Penn Foster then Master Data Science?

[Sunnydaze]

Hi all! Ive been lurking the forums  and finally taking the plunge! I have used all of my pell grant and far too much loans. I am 40 years old and made MANY bad financial choices during my 20.

My goal is a Masters of Data Science from Eastern University.  I was once considering finishing at University of the people and to my surprise EU would accept it. They take "accredited " degrees, so I assume that includes national degrees.

So I am on my last free term at WGU and Im trying to cram as much as I can. I would like to use Pierpoint to get a AA with concentration in Accounting. Then get a general studies degree or business degree from Penn Foster (for $60/month). Just to check the box that would allow me to start studying at EU. Im completely out of undergrad loans and just want take out the $9k required for that MS! 

Here are my stats from memory mostly. Im working on getting some transcripts. 

Community College: (I dont think the Ds transfer)
English 101/102
Speech
Philosophy 
Anthropology
History - D
Trigonometry  -D
Chemistry -D
intro to computers
Business plan writing

WGU
Business Ethics
Business Law
Accounting 1
Spreadsheets
Algreba
Business Statistics
Geography 
Science survey (i think thata the name)
Business communications 
This term: 2 more account classes, taxation and emotional intelligence 

Study.com
Personal Finance
2x more courses. I cant remember and I have get into my sDC account to find out.

[rachel83az]

Penn Foster honestly sounds like another bad financial decision. At $60/mo, a PennFoster degree winds up costing upwards of $10k. For that kind of money, you could get a better degree from an RA school.

How are you at writing papers? For less than $5k, you could have a degree from UMPI. Then, if something happens so that you're not able to continue at Eastern, you've at least got the UMPI degree.

If you'd rather avoid essays, I think even Excelsior could be cheaper at this point.

[ss20ts]

Aside from what Rachel said, have you confirmed with Eastern that the degree from Penn Foster would be accepted? Have you checked to see how easy/difficult it is to be accepted into Eastern? What if you change you mind and want a different master's or different college for it? Many schools won't accept an NA bachelor's degree. I'd stick with an RA degree. Penn Foster doesn't have the greatest reputation and can be very expensive.

There are few options for business at UMPI. UMPI can be completed in 1-3 sessions if you transfer in 90 usable credits. You can complete a BA in Business Administration where you have several options for a concentration or a BLS with several minors available. The BLS with Management Minor is the fastest to complete.

https://online.umpi.edu/degrees/undergraduate/

[bjcheung77]

@OP - Basically, you should follow the template by providing detailed information on the last post in the template thread.  With more info we can help you better.  Can you fill us in on a few things on this link? https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Area-works

What is the "free term" at WGU you're referring to?  I don't recall they ever having a free term...  Do you have other credits besides the ones mentioned in your original post?  Again, the more info, the better we can see your situation and have a bigger picture of what can be done.

[Sunnydaze]

@OP - Basically, you should follow the template by providing detailed information on the last post in the template thread.  With more info we can help you better.  Can you fill us in on a few things on this link? https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Area-works

What is the "free term" at WGU you're referring to?  I don't recall they ever having a free term...  Do you have other credits besides the ones mentioned in your original post?  Again, the more info, the better we can see your situation and have a bigger picture of what 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1...p=drivesdk

The free term is just paid for by my pell grant. After this term, Im done. 

The above link are my credits. I found my old official transcripts and My WGU credits were easy enough to find.  I have quite a bit! I scared that I cannot include my tech classes. But its just about 6 credits and I think I can pick those up using methods from this forum. 

I have a few University of the People credits (just 2-3 classes) too. Ill have to find those too.

[ss20ts]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1...p=drivesdk

You have to give access to the Google Doc. It's locked.

[Sunnydaze]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1...p=drivesdk

From my sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1...sp=sharing 
Sorry, I updated it! But I Cut and pasted everything here too:

General Education Requirements
English Comp 1 (PGCC)
English Comp 2 (PGCC)
Intro to Speech Communication (PGCC)
Intro to Philosophy(PGCC)
Intro to Cultural Antropology (PGCC)
Intro to Business Computing (SDC)
Intro to Geography (WGU)
Applied Algebra (WGU)
Intergrated Physical Sciences (WGU)
Applied Probability and Statistics (WGU)

Electives
Intro to Personal Finance (SDC)
Computer Repair (PGCC - 2003)
Understanding Operating Systems (PGCC-2003)
Principals of Management (WGU)
Fundamentals for Success in Business (WGU)
Business Ethics (WGU)
Intro to HUman Resources (WGU)
Critical Thinking and Logic (WGU)
Organizational Behavavior (WGU)
Spreadsheets (WGU)
Business Law (WGU)
Ethics in Technology (WGU)
Emotional and Cultural Intelligence (WGU)
Principals of Accounting (WGU)
Entrepreneurship (SCC)
Business Communication (SCC)You have to give access to the Google Doc. It's locked.

[rachel83az]

Did you find your UoPeople credits?

For Pierpont, you should have all required credits. But you need at least 15 credits of Accounting to get an AoE in Accounting. You've listed one class in Accounting, but you said you have two more at WGU. Without knowing what you have, or will have, it's impossible to make further recommendations. Saylor has 2 Accounting courses, but those could be the same as what you'll already have. SDC is probably the best bet for further accounting courses.

[Vle045]

How fast are you getting courses done at WGU? I see some have suggested UMPI, which is a great option…. But also similar concept in that it’s competency based. If you need more time or structure, it might not be the best option. It also might not be much different than staying put at WGU, unless there’s other reasons to switch.

I don’t have personal experience with PENN FOSTER. I did look up their graduation rate for Bachelors degrees. It’s about 7%. I think their niche is HS and career diploma school programs. I just don’t see the benefit. On the payment plan, it’s possible that you could finish and still be paying it off for a while afterward and I’d bet you don’t get that diploma until it’s paid. So that would delay your next step.

Have you looked into employer reimbursement?

[Sunnydaze]

Did you find your UoPeople credits?

For Pierpont, you should have all required credits. But you need at least 15 credits of Accounting to get an AoE in Accounting. You've listed one class in Accounting, but you said you have two more at WGU. Without knowing what you have, or will have, it's impossible to make further recommendations. Saylor has 2 Accounting courses, but those could be the same as what you'll already have. SDC is probably the best bet for further accounting courses.

Darn I forgot to include my current terms classes. I will update after work. I'll also get my UofP credits 

Principals of Financial and Managerial Accounting
Financial Accounting
Taxation 1

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How fast are you getting courses done at WGU?   I see some have suggested UMPI, which is a great option…. But also similar concept in that it’s competency based.  If you need more time or structure, it might not be the best option.  It also might not be much different than staying put at WGU, unless there’s other reasons to switch.

I don’t have personal experience with PENN FOSTER.  I did look up their graduation rate for Bachelors degrees.  It’s about 7%.   I think their niche is HS and career diploma school programs.  I just don’t see the benefit.   On the payment plan, it’s possible that you could finish and still be paying it off for a while  afterward and I’d bet you don’t get that diploma until it’s paid.  So that would delay your next step.  

Have you looked into employer reimbursement?

My employer will only pay for a records management certification. Plus I dont make much, ($31k/year), so self paying will be rough. Thats why initially I thought Penn Foster would be a deal if it only took me a few months.

As for WGU, I was doing OK. I can get 4 classes down in 3 months. But, I may be slower now that I am working fulltime. I wasnt working at all went I started. COVID and depression really messed up this and last term for me and I slowed down alot. I think I would do well at UMPI. I just wish their terms were a bit longer.