TESU/UMPI Plan Help

[bobbymo]

Hey everyone – I can't thank you enough for everything I've been able to learn from browsing the forum for the past couple weeks.

Short backstory: Ten years ago, I dropped out of my private engineering college a semester shy of graduating for a great job opportunity. Going back to finish my Electrical Engineering degree doesn't make sense due to an internship-based engineering thesis project requirement, a $30k+ price tag, and degree requirements that have changed in the past 10 years that might require more than just one semester.

My goal: I'd like to "check the box" on getting a degree and, eventually, complete an MBA so that I can keep climbing in my career path. Based on a bit of research, I think I would like to pursue the University of Illinois iMBA due to the cost ($23k), time, and name recognition – but I'm open to other suggestions on this. If a certain school/program has far better odds of getting me into the iMBA program, I want to go that route.

Your Location: Michigan, USA
Your Age: 32
What kind of degree do you want?: Whatever will allow me to finish the fastest and cheapest, but if possible, I would prefer either a Business/HR degree or a degree related to engineering (that's where most of my transfer credits are)
Current Regional Accredited Credits: 145

School Name Total Credits: 
Kettering University, 145 credits

Code:

Course   Title                           Cr   Grade
ACCT212  Managerial Accounting           4    B+
CE210    Digital Systems I               4    A-
CE320    Microcomputers I                4    B-
CE422    Computer Architecture & Org     4    C-
CHEM135  Principles of Chemistry         3    A
CHEM136  Principles of Chemistry Lab     1    A
COMM101  Written & Oral Comm I           4    A
COMM301  Written & Oral Comm II          4    A-
CS101    Computing & Algorithms I        4    D
ECON201  Econ Principles                 4    A
ECON350  Comparative Econ Systems        4    A
EE210    Circuits I                      3    D
EE211    Circuits I Lab                  1    B+
EE240    Electromagnetic Fields & Appl   4    B-
EE310    Circuits II                     4    C-
EE320    Electronics I                   3    B-
EE321    Electronics I Lab               1    A-
EE325    Prin Microelectrncs Proc        4    A
EE332    Signals & Systems               4    D
EE344    Fund Power Systems              4    A-
EE346    High Volt Gen & Measur Tech     4    B
EE420    Electronics II                  4    C
EE427    Semicondctr Device Fund         4    B
EE490    Senior EE Engnrg Dsgn Proj      4    A-
HUMN201  Intro to Humanities             4    B
IME100   Interdisc Desgn & Manufactur    4    A
LS489    Sr Seminar Leadership Ethics    4    A-
MATH102  Calculus II                     4    C
MATH203  Multivariate Calculus           4    C
MATH204  Diff Eq and Laplace Transform   4    D
MATH408  Probability and Statistics      4    B
MECH210  Statics                         4    B+
MECH212  Mechanics of Materials          4    D
MGMT350  Managing Organizations          4    B
MGMT546  Project Management              4    A
MRKT370  Marketing Fundamentals          4    B+
ORTN101  Learning Success Teamwork       1    A
PHYS114  Newtonian Mechanics             3    B+
PHYS115  Newtonian Mechanics Lab         1    B+
PHYS224  Electricity & Magnetism         3    C+
PHYS225  Electricity & Magnetism Lab     1    B+
SSCI201  Introduction to Social Sci      4    A

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits:
None yet. I did, however, take AP classes in 2007 and 2008 that are not reflected on my transcript. I believe these should get me more credits. My AP scores were:

Code:

AP Test                       Score
US History                    4
Calculus                      3
Chemistry                     3
English Language & Comp       4
Biology                       5

Any certifications or military experience?
None

Budget: The cheapest route possible, but I'm open to spending more if it increases speed or ease. I like UMPI for its price, but I like TESU for what looks like better speed/ease. I could go either way on these two.
Commitments: 40 hour per week full-time job, but able to study on nights and weekends
Dedicated time to study: 3+ hours per night
Timeline: Flexible, but faster is better
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: None
Initial evaluation: TESU completed an evaluation for me and accepted all 145 credits in different areas. Please let me know if it would be helpful for me to share that evaluation here.

Thank you so much for your help! This community has blown me away!

[Flelm]

Disclaimer: I didn't look at anything, but it looks like Kettering uses quarter credits? You're probably close to a BS Electrical Technology or BS Technical Studies from TESU. That's probably your easiest way forward. I'd apply right away if those credits are from 10 years ago. If they don't take your credits into your AoS UMPI is probably the better bet.

[rachel83az]

Yes, please share your evaluation for TESU. That would be very helpful for giving advice going forward.

