Formulating my plan

[sanantone]

The Big 3 are the same quality-wise and generally unknown to most. Someone on the other forum did say an interviewer assumed Excelsior was similar to for-profit schools with horrible reputations such as University of Phoenix. I think that's less likely to happen with public colleges that have "state" in their name.

WGU doesn't fit in with the Big 3 because it does not have the same model. The Big 3 have the most liberal transfer credit policies in the country. WGU is a self-paced, competency-based school that should be compared to Patten University and the competency-based programs offered at Capella, NAU, Walden, etc. I would say that WGU is more well-known than the Big 3 due to advertising and partnerships with multiple state governments, but they make it clear that it is an online university. While the stigma of online programs is going away, there is still a stigma associated with schools that are branded as online.

[TrailRunr]

A lot of us don't study much prior to taking CLEP, DSST, SL, ALEKS, TEEX, etc. There is no busywork component like forum posts and term papers. Just take exams and be done with it.

The alternative credits that we use are basically competency based approach. We have a lot more in common with WGU unless we have traditional credits from the past. The actual Big-3 schools have a different model, but we use it to get degrees fast with competency based credits. The huge advantage of the Big-3 is that they have a very low academic residency requirement, not that they accept ACE credits. Several dozen other schools take ACE credits generously including WGU.

And TESU is basically an online degree. If the hiring manager knows the dates of my education, they will see that my schooling in New Jersey overlaps with full-time work in California. I do try to hide the dates of my education, but people find out anyway. To me, the stigma is the same as a low 2.x GPA. Hardly anyone cares about low GPA anymore. But a few do care like the top tech companies such as Google.

[bjcheung77]

Like many others have mentioned, WGU is a great school. My decision is to go with them for a Masters instead.
Don't let too many thoughts get in your way of finishing the degree from TESU or WGU, either one would be fine.
It's likely a non issue for applying to grad school as long as you've met the requirements for entry into their program.
So, what I suggest is to find out which Masters you would like to obtain and get those prerequisites done on your way to the Bachelors.

[sanantone]

A lot of us don't study much prior to taking CLEP, DSST, SL, ALEKS, TEEX, etc. There is no busywork component like forum posts and term papers. Just take exams and be done with it.

The alternative credits that we use are basically competency based approach. We have a lot more in common with WGU unless we have traditional credits from the past. The actual Big-3 schools have a different model, but we use it to get degrees fast with competency based credits. The huge advantage of the Big-3 is that they have a very low academic residency requirement, not that they accept ACE credits. Several dozen other schools take ACE credits generously including WGU.

And TESU is basically an online degree. If the hiring manager knows the dates of my education, they will see that my schooling in New Jersey overlaps with full-time work in California. I do try to hide the dates of my education, but people find out anyway. To me, the stigma is the same as a low 2.x GPA. Hardly anyone cares about low GPA anymore. But a few do care like the top tech companies such as Google.

Not only is the model of the Big 3 is different, but the way people earn credits on this forum is different. You can call it competency-based, but it's not the same as competency-based degree programs in the modern sense.

In my post, I compared the perception of online degree programs with the perception of online schools. There is a difference. The stigma of online programs at brick and mortar schools is disappearing. However, the perception of online schools does not seem to be improving as rapidly mostly due to the belief that all online schools are predatory for-profits and all predatory for-profits are online schools. So, I really don't know why you brought up TESU offering online degrees. We all know that. I think you misread my post. The point is that WGU is becoming widely known as an online school, and there are some negative perceptions that come with that.

[dfrecore]

Not only is the model of the Big 3 is different, but the way people earn credits on this forum is different. You can call it competency-based, but it's not the same as competency-based degree programs in the modern sense.

In my post, I compared the perception of online degree programs with the perception of online schools. There is a difference. The stigma of online programs at brick and mortar schools is disappearing. However, the perception of online schools does not seem to be improving as rapidly mostly due to the belief that all online schools are predatory for-profits and all predatory for-profits are online schools. So, I really don't know why you brought up TESU offering online degrees. We all know that. I think you misread my post. The point is that WGU is becoming widely known as an online school, and there are some negative perceptions that come with that.

I agree - there is a big difference between a B&M school that also offers online courses/degrees, and a 100% online school. Most B&M schools now offer at least some courses online, many offer a LOT of courses that way. Some offer certain degrees completely online. But, that's not the same as a school that only offers online degrees.

[JobaJoba]

I enjoyed WGU for my MBA. With that said, I haven't taken their undergraduate classes. My guess is, it'll be ALOT more work than testing out using the sources suggested. I could be completely wrong, but I rarely see people speeding through an undergrad degrees at WGU on the forums. They are less generous with transfer credits as well. ACE credits TESU considers upper level, will probably be lower level at WGU.

