New to this forum, had a few questions

[mykal335i]

This forum seems almost too good to be true, I am 34 years old and chose my career over school 13 years ago when I dropped out. It's worked out very well for me, I'm a successful Software Architect and I make a comfortable living. However, I've recently been looking at management positions, and I feel that I'm being passed over due to a lack of a completed degree on my resume. I've been reading through the posts on here for a few weeks, and I have some goals in mind but I'm a little unsure about how to proceed. I have run my own businesses as well over the years, so I think either a focus on computer science or business administration would make sense but I am open to a different degree since I don't think it matters much.

Goals
- I would like to complete a Bachelors degree online.
- I would like to graduate in the next 1-2 years.
- I would like the option of getting a MBA at some point in the future. 

I'll paste my courses from Comm. College below, given my situation can you please help me with some questions:

1. Is it correct that I can apply to TESU and have my transcript evaluated without needing to be enrolled? 
2. I found another user's Google Doc for TESU BSBA in CIS, once I find out what TESU will transfer can I use this document as a starting point to begin taking some online courses? Doc Here
3. Are my goals reasonable? I work full time but can dedicate at least a few hours a day and more on the weekends.

Thanks for all of your posts, I hope to be able to help out as I get more familiar with how all of this works!

Current Coursework:
Penn Valley Community College Kansas City, MO
ENGL 101 - Composition & Reading I (3cr)
MATH 110 - Intermediate Algebra (3cr)
SOCI 160 - Sociology (3cr)
MATH 150 - PreCalculus (5cr)
ENGL 102 - Composition & Reading II (3cr)
HIST 120 - American History I (3cr)
CSIS 125 - Visual Basic Programming (3cr)
CSIS 152 - Java Programming (3cr)
26cr

[cookderosa]

Welcome!! I think you'll find others in similar situations, I know I was when I found this forum at age 36. Also, thought it was too good to be true. Completed my tests to align with an AA in 6 months (I was hooked) and then did the rest of my BA over 12 months- 18 all in.
This forum changes you, it makes grad school a realistic goal for many people (myself included) and it really changes the way you look at degrees..... but anyway. Welcome!!

If you choose any of the big 3 (most credit-accepted) your degree will be via distance learning which may or may not include online classes, but nevermind semantics, you don't have to "go" anywhere.

1-2 years is a totally realistic goal.

The option of grad school is a given. The resources people use here are with the intent of being used at a Regionally Accredited college, which translates into continuing your education if you like. My advice with grad school which is easy enough, is that most MBA programs will list a few courses that they want you to take in your BA. Sometimes they say "graded credit" which means a class with a grade, but most of the time it's simply "credit" which means anything including testing out. Put together a small list of classes/credits you'll want to integrate into your bachelor's to cover your bases - it saves time and potentially money. BUT, worst case, you'll do them after which what I did since my plans for grad school changed. Not a problem, but if you know early enough, you can plan it in.

Course/degree planning isn't my expertise, certainly not in your field, but many here will be able to help you knock that part out

Welcome!

[davewill]

This forum seems almost too good to be true, I am 34 years old and chose my career over school 13 years ago when I dropped out. It's worked out very well for me, I'm a successful Software Architect and I make a comfortable living. However, I've recently been looking at management positions, and I feel that I'm being passed over due to a lack of a completed degree on my resume. I've been reading through the posts on here for a few weeks, and I have some goals in mind but I'm a little unsure about how to proceed. I have run my own businesses as well over the years, so I think either a focus on computer science or business administration would make sense but I am open to a different degree since I don't think it matters much.

Goals
- I would like to complete a Bachelors degree online.
- I would like to graduate in the next 1-2 years.
- I would like the option of getting a MBA at some point in the future. 

I'll paste my courses from Comm. College below, given my situation can you please help me with some questions:

1. Is it correct that I can apply to TESU and have my transcript evaluated without needing to be enrolled? 
2. I found another user's Google Doc for TESU BSBA in CIS, once I find out what TESU will transfer can I use this document as a starting point to begin taking some online courses? Doc Here
3. Are my goals reasonable? I work full time but can dedicate at least a few hours a day and more on the weekends.

