Job Loss to Utah Master's/PhD Dreams: Suggestions for Fast-Tracking a Bachelor's

[SeaSun]

Edit with clearer basic info:

Your Location: An Asian Country
Your Age: 28
What kind of degree do you want?
Computer Science or anything that allows me to have a master or PhD in same field since this is the field I have been in for a while now... but I'm also very interested in Psychology

Current Reginal Accredited Credits: -
Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: -

Any certifications or military experience?
4 years of professional Software Engineer experience.
Vocational College Diplomat from my home country(I don't think this will be helpful for my degree planning)

Budget: 
As I'm currently unemployed, I want to go for the cheapest route. 
But I still have some saving around 10K...
No timeframe for when I will have my next job.

[b]Commitments:[/b]
I'm currently studying technical stuff for the interview. 
If I get a job soon, I will be working full-time.
I used to be like when I was not working, I was thinking about working, but now I can be when I'm not working, I'm studying for my degree.

Dedicated time to study:
As a simple and single guy, I can dedicate all my spare time to studying but I would be doing hiking or other outdoor activities as well.

Timeline: 
As fast as possible. 
I heard someone finish their degree within a year, I wonder if I can become that someone.

Tuition assistance/reimbursement: 
Currently no... but I hope my next job will provide that... but if not, I will find a way.

Current target school:
I'm thinking TESU since it has a very generous credit transfer policy.
And as I understand from the wiki, I should take the course in this list(https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Th...timization) as soon as possible.

But should I enroll?

Also, I'm worried about if there course in TESU proctored. Because I have been struggling with exam anxiety my whole life... not a typical Asian here, sorry...



---------- rest is story time(I have these before I realize I should make my post as concise as possible, leave them here just for a bad example, sorry)-----------

Background story:

Never had I been captivated so profoundly by a place before.
Until one day life introduces me to Utah with so many big and small encounters. 
Or just a picture of its majestic landscape posted by someone in a hiking community.

I am spellbound by such magnificent beauty.

I fell in love.

And you might say that maybe I should just go there and travel a bit.

But as I started my research of this land, this great and interesting land, Utah has a lot to offer!

Its rich and fascinating Mormon culture and history(yes, I'm aware of something that's not appealing to a point that is borderline depressing but I'm looking at the good side here), its extremely polarising climate, its community, and most importantly, its breathtakingly beautiful environment.

The more I read about this land the more I see myself being there and exploring everything this great land has to offer to the people who go there. 

So, why don't I?

Personal background:

Except I'm from a third-world country without a bachelor's degree.

The best I have at the moment is my 4 years of software development working experience.
No, I'm unemployed. 

I just got laid off at the beginning of this month.
And it's this sudden laid-off that woke me up from a lifelong, repetitive cycle of waking up, working, watching TV, sleeping, and waking up again... 
I was never really happy with where I was or am...


"If you don't like how things are, change it! You are not a tree."

Just like seeing the sunlight peeking through the arches in Arches National Park, there's a beam of hope in my mind that pull me up from the despair of job loss and every horrible thing that happened recently.
Utah has become my lighthouse in these dark days.



Degree plan idea/thoughts: (I wrote this before I realize I should make my info as concise as possible, leave it here as a bad example...)

I'm currently enrolled in this online university, the University of The People. But as I read the post in this forum, I learned that the chance of using the degree from this institution for a master's or higher degree is very slim.
So, I will probably stop engaging in coursework at this university. (not many courses have been taken anyway... and the course taken in this university is not transferrable to other regionally accredited universities because it's nationally accredited.
Also, the study at the University of The People is schedule based, meaning, I can't take as many courses as I want if I have the time to do it, which may make my time to get a bachelor's longer.
But I want to get the degree faster so that I can get there faster.

I have searched for a while now, it seems Brigham Young University will be a good affordable option for international students.
(yes, I really don't mind any religious things, and I am aware that there are controversial things from religion... but they are not affecting my goal so I don't think it's an issue)

And from what I have learned in the forum post, if I got the information correct, and after comparison, I think TESU could be a good option for me to consider.

So if I take TESU path, I should take those courses listed in the wiki(https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Th...timization), as soon as possible.
Right?

And I should also decide if I should enroll or not.

However, there's something I want to know, if I have enough time, will I get a degree from TESU in a very short period of time?

