Walden's Tempo Learning

I was accepted to Walden's M.S. in Psychology (Tempo Learning) starting March 2nd (i.e., tomorrow)... lol Thanks to AsianStew for sharing this info on another thread.

I haven't accepted the offer yet, but most likely will. The tuition for a 3-month subscription is $1,330 (half of the standard $2,660 rate). I hope to complete it in 6 months (5 courses each). Can I pull this off with my coursework and dissertation starting in May?! The initial plan of study doesn't show any transfer credits. However, I didn't send my Liberty transcript with my application, only Lamar. I only took 1 research course at Lamar (quant). I took 4 research courses at Liberty (Quant, Qual, Adv. Research Design, and CJ Program Eval). I am hoping to have the two research courses waived. I'd love only to have 8 courses to complete (4 each subscription).

Either way, I'll most likely accept and start tomorrow. In the state in which I reside, there is a government title called Psychological Services Associate (PSA). The PSAs work with both adult and juvenile offenders. The qualification is either a master's in psych or a closely related field with 15 hours in psychology, counseling, educational counseling, rehabilitation, human development, learning, or motivation.

Question: On a resume, you only put the month/year conferred. However, when you fill out job applications, you're required to put start and end dates. The transcript will also show when each course was completed. How do you think employers will view a 6-month master's degree?

 

From 02-26-20, four days ago. " I've decided not to waste my money pursuing any more degrees or certificates...I think it's best to focus on how I can achieve my career goals in juvenile justice without pursuing all these qualifications."

I have no doubt that you are capable of completing any of these qualifications. However, with all due respect, you give the overall impression of being like a kid in a candy store. You seem to have no idea of what you want.

 

You're right. I did say that. However, I do know what I want and that is to work with juvenile offenders. I just can't seem to fight the urge of pursuing another degree. Maybe I need to seek professional counseling, no joke. I don't want to be the collector of degrees... but somehow I'm always getting the urge to pursue another.

 

They will view it as a joke. Especially if the reviewer has a master's degree that took two years to earn - it's the old story of, "I paid my dues, you should, too." Moreover, if you end up with too many degrees (yes, there is such a thing) you will run into the phenomenom of hiring managers who avoid you because they will perceive that you perceive you're smarter than they are. Are you? Probably, but no dog likes to have his head rubbed in his own crap.

Meanwhile, I'd say that Kizmet has your number, Chris. The kid-in-a-candy-store analogy is spot on, not to mention how you have vehemently insisted that you wanted to avoid for-profit programs. (You do know that Walden is for profit, I assume.) How many days has it been since you first heard about the Walden deal?

Some of your recent moves have raised doubts in my mind as to whether you will successfully complete your Ph.D. (A person can only handle so much diversion.) I hope I'm wrong. Remember, we're on your side, but the idea is to act like a mental health professional, not a patient.

 

There are many ways of doing resumes and even a number of arguments against putting dates on your degree or credential obtainment. I do not list the dates of when I earned my degrees on a resume. Keep in mind, the purpose of a resume is simply to get through HR in order to have a conversation and sell yourself. A good portion of professional positions are still obtained through or with the assistance of networking. A bigger concern for me would not be the length of time that it took for you to obtain the degree, but the schools reputation.

Please do not take any offense to what Kizmet posted above, I believe everyone has full faith in your capability to get through the program, we're just concerned that the excitement of new educational adventures may be too tempting at times. Keep in mind, once you obtain your doctorate and establish your reputation... unless there is a specific license requirement... you'll likely be able to bypass any specific degree requirement postings on a job ad. Besides, having a doctorate, MBA, and another Masters degree.. I would actually state that you shouldn't be putting yourself in competition with people who only fill the basic requirements of a given position.

 

Interesting. Are the readings used in the Tempo Learning courses the same ones that they use in their conventional courses?

(E.g., the ones listed online in their academic guides, here -- https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/c.php?g=132474&p=866430)

 

You made a few good points. I had someone question the fact that I earned my MBA in 1 year and they earned their master's in 2 years. Also, once I graduated from Ashworth (for-profit), I did a good job of only attending private, non-profit and public universities. I won't necessarily take offense to your Ph.D. comment, but I don't see how my recent ideas (none which I have acted on) are an indicator of my commitment to completing my Ph.D. You will be the first person on DI to know when I am PhinisheD.

 

Good information.

I didn't take offense to Kizmet's comment. In fact, I agreed with her in my response to her.

This is also sound advice. That is why I throw these ideas out there so that I can get blunt advice that causes me to think things through.

