Degree advice requested

[Ladyplf]

Hi all. I am 9 credits away from a AA degree from TESC. It's been a rough year because I have no concentration or study skills and some of the courses I took at TESC were over my head and too time consuming for my feeble mind and I failed them :imwithstupid: . But since I'm so close to finishing up (all I need is an Ethics course, a Math course, and a Personal and Social Responsibility course), I now feel like I've been wasting my time working for the AA. What can I do with a general AA degree? So then I discovered that you can pretty much test out of a ASBA degree using Saylor.org. Now I'm thinking it would be better to have an ASBA rather than a general AA. But that would mean more classes, more studying, more work and I don't know if I have the mental strength to do it independently.

So I guess my question is should I just get the AA or is it better to pursue the ASBA? If I go for the ASBA, being generous it would probably take me another year or two. But I think I would feel more proud of myself if I got the ASBA. What do you think?

[KayV]

You could still use almost all the credits you have for your AA degree in an ASBA degree plan. I think you would be better served by finishing the degree you almost have completed, then getting an ASBA if you are still interested. Why not start with ALEKS Intermediate Algebra and see how that goes? It should give you a good idea about whether you would want to deal with all the higher math (college algebra, statistics, accounting, etc.) in the ASBA degree. The TESC website says you will need "a minimum of 12 additional credits in the option for a second associate degree beyond the date the most recent degree was completed." So you could finish the ASBA after the AA if you'd like.

I hear that Straighterline or DSST for Business Ethics and World Religions are very manageable options.

You are so close now, don't give up! Good luck!

[bricabrac]

KayV offered excellent advice.

For the math, you would only need Aleks intermediate algebra for the AA. Use mathway.com to help you through the problems. I seond the advised choices SL business ethics and world religions. For the PSR requirment, wanted to also add SL anthropology and CLEP sociology as easier options.

[Ladyplf]

Thanks for the info. I was wondering if I could do the AA and then try for the ASBA later but I fear once I get a AA I will probably slack off and that will be the end of my great plan. Maybe while the fire is still burning I can get it all done. Now that I'm back in school I find I really like learning.

I am scheduled to take the two PLA courses in August and also I'm thinking about repeating one of the courses I failed. I can't stand that being on my transcript and bringing down my GPA. I don't know why but courses with a lot of reading of dry textbooks and writing essays intimidate me and also bore me almost into a coma. banghead

I already took Anthropology but TESC put it under Interdisciplinary on my evaluation.

I'm working through Aleks Intermediate Algebra now; I'm at about 50%. I try to do at least an hour a day just plugging away using Khan academy and Mathway as supplements. I actually understand most of it pretty well considering how much I hated math back in HS. Word problems are the only thing I really feel lost trying to work out.

Finally, I plan on taking the Sociology Clep (I'm a member of instacert) and then I just have to figure out the which Ethics exam to take.

One thing I've learned from this site and from taking courses at TESC is that exams are a great way to earn credit with less headache, especially when a lot of the courses have you doing useless busy work. For example the Art History course I took had us writing 750 essays for every assignment no matter what the subject matter. When I reached my word count but didn't know what I was talking about on an essay I got an A on the assignment. If I didn't reach the word count but felt I really understood the assignment and subject matter, the mentor commented that what I wrote was great but I missed the word count! Points off!

[KayV]

You know, the classes you take after you get your AA would not just be going toward an ASBA; they would also get you closer to a bachelor's degree. What kind of career do you want to pursue?

[sanantone]

You do know that the ASBA open options plan is not the best plan, right? You don't need to do any portfolios (PLAs) to complete the degree. It's also not the cheapest plan. TESC is not going to advertise that you can just take 4 TECEPs and avoid the enrollment fee.