I’m Finishing My TESU Degree Without Debt or Burnout : Here’s Exactly How I’m Doing..

[ColePalmer]

After I did a few general ACE courses like English Comp and Sociology, I felt a bit more confident. That’s when I tried Python it was new, but I managed.
Once that was done and the credit showed up in my TESU eval, I knew I was on the right path. But now I wanted something a little more challenging, something that could move me closer to my degree, not just fill requirements.
So I started looking at core courses again. I wasn’t 100% sure what to pick next, but I knew I wanted it to count and not feel like I was just checking boxes.
What helped you decide which courses to take after the basics? Did you follow a plan or just go with what felt right?

[LevelUP]

After I did a few general ACE courses like English Comp and Sociology, I felt a bit more confident. That’s when I tried Python it was new, but I managed.
Once that was done and the credit showed up in my TESU eval, I knew I was on the right path. But now I wanted something a little more challenging, something that could move me closer to my degree, not just fill requirements.
So I started looking at core courses again. I wasn’t 100% sure what to pick next, but I knew I wanted it to count and not feel like I was just checking boxes.
What helped you decide which courses to take after the basics? Did you follow a plan or just go with what felt right?

I usually advise people to start with easy and quick courses to build momentum and confidence.

The last thing you want to do is start with, for example, Calculus and spend 200 hours on it, fail, and then quit your degree journey. It's much easier to restart Calculus with another provider when it's nearly your last course and you're close to finishing your degree.

For a Computer Science major, the technical courses include Discrete Math, Introduction to Programming, Data Structures, Database Management, Computer Architecture, and Calculus. Some of these courses need to be taken in a specific order.

For a Business Administration degree, the course order doesn’t matter much as you can usually take whichever courses you want in any order. Microeconomics, Managerial Accounting, and Introduction to Statistics were some of the more challenging ones.

I took Statistics through Sophia and failed the fifth milestone, so I had to request a retake. The next time, I scored around 95%, which taught me how to effectively learn math online.

That experience really helped when I later had to tackle Discrete Math.

[ColePalmer]

I usually advise people to start with easy and quick courses to build momentum and confidence.
The last thing you want to do is start with, for example, Calculus and spend 200 hours on it, fail, and then quit your degree journey. It's much easier to restart Calculus with another provider when it's nearly your last course and you're close to finishing your degree.

For a Computer Science major, the technical courses include Discrete Math, Introduction to Programming, Data Structures, Database Management, Computer Architecture, and Calculus. Some of these courses need to be taken in a specific order.

For a Business Administration degree, the course order doesn’t matter much as you can usually take whichever courses you want in any order. Microeconomics, Managerial Accounting, and Introduction to Statistics were some of the more challenging ones.

I took Statistics through Sophia and failed the fifth milestone, so I had to request a retake. The next time, I scored around 95%, which taught me how to effectively learn math online.

That experience really helped when I later had to tackle Discrete Math.

Yeah I get that. Starting with the easier stuff really helped me too. Just building a little momentum early on makes everything feel less overwhelming. I started with some gen eds to ease into it, then gave Python a shot. It was something new, but it didn’t feel impossible, and that gave me a small boost to keep going.
When I started looking at the core CS courses, I realized I had to be a bit more intentional. Some of them definitely build off each other and I wasn’t trying to burn out by jumping into Discrete Math on day one. I remember getting stuck on a stats quiz once and just stepping away for a bit. Came back later, tried a different approach, and it finally clicked. That little win gave me more confidence than I expected.
It’s cool how those random hard moments early on actually help when you hit the real challenges later. You kind of build your own rhythm without even realizing it.

[LevelUP]

Yeah I get that. Starting with the easier stuff really helped me too. Just building a little momentum early on makes everything feel less overwhelming. I started with some gen eds to ease into it, then gave Python a shot. It was something new, but it didn’t feel impossible, and that gave me a small boost to keep going.

Python is a good programming language to learn as your first because it’s less complex and easier to understand.

PHP is another language that’s fairly easy to pick up. It powers platforms like WordPress, Wikipedia, and this forum. It's especially popular because many shared hosting services only support PHP. There's also quite a bit of freelance work available if you know the language well.

React and JavaScript are widely used by startups, so learning them can give you a leg up on other CS grads who were probably only taught Java.

Even if you don’t want to become a programmer, it’s still a cool experience to build your own stuff with code, even if it’s just a simple "Hello, World!"

[ColePalmer]

After wrapping up Python, I decided to go for a course that seemed a bit more structured : Computer Concepts and Applications. It wasn’t the most exciting title, but it covered things like systems, databases, and basic IT foundations that I knew I’d eventually need. It felt like the right kind of next step: useful, but not overwhelming.
By that point, I had settled into a bit of a routine. I wasn’t blocking off 5-hour study marathons or anything, I was fitting it in where I could. A couple of hours in the evening after work, or early morning on the weekends with coffee. It wasn’t some flawless system, but it kept me moving forward.

When did you usually find time to study? Did you stick to a routine, or just squeeze it in whenever life allowed? Always curious how people balance learning with everything else going on.

[ColePalmer]

Alright, I didn’t expect this one to stick with me, but Introduction to Sociology really caught me off guard.
At first I thought it would be one of those dry gen eds I’d just breeze through, check the box, and move on. I wasn’t looking for anything deep, just trying to get it done fast.
But the online study platform I was using, which was ACE and NCCRS approved, made it way more engaging than I expected. The structure, the examples, the way it connected ideas to everyday situations, it actually made the content click. I started noticing these patterns in real life, and suddenly it didn’t feel like just another course anymore. Really made a big impact in terms of keeping me engaged with the course.
I remember watching a documentary that touched on some of the same concepts I had just studied about social norms, group behavior, cultural differences, and I ended up explaining it to a friend without even thinking about it. That’s when I realized I wasn’t just memorizing things for a test. I was learning something that actually shifted how I saw the world.
What’s one course you didn’t expect to enjoy, but it ended up surprising you?