Need Bachelors in 6 Months...Options?

[Nodaclu]

Welcome to the board!
It took me 18 months starting from zero, but 60 of those credits were test-out credits, all earned in 6 months and I didn't have much free time at that time....so I think you can do it!

Hi Jennifer! Thank you so much for your kind words. The support here is wonderful. it's a scary thing to step into the fire and try to finish a Bachelors Degree in just 28 short years!

EDIT TO add a comment about you losing credit: I wrestled around and wasted TONS of time finding a way to make my previous associate degree work for a degree. At the end of the day, it was 10000% more efficient to CLEP test a new AA than try and see where those 85+ credits would work. So, the challenges when you HAVE a lot of credit are lining up your existing credit into the degree with the easiest remaining requirements to finish- not necessarily lining your credit up into the program with the most to start if that makes sense. Dfrecore has your back on that.

Yep, as I continued to look at it this morning, it became crystal clear:

• CSU-Global is "easier" (i.e., fewer units to complete)
  
• TESU is twice as fast, and twice as cheap
  

If my circumstances were different, I might make a different decision, but since my priorities are fast and cheap, I have to accept that the road will be a bit more difficult through TESU, and just get started.

Here's what I'll add to the pile:
What'd I'd suggest you do immediately is apply to one of the big 3 (TESU?) and update your resume status to "in progress." While that's obviously not the same thing as having a completed degree, it shows you're headed in the right direction. Plus, since time is of the essence, get the AA first. In fact, you're probably within striking distance of that degree by the end of May. You'd be able to list a completed degree and then an "in progress" bachelor's degree in HR or business. Finally, since you'll have your BA at the 6 month mark, I'd suggest you start looking at grad schools too. I know that sounds super scary to read, but I promise, by the time you get to the other end of these short 6 months, you'll be all over that idea- and so having a few schools picked out will be very useful. I'd look at CHEAP and distance learning options. As soon as your last BA requirement is met, apply to the master's program and guess what? You guessed it, add the BA to your resume and an "in progress" master's degree. You're about to go from zero to hero in 6 months and you're ready to start your own job hunt - with a HUGE facelift in the education heading on your resume.

It's so interesting that you bring this up, especially the grad school part. While my BSBA is a quick and dirty, git 'r' done check box on my list, I want my Master's Degree to be a very different experience. I want to really immerse myself in that material, and take whatever time I need to complete it. Toward that end, I've already looked at Heriot-Watt due to its structure and reasonable cost, and as I get closer to that point, I'll start researching it and other schools more thoroughly.

It *is* pretty insane that I could go from no degree, to a BSBA and an MS/MBA "in progress" within a 6 month span.

I may not go after the AA, but only because I won't be working during this time frame, so the need to have a completed AA on the resume isn't as high of a priority as it might be if I were actively on the job market while doing this. That being said, I'll definitely keep an eye on things as they progress, and I'll go that direction if it makes sense to do so.

Thanks again...I appreciate it!