Daughter needs guidance Bachelors

[GameSlinger]

My step daughter is finally listening to me a bit and asking for help with changing paths for schooling. 

Your Location: Iowa, United States
Your Age: 24
What kind of degree do you want?: She is currently open to anything. Was Pre-Pharmacist but realized she was struggling too hard. Just trying to salvage the credits as much as possible and the company she works for requires any bachelors to be considered for promotion from her current role.
Current Regional Accredited Credits: 87 - Kirkwood Community College
Any certifications or military experience? PTCB Pharmacy Technician certification
Budget: Under $5k. Tuition reimbursement may be possible as well.
Timeframe: 1 year
Commitments: Works part time with no kids. Can spend 4 to 6 hours per day studying. 
Learning preferences: Prefers video over reading. Not good at writing papers.
Considerations: She will be switching to an AS in Liberal Arts for the fall semester to complete that quick (1 clep test and Comp2, no capstone needed). If she does not maintain part time status at school, she would have to start paying student loans which she is trying to hold off on until after the degree is earned. Clep test will be completed with Modern States to get the free voucher. If there are others that they cover and she needs, this will be the primary way to achieve it to keep cost down. She is also looking at taking the German CLEP as she took 2 years in high school and has been studying it again for fun.


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[rachel83az]

I don't see any UL credits, so that's not ideal for finishing quickly.

I think she's at, or very close to, an ASNSM Biology at TESU. Honestly, I'd go with that over the liberal studies Associate.

She's got plenty of RA credits to get a Bachelor's degree at TESU, too. Liberal Studies would probably be the fastest Bachelor's at this point.

[dfrecore]

The fastest/cheapest will be UMPI's BLS w/Minor in Management. She can skip being enrolled at the CC for the fall and just enroll at UMPI.

Take the following at Sophia:
Intro to Ethics
Art History I or II
Intro to Sociology
Spanish I
American Government
Developing Effective Teams

Take the following at UMPI:
College Composition II
a Hands-on Art course (whatever will work in area 2D)
6 courses in the minor
2 add'l free elective courses (or whatever they want her to take)

Most people here are finishing that degree in 2 8-week terms, so she could be done by December for $3,000. There are a few people who take 3 terms, so Spring of next year for $4,500. But 2 terms is definitely doable. No need for student loans at all.

Yes, she'll have to write papers for each course - but that's not going to be more work than TESU's BALS, which will require writing for the Cornerstone, and then quite a bit of writing for the Capstone (probably at least 25 pages for the final paper, probably more in addition to posts).
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If she does not want to do a compentency-based degree from UMPI, then TESU's BALS will also be an option. They take grades as low as a D, but you can only bring C's or higher into the AoS (and no C-'s there).

TESU needs the following:

Sophia
English Comp II (or CLEP)
Sociology
Ethics
American Government
2 add'l SocSci/Hum courses
The Essentials of Managing Conflict
3 add'l 200-level courses in the AoS (Ancient Greek Philosophers, Conflict Resolution, Visual Communications, Environmental Science, Business Comm)
5 UL AoS courses (Study.com or Coopersmith)
Cornerstone and Capstone at TESU

If anyone suggests the BA in Biology, don't bother - she doesn't have the courses to complete this, and it would cost a LOT more money. BUT, she can get the ASNSM in Biology without any add'l cost.

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EU's BLS will also be an option. They take grades as low as a C-.

EU needs the following:

SDC or Coopersmith
English Comp II
UL Ethics
2 UL SocSci/History
3 UL in SocSci/His/Hum
2 UL in Free Electives (I think Sophia's Management course comes in as UL)
2 LL Free Electives (you can do these at Sophia instead)

Similar to TESU, you'll have some to a lot of writing in each of the 3 courses you have to take at EU (Info Lit, Cornerstone & Capstone).
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I still think UMPI is the best option. It's the cheapest if you can finish in 2 terms, and similar in price to EU & TESU if you finish in 3 terms (they'll all be around $4500).

[sandraschuld]

My step daughter is finally listening to me a bit and asking for help with changing paths for schooling. 

Your Location: Iowa, United States
Your Age: 24
What kind of degree do you want?: She is currently open to anything. Was Pre-Pharmacist but realized she was struggling too hard. Just trying to salvage the credits as much as possible and the company she works for requires any bachelors to be considered for promotion from her current role.
Current Regional Accredited Credits: 87 - Kirkwood Community College
Any certifications or military experience? PTCB Pharmacy Technician certification
Budget: Under $5k. Tuition reimbursement may be possible as well.
Timeframe: 1 year
Commitments: Works part time with no kids. Can spend 4 to 6 hours per day studying. 
Learning preferences: Prefers video over reading. Not good at writing papers.
Considerations: She will be switching to an AS in Liberal Arts for the fall semester to complete that quick (1 clep test and Comp2, no capstone needed). If she does not maintain part time status at school, she would have to start paying student loans which she is trying to hold off on until after the degree is earned. Clep test will be completed with Modern States to get the free voucher. If there are others that they cover and she needs, this will be the primary way to achieve it to keep cost down. She is also looking at taking the German CLEP as she took 2 years in high school and has been studying it again for fun.

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Has she maxed out everything she can do via Sophia.com?

[bjcheung77]

@GameSlinger, there are so many avenues she can try. Here's one way I would slice things...
1) Continue with the AS (Liberal Arts/Science with a concentration/emphasis if possible)
2) Transfer to UMPI for a BLS with a minor of her choice or two, this will max credit transfers.

Questions: 1) What bachelors degree is she looking to get?
2) What is your daughter working as? Pharmacy assistant?
3) What is her main goal, or future goal? Stay or go into another field?

[GameSlinger]

My step daughter is finally listening to me a bit and asking for help with changing paths for schooling. 

