Finally completing undergrad - UMPI BLS

[arbitrarysky]

I wanted to start this thread mostly for accountability and will post at least weekly updates on my progress. 

Long story short: I have an AA in Social and Behavioral Sciences. I had an unsuccessful stint at university and dropped out in 2020. Spent 2.5 years debating between various programs at TESU, UMPI, WGU, and TAMUC. If you read through my post history, you can tell I experienced some serious analysis paralysis. 

I became unemployed due to a medical emergency last August and enrolled in Educational Studies at WGU while still in survival mode. I chose the program solely because I thought I could finish it and enroll in alternative teacher certification within a few months. I was (re)hired in a support role at a school district shortly after, which slowed down my pace. Additionally, the experience made me realize I don't want to work in a K-12 classroom anymore.

I also quickly realized I am not a fan of WGU (CANNOT stand the outline-style performative assessments nor the grading system, plus lack of true GPA, online-only institution, programs are too specialized and don't include electives for transfer credits). I'm on a term break right now and will withdraw if my Pell Grant successfully transfers to UMPI.

Plan is to enroll in the BLS (minor in Management) and add on a second minor in either Social Studies or History. After graduating I will be focusing on applying to administrative positions in higher education, charter schools, and education non-profits. As for grad school, I plan on applying for either MLIS or MPA programs in a few years.

All of my transcripts have been officially evaluated except Sophia (dropped the ball and JUST sent it off today). LINK

I have no idea why my geology and geology lab credits transferred in as geography nor why Film Appreciation transferred as an upper-level health class. I plan on appealing both to cover 3E and 2E respectively, as well as appealing Federal Government for 5E, and Narrative Video Production or Digital Photography for 2D. I will likely enroll in Sophia again and knock out Art History, a science lab, Project Management, and Business Communication if the evaluation stays as is.

As is, I need 37-43 credits to finish:

• 2D: Creative Expression (3 cr)
  
• 2E: Art, Theatre, Film, Music, Literature (3cr)
  
• 3E: Science Lab (1 cr)
  
• 5E: Political Science (3 cr)
  
• Management minor (18 cr)
  
• 9-12 cr of additional UL: History minor (15 cr) or Social Studies minor (9-12 cr)
  

Right now, I am waiting for my financial aid package to process and will enroll and finalize my game plan afterwards.

[rachel83az]

If you have a geology lab, you shouldn't need another lab science from Sophia. You would only need Human Biology WITHOUT the accompanying lab. I'm confident that your appeal will work for geology and film appreciation. Those are weird placements, likely done by someone who had a headache or something and who misread the transcripts.

[mireclefingers]

How long did it take to get your credit evaluated? I submitted my WGU transcript Friday and got confirmation that it was read.

[PrettyFlyforaChiGuy]

Random questions for you, but how did you feel about the Straighterline Introduction to Philosophy and Sophia's Ethics courses?

I'll be starting the History BA next month, and also side-eyeing a Social Studies minor, so if you keep updating, I'll keep reading!

[ss20ts]

Random questions for you, but how did you feel about the Straighterline Introduction to Philosophy and Sophia's Ethics courses?

I'll be starting the History BA next month, and also side-eyeing a Social Studies minor, so if you keep updating, I'll keep reading!

StraighterLine's courses are loooooong. They also cost far more than Sophia. For UMPI, you only need Sophia. You already have a ton of classes transferring to UMPI so I wouldn't go crazy with more credit. 

As for the Social Studies Minor, remember that you'll need to take different courses for the minor in addition to the ones for the major. This may be challenging on YourPace. It's not a minor offered in YourPace so you need to transfer in most of it.

[dfrecore]

I would definitely appeal the Video Production course and Geology w/Lab, those don't make sense, someone made a mistake. You MAY have to send in a snip from your college catalog to show what the courses were, or send a syllabus, so it couldn't hurt to get those together now.

