Starting my journey

[TheQualityManager]

I started trying to get a degree in 1988 and i skipped around and managed to put together something close to nothing. At the same time, my career went well and I always thought about what I would do if I were to get laid off because it seems like everyone has a bachelors degree.

Last week, that event happened - I am now unemployed and looking for work. I work in Project Management, and I specialize in Quality Management.

To that end, I managed to become certified in two areas:

#1: ASQ CMQ/OE (Certified Manager of Quality / Organizational Excellence)

#2: USGC LEED AP O+M: This is an environmental accreditation having to do with "green" design and construction methods.

The company I used to work for paid for all of this, including study materials and a little bit of time on the clock to study.

I have been studying for a third certification - the PMP (Project Management Professional), and I am about six weeks away from taking that test. I study hard and test well, and I expect to pass with no issues, and as powerful as those three certifications are... Almost every job I apply for requires a bachelors degree.

A good number of them ask for a bachelors degree in engineering, but most of them just say bachelors degreee.

So, at age 43, I decided to go back to school, and I started researching all the fast-track options.

After getting a hard sell from AIU, I found this website and had an epiphany:

I have the experience with major corporations.

I have the certifications.

I have the job knowledge.

I don't need to prove it again with an engineering degree. I just need a bachelors degree. If anything, a liberal arts degree will show some diversity in my background.

I have decided on a BA in Communications - and I am going to do it with CLEP and DSST. I already have a few credits I will bring in with me, and I can fill in the blanks with the FEMA stuff maybe.

I also have an extensive CEU list of credits that I take to maintain my credentials, including an in house corporate training log that I downloaded before they cut off my comptuer access.

After I pass the PMP, I will register for Thomas Edison and start petitioning all the schools I attended for transcripts, and sending all that to TESC so I can have them start telling me what will work and what won't.

At the same time I am going to sign up for InstantCert and start knocking out CLEPS and DSST's. I learn with Flashcards really well, to the point where I scare myself, because my memory is generally not that amazing, but for some reason I really get the benefit of flashcard memorization.

And so even though I am bummed about getting laid off, I am very excited about getting this plan in place and moving forward.

At the same time, I have some consulting gigs that will probably keep me busy (and the lights on!) for the next year or so, and allow me to stay around home while I study, study, study.

I will appreciate any insight and advice on my plan.

Best regards,

TQM

[Yenisei]

I think a general business degree would be somewhat more useful for you than a liberal arts degree. TESC may even give you some credit for the PMP cert. I'd recommend looking at their BSBA in General Management because there are a lot of testing options for that Area of Study.

[P00057870]

You can get a BS in Liberal Studies, at least at EC, with 2 areas of focus. One of them has to be in the sciences and arts, but the other can be in business management - that's what I'm getting.

Let's see what others who are already with TESC say about this one, as I'd be surprised that they did not have something similar available.

[burbuja0512]

I think a general business degree would be somewhat more useful for you than a liberal arts degree. TESC may even give you some credit for the PMP cert. I'd recommend looking at their BSBA in General Management because there are a lot of testing options for that Area of Study.

:iagree:

The question I have is how set are you on Communications and how badly do you want to test out of your degree?

With your background, some of the business tests would be cake. Also, you can't entirely test out of Communications. The test-out options that I've seen here are business, liberal studies, history (I think), and yikes... not sure what else other then a learner-designed area of study. (LDAS... which I wouldn't recommend in most cases)

You'll also want to see how much credit the college you choose to enroll in grants for your current experience. If you want to test out entirely, TESC would be the only option, but don't rule out COSC and EC even if you have to take a class or two.

Tell us more about how strongly you feel about testing out as much as possible versus keeping the Communications major and we'll be able to provide more feedback.




EDIT: oops I forgot that you can also test out of psych for sure and I know that COSC also has an American Studies concentration that's almost entirely test-oriented.

[ryoder]

I also recommend the tesc bsba since it's something you can test out of and in the prossional world, a bsba is very useful.
I had the epiphany lat October and I'm almost done now. I did have some credits to start with but some of them are going unused in my pursuit of the business degree.
They have different concentrations so you never know where your credits will fall into place.
Spend the 75 bucks and get those transcripts in asap because they are a little slow in adding them to your eval.

There isn't a whole lot of test out ability in a comm degree.

[TheQualityManager]

Thanks everyone, for the great insight and advice - I really do appreciate it.

After reviewing the comments and re-visiting the TESC site, I have decided that the best path forward is the BSBA in General Management. It fits my background better, and it allows me the ability to test out of nearly all of the degree.

To answer your questions:

1. It is very important for me to test out. I need to accomplish this as soon as possible, with as little time spent as possible.
2. I think communications would be an interesting degree, but BSBA in General Management more closely fits my background.

Best regards,


...Steve

:iagree:

The question I have is how set are you on Communications and how badly do you want to test out of your degree?

With your background, some of the business tests would be cake. Also, you can't entirely test out of Communications. The test-out options that I've seen here are business, liberal studies, history (I think), and yikes... not sure what else other then a learner-designed area of study. (LDAS... which I wouldn't recommend in most cases)

You'll also want to see how much credit the college you choose to enroll in grants for your current experience. If you want to test out entirely, TESC would be the only option, but don't rule out COSC and EC even if you have to take a class or two.

Tell us more about how strongly you feel about testing out as much as possible versus keeping the Communications major and we'll be able to provide more feedback.




EDIT: oops I forgot that you can also test out of psych for sure and I know that COSC also has an American Studies concentration that's almost entirely test-oriented.

[ryoder]

Welcome to the tesc bsba crew!

[TheQualityManager]

Welcome to the tesc bsba crew!

When I first posted the starting message to this thread, I had just been laid off and was studying for my PMP exam. My plan, in February, was to spend several weeks studying (and not working) and then take the exam. The good news is that I managed to find a new job a few days later that is very demanding so it took me longer to study than I had planned.

However, I finally took (AND PASSED!) my PMP exam, so I am ready to move forward with this degree from TESC.

My question is - should I start taking CLEP and DSST (and others) now, and then apply? I ask because what if I take too long getting all of these tests done? Do the credits expire, or would I simply have to pay another $75 and then just get re-evaluated?

Or, is it easier to pay the $75, start sending transcripts and taking the CLEP exams now?

I really appreciate all of the help. I am trying to talk my wife into doing this very same program, she is presently taking courses at a local community college.

[Lindagerr]

Once you send the $75 and your transcripts TESC will do the evaluation.The eval is then good for 6 months after that you would need to pay another $75. Credits do not usually expire at TESC. They took 38 year old credits(older then a lot of the people here) for my degree and some of them were even in my area of study.

You don't say what state you are in. I am a TESC grad and I love them, but if you live in another state they can be expensive.

Congrats on getting a new job so fast, my husband has some quality management and PMP experience and it took him almost 18 months, but he is over 50.

Good luck with your goal and don't give up. I wish I had done it 10, 20 or 30 years ago instead of waiting.

[burbuja0512]

Congrats on passing the PMP!!! I agree with Linda.. just get the eval done and then start testing. It will really help motivate you and keep you on track. I bet that you'll be able to get into a great testing pace in no time. I was doing about one test a week, which meant a few hours of study each night and some weekend work for the harder tests. I started off slower and picked up the pace as I went along. I think it's very realistic for a dedicated adult to do a test anywhere from once a week to every three weeks for a more difficult exam.

I agree that your wife should start too. Community college is cheap compared to a university, but nothing beats a CLEP! It's scary to take the leap and do one, but once she does, she'll be hooked!!