My mom - 81 years old with lots of credits and no degree (yet)

[Taxandria]

Hey all,

I am inspired to help my mother who is now 81 and has college credits she earned in the 1950's and 1960's. She was in the convent from ages 17-27 and went to Mallinckrodt College which is affiliated with Seton Hall (or was because she said the credits went there and transferred from Seton Hall to Hunter). Then later she went to Hunter College (CUNY) and transferred credits from Mallinckrodt, though Hunter did not accept all her credits (they would not take her History or English, which is odd).

I am requesting transcripts for her from these schools so we can see if she can get a degree through one of the Big 3. She definitely has earned at least 64 credits through Hunter and what she was able to transfer. I just have to get the transcript for Mallinckrodt to see what other credits she'd earned that Hunter had not accepted.

Now it's been a long time and all, so I am wondering if this is possible and if the Big 3 will accept the credits or if there's another route we should take?

She doesn't really care all that much about it, just thought it would be really *nice* to get the degree since she did do all that work. I think it would just be a nice thing for her, but obviously she's not going to be doing a whole lot of coursework at her age.

Your thoughts?

[KayV]

If she ends up having 60+ of the right credits, I think it will be fascinating to see what the Big 3 can do for her! We have had people with credits from the 1960s and 1970s get credits approved, IIRC.

[Taxandria]

It would be really cool because she's always felt a little regretful about not getting a degree considering she did a lot of work. She was a nurse, BTW

[GoodYellowDogs]

Excelsior took all my credits from 40 years ago for my BS in Liberal Arts. They actually also took my nursing units, not for nursing, but as Applied Professional.

[cookderosa]

I think this would be fun!
My questions for you:
1. Is your mom open to earning more credit at this point, or is the goal to see if her existing credits can complete a degree?
2. Is cost a factor in this process?

[smf6824]

It would be really cool because she's always felt a little regretful about not getting a degree considering she did a lot of work. She was a nurse, BTW

You say she was a nurse? Did she graduate from an approved nursing program or have a license to practice nursing from a certain state? If so these could prove to be credits, depending upon the situation.

[Taxandria]

I think this would be fun!
My questions for you:
1. Is your mom open to earning more credit at this point, or is the goal to see if her existing credits can complete a degree?
2. Is cost a factor in this process?

The latter, just seeing if the existing credits equal a degree. She's got health issues. Cost is a factor but it depends. I would help her pay for it if I could swing it. It is all going to depend on if it's doable and how much it will cost. We just sent away for the transcripts and since it was so long ago we might be waiting a few weeks for an update.

[Taxandria]

You say she was a nurse? Did she graduate from an approved nursing program or have a license to practice nursing from a certain state? If so these could prove to be credits, depending upon the situation.

Yes, she was licensed in New York State as an LPN.

Here's her basic history/timeline:

1951 graduated high school
1951 went into convent (Sisters of Christian Charity) started Mallinckrodt College, did that from Sept. 1951 - June 1952
Did first year Novitiate (no college that year)
Left Sisters of Christian Charity in April 1953
Joined Carmelite Order Jan 1954
Professed in 1955
Worked 3 months at St. Patrick's nursing home in The Bronx, NY
In December 1955 started working at Josephine Beard Home, NYC, worked there 4 or 5 years. While there she was taught practical nursing but no college work.
September of 1957 entered Misericordia Hospital School of Nursing (found this online about the school: From 1951 to 1976, the school held full accreditation status by the National League for Nursing as a Diploma school, and from 1976, it was empowered to confer an Associate Degree Program.) Mom said she was in a 3 year program and they started a 2 year college credit program after she left.
She took the 8 hour exam and passed licensing for LPN for New York State with score in the 90's
Left convent in 1960.
~1965 Went into the nursing program at Hunter College (CUNY) with intent to get a RNBS. (Her nursing credits were not accepted by Hunter.) She fell ill and because she was behind, left the school and told them to put the records away at the time. So it was an incomplete term, about April 1966 or so. It was her 3rd term and she was taking 16 credits.

Worked at New Rochelle Hospital for a year and a half, did per diem work at Westchester Square Hospital.

[smf6824]

Yes, she was licensed in New York State as an LPN.

Here's her basic history/timeline:

1951 graduated high school
1951 went into convent (Sisters of Christian Charity) started Mallinckrodt College, did that from Sept. 1951 - June 1952
Did first year Novitiate (no college that year)
Left Sisters of Christian Charity in April 1953
Joined Carmelite Order Jan 1954
Professed in 1955
Worked 3 months at St. Patrick's nursing home in The Bronx, NY
In December 1955 started working at Josephine Beard Home, NYC, worked there 4 or 5 years. While there she was taught practical nursing but no college work.
September of 1957 entered Misericordia Hospital School of Nursing (found this online about the school: From 1951 to 1976, the school held full accreditation status by the National League for Nursing as a Diploma school, and from 1976, it was empowered to confer an Associate Degree Program.) Mom said she was in a 3 year program and they started a 2 year college credit program after she left.
She took the 8 hour exam and passed licensing for LPN for New York State with score in the 90's
Left convent in 1960.
~1965 Went into the nursing program at Hunter College (CUNY) with intent to get a RNBS. (Her nursing credits were not accepted by Hunter.) She fell ill and because she was behind, left the school and told them to put the records away at the time. So it was an incomplete term, about April 1966 or so. It was her 3rd term and she was taking 16 credits.

Worked at New Rochelle Hospital for a year and a half, did per diem work at Westchester Square Hospital.

Well that license is really old, and I would be impressed if New York still had it on file, but it is worth a shot. I presume she graduated from a nursing school in order to be eligible for her LPN. I am not a nursing history major, but nowadays I know the credential is national (Healthcare license are always state, there is a difference between a credential and license).... its a long shot but maybe the credentialing people have a copy of the credential. Long story short you will need a notarized copy of the credential, transcripts, or some other proof that she was a LPN in order to potentially receive credits for that. TESC doesn't claim how many credits they give for an LPN credential, but they give 16 to a paramedic, and that may be the closest comparison there is based on the credentials in which they evaluate. The biggest issue that may present itself is the length of time not actively practicing practical nursing. There may be a chance for a PLA pathway here. Either way if she earned the credits it is definitely worth pursuing in order to finish the degree faster. What type of degree was she looking for? Is she seeking an Associates, Bachelors, Masters?

[Taxandria]

She did have a license and kept it renewed through the 1970's. I think she stopped in the early to mid 80's.