And another thing is, are all the exams or tests in TESU remotely monitored or proctored? 
As someone who suffers from exam anxiety, when it comes to exams I can't help but want to opt for an option that no exam is required but submit a project or something, and I learned that SNHU does not take the exam... but the most transferrable credits for this university is 90 and you have to take courses in a set schedule.

ps, I don't want to do a bachelor's in the US is because the tuition is very high and there's no way for me to save up for 4 years.


Thank you in advance!

And thanks everyone for reading my post, I hope you have a great day!

Ps, here's photo of the sunrise in Arches National Park, isn't it beautiful?



let's all aim for our dream and live the life we want! ?

[bjcheung77]

Hey SeaSun, In your situation, your focus is to complete a mix of 3 things: Certs, Degree, Experience.  You're probably pulled in all sorts of directions as there are many ways to accomplish your goal, you may have a limited budget/time and have commitments.  It's great you're starting your educational path, but these 3 items I mentioned should be your main goals, a mix and match approach to get you in the door for Business, Computers/IT or something along those lines of what you mentioned.

With more information from you, we can further provide more concrete advice after we have a better picture and overview of your current scenario or situation.  It's better to have a fuller overall understanding on your budget, commitments, study habits, and whatever else you think can help you complete this cheaper, easier, faster.

Please complete the Degree Planning Advice template and last post addendum here: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Area-works
Review this recent post of mine from today, I have the same suggestions for you: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid391196

[SeaSun]

Hey SeaSun, In your situation, your focus is to complete a mix of 3 things: Certs, Degree, Experience.  You're probably pulled in all sorts of directions as there are many ways to accomplish your goal, you may have a limited budget/time and have commitments.  It's great you're starting your educational path, but these 3 items I mentioned should be your main goals, a mix and match approach to get you in the door for Business, Computers/IT or something along those lines of what you mentioned.

With more information from you, we can further provide more concrete advice after we have a better picture and overview of your current scenario or situation.  It's better to have a fuller overall understanding on your budget, commitments, study habits, and whatever else you think can help you complete this cheaper, easier, faster.

Please complete the Degree Planning Advice template and last post addendum here: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Area-works
Review this recent post of mine from today, I have the same suggestions for you: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid391196

Hi bicheung77,

Thank you so much for the response!

And it's just super coincident that I just finished updating my post and I got your reply! Thank you again!

And yes that post you mentioned seems like overlapping my need here. I will look into more on that!

Thanks again!! have a great day!!!?

[bjcheung77]

Haha, you did the template/addendum just when I mentioned it! That is a coincidence... You should mention the Asian country you're from, I'm not sure why you're not letting us know. It would be a good idea as we have many people from Africa, Asia, Europe, etc, also looking into degrees and we've helped many already. As an example that will help by providing us that country is, we can inform you a language or two you might know is available for exams through ACTFL, these would be easy upper level credit!

[LevelUP]

TESU is a good choice.

You can do the CS degree by itself or do the BSBA CIS and CS which requires only 4 extra courses + an extra capstone.
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan

Also, consider the AS in Math as it's free to do.

You can take Psychology courses as a part of your electives. 

Do you plan on working in the U.S.?

The Appalachian Trail is a famous hiking trail here in the U.S. A good place to meet many fellow hikers. (do that one in the late spring/summer weather)

[SeaSun]

Haha, you did the template/addendum just when I mentioned it!  That is a coincidence...  You should mention the Asian country you're from, I'm not sure why you're not letting us know.  It would be a good idea as we have many people from Africa, Asia, Europe, etc, also looking into degrees and we've helped many already.  As an example that will help by providing us that country is, we can inform you a language or two you might know is available for exams through ACTFL, these would be easy upper level credit!

T^T the reason that I didn't specify the country is that... due to political issues, I have a lot of conflicted feeling about my home country... 
as a matter of fact, what happened in this place is the source of my major depression... 

at my last job, I was in the process of applying for a visa for getting out, because I was working remotely, meaning I can apply for a digital nomad visa in some countries, when I knew that I got laid off, the fear of being stuck here forever just swallowed me up and I kept spiraling down in the hopeless darkness... it was really the hope being in a majestic place like Utah that kept pulling me away from any drastic thought... the thought of "This is a place I have to be one day" keep me getting up from the bed this morning to do what I'm supposed to do, like getting a new job.

So, yeah, my home country and even my home/family never had any fond memories except trauma and sadness that's so profound that I forgot I used to have some good times...

