5 Random Questions [LOR, Pell, SNHU, etc]

[omicreativedev]

1) Can you attend several schools at the same time? I know you can't use Federal Financial Aid at two schools at the same time (wait, can you? lol) But could I, for instance, be in my degree program at my community college and also be taking courses at another college— either toward a degree, or not toward a degree? I remember reading in my school catalog at my community college that they recommend me taking C at Umass and transferring it BACK as an elective toward my associates. I've already emailed them to ask them how. But it got me wondering, can I do classes at multiple RA colleges in general? Or can I only be enrolled at one at a time?

2) How would recommend I go about getting letters of recommendation for stuff like programs, scholarships, schools, etc.? I mainly do online schooling and testing. And I have no prior experience in school, work, volunteering because I have no time really balancing a disability and two grade-schoolers with disabilities. Fair to say, I'm not very known at all. 

 I'm sort of like one of those (ex)wives who've been in the house with babies my entire life. Suggestions?

3) Has anyone had any success with scholarships and applying? Have you ever won any? If so, is there a strategy for it? Is there any way to learn to be better at getting funding? Any inside tips on funding alternative college stuff? For instance, right now because I have a full Pell I often get a "refund" at the end of each semester. I have used some of it to take more courses that I have to pay for. 

4) Do you know of any schools that have a Masters that you can almost 100% get with transfer credits?

5) If anyone is familiar with SNHU, how does Federal Financial Aid work with their strange term structure?


Thanks in advance

[davewill]

1) Can you attend several schools at the same time? I know you can't use Federal Financial Aid at two schools at the same time (wait, can you? lol) But could I, for instance, be in my degree program at my community college and also be taking courses at another college— either toward a degree, or not toward a degree? I remember reading in my school catalog at my community college that they recommend me taking C at Umass and transferring it BACK as an elective toward my associates. I've already emailed them to ask them how. But it got me wondering, can I do classes at multiple RA colleges in general? Or can I only be enrolled at one at a time?

2) How would recommend I go about getting letters of recommendation for stuff like programs, scholarships, schools, etc.? I mainly do online schooling and testing. And I have no prior experience in school, work, volunteering because I have no time really balancing a disability and two grade-schoolers with disabilities. Fair to say, I'm not very known at all. 

 I'm sort of like one of those (ex)wives who've been in the house with babies my entire life. Suggestions?

3) Has anyone had any success with scholarships and applying? Have you ever won any? If so, is there a strategy for it? Is there any way to learn to be better at getting funding? Any inside tips on funding alternative college stuff? For instance, right now because I have a full Pell I often get a "refund" at the end of each semester. I have used some of it to take more courses that I have to pay for. 

4) Do you know of any schools that have a Masters that you can almost 100% get with transfer credits?

5) If anyone is familiar with SNHU, how does Federal Financial Aid work with their strange term structure?


Thanks in advance

You can take courses from multiple colleges at the same time, but you sometimes have to obtain permission to do so. For example, it's very common for freshmen students at the local state school to fail to get into basic courses like Eng 101 or College Algebra, and instead enroll to take them at a community college so they don't get behind a semester right at the start.

You can try asking your online instructors for recommendation letters, but it's kind of a tough ask since they barely know you. You can also leverage work supervisors and the like, which is what I did when I applied to OMSCS.

[omicreativedev]

You can take courses from multiple colleges at the same time, but you sometimes have to obtain permission to do so. For example, it's very common for freshmen students at the local state school to fail to get into basic courses like Eng 101 or College Algebra, and instead enroll to take them at a community college so they don't get behind a semester right at the start.

I think I should have done this myself prior since I actually did come in a semester behind. I ended up doing the CLEP for Eng for that. But it would be good to find out if I could take classes at another RA school while enrolled elsewhere.

You can try asking your online instructors for recommendation letters, but it's kind of a tough ask since they barely know you.

 
This is exactly my issue. Not just in the past, but present over two semesters- none have responded, even when asking in person.

You can also leverage work supervisors and the like, which is what I did when I applied to OMSCS.

I don't really have work experience that's current. Maybe 10 years ago. Not even in touch with former bosses. Otherwise I've been a stay at home 


Btw Thank you SO much for responding.

[ss20ts]

Master's degrees are not typically transfer credit friendly unlike bachelor's degrees. It's because they are about a quarter of the credits usually. There are some that allow transfer credit and some don't Some programs at some schools don't accept transfer credit while other degrees at the same school will accept transfer credit. It's much easier to just complete a master's degree at one school than bounce around trying to accumulate credits.

[omicreativedev]

Master's degrees are not typically transfer credit friendly unlike bachelor's degrees. It's because they are about a quarter of the credits usually. There are some that allow transfer credit and some don't Some programs at some schools don't accept transfer credit while other degrees at the same school will accept transfer credit. It's much easier to just complete a master's degree at one school than bounce around trying to accumulate credits.

Understood. The closest thing I found was how MITx Data Science Micromasters on Edx is 12 credits toward SNHU or Harvard Extension data analysis Masters. And it's available 1 course at a time with coursera financial aid for people with low income. But that's the closest I found. 12 credits is still nice though. That Micromasters also has pathway to MIT SES PhD program. So maybe I'll just try that if its available next year.

[rachel83az]

IIRC, there are a couple of schools that allow a transfer of up to 15 credits to a Master's program. High transfer degrees are usually (though not always) the Master's equivalent of a BALS degree.