TESU BA CS (+BA Math) vs WGU CS: Need help deciding

[muu9]

Hi everyone!

Your Location: MA, USA
Your Age: 21
What kind of degree do you want?: Bachelors in CS
Current Regional Accredited Credits: 

Community College 1:
Intro Statistics: A

4 Year University:
Honors Physics 1: C
Honors Chem 1: D

Community College:
Intro CS: In progress (B?)
Intro Chem: In progress ©


School Name Total Credits: #
Class Name, Credits, Grade

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits:

CLEP credits: 15
Intro Calculus
Intro Psychology
Intro Sociology
Intro Chem
College Composition

Any certifications or military experience?

No

My primary (but not exclusive) goal is to get a degree as quickly as possible.
Budget: My parents were considering spending well over 15k for a 4-year plan, but I'm choosing this to save them money and save myself time.  
Commitments: A part-time position as a programmer/analyst at a medical school. Not much else since I live with my parents
Dedicated time to study: 30-40 hours per week.
Timeline: Finishing the courses required for the degree as fast as possible would be ideal.
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: I previously claimed that I could get UMass online credits for free; it turn out the discount is only 50% so classes could cost me $500-$1000 each (example), which is what I'm paying at my current community college. (Yes, really)

I've created a spreadsheet of the classes I need to take at TESU here (feedback encouraged). I haven't done the same for WGU, but if you think it would be helpful I'd be happy to do so. One interesting thing I've noticed is how few Sophia courses are there. Can someone let me know if I've missed something?

Some questions:

1. I've noticed some talk about TESU accepted credit changing (for the worse?) after July 1st. I just need to successfully apply (not enroll) in order to "lock-in" the pre-July 1 acceptances, is that correct?
2. When taking a course to enroll for unlimited transfer evaluations, it's better to take the medical terminology TECEP than the cornerstone if you're not set on TESU, right?

Pricing: One semester (6 months) of WGU is $3,920; one term (3 months) of TESU is $4,639, and that's assuming I can complete 16 credits and 2 capstones within those 3 months.

TESU appears to be the better option since the higher price isn't a huge deal and it offers a four point GPA and the opportunity to complete 2 bachelor's degrees.
So why am I torn?
Well, I guess it comes down to support. TESU seems to be a dumpster fire, internally, while WGU seems to be better organized with a larger online community.
I'm worried (perhaps irrationally) that something might go wrong and I'll be stuck holding a bunch of untransferable credits (credits accepted by WGU seem to be a subset of those accepted by TESU)

What do you guys think? Are my fears justified or unfounded?

[rachel83az]

No, enrolling at TESU isn't enough to lock in the pre-July acceptances. Assuming you do choose TESU, what I would suggest doing would be to do the UL Comp Sci credits at SDC ASAP. As long as they are transferred in before July, it doesn't matter what TESU does after July.

Computer Science 306: Computer Architecture should actually be easier now that there are two assignments.
Computer Science 302: Systems Analysis & Design is pretty easy and can be completed relatively quickly.
Computer Science 303: Database Management is extremely easy for being an UL course. The assignment isn't the clearest, but as long as you follow the instructions as carefully as possible, then it's easy to get at least 80 points.
Business 303: Management Information Systems is also relatively straightforward.

You can throw in Computer Science 105: Introduction to Operating Systems and Discrete Math relatively easily. If you get started now, you should be able to finish all 6 of these to transfer in by July 1st. I would get started on Computer Architecture, Database Management, and Operating Systems immediately. Next SDC month, you can tackle Systems Analysis, Management Information Systems, and Discrete Math.

Strayer exams can be a bit of a hassle to get accepted at TESU. They might be cheaper, but SDC is almost certainly going to be easier and less hassle. Also, I am not sure why your spreadsheet appears to have copied EVERY course from the Comp Sci degree plan. You don't need to take Operating Systems 5x and Computer Architecture 2x, for instance.

As long as you have these courses in, you should be golden. You might be stuck paying for Data Structures & Algorithms somewhere else, but you'll have the most important (read: expensive) portion of your CS degree completed.

If you do CS & Math at the same time, you only need ONE capstone for both. Not two. Two capstones would be if you graduated from one and then came back from the other, or if you graduated from a BA and a BSBA at the same time.

When taking a course to enroll for unlimited transfer evaluations, it's better to take the medical terminology TECEP than the cornerstone if you're not set on TESU, right?

