Degree Plan for 18 y/o -- Organizational Leadership maybe?

[MamaRose]

I'm looking for some help advice for my son who is wanting to pursue a bachelor's degree online. Original plan was music degree, but looking for something more practical for a variety of reasons. He was homeschooled mostly, attending a public HS part time for his senior year. Academically solid. Total people person, super outgoing.

Your Location: Virginia residents, living overseas b/c I have a US gov't job (so, international, but not an international student)
 
Age: 18

What kind of degree do you want?: Organizational Leadership is currently top of the list. He'd prefer to be a (musical) conductor, but getting that degree online is not practical, so he's been thinking about what else is interesting and he can always do music for fun.  He recently had a job working for a student after school program (on an overseas base) and LOVED it. He had great reviews and his supervisors remarked that he was one of the best they'd seen, especially for coming in with no training. He would have continued in that job, but we moved. 

Since he enjoyed the job at the student activity center, and since he seemed to excel at it, he has an idea that he would like to continue with something similar--child development center or kids' sports program, etc., but more in a management role as a long term goal. Specifically, he would like to work for the government so he has the option of working overseas in this capacity. Education degrees also work for this job field, but he specifically does not want an education degree, he'd rather do something more management related, so business administration or professional studies are options we have looked at. He has considered Liberal Studies just to dabble here and there, but not sure if that would be a great option for moving into leadership or other government service.
Definitely open to guidance.

UMPI is out due to age. We have looked at TESU organizational leadership degree or SNHU business administration. There is a small UMGC campus here and I see they have a business degree. He has also considered Sterling College. They would not accept any of his ACE credits, but tuition is only $145/credit hour for online. 

Current Regional Accredited Credits:

Arizona State University
Introduction to Health and Wellness (3)
College Math (3)
Poetry in America (3)
First Year Composition (3)
Business Tech Fundamentals (1)

TEL, Transcripted through York University:
History of the New Testament (3)
Introduction to Communication (3)
History of the USA Since 1865 (3)
American Government (3)
General Psychology (3)

Western Virginia University:
Fundamentals of Music Theory (1)
History of Jazz (3)

Current ACE Credits:

Sophia Credits:
Conflict Resolution
Biology

Any certifications or military experience? None


Budget: He has about $5000 saved and would prefer to keep things as frugal as possible. 

Commitments: Looking for work, most likely 20 hours/week if he finds something.

Dedicated time to study: My son has been a solid A/B student for college courses taken thus far. He wants to work while getting the degree, but for the moment he has a lot of time on his hands and is open to adding ACE credits if that would help shorten the overall degree time.

Timeline: Would love to finish in 2 years if possible. Less is fine .
,
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: He has a one-time scholarship (1,750) that will expire if not used by spring 2024 (has to be accepted into a college/university to use that).He might qualify for a very small Pell grant.

Thank you so much for any advice you may have. We've been diving into the degree plans and looking at various options and feels like it is all running together.

[Jonathan Whatley]

Solid student, self-disciplined, eager to move quickly, currently lots of time available but time available but that will fluctuate, interested in education and government but not an education degree, fits a competency-based bachelor's in a business field from WGU, if that could work with his being a Virginia resident physically present overseas.

[rachel83az]

No, WGU doesn't work for overseas at all. Unless the student themselves is a military member. They might also allow military family members, but not sure.

SNHU would probably be about 2x what he has saved. TESU could be about what he has saved, maybe slightly more. But for someone of that age (too young for UMPI) and living overseas, TESU is probably going to be the best option. Especially if he can use his scholarship there.

[Duneranger]

Organizational leadership is NOT a good degree path for an 18 year old...

Do literally anything else

[allvia]

At such a young age I would recommend the TESU BSBA-General Management (GM); unless they were passionate about something like accounting (a field where targeted education is best suited). The GM AOS would provide a wider view of business, giving your son a solid foundation across the key areas: Accounting, Finance, Management. and Marketing.  There are plenty of affordable master degree paths open to him once he has built up his resume thorough work experience where he can then choose (if he wants) to specialize or focus on an area of study, such as organizational leadership.

[bjcheung77]

@MamaRose, Welcome back, long time no post! How did it go with your hubby and his educational goal? Did he go TESU or UMPI, maybe something else? https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...uggestions

Anyway, for your son, my recommendation is similar to what I mentioned previously, decide on the degree/school of choice and work towards the goal with max alternative credit transfer. In this case, since organizational leadership was mentioned, TAMUC would cost you $1,500/session, if it takes 3 sessions, that'll be $4,500.

