basis with grace.

 

Thanks for your input, Jennifer. It is much appreciated. I can't wait until the book comes in the mail! I kinda wish I would have bought the Kindle version too so I didn't have to wait for shipping.

 

It certainly doesn't close out all Pell eligibility. But I think it closes out eligibility for enrollment in any subsequent program at the associate's level.

The scenario to avoid would be a Big Three associate's he might not particularly want cutting him off from funding for then doing an associate's he did want, like in nursing or allied health, or anything at a CC that didn't have a bachelor's program he could do it through. He would still have Pell for a bachelor's.

*nods here, too!*

 

No, you can get 1 associate's degree and 1 bachelor's degree (in any order) or 2 associate degrees, but not 2 bachelor degrees, and never any degree after the first BA. There are post-bac exceptions apparently.

https://studentaid.ed.gov/types/grants-scholarships/pell

 

This is good to know! I may have read something mistaken from a secondary source.

 

I'm 22 years old and went the big three route, completed a BA in Social Sciences at TESC. Has it helped me yet? No, because I had a job prior of completing a degree. My job doesn't require a degree for entry, I look like an odd ball here with a degree. But I been in the medical billing field since 18 and listing that on my resume with my degree might help sometime soon, I hope.. I plan on applying for a Masters program at a state/local university.