Suggestions on how/where to start an Associates or Bachelors IT Degree ?

[fcruz420]

Hello All,

I’m completely new to this realm of schooling. Please forgive me if my terminologies are off. I’m seeking a degree in the computer field. I would prefer a bachelors, but an associates to start would be awesome as well. I would prefer to complete everything online, but I reside in New Jersey and I'm willing to accommodate brick and mortar classes if needed.

Here is the long story short:
Cons:
- I have no college credit or college experience.
- I've been out of high school for about 12 years.
- I have no tech certificates.
- I'm not eligible for FASFA.

Pros:
- I have experience and on the job training for 7-8 years in tech field.
- My company pays tuition capped at 3k per year. Company only pays for courses, not exams.

I found this site while searching for online school options and I believe it was also mentioned in BAin4weeks (can’t recall right now). I have formulated somewhat of a plan. This is what I have thus far.

School/Degree options:
- The big three of course. offers associates and bs in IT.
- Fort Hays State University. Offers bs in information networking & telcomm.
- Clovis community college. Offers associate in applied science degree.

Testing:
I've read a little on clep, ece, fema and dante testing. Given I haven’t been in school for 10 years - I’m not sure if this testing route is the thing to do. Anyone recently take these exams? Any thoughts on difficult levels regarding taking the test? Shall I take a few test exams to see how my test taking skills are?

This is all I have thus far. Does anyone have any suggestion or recommendations for my situation? I would like to thank you all in advance for your time and assistance.

Ohhh one last note. I would prefer to complete everything in an inexpensive, yet reputable way. =)

[Jackinrke]

I had not heard of the clep, dsst exams, Alex or straighterline before a couple of weekends ago.
The best kept secrets in education. Had I had know I may have begun a program earlyer.
I enrolled in my local community college during the summer semester and now have 5 more classes starting this week.
I am hoping to take some clep exams to shorten the time it will take earning a Associates in Information Technology.
I need that degree in order to be employable once my current employer shuts the doors.
I also would like to go on to a bachelor degree and possible further. The goal would remain in the information technology field or a shift to computer science.
Like the orginal poster any suggestions would be appreciated. I earned 2 Microsoft technology certifications while taking my first 2 IT classes in the summer. They are just beginners certifications but it's given me the asperation to earn more certifications and ones that could help earn some credits would be great.

[fcruz420]

I had not heard of the clep, dsst exams, Alex or straighterline before a couple of weekends ago.
The best kept secrets in education. Had I had know I may have begun a program earlyer.
I enrolled in my local community college during the summer semester and now have 5 more classes starting this week.
I am hoping to take some clep exams to shorten the time it will take earning a Associates in Information Technology.
I need that degree in order to be employable once my current employer shuts the doors.
I also would like to go on to a bachelor degree and possible further. The goal would remain in the information technology field or a shift to computer science.
Like the orginal poster any suggestions would be appreciated. I earned 2 Microsoft technology certifications while taking my first 2 IT classes in the summer. They are just beginners certifications but it's given me the asperation to earn more certifications and ones that could help earn some credits would be great.

Congrats Jackinrke. I'm starting on this awesome path as well. FYI im putting together a ASBA degree plan for TESC if youre intersted:
http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...-help.html

[jam123]

I started my journey at the age of 43 not having taken any college courses or exams for 23 years! I just completed my BA in Computer Science at TESC and got accepted to Univ. of Illinois Masters in Computer Science program for this Fall 2012.

Here is what I would do if you wish to attend TESC:

Do not apply or enroll at TESC yet. Check out the three IT programs they have.

Take all the FEMA courses you can (search this forum for info). They are free and can satisfy most of your free electives and can be done very fast. They build your sense of accomplishment and I actually liked them. I got an AAS degree in the process from all the FEMA courses.

Sign up for Aleks.com and take as much Math as you can stand and also the Intro to Stats. You'll need Stats for almost any degree and Math can be used as general education requirements. Some degrees require the Math. This is dirt cheap and easy but takes time. Search the forum on techniques to help with Aleks. You'll need to create an ACE account (search this forum). When you complete an Aleks course you send to ACE and wait for ACE to receive before starting another Aleks course.