Yes. You don't even have to take it. Just pay the $50 for it.

One interesting thing I've noticed is how few Sophia courses are there. Can someone let me know if I've missed something?

Electives. If you do both CS & Math, the AOS of one can act as electives for the other. But you'll probably still need a couple of Sophia courses as padding. Especially since there is some overlap in the two AOS.

For Knowledge of Human Cultures, you need: 1 Social Science, 1 History, 1 Humanities, 2 History/Social Science/Humanities (your choice). For Scientific Knowledge, Human Biology/Environmental Science/Chemistry from Sophia is probably going to be easier than taking a CLEP science exam. You can do that if you REALLY want to, but there's no need.

Public Speaking: Do Presentation Skills in the Workplace from SDC, not Public Speaking from Sophia. So much easier and faster.

[ss20ts]

WGU has a MASSIVE online support system on social media. There are so many people who help others out on Facebook and Reddit. You also have a mentor and course instructors at WGU. With TESU you're on your own to find and complete your courses until you take your final 16 credits at TESU.

Don't worry about your past credits and trying to transfer them. You need to find a degree program that works for you and your career goals. I mean if you started off college wanting to be a flutist in an an orchestra and now have a career in IT, it wouldn't make any sense to worry about losing your Orchestra 101 course. Same principles apply.

[muu9]

Also, I am not sure why your spreadsheet appears to have copied EVERY course from the Comp Sci degree plan. You don't need to take Operating Systems 5x and Computer Architecture 2x, for instance.

I left those options there since I'm not sure which I'll choose. Once I make a choice I'll delete the rest.

Computer Science 306: Computer Architecture should actually be easier now that there are two assignments.
Computer Science 302: Systems Analysis & Design is pretty easy and can be completed relatively quickly.
Computer Science 303: Database Management is extremely easy for being an UL course. The assignment isn't the clearest, but as long as you follow the instructions as carefully as possible, then it's easy to get at least 80 points.
Business 303: Management Information Systems is also relatively straightforward.
You can throw in Computer Science 105: Introduction to Operating Systems and Discrete Math relatively easily.

Are all of these SDC courses no longer going to be accepted after July 1st, regardless of acceptance/enrollment status?
Looks like CS306, CS303, and MAT108 (discrete math) all also transfer to WGU, but CS302, Business303, and CS105 do not.

Since SDC only allows two courses per month, does that mean I would need to complete two courses before May 1st in order to complete 4 courses before the June 1st deadline, or would my available tests "refresh" on May 20th rather than May 1st? If so, which two should I complete? I can complete Discrete Math quite cheaply through my local community college since it offers credit by exam. I'll be starting CS 105 until I hear back from you.

WGU has a MASSIVE online support system on social media. There are so many people who help others out on Facebook and Reddit. You also have a mentor and course instructors at WGU. With TESU you're on your own to find and complete your courses until you take your final 16 credits at TESU.

I know! That's what makes this so difficult   

But I guess I'll always have you guys!

If you do CS & Math at the same time, you only need ONE capstone for both.

This is a big deal; it makes it likely that I'll only need a single 3 month semester at TESU. Does the Capstone need to be related to both subjects or to just one?

[LevelUP]

My primary (but not exclusive) goal is to get a degree as quickly as possible.

Well, then you need to stick with Sophia as much as possible. Do environmental science over chemistry.

SDC discreet math would probably be quicker than doing it at your community college. You should be able to do that course in 20-40hrs.

SDC only allows two courses per month

SDC allows five courses per month. So in one month + 1 day, you could do 10 courses.

Does the Capstone need to be related to both subjects or to just one?

The capstone doesn't have to be related to any subject of your degree. You can choose what you want.

Dedicated time to study: 30-40 hours per week.

You should be able to get done in 6-12 months np.

I've noticed some talk about TESU accepted credit changing (for the worse?) after July 1st. I just need to successfully apply (not enroll) in order to "lock-in" the pre-July 1 acceptances, is that correct?

These are just rumors though I would apply before July 1st to lock in the current catalog.

When taking a course to enroll for unlimited transfer evaluations, it's better to take the medical terminology TECEP than the cornerstone if you're not set on TESU, right?

Medical TECEP is only $50, cornerstone would be $1500+. Better to do the TECEP unless you planned on taking courses individually.