If you're going for a tech degree and want certs/experience, absolutely try WGU if the certifications they offer line up with your career goals. I think they're an awesome fit for that. I'm very happy with the order I did things and wouldn't change it (TESU then WGU for MBA).

Patten would be the next logical school in your line of questioning. I'm currently in a program there, and I have to say I can't recommend them (as many others have stated). I've gotten my credits cheap, but the program is pretty unorganized and even though I consider myself a good test taker their tests seem really random.

Okay, thanks for this. I plan on working part time through this so this is good to know. After looking into Patten it may be the more expensive and slowest paced option for me I think (compared to TESU), so if they are harder to deal too I'll probably avoid them. I'm unsure if I want to pursue an MBA but I'll look into some of the schools I have interest in to see how the credits match up.

I've seen many reports on the WGU subreddit and the slack room of folks taking 20-70 CUs per 6-month term. On the other hand, I've heard that WGU student mentors say that half of their students fail to complete the minimum 12 CUs per 6-month term. There is some self-selection bias on the subreddit and the chat room. There's way more WGU talk elsewhere than here.

Okay, so it seems like finishing a WGU program in that time would be somewhat unlikely. And after talking to WGU today, it appears they take Study.com courses, but not Shmoop (the person I talked to hadn't even heard of Shmoop, lol). But that defeats the purpose, as the getting a few Study.com courses before hand would make the costs between WGU and TESU very similar.

The Big 3 are the same quality-wise and generally unknown to most. Someone on the other forum did say an interviewer assumed Excelsior was similar to for-profit schools with horrible reputations such as University of Phoenix. I think that's less likely to happen with public colleges that have "state" in their name.

WGU doesn't fit in with the Big 3 because it does not have the same model. The Big 3 have the most liberal transfer credit policies in the country. WGU is a self-paced, competency-based school that should be compared to Patten University and the competency-based programs offered at Capella, NAU, Walden, etc. I would say that WGU is more well-known than the Big 3 due to advertising and partnerships with multiple state governments, but they make it clear that it is an online university. While the stigma of online programs is going away, there is still a stigma associated with schools that are branded as online.

Interesting point on the whole perception issue. I guess it comes down to each interviewer.

A lot of us don't study much prior to taking CLEP, DSST, SL, ALEKS, TEEX, etc. There is no busywork component like forum posts and term papers. Just take exams and be done with it.

The alternative credits that we use are basically competency based approach. We have a lot more in common with WGU unless we have traditional credits from the past. The actual Big-3 schools have a different model, but we use it to get degrees fast with competency based credits. The huge advantage of the Big-3 is that they have a very low academic residency requirement, not that they accept ACE credits. Several dozen other schools take ACE credits generously including WGU.

And TESU is basically an online degree. If the hiring manager knows the dates of my education, they will see that my schooling in New Jersey overlaps with full-time work in California. I do try to hide the dates of my education, but people find out anyway. To me, the stigma is the same as a low 2.x GPA. Hardly anyone cares about low GPA anymore. But a few do care like the top tech companies such as Google.

Interesting. Did you find you were able to pass tests on subjects you even only knew a little bit about and barely studied for? Because it seems like failing could ramp up the cost slightly.

Random question: Is there any chance filling out a FASFA could give me aid on the $2,000 TESU online tax? I would likely be eligible for some aid.

[jsd]

Patten would be the next logical school in your line of questioning. I'm currently in a program there, and I have to say I can't recommend them (as many others have stated). I've gotten my credits cheap, but the program is pretty unorganized and even though I consider myself a good test taker their tests seem really random.

Every time I see someone else say this it makes me feel better, validates that I'm not just crazy or a bad student, haha.

I've never been a bad test taker before, but I sure felt like one at Patten. Their tests rarely aligned with the course material.

[JobaJoba]

Interesting. Did you find you were able to pass tests on subjects you even only knew a little bit about and barely studied for? Because it seems like failing could ramp up the cost slightly.

If anybody else has experience with this they can share, it would be appreciated.

[dfrecore]

If anybody else has experience with this they can share, it would be appreciated.

Obviously, if you barely know a subject and don't study, your chances of passing an exam are not good - and the costs will go up if you do this.

[JobaJoba]

Obviously, if you barely know a subject and don't study, your chances of passing an exam are not good - and the costs will go up if you do this.

Ha, well mednat said "A lot of us don't study much prior to taking CLEP, DSST, SL, ALEKS, TEEX, etc" so I was wondering if the tests were pretty easy in general, or if you had to subject mastery to pass. I didn't mean going in blind.

And if anyone is wondering, I'm going with TESU by the way. Thanks for the recommendations.