Thanks for all of your posts, I hope to be able to help out as I get more familiar with how all of this works!

Current Coursework:
Penn Valley Community College Kansas City, MO
ENGL 101 - Composition & Reading I (3cr)
MATH 110 - Intermediate Algebra (3cr)
SOCI 160 - Sociology (3cr)
MATH 150 - PreCalculus (5cr)
ENGL 102 - Composition & Reading II (3cr)
HIST 120 - American History I (3cr)
CSIS 125 - Visual Basic Programming (3cr)
CSIS 152 - Java Programming (3cr)
26cr

1. Absolutely. You should go ahead and apply and send your transcripts today. It will only cost you a $75 application fee.
2. The doc you linked is a little out of date, but basically sound. ALEKS is no longer an option for math, for instance, but I suspect someone will drop by with a more up to date spreadsheet.
3. Absolutely very doable.

Anyway, welcome to the club! It's going to be a awesome experience.

[mykal335i]

Thanks for the welcome Jennifer! Before I found this forum I had planned on doing WGU, but now it seems like maybe TESU is a better option given how many credits you can transfer in.

I have shared your blog with my wife as we have 5 children who started homeschooling just last year. My two oldest are 13 and 14 and it would be pretty amazing if they could do courses for college credit, and for use with homeschooling core hours.

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Thanks for the help Dave, I'm going to apply and see what they are willing to transfer.

[dfrecore]

My spreadsheets are a little easier to manage, as they show the different options for where you can take courses.

I would also look at getting an IT degree from WGU (transferring in everything you can before you do so).  I made a BSIT degree, but there are other options if you want to choose one of those concentrations instead of just general IT.

I'm also including a spreadsheet for a Pierpont BOG AAS degree.  The reason is that if you bring an AAS to WGU, they will waive your Gen Ed requirements, and you go straight into the Major courses.  You have met all the requirements for the AAS, so now you can load up the remaining 36 credits needed with courses that the WGU requires for the major - making it a perfect fit.  It's like this degree was made for you!

Anyway, I would look at all 3 degrees, plus the BSBM at WGU.  Do more research here before deciding anything.  And with WGU, make sure you complete ALL of the courses you need BEFORE ENROLLING there.  Once you enroll, you can no longer transfer in anything.  With TESU, you can bring in courses all along, as long as you are enrolled (take a TECEP every year to stay enrolled).

[mykal335i]

My spreadsheets are a little easier to manage, as they show the different options for where you can take courses.

I would also look at getting an IT degree from WGU (transferring in everything you can before you do so).  I made a BSIT degree, but there are other options if you want to choose one of those concentrations instead of just general IT.

I'm also including a spreadsheet for a Pierpont BOG AAS degree.  The reason is that if you bring an AAS to WGU, they will waive your Gen Ed requirements, and you go straight into the Major courses.  You have met all the requirements for the AAS, so now you can load up the remaining 36 credits needed with courses that the WGU requires for the major - making it a perfect fit.  It's like this degree was made for you!

Anyway, I would look at all 3 degrees, plus the BSBM at WGU.  Do more research here before deciding anything.  And with WGU, make sure you complete ALL of the courses you need BEFORE ENROLLING there.  Once you enroll, you can no longer transfer in anything.  With TESU, you can bring in courses all along, as long as you are enrolled (take a TECEP every year to stay enrolled).

Thank you so much! I'll read up on the option of the AAS transferring into WGU, if I can test out of most everything then this really seems like it is within reach. So if I understand correctly, with WGU the idea is to have everything you need done, then Enroll and get them to evaluate? If they transfer everything in, then you just pay their 6mo tuition and wait to graduate?

[davewill]

Thank you so much! I'll read up on the option of the AAS transferring into WGU, if I can test out of most everything then this really seems like it is within reach. So if I understand correctly, with WGU the idea is to have everything you need done, then Enroll and get them to evaluate? If they transfer everything in, then you just pay their 6mo tuition and wait to graduate?

