Frustration kicking in

[joel66]

I don't even know where to start with this because I'm a little frustrated now. I'm currently taking English Comp and English Prose Analysis and Interpretation online at a local community college. During this time, I also signed up for human anatomy online at BYU's site because the local school had no openings, but later dropped that class about 3 weeks into the course due to lack of support. That's when I found this website and still kicking myself for not finding it earlier. lol. I then started studying U.S. History I CLEP test. I'm sure if I take the test now I will most likely pass, but doubt I will do this. That's one of the reasons for my frustration. I spent a few months on deciding what to do with that 3rd class.

Right now, I need to get some direction. I'm beginning to think I can get a lot accomplished by taking Dantes and CLEP exams over the next year, but also take some courses at my local college. Prior to coming to this site, my goal was to complete my B.S. in Liberal Arts at Excelsior College ASAP, then study for my LSAT exam and apply to law school.

I thought about the dual MBA/JD degree route, but the schools that offer that is way too expensive and requirements to get in is too strict. I think the best route for me is to do the MBA route first, then hit law school because my current employer would pay 4,000 per year for the school. As I mentioned previously, I'm a little frustrated because I didn't take any of the foundation courses and it appears I will need to take more classes than I have left to graduate. To a certain point, I don't mind because my current GPA is 3.0 and I have a few "C" I can replace.

I have checked out a few schools that mention I need to complete Foundation courses prior to doing the MBA. Others that don't require it, strongly suggest you complete in order to become successful in passing the MBA.

Foundation Courses - Of course I haven't done these.
1.) Survey of Accounting or Financial and Managerial Accounting
2.) Survey of Economics or Micro and Macroeconomics
3.) Survey of Quantitative Business Analysis or Bus. Statistics and College Algebra
4.) Survey of Management & Operations or Principles of Management or higher
5.) Survey of Marketing or Principles of Marketing
6.) Survey of Finance or Business Finance.

I currently have 3 lower division and 7 upper division Arts & Sciences classes to graduate. I've already completed my applied professional portion. Of course, I know I need to take additional, as some courses above are not A&S courses.

Here is the initial route I'm thinking of doing and hope to get some feedback. First off my math SUCKS. It's been over 20 years since I have taken algebra. My transcript shows a "C" for Intro to Algebra and I know I will have a hurdle to get past Statistics.

It appears that Sac State has an agreement with Math Success located at for 35 dollars I can brush up on my math using this program and IC, as well as studying for Dantes Fundamentals of College Algebra, then study for Dantes Principles of Statistics. I take it, I should work on my math skills prior to the other courses.

I need to get some feedback on the rest of the route. Which ones to CLEP, Dantes, or recommend from any online courses. Maybe like order of preferences. I'm sure I will still have more upper division arts & sciences left to complete even though I do the foundation courses above. As you see, I'm a little frustrated because it will take me longer than expected.

On the MBA, I was really focusing on regional schools, but CCU is really looking attractive as I can do this at my own pace and not get too old to apply to law school. I just want to make sure I get the MBA done prior to hitting law school.

Joe Lomas

[Blue]

i don't know how much of my opinion counts since i go to a B&M school and just took a couple cleps for my non-major classes but i'm a business major so i can give you some opinion on what the classes you listed entail.

you should definitely clep:
1. management (easy easy clep!)
2. marketing (haven't taken this but most people say it's pretty easy too)
3. micro economics
4. macro economics

finance - i feel like this is something you could clep/dsst too but the only reason i'm not as confident as the 4 up there is b/c you said your math is somewhat weak. i took finance as a B&M course and there's quite a bit of math involved supported by formulas and concepts. i guess you should get an opinion of the exam from people who took it to see how do-able it is.

financial and managerial accounting - personally i think it's best to take these two subjects as classes. each one has A LOT of info so studying for their cleps can be tedious and stressful. i know some people on the board took it when it was still one exam, but i don't know about after the change (i think it's two separate exams now).

as for math, it seems like you got it somewhat figured out.

i don't think you should concern about any particular order. they're all introductory courses so they're not really related. i guess the only "order" would be to take financial accounting before managerial accounting. it's not set in stone but i find it more helpful to learn financial's nitty-gritty before absorbing managerial's conceptual stuff.

hope this helps! good luck! =]

[ShotoJuku]

[SIZE="2"][COLOR="Navy"]Just to comment on the relative speed of "testing out" via CLEP & DANTES exams versus attending traditional B&M classes, you will go further-faster in your degree pursuit by testing out.

That being said, there is a difference in the learning process. I found that in B&M classes, material is spoon fed to you slowly and incrementally over a period of 15 weeks. However when testing out one must force feed themselves via intensive and compressed study (The 4-R's) and can sit the exam in around 15 days in many cases.

So, you can earn 3 credits in 15 weeks or 3-6 (some exams are worth 6 credits!) credits in 15 days; it all depends on how well you can "digest" the material and then "regurgitate" it on exam day.[/COLOR][/SIZE]

[cookderosa]

I currently have 3 lower division and 7 upper division Arts & Sciences classes to graduate. I've already completed my applied professional portion. Of course, I know I need to take additional, as some courses above are not A&S courses.

Here is the initial route I'm thinking of doing and hope to get some feedback. First off my math SUCKS. It's been over 20 years since I have taken algebra. My transcript shows a "C" for Intro to Algebra and I know I will have a hurdle to get past Statistics.

