Should I earn credits at Sophia Learning before UMPI even with a PELL grant?

[Infinite-Telephone52]

Hello All! New Here. I am starting UMPI on May 8, 2023, and I am wishing I had found this forum sooner. Does anyone know if the benefit of earning credits at Sophia or SDC prior to attending UMPI are primarily for financial reasons, or are the courses easier/quicker? I have 15 years' experience in business and just want to complete the BABA Management & Leadership program as fast possible. I will receive a Pell grant so it will essentially cost me zero out of pocket on tuition. Is it still recommended to take as many credits as possible at Sophia first in my case? I already have an Associate's degree so there are about 30 available credits available for me take at Sophia and transfer to UMPI, leaving the 10+ credits for the residency requirement. I was also concerned that the milestones at UMPI could possibly slow me down as we have to wait for approval to move on to the next. I would really appreciate any advice and/or insight. I am very grateful for all the information I have found thus far. Thanks again

[ss20ts]

If you want to complete your UMPI degree as fast as possible, then you need to transfer in 90 credits before you start UMPI. Then you can focus solely on your UMPI courses and get through them quickly. Without knowing what courses you have from your associate degree, we can't say what you should take on Sophia.

[Infinite-Telephone52]

If you want to complete your UMPI degree as fast as possible, then you need to transfer in 90 credits before you start UMPI. Then you can focus solely on your UMPI courses and get through them quickly. Without knowing what courses you have from your associate degree, we can't say what you should take on Sophia.

Thanks for your reply. I have an AAS in Accounting from a community college, and have received my transfer report from UMPI for both the BABA in Accounting and for Management & Leadership programs.  I may double major but I want a break from accounting classes for now. I only have 4 accounting classes left to take at UMPI. I have found 12 total courses between Sofia and SDC that will apply to the BABA Management and Leadership degree plan. I'm just not sure if Sophia first would be faster or not? I would have to pay for Sophia out of pocket, but not at UMPI. I would gladly pay if I am able to move through Sophia's credits quicker.

[ss20ts]

Sophia is much faster than UMPI. Keep in mind that you must complete a minimum of 30 credits at UMPI. You may also need to complete a minimum number of UL credits at UMPI. According to your degree evaluation for BABA Management & Leadership Concentration, what courses do you have remaining?

[rachel83az]

Do you have a foreign language? Have you met the science requirement of a physical science and a biological science, one of which has a lab? If not, those are the classes that slow down other students the most. So you 100% NEED those.

[allvia]

I would definitely recommend getting as much completed in a month a Sophia - the less you have to complete at UMPI the quicker you'll go, and PELL grant or not, life can get in the way and slow you down. Based on you stating there are 30 credits you could get done at Sophia - that means if you don't utilize Sophia you're looking at at least 60 credits at UMPI.  Why? To save $100 out of pocket?

[LevelUP]

Definitely do all you can at Sophia.

[Infinite-Telephone52]

Sophia is much faster than UMPI. Keep in mind that you must complete a minimum of 30 credits at UMPI. You may also need to complete a minimum number of UL credits at UMPI. According to your degree evaluation for BABA Management & Leadership Concentration, what courses do you have remaining?

Thank you very much! That's what I really needed to figure out. It may be too late for me at this point unless they allow me to push back to Summer II. They did, however, say I can send in the credits I am still working on now after I start.

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I would definitely recommend getting as much completed in a month a Sophia - the less you have to complete at UMPI the quicker you'll go, and PELL grant or not, life can get in the way and slow you down. Based on you stating there are 30 credits you could get done at Sophia - that means if you don't utilize Sophia you're looking at at least 60 credits at UMPI.  Why? To save $100 out of pocket?

I have 60 credits to complete at UMPI. I can try to figure out how to post it here. I really just wanted to see where I stand credit wise, but they immediately enrolled me. They enrolled me in the same classes I am finishing up next week, even though it shows in process on my transcript. They did change that after I emailed, but I had also had questions portfolio assessment that went unanswered. Not really sure how that works, but I do have a good amount of experience. I have held positions in accounts payable, accounting management at a university, as a property manager and a CFO for a real estate franchise (independently owned franchise not at the corporate level). I don't care about saving the money just completing a degree as quicky as possible before I go back into the workforce. Thank you!

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Definitely do all you can at Sophia.

Thanks!! I hope I still have the option to do so. I haven't done the financial aid portion at UMPI so maybe it's not too late.

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Do you have a foreign language? Have you met the science requirement of a physical science and a biological science, one of which has a lab? If not, those are the classes that slow down other students the most. So you 100% NEED those.

I do not. I plan to take Spanish I as I am somewhat familiar with it, but I have never taken a language class before. Nor have I taken any science. I did read on this forum to absolutely take science elsewhere. Any suggestions where to take it?  Thank you!

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Definitely do all you can at Sophia.

I have 7 courses available at Sophia and 3 at SDC.  I should be able to complete these at UMPI in one session (with the exception of Bio). Is it still worth it to take these classes below at Sophia first? 

Sophia: Intro to Business
            Microecconomics
            Intro to Ethics
            US History I
            Intro to Environmental Science
            Intro to Literature (I have already taken it but it transferred as an elective)
            Spanish I

SDC:     Biology
            Management Information Systems
            American Gov

THANK YOU!

[rachel83az]

At Sophia, be sure to take: Spanish I, Human Biology, Human Biology Lab, Environmental Science, American Government.

[bjcheung77]

@Infinite-Telephone52, I would take everything at Sophia.org since you're going that route and delay the enrollment by a session. Sophia.org just recently released the US Government course, it's also the better option to complete the Biology & lab science credit as well...