40 something would love some guidance on how/where/what Bachelors to get!

[joyfulhelper]

Hi all! Total newbie and have been combing all these threads the wiki and countless resources and I'm so grateful for all the time and effort that has been put into helping people get through this.
I never thought I could get a degree and sort of gave up on it until I found out about the accelerated online options and now I feel like it might be possible. I look forward to getting it done and being able to help others. 

I've filled out the template and addendum to the best of my ability. Please excuse any typos or grammar errors. Written in a super rush and dealing with a malfunctioning keyboard but wanted to push through my anxiety and just post and ask for help cause I need it. I just feel like all the options are swimming in my head and I need help sorting it out...  so all input is GREATLY GREATLY appreciated!  Thanks in advance. 

Your Location: Midwest USA
Your Age: 41

What kind of degree do you want?: Need to get an accelerated Bachelors. Open to all suggestions. Currently Considering WGU Business Administration but honestly don’t care. I want the degree that I can get the fastest, cheapest, and will give me the most options and income potential for my family. Don’t want anything like a generic english or general studies degree if I can help it. Would also love to get a masters of some sort all online after this is done. 

Current Regional Accredited Credits:
School Name Total Credits: #
Class Name, Credits, Grade

I went to two brick and mortar colleges. Didn't do great and was unfocused. I don’t have the grades from College 1's transcripts but I know all of those classes were passed with at least a C or better.  My cumulative GPA from the transcript from College 2 was a cumulative 2.2. 

All those credits from both schools are at least 90. 

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits:
Provider Total Credits: # Class Name, Credits, Grade

See below  Currently at Sophia open to other cost effective providers you all would recommend. 

Any certifications or military experience?
No

Budget: I'd like to go the cheapest route possible, but will consider spending slightly more for easy and fast. No more than I qualified for student loans and may have some pell grant eligibility left. 6-8 k  Money is super tight don't want to take a huge loan if I can help it. I have 3 weeks left on my 1st month of Sophia so I want to maximize that. I also am willing to use study etc to transfer in more credits if it will save me big time. 

Commitments: I have kids. Got hit by restructuring  So while I am job hunting non stop, I will study as much as possible during the day. When I get a job ( ingers crossed) I can study as much as is needed during the night or weekends as long as my schedule is free. I estimate at least 1-3 hours 2-4 weeknights and on the weekends, maybe 8-15+ hours, total 

Timeline: I need to start at whatever degree program you suggest by June 1 at the latest so I can use this year's FAFSA. My plan is to knock out as many credits in the next 2 to 3 weeks to transfer to wherever you tell me would be the best plan for me. I want to  finish the courses required for the degree as fast as possible. I’m hoping for 1 term and done. I’d love to be finished in 3 to 6 months at the latest. I’ll find time to get it done. 

Tuition assistance/reimbursement: Not at this time. 

Please provide any relevant details you may have that may help us determine an option or path for you to investigate, such as your preference towards either test-out (you're a great test taker) or competency based education (because you like assessments, assignments and have test anxiety).
  have terrible TERRIBLE Math & Science anxiety and likely dyscalculia. I have ADHD and I am neurodivergent.  The idea of taking any math tests, or intense formula memorization,tests without the benefit of open books/notes like at Sophia is very scary for me. I’m a great test taker at everything but MATH. I did great at Sophia because I was able to use the open book and didn’t have to worry about remembering formulas. I love to Read a lot and do a ton of technical & professional writing, working with Businesses, training, education, in past positions. Working in Technology in a NON-Technical customer facing Role/project and people manager. 20 years experience. Last role was remote and pay was good but not very stable in the current climate. 

I Have some css/html skills but can’t see myself programming all day long or anything like that. Would really love to test out of, transfer in as many math, statistics, formulas heavy etc courses as possible. The idea of taking any of those kinds of classes proctored with no notes or help through the test is enough to make me give up this whole degree idea right away.  I was able to get 12 Sophia credits in a week and that was great. Concerned about Transcript Evals and equivalencies because my past brick and mortar transcripts and course work don’t clearly translate to any specific path for these accelerated degrees. 


Thanks again for reading all of this and any help, advice, clarity, encouragement you can provide. 

[rachel83az]

So, just at a quick glance, you've taken enough Spanish for UMPI. That will ultimately be the fastest and cheapest, especially since you already have significant credit. Everything is writing papers or projects, so taking math tests isn't going to happen. You might have to take math exams with WGU (I would have to double-check).