Your Location: Iowa, United States
Your Age: 24
What kind of degree do you want?: She is currently open to anything. Was Pre-Pharmacist but realized she was struggling too hard. Just trying to salvage the credits as much as possible and the company she works for requires any bachelors to be considered for promotion from her current role.
Current Regional Accredited Credits: 87 - Kirkwood Community College
Any certifications or military experience? PTCB Pharmacy Technician certification
Budget: Under $5k. Tuition reimbursement may be possible as well.
Timeframe: 1 year
Commitments: Works part time with no kids. Can spend 4 to 6 hours per day studying. 
Learning preferences: Prefers video over reading. Not good at writing papers.
Considerations: She will be switching to an AS in Liberal Arts for the fall semester to complete that quick (1 clep test and Comp2, no capstone needed). If she does not maintain part time status at school, she would have to start paying student loans which she is trying to hold off on until after the degree is earned. Clep test will be completed with Modern States to get the free voucher. If there are others that they cover and she needs, this will be the primary way to achieve it to keep cost down. She is also looking at taking the German CLEP as she took 2 years in high school and has been studying it again for fun.

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Has she maxed out everything she can do via Sophia.com?

I was waiting to tell her to head to Sophia until we figured out where she was going to be heading. Didn't want to have her spend time on courses that might not help her.

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@GameSlinger, there are so many avenues she can try.  Here's one way I would slice things...
1) Continue with the AS (Liberal Arts/Science with a concentration/emphasis if possible)
2) Transfer to UMPI for a BLS with a minor of her choice or two, this will max credit transfers.

Questions: 1) What bachelors degree is she looking to get?
2) What is your daughter working as? Pharmacy assistant?
3) What is her main goal, or future goal? Stay or go into another field?

Thanks for the guidance. When the daughter comes by this week, I will give her the info.

Currently working as a Pharmacy Technician but only part time.
As for her goal, she is just tired of trying to work and go to school. She likes the field she is in, but did not care for the retail pharmacy world and none of the Pharmacists she met were really that enthusiastic about being one so that combined with her school struggles demoralized her. If she can end up working in a Lab or something similar she would be happy, so the idea of the ASNSM Biology from TESU is a solid option. She also understands that management is needed in every company so is open to that as well because it allows her to change fields as needed so the UMPI BLS Management should be intriguing for her.

[bjcheung77]

@GameSlinger, that's very interesting indeed, and pretty much what I thought would be the answer you'll provide for my queries... I'll be more in depth with my previous recommendation as it remains the same.  Again, she can do the following... Two Associates & UMPI BAS or BLS with a minor or two in order to max transfer and 'salvage' credits, depending on her course transfers and what she really needs/wants.

Question: Which degree concentration/emphasis is she closest to completing at KCC? Is it a 'generic liberal arts'?  I would put TESU ASNSM Biology on hold for now unless you're going for a Bachelors as well from them.  I would review the options below first before you decide. This is how it's going to look, expanded from the previous post of mine.

1) Continue with the AS (Liberal Arts/Science with a concentration/emphasis if possible) - This can be any concentration or emphasis she's closest to finishing at the CC Kirkwood, since you mentioned 1 CLEP & Comp II is required, whatever remains, etc should not take long to complete.  You can get the Pierpont BOG AAS with an emphasis in something different, before you get this KCC associates.  You end up with Pierpont BOG AAS emphasis in Biology, Health, Pharmacy, Kirkwood AS with a different concentration, Health, Pharmacy, or whatever.

2) Transfer to UMPI for a BLS with a minor of her choice or two, this will max credit transfers. - If she has 40+ technical credits from Pierpont BOG AAS (Health/Pharmacy emphasis), she can do the BAS instead of BLS, if she needs extra technical credits, she can get the FREE Coursera/TADA ones within the WIKI.  Going this route will give her Business (Project Management)/IT (Data Analytics) certs, experience and the credits go towards the BAS requirements.  She'll be well versed in those 3 emphasis/subject areas instead of getting a generic Liberal Studies degree.

What you end up with is this list, (also the order you should complete the degrees as well):  1. Pierpont BOG AAS (with a specific emphasis) & 2. Kirkwood CC AS (with a different emphasis)  3. UMPI BLS with minor in Management, MIS, or PM (a BAS if you have 40+ credits, as the requirements are slightly easier and it's an Applied Science vs a Liberal Studies degree)  

Optional, Side Note: You can add a 4th degree, UMPI AALS with a general education concentration for all the 'arts/sciences' she has just for kicks, you add it to the degree plan but don't do any extra work with it, (add it & forget it), you get the degree after you finish your BAS/BLS as the courses you take from the BAS/BLS are automatically placed into the AALS.

[allvia]

@GameSlinger - Curious what degree path she ended up choosing to pursue?

[GameSlinger]

@GameSlinger - Curious what degree path she ended up choosing to pursue?

So far she has submitted her transcripts to Pierpont for her BOG, but has been concentrating on tearing out some animal damaged carpets and stuff from her house. Her boyfriend of 2 years just moved in with her so they have been getting the place cleaned up. Once I can get her to focus on it again, I will narrow it down for her better.

[allvia]

@GameSlinger - Curious what degree path she ended up choosing to pursue?

So far she has submitted her transcripts to Pierpont for her BOG, but has been concentrating on tearing out some animal damaged carpets and stuff from her house. Her boyfriend of 2 years just moved in with her so they have been getting the place cleaned up. Once I can get her to focus on it again, I will narrow it down for her better.

Thanks for the update.  I've had family members myself that have needed to be refocused a times. One of them just recently graduated with the HAU MBA. Keep up the good work, she'll be holding that bachelor in-hand before you know it