Not exactly. After you do everything you can outside of WGU, you will still have a bunch of units that have to be done there, so the drill is to do everything you can, then enroll, and kill it for 6mo so that you get everything done in one term. If you can't then it will cost you a second term (or more). Your ability to do it in one term is something you have to evaluate. Certainly plenty of people here have. TESU will let you transfer everything except the capstone, so that the timeline is under your control. It really depends on how you want to do it.

[allvia]

Thank you so much! I'll read up on the option of the AAS transferring into WGU, if I can test out of most everything then this really seems like it is within reach. So if I understand correctly, with WGU the idea is to have everything you need done, then Enroll and get them to evaluate? If they transfer everything in, then you just pay their 6mo tuition and wait to graduate?

Not exactly. After you do everything you can outside of WGU, you will still have a bunch of units that have to be done there, so the drill is to do everything you can, then enroll, and kill it for 6mo so that you get everything done in one term. If you can't then it will cost you a second term (or more). Your ability to do it in one term is something you have to evaluate. Certainly plenty of people here have. TESU will let you transfer everything except the capstone, so that the timeline is under your control. It really depends on how you want to do it.

Don't confuse applying (& getting evaluated) with being enrolled.  You can apply to WGU, get evaluated, learn what you're missing - go get those credits, transfer them over to be added to the evaluation and then if you choose to go the WGU route - that is the time to enroll and complete what cannot be transferred in. With WGU you must transfer in all outside credits prior to enrollment.

TESU you apply, get evaluated, know what your missing, take a TECEP to lock your plan in and be enrolled for 12 months while you're getting more external credits, transfer those over.  If you need more than a year, take another TECEP - lock in for another 12 months, etc.  You will be required to take the Capstone course through TESU, and pay a residency waiver.

I was in a similar situation and weighing out my options between WGU and TESU.  I work in the IT Field, and now primarily do project planning. I knew a Business Degree suited my career path better in the long run, but I had so many CIS/IT college credits.  My CIS/IT credits didn't fit as well as I'd hope for a bachelors at either school; but what sold me on TESU in the end was that I needed less overall for the BSBA-GM quickly and inexpensive (I had some existing businesses courses), and could tack on the ASNSM in Computer Science with all my existing CIS/IT credits for additional cost. At my age my professional experience confirms my technical knowledge (backed up by the ASNSM-CS) and the BSBA-GM allows me to expand my PM (Project Management) into non-technical areas more easily.

From what you've posted it sounds like the BSBA-CIS from TESU or the BSIT from WGU would fit. I would recommend applying to both - why limit yourself.  WGU almost always has a free application, so it only costs you what your community college charges you for an official transcript (usually very minimal).  Then once you know what you're missing - you can plan what works best for your budget and time available.  To keep costs close to equal between the two schools know that TESU generally gives you more time as you're not paying per term; WGU is a flat fee per 6 months term, so the more you transfer in the less to be done - if you don't complete the missing courses in that time the cost goes up (at least double when adding a second term compared to the known costs to complete at TESU).

[dfrecore]

With your computer background, I think it's smart to look at getting an undergrad degree in computers, then get the MBA. A business undergrad followed by an MBA isn't as impressive, to me. I could be wrong, but I like the idea of having 2 different fields under my belt.

Also, for someone with your background, getting the BSIT (or similar) may be faster/easier than getting the BSBA/BSBM.

[davewill]

With your computer background, I think it's smart to look at getting an undergrad degree in computers, then get the MBA.  A business undergrad followed by an MBA isn't as impressive, to me.  I could be wrong, but I like the idea of having 2 different fields under my belt.

Also, for someone with your background, getting the BSIT (or similar) may be faster/easier than getting the BSBA/BSBM.

I would agree. Do be aware that as a non-business degree applicant, you might have a couple of extra business courses (accounting/finance) to take either as a prerequisite or within your MBA program. I don't think it's a big deal, though.