What you want to do is complete the max transfer available using Sophia.org and other alternative credit first, up to 84 credits and take the remaining 36 credits through them. Review threads/posts and the WIKI here: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan

[MamaRose]

@MamaRose, Welcome back, long time no post!  How did it go with your hubby and his educational goal?  Did he go TESU or UMPI, maybe something else? https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...uggestions

Anyway, for your son, my recommendation is similar to what I mentioned previously, decide on the degree/school of choice and work towards the goal with max alternative credit transfer.  In this case, since organizational leadership was mentioned, TAMUC would cost you $1,500/session, if it takes 3 sessions, that'll be $4,500.  

What you want to do is complete the max transfer available using Sophia.org and other alternative credit first, up to 84 credits and take the remaining 36 credits through them. Review threads/posts and the WIKI here: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan

Thank you, bjcheung77. I've lurked here long enough to know you always do your homework . My husband decided not to pursue, but I have a daughter about to graduate and another over half way through.

TAMUC was not on my radar, so we will dive down that rabbit hole. (also, i think tuition is now $2000/semester -- still a great deal. https://www.tamuc.edu/cbe/cost/ ).

Latest update to the debate is--would child development fit better with overall goals. Googled a lot of programs and none seem to be quite as budget friendly as any of the business options. SNHU has a child psych degree, but I think (did i read it here somewhere?) it shows up as a degree in psychology. Many of the jobs he has researched specifically say a degree in psych isn't enough (child development or child psych would be, so it's all in the wording). SNHU isn't super cheap either but at least accepts some alternative credits.

Much to think about. His idea, as of tonight, is to sign up for Sophia again and test his resolve.  If he finds himself motivated enough to burn it up, he'll feel confident to go with competency based and more or less self paced coursework. If he finds he needs specific deadlines he'll need to enroll in something with more traditional dates.

And the wildcard -- is business really the best bet. Only he can answer that one.

[LevelUP]

@MamaRose, Welcome back, long time no post!  How did it go with your hubby and his educational goal?  Did he go TESU or UMPI, maybe something else? https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...uggestions

Anyway, for your son, my recommendation is similar to what I mentioned previously, decide on the degree/school of choice and work towards the goal with max alternative credit transfer.  In this case, since organizational leadership was mentioned, TAMUC would cost you $1,500/session, if it takes 3 sessions, that'll be $4,500.  

What you want to do is complete the max transfer available using Sophia.org and other alternative credit first, up to 84 credits and take the remaining 36 credits through them. Review threads/posts and the WIKI here: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan

Thank you, bjcheung77. I've lurked here long enough to know you always do your homework . My husband decided not to pursue, but I have a daughter about to graduate and another over half way through.

TAMUC was not on my radar, so we will dive down that rabbit hole. (also, i think tuition is now $2000/semester -- still a great deal. https://www.tamuc.edu/cbe/cost/ ).

Latest update to the debate is--would child development fit better with overall goals. Googled a lot of programs and none seem to be quite as budget friendly as any of the business options. SNHU has a child psych degree, but I think (did i read it here somewhere?) it shows up as a degree in psychology. Many of the jobs he has researched specifically say a degree in psych isn't enough (child development or child psych would be, so it's all in the wording). SNHU isn't super cheap either but at least accepts some alternative credits.

Much to think about. His idea, as of tonight, is to sign up for Sophia again and test his resolve.  If he finds himself motivated enough to burn it up, he'll feel confident to go with competency based and more or less self paced coursework. If he finds he needs specific deadlines he'll need to enroll in something with more traditional dates.

And the wildcard -- is business really the best bet. Only he can answer that one.

Most people who do TAMUC live in Texas.

Otherwise, UMPI is the better choice.

[bjcheung77]

TAMUC changed their tuition! Oh snap, oh wells, then they're really a good option for those in the state or ones who can get the tuition at $1K now per session, if it takes 3 sessions, that's just 3K for a bachelors degree. For others, yes, UMPI would be the better choice...

[rachel83az]

TAMUC is confusing because some of their pages still reflect the $750/$1500 price per term, while the main cost page linked in post #7 is showing $1000/$2000. Still, I updated the wiki pages to show the new pricing schedule.