BS CS degree for anxiety person

[munro]

Hi all
Your Location: Argentina, currently in New Zealand to earn money
Your Age: 24
What kind of degree do you want?: BS computer science
Current Regional Accredited Credits: 0
Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: 0
Any certifications or military experience? Not yet, but planning to get cybersecurity certs like network+, etc in the future.
Budget: 15k but I can work harder to get more if needed
Commitments: currently working full time but I'll probably switch to part time when I start studying, I have to get an English certificate and severe social anxiety.
Study timeline: the shorter the better, 2 years max would be ideal.

I don't have any kind of credits, basically starting from scratch but I already have some knowledge since I do programming and reverse engineering as a hobby. I do have a lot of issues doing public presentations. I don't like group work, video/voice calls and this kind of things. Im ok with written exams or communicating over text.
BS would be ideal.
For the research I have done, TESU and SNHU seem like my best options but I'm not sure.

Any advice is appreciated, thanks for taking the time to read this.

[rachel83az]

I'm not sure if SNHU has group work or not. Both it and TESU will require proctored exams from Study.com. These exams aren't proctored live by a person. Instead, a computer automatically reviews them for signs of cheating. They are only occasionally viewed by an actual person after the fact. I find this type of proctoring to be less anxiety-inducing than the live proctor kind where someone is constantly watching you.

You can see requirements for TESU here: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...ts_Roadmap

TESU does require RA or RA-equivalent credits. This requirement can be met inexpensively with Metropolia. https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Me...d_Sciences Or XAMK. https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/XAMK

[munro]

I'm not sure if SNHU has group work or not. Both it and TESU will require proctored exams from Study.com. These exams aren't proctored live by a person. Instead, a computer automatically reviews them for signs of cheating. They are only occasionally viewed by an actual person after the fact. I find this type of proctoring to be less anxiety-inducing than the live proctor kind where someone is constantly watching you.

You can see requirements for TESU here: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...ts_Roadmap

TESU does require RA or RA-equivalent credits. This requirement can be met inexpensively with Metropolia. https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Me...d_Sciences Or XAMK. https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/XAMK

Thank you for the response, I don't mind doing presentations in front of AI at all so that's perfectly fine. I'll take a look at Metropolia!
Do you think TESU is a better option than SNHU? If so, why?

[bjcheung77]

@munro, Welcome to the board, that's a good addendum and template to start the process. My suggestion is to do the trifecta of certs, degree, experience since you're still young (yes, about half may age).  If you didn't know already, you can take up to 90 credits that transfer into both SNHU/TESU using just Sophia.org and Study.com, there are plans on the WIKI, TESU requires 6 credits residency but I recommend 15 to remove the residency waiver, SNHU requires 30 credits.  

You can create a spreadsheet of both plans side by side, requirements and transferable classes, have that file put into your google/one drive, make it viewable and not editable, then link us to that file.  We can recommend changes if anything is needed... You can work on the cheapies/freebies first, then get the Sophia.org/Study.com classes, lastly work on the residency requirements at the institution of choice (TESU 15 credit flat rate term vs SNHU 30 credits in X semesters).

If you're going the TESU BACS, you can add another BSBA CIS degree pretty much free, depending on how you play things, you can review the WIKI details, there are two templates from LevelUP and Rachel83AZ.  I recommend the BACS & BSBA CIS dual degree mix/match of both their options - TESU Plans: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:TESU & SNHU https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:SNHU

[munro]

@munro, Welcome to the board, that's a good addendum and template to start the process. My suggestion is to do the trifecta of certs, degree, experience since you're still young (yes, about half may age).  If you didn't know already, you can take up to 90 credits that transfer into both SNHU/TESU using just Sophia.org and Study.com, there are plans on the WIKI, TESU requires 6 credits residency but I recommend 15 to remove the residency waiver, SNHU requires 30 credits.  

You can create a spreadsheet of both plans side by side, requirements and transferable classes, have that file put into your google/one drive, make it viewable and not editable, then link us to that file.  We can recommend changes if anything is needed... You can work on the cheapies/freebies first, then get the Sophia.org/Study.com classes, lastly work on the residency requirements at the institution of choice (TESU 15 credit flat rate term vs SNHU 30 credits in X semesters).

If you're going the TESU BACS, you can add another BSBA CIS degree pretty much free, depending on how you play things, you can review the WIKI details, there are two templates from LevelUP and Rachel83AZ.  I recommend the BACS & BSBA CIS dual degree mix/match of both their options - TESU Plans: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:TESU & SNHU https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:SNHU

Yep I'll do the trifecta
I thought it was not possible to get more than 90 credits for TESU unless you went to another college before, so that's nice. Overall, is it TESU really that much worth it than SNHU? 
I'll work on the spreadsheet right away.
Do any of the college has more "reputation" or employability rate? This is another factor that I must take into consideration before making a decision unfortunately. 
What's the advantage of having both BSBA degrees? I guess this comes with some cons.
Does the TESU flat rate mean that you pay and you can take as much as time as you want to get the 15 credits? Sorry all this terminology is new to me.
Thank you for your time, I really appreciate your help.