Also, I'm not certain why you would go to a lot of extra effort to get a History or SocStud minor when you already have an AA in Social and Behavioral Sciences. It seems a bit redundant, plus it may slow you down. I would not let this become something that makes it slower to graduate, that's for sure. Your ultimate goal is not a master's in this, so it doesn't make any sense to let this particular minor(s) make it more difficult to graduate quickly.

[PrettyFlyforaChiGuy]

StraighterLine's courses are loooooong. They also cost far more than Sophia. For UMPI, you only need Sophia.

I'm not interested in taking any SL course; just morbid curiosity about their content. The Sophia Ethics course was interesting though.

[bjcheung77]

Update us on the appeal and see what they say, if you can complete some of the other courses that are required while waiting, do so... otherwise, it's just a waiting game and pre-planning the remainder of your requirements.

StraighterLine was my go to option before Sophia.org changed their pricing model... previously, I recommended SL/Study.com as a good combo, now it's Sophia.org/Study.com for the win!

[arbitrarysky]

How long did it take to get your credit evaluated? I submitted my WGU transcript Friday and got confirmation that it was read.

I requested my WGU transcript on Wednesday and it was evaluated by the next Tuesday.

Random questions for you, but how did you feel about the Straighterline Introduction to Philosophy and Sophia's Ethics courses?

I'll be starting the History BA next month, and also side-eyeing a Social Studies minor, so if you keep updating, I'll keep reading!

I really don't remember why I purchased the SL Philosophy course as I don't think it's a requirement for any of the programs I considered. However, I completed it in about a week or so and enjoyed it, aside from the proctored final. It was a solid foundation for the Sophia Ethics course which I completed in a day or two.

I would definitely appeal the Video Production course and Geology w/Lab, those don't make sense, someone made a mistake.  You MAY have to send in a snip from your college catalog to show what the courses were, or send a syllabus, so it couldn't hurt to get those together now.

Also, I'm not certain why you would go to a lot of extra effort to get a History or SocStud minor when you already have an AA in Social and Behavioral Sciences.  It seems a bit redundant, plus it may slow you down.  I would not let this become something that makes it slower to graduate, that's for sure.  Your ultimate goal is not a master's in this, so it doesn't make any sense to let this particular minor(s) make it more difficult to graduate quickly.

Given that the Film Appreciation course is corrected, I need 12 more UL credits outside the Management minor. Based on the UMPI website, both Social Studies and History require 15 UL credits. I already have 6 Psych ULs. I'm leaning towards taking an extra class for the History minor. I agree that a Social Studies minor with an AA in Social Sciences sounds redundant. "Social Studies" also sounds very teaching-adjacent, which is what I'm hoping to move away from career-wise.

As for "why history?" - history became personal area of interest after leaving traditional college. WGU's BAES was very unstimulating for me, and I decided that I want to take classes that I actually enjoy (why I chose the BLS). I also figured a History minor would be a good selling point for applying to either Library and Information Science or Public Admin grad programs.

Update us on the appeal and see what they say, if you can complete some of the other courses that are required while waiting, do so... otherwise, it's just a waiting game and pre-planning the remainder of your requirements.  

StraighterLine was my go to option before Sophia.org changed their pricing model... previously, I recommended SL/Study.com as a good combo, now it's Sophia.org/Study.com for the win!

I learned about WGU and Straighterline in 2018 and completed the Nutrition and Org Behavior courses shortly after. That was me dipping my toe in the waters of competency-based education. My family and friends dissuaded me from an online degree, so I stuck it out with traditional college until 2020. Now almost all of my paraprofessional colleagues attend either WGU or other competency-based/online colleges. Yesterday, I co-taught with a current WGU student and WGU grad. The stigma has definitely dwindled over the years.

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I'm going to gather course syllabi for the appeals since I have today off. Again, just waiting for official admission and the financial aid package. It seems like processes have slowed down since I applied last year. Last time around, I applied and was accepted within the same week. (edit: admissions status went from applied to accepted to matriculated not even a couple hours after I posted this)

[joshua27]

I recommend HLTH 1010: Introduction to Nutrition at Sophia. It will cover your 3c requirement and is far faster than Biology. Your geology class should cover 3d/e