[dfrecore]

AP CREDIT:
English Language & Comp >> ENC-101 (3cr) & ENC-102 (3cr)
US History >> HIS-113 (3cr) & HIS-114 (3cr)
Calculus >> Calc AB or Calc BC? AB is MAT-231 (4cr); BC is MAT-231 (4cr) & MAT-232 (4cr)
Chemistry >> not sure, either CHE-111 (3cr) & CHE-112 (3cr); or CHE-121 (4cr) & CHE-122 (4cr)
Biology >> not sure, either BIO-111 (3cr) & BIO-112 (3cr); or BIO-121 (4cr) & BIO-122 (4cr)

Since Kettering University is quarter-based, they convert your credits (multiply by ⅔); so 1qcr = .67cr, 2qcr = 1.33cr, 3qcr = 2cr, and 4qcr = 2.33cr
ACCT212  Managerial Accounting           4    B+
CE210    Digital Systems I               4    A-
CE320    Microcomputers I                4    B-
CE422    Computer Architecture & Org     4    C-
CHEM135  Principles of Chemistry         3    A - you're better off with the AP exam, more credits
CHEM136  Principles of Chemistry Lab     1    A - you're better off with the AP exam, more credits
COMM101  Written & Oral Comm I           4    A - you're better off with the AP exam, more credits
COMM301  Written & Oral Comm II          4    A- - you're better off with the AP exam, more credits
CS101    Computing & Algorithms I        4    D - this will come in as a free elective
ECON201  Econ Principles                 4    A
ECON350  Comparative Econ Systems        4    A
EE210    Circuits I                      3    D - this will come in as a free elective
EE211    Circuits I Lab                  1    B+
EE240    Electromagnetic Fields & Appl   4    B-
EE310    Circuits II                     4    C-
EE320    Electronics I                   3    B-
EE321    Electronics I Lab               1    A-
EE325    Prin Microelectrncs Proc        4    A
EE332    Signals & Systems               4    D - this will come in as a free elective
EE344    Fund Power Systems              4    A-
EE346    High Volt Gen & Measur Tech     4    B
EE420    Electronics II                  4    C
EE427    Semicondctr Device Fund         4    B
EE490    Senior EE Engnrg Dsgn Proj      4    A-
HUMN201  Intro to Humanities             4    B
IME100   Interdisc Desgn & Manufactur    4    A
LS489    Sr Seminar Leadership Ethics    4    A-
MATH102  Calculus II                     4    C
MATH203  Multivariate Calculus           4    C
MATH204  Diff Eq and Laplace Transform   4    D - this will come in as a free elective
MATH408  Probability and Statistics      4    B
MECH210  Statics                         4    B+
MECH212  Mechanics of Materials          4    D - this will come in as a free elective
MGMT350  Managing Organizations          4    B
MGMT546  Project Management              4    A
MRKT370  Marketing Fundamentals          4    B+
ORTN101  Learning Success Teamwork       1    A
PHYS114  Newtonian Mechanics             3    B+
PHYS115  Newtonian Mechanics Lab         1    B+
PHYS224  Electricity & Magnetism         3    C+
PHYS225  Electricity & Magnetism Lab     1    B+
SSCI201  Introduction to Social Sci      4    A

Unfortunately, you don't qualify for a BSTS, because you don't have 21cr in a single discipline - EE credits are 19.65cr when you remove any that aren't a C or higher (C- and D can't be used in the AoS); so you would need 1 more EE course to qualify.  Unless they put your MECH210 course in there, which might work.

I would apply to the BSTS degree and see what they say - the worst is that you're out $50 if you decide you don't want to go there.

Another thing that might work is asking which course you could take at TESU that would put you over the 21cr threshold (they have some engineering-type courses).  Even taking a single EE course somewhere else (like ASU) would work, and would be easier than starting over, because with a business degree, you lose a TON of credits, and IMHO, you are WAY too close to this degree to give up easily.

-------------------

You need Oral Comm, Diversity, Civic Engagement, Cornerstone, and Capstone with a BSTS degree.  It's definitely worth it to go for this degree if you can meet that threshold, and I would do everything in my power to meet it and get over that hump and finish the rest of your degree very quickly.

[davewill]

Definitely apply to TESU and send your Kettering transcript and your AP scores. If you can get the AP scores sent as one transcript, then you should be able to get it all evaluated as an applicant, but it's more important to get the Kettering credits evaluated, as we know how the AP scores fall in, so send that one first.That's going to be the only way to know exactly how close you are to one of their degrees. I think you could likely make Sept graduation.