How to request a second evaluation

[Whitepines]

Ok, I must be missing something. I get two evaluations before enrolling, right? I've gotten the first one, but want to see how things shake out with a completely different degree plan. How do I request the second one?

[rachel83az]

Log into http://www.tesu.edu/oss and choose "Academic Evaluation" then, instead of choosing whatever degree you have currently, pick your desired degree from the dropdown menu. It's considered the same evaluation.

The evaluation that "counts" is when the TESU staff transfer your credits from your transcript(s) to your TESU account.

[dfrecore]

You're not asking for a new eval (where TESU evaluates additional credits), you're asking for a what-if scenario.

[Whitepines]

Ok, I found the drop down. I thought everyone was referring to something else because they kept saying we could only get two and the drop down lets me look at all the different degrees.
Thanks!

[jch]

Ok, I found the drop down. I thought everyone was referring to something else because they kept saying we could only get two and the drop down lets me look at all the different degrees.
Thanks!

Also a pro tip to anyone who later finds this thread: when using this what-if tool on the academic evaluation, do NOT select the bubble next to any of your currently enrolled degrees. It took me much longer that it should have to decipher the instructions and error messages regarding that.

I don't know if it's just me, but the automated what-if tool does a somewhat poor job. It always leaves me with a lot of leftover credits and blank spaces that it isn't capable of matching up. A real, manual eval gives a much better picture.

[Merlin]

I don't know if it's just me, but the automated what-if tool does a somewhat poor job. It always leaves me with a lot of leftover credits and blank spaces that it isn't capable of matching up. A real, manual eval gives a much better picture.

Yeah, it is pretty terrible. It basically uses a first-found approach to meeting degree requirements, so you can be missing stuff because it put something in the wrong place (a place where it fits but isn't optimal for maximizing your existing credits). This can look very different from a real plan where credits are applied in a more realistic manner. It can be helpful to get a general idea of how existing credits will apply to a degree, but you're almost always better off doing your own what-if scenario.

[dfrecore]

I don't know if it's just me, but the automated what-if tool does a somewhat poor job. It always leaves me with a lot of leftover credits and blank spaces that it isn't capable of matching up. A real, manual eval gives a much better picture.

Yeah, it is pretty terrible. It basically uses a first-found approach to meeting degree requirements, so you can be missing stuff because it put something in the wrong place (a place where it fits but isn't optimal for maximizing your existing credits). This can look very different from a real plan where credits are applied in a more realistic manner. It can be helpful to get a general idea of how existing credits will apply to a degree, but you're almost always better off doing your own what-if scenario.

Agreed.  TESU will actually have to look course-by-course at a new plan to make sure that everything is in the correct space - the what-if scenario is just a quickie generic plan done by a computer, which isn't optimal.

My job with Study.com is to create degree plans for people.  I always do the one they're requesting, but then if I can see that there is something that's a better fit, I usually include that one as well (either similar degree at a different school, or different degree at the same school).  Like, if a person has taken a bunch of CompSci courses, and GE's, but hasn't gotten past Intermediate Algebra, and it's been 20 years since they've been in school: I will create that BACS degree for them, but then also include the BALS with a concentration in CS.  That way they have a backup plan.  Or they want a BALS from TESU, but have a bunch of NA credits - I'll do a BALS from EC as well.  Sometimes it's just easier for a person to look at your credits to make a determination.