 

Chrisjm18,

Personally, I think it is amazing you still have the energy to continue seeking more college education! The fact is, there are more and more paradigm shifts occurring in all aspects of life. The reality is the degree of today may be obsolete before you graduate. I think the emergence of post graduate certificates helps to update one's resume and skill set as well. I would be lost in the medical profession without constant continuing education! Apparently, one needs to be open to self improvement to be competitive. Earning another degree may have value in this ever changing world. My suggestion is to simply outline on the resume, the education relevant to the job you are seeking. The Curriculum Vitae is designed to chronicle just about everything!

 

His point about diversion is spot on. If you have extra bandwidth focus it on your Ph.D. not shiny lights. Regardless of how you explain the reasons for the distractions to yourself, looking for "other things" that MUST distract (time, energy, motivation) you from your primary goal are not going to help and are indicative of other issues.

 

Well, I'd say speak for yourself. You know nothing about my lifestyle, i.e., my commitment and free time. Therefore, you aren't in a position to speak about what will be a distraction.

 

Ya know Chris, if you leave your front door wide open then you can't be too shocked if something unwanted walks into your kitchen. You've been doing this "Masters degree of the week" for a while now and it seems clear that you're not really thinking it through. Now no one is saying you shouldn't earn another degree but this mentality of "I bought it because it was on sale" is bound to draw some fire. How will this (or any) degree help you toward your goal? Maybe the answer is "It doesn't, I'm just interested in this subject." That's OK too but you can't get upset if people ask questions or make observations. That's what we do. Just tell them all to bugger off and go about your business. But if you change your mind (again) then don't act surprised if the old comments return. Someday I'll tell you all about my degree program and you'll say "Where the hell did that come from?" I'll just laugh because it's 100% education for education's sake with microscopic financial/career ROI.

 

You do you! If you are interested in it, and can afford it, then go for it!

 

And I'd say that, for someone who bitches a lot about others throwing shade, you've become quite an expert at doing so yourself. It seems like several people in this thread have got your number, and you're getting to the point of slinging lots of at-tee-tude. I don't think I've said this to you before, but at this point I find myself laughing at you.

Take heed to the old expression - if you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen. Or you'll have everyone laughing at you. There have been enough ways that you have been a great example on how to do things - if you keep bouncing off the wall like you are here, you'll be a great example of how not to do things.

And if you're going to be snapping your fingers in a circle, do it to some better music. (Chris has made it clear in the past that, at the least, he is gay-literate. Therefore, he should know what that expression means.)

Finally, as I said before, we're on your side. At least we have been in the past. But we'll only tolerate so much shade...

I shall now laugh at you again.

 

Quite right. So the following is not about you:

Don't get distracted during the dissertation. It can feel like a real grind and, ironically, not very challenging intellectually. It is easy to get drawn towards other, more interesting actions when one should keep one's eye on the ball.

Using the critical path concept from project management--and doing a dissertation is very much a project--there is very little slack in the project. Any delay, any time spent on anything else, is time taken away from the project. This affects the critical path and lengthens the time necessary to finish it. Any delay at all; there is no slack.

This is not to say one should not do things to rest, relax, and/or distract. But anything that resembles scholarly work should be set aside and that effort be used instead to move along the project (dissertation). There is simply no reason to believe such activities will not delay its completion.

In addition to time, there is the factor of intellectual capital. Intellectual capital spent elsewhere cannot be spent on the dissertation. This threatens to injure the quality of the research, analysis of the data collected, and the ensuing writing to present it.

One additional folly: when managing a project, three variables--complimentary and competing--are managed: time, cost, and quality. The customer may only dictate two; the third is a function of that. So, if you want it fast and good, it's going to cost more. If you want it cheap and good, it's going to take longer. Et cetera. But in a scenario like this, the doctoral candidate is giving up control of all three, threatening to make him/her subject to the project instead of being able to treat it like an object upon which he/she can have impact.

In short, it's a stupid idea. But I'm not talking about you because I don't know you. It's just a stupid idea for anyone...if doing a doctoral dissertation is actually one's goal.

 

On the off chance that your brain works significantly different regarding goal achievement, motivation, and cognition than every other human that has ever existed, I withdraw my post. Actually, I won't withdraw it I will just sign onto what Rich said....

 

Well said (even though well done is better than well said) and well received!

 

I'm glad you took it in good cheer.

I'm not sure what distinction you're making between "said" and "done." I've done it. Twice.

 

Yes, I know you're Dr. Dr. Rich.