04-19-2021, 05:11 PM
Just wanted to post here for anyone else that went the TESU route and is wondering about their grad school prospects. The OMSCS degree is not distinguished from their on campus masters, so it's the same top ten ranked program, but they are less selective than most other similarly ranked offerings since they can scale it much more easily online, and it only costs about $8k.
As for my background, I graduated from TESU in 2019 with a BSBA - CIS degree. I took several CS courses (intro to CS, database admin, networks, network security, systems analysis, software engineering). My day job has gradually shifted more towards devops and programming, and I started thinking a CS degree would actually help me long term. I looked into getting a second bachelors, like WGU's, but it just didn't seem worth it since I already had a similar degree, but I did want a masters and CS seemed like the way to go. I was worried I wouldn't get in becuase I didn't have a CS undergrad or years of experience as a developer, and also most of my courses were pass/fail. Only my capstone was graded but I did get a 4.0 out of that course. I also was able to get a recommendation from that professor because I had discussed it with him at the end of the course and he happened to remember me and came through.
To round out my application, I took a free Object Oriented programming MOOC (from U of Helsinki) and the Stanford Algorithms course on Coursera. These both had certifications so I could add them to the application even though they're not valued as highly as for credit courses. I also knocked out the Calculus CLEP and included that along with a bunch of my IT certifications (CCNA, MCSA, etc.) in my additional document section of the app. I explained my experience as a network engineer and all the programming/automation I've done over the last few years, and also had a very solid plan for what I wanted out of the program, so I guess it was enough because I've been admitted! I half expected to get denied and have to do some CS pre-reqs at a community college and try again, so this was a nice surprise.
As far as what I'd do differently if I was starting over with TESU, I think I would've gone for the CS degree instead of CIS. There weren't nearly as many CS options when I was doing it as there are now, and it would've been a lot more expensive. I did like a lot of the sociology and management courses, but I could've fit those in the CS degree and skipped the accounting stuff. Also, if you plan to pursue CS at any level after graduating, PLEASE take at least a Data Structures course and Discrete Math along with the intro to programming. If you can manage, Linear Algebra and something in Computer Architecture/Organization will server your future studies well too. Those are the main prereqs that you're definitely going to need for future courses.
It's looking like in a few years I'll have an MS for less thank 10k to go along with my 4k bachelors. For those wondering if TESU or similar schools are worth it, it's led to a better job and now a great graduate opportunity for me, so if you play your cards right it can be a great option.
As for my background, I graduated from TESU in 2019 with a BSBA - CIS degree. I took several CS courses (intro to CS, database admin, networks, network security, systems analysis, software engineering). My day job has gradually shifted more towards devops and programming, and I started thinking a CS degree would actually help me long term. I looked into getting a second bachelors, like WGU's, but it just didn't seem worth it since I already had a similar degree, but I did want a masters and CS seemed like the way to go. I was worried I wouldn't get in becuase I didn't have a CS undergrad or years of experience as a developer, and also most of my courses were pass/fail. Only my capstone was graded but I did get a 4.0 out of that course. I also was able to get a recommendation from that professor because I had discussed it with him at the end of the course and he happened to remember me and came through.
To round out my application, I took a free Object Oriented programming MOOC (from U of Helsinki) and the Stanford Algorithms course on Coursera. These both had certifications so I could add them to the application even though they're not valued as highly as for credit courses. I also knocked out the Calculus CLEP and included that along with a bunch of my IT certifications (CCNA, MCSA, etc.) in my additional document section of the app. I explained my experience as a network engineer and all the programming/automation I've done over the last few years, and also had a very solid plan for what I wanted out of the program, so I guess it was enough because I've been admitted! I half expected to get denied and have to do some CS pre-reqs at a community college and try again, so this was a nice surprise.
As far as what I'd do differently if I was starting over with TESU, I think I would've gone for the CS degree instead of CIS. There weren't nearly as many CS options when I was doing it as there are now, and it would've been a lot more expensive. I did like a lot of the sociology and management courses, but I could've fit those in the CS degree and skipped the accounting stuff. Also, if you plan to pursue CS at any level after graduating, PLEASE take at least a Data Structures course and Discrete Math along with the intro to programming. If you can manage, Linear Algebra and something in Computer Architecture/Organization will server your future studies well too. Those are the main prereqs that you're definitely going to need for future courses.
It's looking like in a few years I'll have an MS for less thank 10k to go along with my 4k bachelors. For those wondering if TESU or similar schools are worth it, it's led to a better job and now a great graduate opportunity for me, so if you play your cards right it can be a great option.
TESU BSBA CIS - March 2019
Clep: College Algebra, Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, History of U.S. I, History of U.S. II, Principles of Management, Introductory Sociology, College Composition, American Government, Financial Accounting, Principles of Macroeconomics, Principles of Microeconomics, Principles of Marketing, Information Systems, Introductory Business Law, Introductory Psychology, Western Civilization I, Spanish Language, Biology, Social Science and History, Precalculus, Calculus
Study.com: FIN-102 Personal Finance, FIN-101 Principles of Finance, ACC-102 Managerial Accounting, BUS-308 Globalization and International Management, CS-302 Systems Analysis and Design, CS-303 Database Management, COM-120 Presentation Skills in the Workplace, BUS-113 Business Communication, STAT-101 Principles of Statistics
OnlineDegree.com: Computer Science CS101
Saylor.org: CS402, BUS303, CS302
Certs: CompTIA A+, Net+, Sec+, Linux+, MCSA, LPIC-1, CCNA
TESU: BUS-421 Business Administration Capstone
Clep: College Algebra, Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, History of U.S. I, History of U.S. II, Principles of Management, Introductory Sociology, College Composition, American Government, Financial Accounting, Principles of Macroeconomics, Principles of Microeconomics, Principles of Marketing, Information Systems, Introductory Business Law, Introductory Psychology, Western Civilization I, Spanish Language, Biology, Social Science and History, Precalculus, Calculus
Study.com: FIN-102 Personal Finance, FIN-101 Principles of Finance, ACC-102 Managerial Accounting, BUS-308 Globalization and International Management, CS-302 Systems Analysis and Design, CS-303 Database Management, COM-120 Presentation Skills in the Workplace, BUS-113 Business Communication, STAT-101 Principles of Statistics
OnlineDegree.com: Computer Science CS101
Saylor.org: CS402, BUS303, CS302
Certs: CompTIA A+, Net+, Sec+, Linux+, MCSA, LPIC-1, CCNA
TESU: BUS-421 Business Administration Capstone
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