It appears that Sac State has an agreement with Math Success located at for 35 dollars I can brush up on my math using this program and IC, as well as studying for Dantes Fundamentals of College Algebra, then

Joe Lomas[/QUOTE]



Joe,
First welcome!! Second, I am doing a similar style - I am taking classes and testing. I like the blend. I took about 10 exams before I enrolled, and I have 4 more left. It is roughly half of my degree- I highly suggest it.
On the MBA classes, you will want to be very careful that they don't fall under the heading of applied professional. I'm not an EC student, but where I am at (TESC) wouldn't give arts and science elective credit for business credits. Macro/Micro economics would be social science though, so you just want to check.
Finally, on the subject of math. <sigh> Let me tell you a big confession- I never took algebra in high school. When I went into food service, I learned "culinary math" and the related industry math. I even TEACH food cost accounting, purchasing, and culinary math..... but I had never taken algebra. So, I enrolled in a class called Mathematics for Liberal Arts (MAT105) this past semester. I was pretty surprised at:
a) what I don't know is huge
b) I'm not stupid- I can learn it, if I work hard.
As a motivated adult, don't sell yourself short, you can learn (relearn) algebra with the right attitude. Then on to pre-calc.
My degree requirement is met, but I am going to take the CLEP College Math exam (6) and Intermediate Algebra (class) as well as Statistics (class) at a minimum. I may try for the pre-calc math too, just because I am in the zone now- and who knows- 10 years from now if I want a business degree I would need it anyway! Anyway, I am doing this because this is something I want to LEARN for me. I think you should look at it that way too. YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN!!! Take whatever classes you need- whatever tutor service you need- whatever it takes to LEARN the info. (as opposed to just passing the test to earn the degree) Somewhere down the road you are going to want to take GMAT, GRE, or the law school entrance exams. Math/logic will certainly be part of your score.
I feel pretty strongly that testing or no testing/online class/seat work- math and English composition are 2 subjects worth doing thoroughly.

[joel66]

Thanks for the feedback. I think I have a better direction on the path to both completing my degree and getting prepared for an MBA after I finish my B.S. in Liberal Arts. It appears I will only need 6 additional classes. Not too bad, as I can replace four of my "C" and hopefully more A's and B's.

Below is my tentative schedule I hope to follow:

1. (DSST) Fundamentals of College Algebra
2. (DSST) Principles of Statistics
3. (CLEP) Macroeconomics
4. (CLEP) Microeconomics
5. (DSST) Principles of Finance
6. (BYU Online) Principles of Financial Accounting
7. (BYU Online) Principles of Managerial Accounting
8. (DSST) Money and Banking
9. (CLEP) Principles of Management
10. (CLEP) Principles of Marketing

Once the above is completed, I will have 6 upper Arts & Sciences left. I guess BYU Online is the lowest pricing I can find that has upper division arts & sciences at $410.00. I saw LSU, but I didn't' have a good selection of upper division Arts & Science courses.

1. ORG B 320 Organizational Effectiveness
2. ORG B 347 Managerial Leadership
3. MANEC 300 Economics of Market System
4. PL SC316 American Political Parties
5. PSYCH 358 Leadership Development
6. PSYCH 365 Motivation

Joe

[chromo]

Hey Joe, upper level Arts & Sciences credit are awarded for a number of DSSTs. Have you considered taking Abnormal Psychology, Civil War and Reconstruction, or Rise and Fall of Soviet Union? They may not sound fun, but they would only cost $70 + proctoring fee.

Chris
93 credits, pursuing B.S. General Business at Excelsior College
Recently took: Edu Psych CLEP (67) 10/1/07, MIS DSST (66) 10/1/07, Statistics DSST (78) 10/2/07
Next up: Ethics Theory & Practice ECE 11/7/07, Organizational Behavior ECE 11/8/07

[snazzlefrag]

Thanks for the feedback. I think I have a better direction on the path to both completing my degree and getting prepared for an MBA after I finish my B.S. in Liberal Arts. It appears I will only need 6 additional classes. Not too bad, as I can replace four of my "C" and hopefully more A's and B's.

Below is my tentative schedule I hope to follow:

1. (DSST) Fundamentals of College Algebra
2. (DSST) Principles of Statistics
3. (CLEP) Macroeconomics
4. (CLEP) Microeconomics
5. (DSST) Principles of Finance
6. (BYU Online) Principles of Financial Accounting
7. (BYU Online) Principles of Managerial Accounting
8. (DSST) Money and Banking
9. (CLEP) Principles of Management
10. (CLEP) Principles of Marketing

Once the above is completed, I will have 6 upper Arts & Sciences left. I guess BYU Online is the lowest pricing I can find that has upper division arts & sciences at $410.00. I saw LSU, but I didn't' have a good selection of upper division Arts & Science courses.

1. ORG B 320 Organizational Effectiveness
2. ORG B 347 Managerial Leadership
3. MANEC 300 Economics of Market System
4. PL SC316 American Political Parties
5. PSYCH 358 Leadership Development
6. PSYCH 365 Motivation

Joe

Hi Joel,

I would recommend you take both Principles of Management and Principles of Marketing first. They are two of the most straightforward exams to pass (with study of course) and will be good morale boosters for you. Also, they will let you get into the swing of things as far as taking these exams and studying the information on your own etc.

Best of luck,
Snazzlefrag