A few questions:

I see a Biology lab but I don't see a Biology course. Do you not have Biology or am I blind? If you don't have Biology, do Human Biology + Lab @ Sophia ASAP (UMPI sometimes accepts Lab and Course from separate providers, but you have a tight budget and need to be sure). I also don't see a physical science. Take Environmental Science from Sophia ASAP if you don't have a physical science.

Spend half an hour setting up a spreadsheet to see what slots where for UMPI. We have degree plans on the wiki, as you may have seen, here: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:UMPI

Since your budget is tight, I'm going to recommend the BABA Management & Leadership. This is usually the fastest/easiest degree for students to complete. One, maybe two sessions are possible. If you play your cards right, you'll also be 25% of the way through their MAOL. https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Un...L)_at_UMPI Since your money is tight right now, you can come back to the MAOL in a year or two when you have more money. But it's a good way to possibly have your Pell Grant money pay for "some" of a Master's degree.

If you don't want the BABA M&L, just make sure that you pick up 3 of those 4 Bachelor-to-Master classes to bank for the future.

[bjcheung77]

Ding ding, exactly what I was going to recommend, UMPI BABA Management & Leadership concentration OR the Project Management & Info Systems concentration option. Essentially, the two degrees are pretty much the same, you will have a couple of the classes that can go into the MAOL if you plan wisely.

For now, I would create a spreadsheet comparing the concentration and decide what classes interest you more and what areas you would like to pursue. Then you can decide for yourself... Here's the link for the 3-4 classes that transfer to the MAOL: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid400861

[joyfulhelper]

Thank you so much for the feedback. Both UMPI BABA Management & Leadership concentration & the Project Management & Info Systems sound like really possibilities. I'm just about to get started on the spreadsheet you advised. 

However, my question is the timing for the two terms you are recommending I take at UMPI. According to the your pace calendar I found here https://www.umpi.edu/academics/calendar I would have to start my first session on May 6, 2024 and the second session would begin July 1, 2024.


I understand there are some very specific things I need to do BEFORE applying to UMPI but there has been some trouble getting my transcripts released so I'm concerned I won't meet the deadlines for UMPI or be able to complete my sophia courses before the application deadline: 04/02/24 & Document Deadline: 04/05/24

Since the financial aid year I need to use ends on June 30, 2024. Doesn't that mean I wouldn't have any aid for the second session? I will call financial aid to verify but just wondering if anyone has experience they can lend. 

The financial aid concerns are why I was considering WGU so I could have a June 1 start date and the full 6 months to complete if needed.

[rachel83az]

Have you filled out the FAFSA for the year that starts in July 2024?

Priority one after that is definitely going to be getting your transcripts released. You can't start at WGU without those either. So, you'll possibly miss your deadline there, too. Plus, it's not uncommon for WGU to take at least two 6-month sessions. It would be pretty bad if you had to quit a degree at WGU simply because your financial aid ran out. WGU also requires several months of Study.com in order to have a hope of finishing within 6 months. See https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/WG...egree_Plan for an example plan. All things considered, UMPI is probably going to be easier to fund out of pocket, IMO.

Because you have so many prior credits, you don't have to complete everything at Sophia before you apply at UMPI. You can let them know that you have courses in progress and they're generally good with that. They shouldn't make you delay your session.

If my understanding of financial aid is correct, completing at least 12 credits at UMPI in one session would count you as a full-time student, getting you the full award. Anything not used by UMPI should be refunded to you. You could then use that to pay for the second session. Assuming you get the full Pell award of $3698 per semester, $1500 would go to UMPI and then $2198 would go to you. You pay session 2 from that money and pocket the remaining $698. Finishing at UMPI within 2 sessions is very, very doable, judging by past student experiences.

[Hotdogman1]

The June 30, 2024 date is the deadline to submit a FAFSA form for 23-24 year, not Financial aid disbursement. You can submit a FAFSA form even before applying for the school so aid running out should not be an issue.

If my understanding of financial aid is correct, completing at least 12 credits at UMPI in one session would count you as a full-time student, getting you the full award. Anything not used by UMPI should be refunded to you. You could then use that to pay for the second session. Assuming you get the full Pell award of $3698 per semester, $1500 would go to UMPI and then $2198 would go to you. You pay session 2 from that money and pocket the remaining $698. Finishing at UMPI within 2 sessions is very, very doable, judging by past student experiences.

You must enroll in both 8-week sessions and complete at least 6 credit hours per session to get the full Pell grant award. If you start Summer II, you will get half the total awarded amount even if you do 12+ credit hours in one session. UMPI awarded me full Pell grant when I started then “adjusted” it to half after I completed in one session (Summer 1, 2023). I ended up having to pay money back.