Well, I guess it comes down to support. TESU seems to be a dumpster fire, internally

Support is pretty good at TESU. If you email advising on if a course will fit your degree plan, they'll get back to you usually within 24hrs. There is also a daily advising hotline for simple questions or you can set up a meeting for more complex questions. Advising won't plan out your degree and sometimes they do give out different answers to questions. But the DegreeForum has lots of info on TESU.

WGU seems to be better organized with a larger online community.

Not to toot our own horn but the community at the degree forum is pretty good.

TESU or WGU, you're experience will be similar since you are taking mostly Study.com/Sophia/Clep alternative credit courses. Both are good options. TESU may be quicker to do than WGU. 

One option you didn't put in the poll was the BA Computer Science + BSBA CIS
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan

Whatever you decide, focus on one degree at a time.

[muu9]

SDC discreet math would probably be quicker than doing it at your community college. You should be able to do that course in 20-40hrs.

My CC lets me take the final for Pass/Fail credit for less than $100 (which is SDC's cost per class). Not sure if TESU would accept that

SDC allows five courses per month. So in one month + 1 day, you could do 10 courses.

The second sentence explains everything, but anyways I've attached an image showing that I only have two exams. Not sure if a retake would count as the second.

The capstone doesn't have to be related to any subject of your degree. You can choose what you want.

Is it a project or a paper?
Do you know how it's graded? There has to be some standardization, right?

These are just rumors though I would apply before July 1st to lock in the current catalog.

Thanks for clarifying.

Medical TECEP is only $50, cornerstone would be $1500+. Better to do the TECEP unless you planned on taking courses individually.

No, I planned on a single 16 credit semester, thanks for explaining.

Not to toot our own horn but the community at the degree forum is pretty good.

I can see that!

One option you didn't put in the poll was the BA Computer Science + BSBA CIS
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan

Whatever you decide, focus on one degree at a time.

I'm more interested in the data science/analytics side of things than IT, but I'll definitely be prioritizing the CS degree

[LevelUP]

The second sentence explains everything, but anyways I've attached an image showing that I only have two exams. Not sure if a retake would count as the second.

After you use up those 2 exams, you can pay $70 per exam after that. During one month, you can't do more than 5 courses.

[dfrecore]

First, I want to say that you don't just have to be enrolled at TESU for the CS degree, you have to get those courses completed and transferred to TESU prior to the July 1 date when they may or may not become problems/unaccepted. So I'd apply now, send in everything you have, take the courses you need for the CS degree that might go away, and get those sent ASAP. Having them on your eval is really the only way to make sure that you keep them.

Second, there is no inexpensive way to get UL math credits that I'm aware of. You have to take 15cr of UL math from somewhere, and that's not an inexpensive proposition anywhere. So my advice is, get the credits you need for CS and then if you have the time/money to get those last few credits needed for the math degree, go get them. But you should always finish (or get close to finishing) a single degree before worrying about a 2nd one. If life happens, and you're halfway done with both degrees, you're in a bad spot. But if life happens and you're 99% done with a single degree, and it turns out you can't/don't want to get that second degree, you're not screwed.

[rachel83az]

The second sentence explains everything, but anyways I've attached an image showing that I only have two exams. Not sure if a retake would count as the second.

After you use up those 2 exams, you can pay $70 per exam after that. During one month, you can't do more than 5 courses.

Yup. See this page on SDC for confirmation: https://support.study.com/support/soluti...can-i-take-

[bjcheung77]

In short: You only need 30 RA credits, 16 at TESU, it won't hit exactly those numbers as you would most likely go over both.  You can take as many ACE/NCCRS courses that will transfer into the BACS/Math degree.  I would follow this plan on the wiki and custom change it to reflect courses you have taken and about to take:

Gen Ed: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...ts_Roadmap
CS: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...ience_Plan
Math: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan

So, take as many CLEP/MS and Sophia.org courses for your lower level requirements.  Take the UL requirements at Study.com or those courses that can't be found at CLEP/Sophia.org! The courses in the AOS/Major you have from Oregon State etc aren't really needed unless you can't find the courses from Study.com and if they no longer are accepted.

You just need to make sure from all these courses you have from the wiki, 10 of them are RA in total for 30 credits, it's great if you go over.  You can select any 16-18+ credits from TESU to round out the requirements.  Here are course examples at TESU: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Th...University