Anyway, for that certificate ACTFL, I think maybe my knowledge of Chinese would help? (knowing this and adding up what I just said you can probably know where I'm from now, a question I have been dreading to hear on any social occasion, online or offline....)

Thanks again T^T

---

TESU is a good choice.

You can do the CS degree by itself or do the BSBA CIS and CS which requires only 4 extra courses + an extra capstone.
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan

Also, consider the AS in Math as it's free to do.

You can take Psychology courses as a part of your electives. 

Do you plan on working in the U.S.?

The Appalachian Trail is a famous hiking trail here in the U.S. A good place to meet many fellow hikers. (do that one in the late spring/summer weather)

Hi LevelUP!

Thanks for your response! 

And yes, I'm planning on working/living in the US! 
It is the idea of being in the US(specifically the national park in Utah) that keeps me grinding these days because I have been in despair for a while since I lost my job.

I want to camp under the starry sky in Arches National Park and I want to cycle into the valley of Zion National Park...
The vast and diverse scenery of the US is breathtakingly magnificent. I'm pretty sure no one on earth can argue about this.

Anyway, thanks again for sharing the info with me!
I'm currently looking into the post I have gathered and hopefully will start my learning for a certificate or course before tomorrow!

Have a great rest of the day!

[bjcheung77]

@SeaSun, My suggestion is to get your current credits evaluated, this may be your regionally accredited equivalent, those international credits (as long as they're college level and not remedial or vocational) can at least go towards the 30 RA requirements, not just for degree planning purposes. 

You can then create a spreadsheet using the degree options in the WIKI provided by LevelUP or Rachel83AZ, maybe a combo of both to get the dual degree BSBA CIS/BACS combo.  With TESU approval, instead of taking the SOS-110 Cornerstone, you can take the edx microbachelors course instead for 1/3 of the price.

You should work on your Sophia.org courses first (courses that don't duplicate your current international credits), then Study.com, and lastly, the requirements at TESU to finish the degrees. Here's another option for the BSBA CIS/BACS combo by Rachel83AZ: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...z_version)

[davewill]

We always recommend applying to TESU sooner rather than later. It locks in the catalog, and allows you to start sending in credits, which locks those in, too. TESU often makes changes to their catalog and transfer policies. Those changes are rarely in the student's favor. New catalogs come out on July 1, so I'd do it right away.

If you have more than two transcripts to send in, then also go ahead and enroll by signing up for the Medical Terminology TECEP. Don't take the exam, as you may need to sign up for it again in a year to extend your enrollment if you aren't ready to start TESU courses by then.

There's little downside as the application fee is only $50 (USD), and the TECEP is only $52.

I'm not sure if your "Vocational College Diplomat" represents useful credit or not. It would cost you a fee with one of the credit evaluation agencies to use them, if so.

[SeaSun]

@bjcheung77 
@davewill

hey guys, thank you for the pointer and suggestion! I'm really grateful for all the advice! 

But I also have to be honest that I'm a bit overwhelmed with what to go with first... T^T very stressed about this whole thing honestly..... 

Because I'm not quite sure at this point what course I should go with and what provider I should be registering... 

But I think these questions will be answered after I get my "Vocational College Diploma" course credit to evaluate, right? 
Since I don't want to waste any unnecessary work or money.

And to evaluate the "Vocational College Diploma" course credit, I should enroll in TESU first, right?   YES, I had checked the TESU website that it is the case, in order to get my credit evaluate, I should apply the university first

But @bjcheung77 also said that vocational courses won't count... or should I check with TESU about this? (whether they accept my vocational school credit)

Or should I enroll in TESU no matter what?

And there's another thing I might miss in the post that I also need to get a job in the near future, so I kind of divide my day into preparing/searching for a job and looking into degree planning.


And since I'm already studying/reviewing technical stuff (and some are very basic knowledge like Algorithms and practicing coding exercises), I wonder if I could also take some credit worth course at the moment? Maybe the Edx MicroBachelor's mentioned in @bjcheung77's message?
Or something like Google Certificate?

Thank you in advance!

[bjcheung77]

Basically, I would follow what I mentioned earlier, evaluate current international credits, work on Sophia.org first or the CSM Learn course, Study.com, then TESU (edx and capstone last). Essentially by following the template from LevelUP or Rachel83AZ, you want to work on the 'easier' courses first, one provider at a time, CSM is just 1 course, keep laddering provider by provider so you don't pay a second subscription for something else... Last but not least, if you can invest in a second monitor, it will really help you multi-task.