Take the easier CLEP/DSST exams (search this forum). Sign up for InstantCert!!! I did like 15 CLEP and DSST exams. They are $100 a pop.

Somewhere around this point you need to be focusing in on a single degree.
- The BA in Computer Science requires a year of Calculus (Straighterline) and Discrete Math (TESC)
- The BSAST in IT requires college algebra (Aleks) and a year of physics or chemistry (Straighterline)
- The BSBA in CIS requires a boat load of business classes and lesser requirements in math/science

Sign up for Straighterline and take a bunch of classes. I did the $99 per month and $39 per class option. You can also take your remaining math and sciences here.

Apply at TESC and send in all transcripts from all sources.

Wait 5-6 weeks for an evaluation. They are very slow. You should be very close to having all requirements done except for your area of study core classes. You should be able to take all these in one year. So I would not enroll at TESC until you have as many credits as possible completed from non TESC sources.

I hope this helps!!

[fcruz420]

Congrats on your success Jam123. How long did you take to obtain the degrees? I'm in the process of getting everything going. Saving up for testing and getting ready to layout my plan for testing.

I started my journey at the age of 43 not having taken any college courses or exams for 23 years! I just completed my BA in Computer Science at TESC and got accepted to Univ. of Illinois Masters in Computer Science program for this Fall 2012.

Here is what I would do if you wish to attend TESC:

Do not apply or enroll at TESC yet. Check out the three IT programs they have.

Take all the FEMA courses you can (search this forum for info). They are free and can satisfy most of your free electives and can be done very fast. They build your sense of accomplishment and I actually liked them. I got an AAS degree in the process from all the FEMA courses.

Sign up for Aleks.com and take as much Math as you can stand and also the Intro to Stats. You'll need Stats for almost any degree and Math can be used as general education requirements. Some degrees require the Math. This is dirt cheap and easy but takes time. Search the forum on techniques to help with Aleks. You'll need to create an ACE account (search this forum). When you complete an Aleks course you send to ACE and wait for ACE to receive before starting another Aleks course.

Take the easier CLEP/DSST exams (search this forum). Sign up for InstantCert!!! I did like 15 CLEP and DSST exams. They are $100 a pop.

Somewhere around this point you need to be focusing in on a single degree.
- The BA in Computer Science requires a year of Calculus (Straighterline) and Discrete Math (TESC)
- The BSAST in IT requires college algebra (Aleks) and a year of physics or chemistry (Straighterline)
- The BSBA in CIS requires a boat load of business classes and lesser requirements in math/science

Sign up for Straighterline and take a bunch of classes. I did the $99 per month and $39 per class option. You can also take your remaining math and sciences here.

Apply at TESC and send in all transcripts from all sources.

Wait 5-6 weeks for an evaluation. They are very slow. You should be very close to having all requirements done except for your area of study core classes. You should be able to take all these in one year. So I would not enroll at TESC until you have as many credits as possible completed from non TESC sources.

I hope this helps!!

[jam123]

I was able to get my AAS and BA in a year. I started with 18 credits from all my Microsoft certs. But everything else was following the plan I outlined above. All my time was going into it my plan. I had no job and no family. I was a full time student times two!! There were many weeks in which I would take 2-3 CLEP/DSST exams in one week.

I lost my job, sold my house, bought an RV, lived cheaply and traveled thru the western states while working on my degree. But that's another story.

[OneGrlRevolution]

Jam~ what exactly do you mean by FEMA courses? Are you talking about Federal Emergency Management Agency? I wonder if my Community College here will accept those credits? I just registered for online classes starting in October to get my Business Admin Associates degree. I have 12 credits completed from years ago, grad high school in 1996 and now back to college while I have a 13, 10, 2 and 1 year old at home. (I must be crazy doing this now! But I want to get it done and be ready to hit the work force by the time my youngest starts school full time.) My school told me that I can clep as much as I want just as long as I take the last 15 credits there through them. Any idea's? Thanks in advance

I started my journey at the age of 43 not having taken any college courses or exams for 23 years! I just completed my BA in Computer Science at TESC and got accepted to Univ. of Illinois Masters in Computer Science program for this Fall 2012.