[rachel83az]

SNHU can be significantly more expensive and take longer than TESU. There is also the possibility of group work, though I'm not sure it's actually a thing there.

TESU costs as little as $6k-8k, depending on choices made. SNHU is $10k, plus the cost of whatever transfer credits you take from Sophia, SDC, etc.

SNHU is known for giving "easy As". This may be good if you intend to continue to a graduate program and want a good GPA. But I think it'll come back later to bite some students. TESU isn't significantly more difficult, but the As may be more earned.

Neither university currently has a better or worse reputation. They're both mid-tier universities that many people have never heard of at all - either good or bad.

The flat rate term is a TESU thing. Once you go over 9 credits in a single term, you pay a single flat fee instead of paying per credit tuition. If you are able to complete 15 credits in a single term, the cost is significantly less than only taking the capstone & cornerstone courses and paying the residency waiver fee.

[bjcheung77]

@munro, I'm not sure how you would consider getting a second freebie degree would have any cons... Depending on the answers you have in the addendum and template, if you have the energy, money, time to spend on the BACS, you can add on the freebie BS CIS business degree as well... You'll be well versed in Business, Computers, IT, etc instead of just CS/IT. You're just using some of that energy, time to get a second degree that would most likely provide you extra ROI/Value in the long run, that's like an investment in yourself and see it grow... so unless that investment is a con for you, I don't see it that way.

[munro]

@munro, I'm not sure how you would consider getting a second freebie degree would have any cons... Depending on the answers you have in the addendum and template, if you have the energy, money, time to spend on the BACS, you can add on the freebie BS CIS business degree as well... You'll be well versed in Business, Computers, IT, etc instead of just CS/IT.  You're just using some of that energy, time to get a second degree that would most likely provide you extra ROI/Value in the long run, that's like an investment in yourself and see it grow... so unless that investment is a con for you, I don't see it that way.

I meant cons as more money and time.
If I go for the double degree, do you recommend me BS CIS or BSBA Finance/Marketing?
Do you know if I latter decide to do a master, the BA instead of BS will be an issue?
Also if I go for SNHU, do you recommend to get a minor? I want to get into cybersecurity and I saw they offer some courses.
Thank you again.

[munro]

SNHU can be significantly more expensive and take longer than TESU. There is also the possibility of group work, though I'm not sure it's actually a thing there.

TESU costs as little as $6k-8k, depending on choices made. SNHU is $10k, plus the cost of whatever transfer credits you take from Sophia, SDC,  etc.

SNHU is known for giving "easy As". This may be good if you intend to continue to a graduate program and want a good GPA. But I think it'll come back later to bite some students. TESU isn't significantly more difficult, but the As may be more earned.

Neither university currently has a better or worse reputation. They're both mid-tier universities that many people have never heard of at all - either good or bad.

The flat rate term is a TESU thing. Once you go over 9 credits in a single term, you pay a single flat fee instead of paying per credit tuition. If you are able to complete 15 credits in a single term, the cost is significantly less than only taking the capstone & cornerstone courses and paying the residency waiver fee.

I don't fully understand why is TESU cheaper and faster than SNHU if TESU credit cost is higher and both can only transfer up to 90 credits using study/Sophia? Is it because I can transfer 30 RA credits too? in that case ill have 120 credits?
Also when you mentioned TESU can be as little as 6-8k and SNHU 10k plus study.com, does TESU include the cost of study.com?

[bjcheung77]

I meant cons as more money and time.
If I go for the double degree, do you recommend me BS CIS or BSBA Finance/Marketing?
Do you know if I latter decide to do a master, the BA instead of BS will be an issue?
Also if I go for SNHU, do you recommend to get a minor? I want to get into cybersecurity and I saw they offer some courses.
Thank you again.

That's what I mentioned earlier, the second degree will take an extra 5 classes. If you're going for anything other than BACS/CIS combo, you're adding classes, the ROI/Value isn't as high. A BA/BS is the same thing - some institutions don't have schools in particular areas, it's the classes, gpa, overall requirements being met, etc, that the Masters institution will look at. SNHU is more expensive, slower, not as easy as you've got more work to do. The trifecta of certs, degree, experience is already completed if you follow through some posts, threads and WIKI.

I don't fully understand why is TESU cheaper and faster than SNHU if TESU credit cost is higher and both can only transfer up to 90 credits using study/Sophia? Is it because I can transfer 30 RA credits too? in that case ill have 120 credits?
Also when you mentioned TESU can be as little as 6-8k and SNHU 10k plus study.com, does TESU include the cost of study.com?

You really should take some time to read posts, threads, wiki for additional info. It's really hard to get the grasp of everything all at once, it's great you're asking questions though, it's just that you've not reviewed what I wrote earlier and don't know the regulations/rules and the true costs. You can transfer 90 credits using alternative credits, but TESU allows 114 out of 120 transferred in, you'll have to pay the residency waiver fee. So, as I pointed out earlier, your 15 residency credits cost are cheaper than the 30 at SNHU. TESU is roughly $6K+ with Sophia.org/Study.com, etc, for BOTH degrees, SNHU is $10K plus for ONE degree.