Here is what I would do if you wish to attend TESC:

Do not apply or enroll at TESC yet. Check out the three IT programs they have.

Take all the FEMA courses you can (search this forum for info). They are free and can satisfy most of your free electives and can be done very fast. They build your sense of accomplishment and I actually liked them. I got an AAS degree in the process from all the FEMA courses.

Sign up for Aleks.com and take as much Math as you can stand and also the Intro to Stats. You'll need Stats for almost any degree and Math can be used as general education requirements. Some degrees require the Math. This is dirt cheap and easy but takes time. Search the forum on techniques to help with Aleks. You'll need to create an ACE account (search this forum). When you complete an Aleks course you send to ACE and wait for ACE to receive before starting another Aleks course.

Take the easier CLEP/DSST exams (search this forum). Sign up for InstantCert!!! I did like 15 CLEP and DSST exams. They are $100 a pop.

Somewhere around this point you need to be focusing in on a single degree.
- The BA in Computer Science requires a year of Calculus (Straighterline) and Discrete Math (TESC)
- The BSAST in IT requires college algebra (Aleks) and a year of physics or chemistry (Straighterline)
- The BSBA in CIS requires a boat load of business classes and lesser requirements in math/science

Sign up for Straighterline and take a bunch of classes. I did the $99 per month and $39 per class option. You can also take your remaining math and sciences here.

Apply at TESC and send in all transcripts from all sources.

Wait 5-6 weeks for an evaluation. They are very slow. You should be very close to having all requirements done except for your area of study core classes. You should be able to take all these in one year. So I would not enroll at TESC until you have as many credits as possible completed from non TESC sources.

I hope this helps!!

[fcruz420]

Amazing.... Again congratulations on your success :hurray::hurray:

I was able to get my AAS and BA in a year. I started with 18 credits from all my Microsoft certs. But everything else was following the plan I outlined above. All my time was going into it my plan. I had no job and no family. I was a full time student times two!! There were many weeks in which I would take 2-3 CLEP/DSST exams in one week.

I lost my job, sold my house, bought an RV, lived cheaply and traveled thru the western states while working on my degree. But that's another story.

[fcruz420]

Hello OneGrlrevolution,

Correct those are the FEMA courses Jam123 is referring to. Im still new to all of this, but generally it seems like the big 3 accepts these credits no questions asked. For your CC I would probably double check with student adviser and get it in writing that they will accept FEMA courses. Best wishes =)

Jam~ what exactly do you mean by FEMA courses? Are you talking about Federal Emergency Management Agency? I wonder if my Community College here will accept those credits? I just registered for online classes starting in October to get my Business Admin Associates degree. I have 12 credits completed from years ago, grad high school in 1996 and now back to college while I have a 13, 10, 2 and 1 year old at home. (I must be crazy doing this now! But I want to get it done and be ready to hit the work force by the time my youngest starts school full time.) My school told me that I can clep as much as I want just as long as I take the last 15 credits there through them. Any idea's? Thanks in advance

[jam123]

Hello OneGrlrevolution,

Correct those are the FEMA courses Jam123 is referring to. Im still new to all of this, but generally it seems like the big 3 accepts these credits no questions asked. For your CC I would probably double check with student adviser and get it in writing that they will accept FEMA courses. Best wishes =)

This is correct. Check with any school before taking the FEMA courses to make sure they accept them. TESC accepts them directly from FEMA. They are useful as electives or for environment/homeland security degrees. They are free! You download a PDF and the exam at the same time. You read the PDF and fill in exam as you read the PDF. You can also just go thru the exam and "search" the PDF for the answers. Then you login and fill in your answers online. I think there is like 27 credits you can get. Again for free. There is tons of information on this forum.