TESU or somewhere else for IT/CS related degree?

[tdat314]

Your Location: GA, USA

Your Age: 29

What kind of degree do you want?:
IT, IS, CS preferred, but open to others if easier to grab with current credits
Pref BS/BA

Current Regional Accredited Credits: 48 credits total

Georgia Highlands College:  25 credit total

Math1111, College Algebra, 3, C
RELI1116, Intro To Religion, 3, B
ACCT2101, Principles of Accounting, 3, B
PHED1010, Concepts of Fitness and Health, 2, A
ACCT2102, Principles of Accounting 2, 3, A
FCCS1100, Georgia Highlands College Computer studies, 2, A
POLS1101, American Government, 3, A
ENGL1102, English Comp 2, 3, A
MATH 2200, Elementary Stats, 3, A
 
Kennesaw State University:  9 credit total

ECON1100, Global Economics, 3, B
HIST1110, Intro to World Civilization, 3, B
HIST2112, America since 1890, 3, B
 
Georgia State University:  14 credit total

ENGL1101, English comp 1, 3, C
GSU1010, New student Orientation, 1, B
PERS2002, Scientific Perspective on Global Problems, 2, B
PHIL1010, Critical Thinking, 2, C
CSC2010, Intro to Computer Science, 3, C
POLS1101, American Government, 3, D


Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits:

Sophia: 35 Total credits

Introduction to Business, 3
Project Management, 3
Developing Effective Teams, 1
The Essentials of Managing Conflict, 1
Introduction to Information Technology, 3
Introduction to Relation Databases, 3
Introduction to Web Development, 3
Visual Communications, 3
Introduction to Ethics, 3
Environmental Science, 3
Introduction to Nutrition, 3
Macroeconomics, 3
Microeconomics, 3


Any certifications or military experience?
Coursera:
Google-
Project Management
IT professional
Cybersecurity
Business Intelligence
UX design (in progress)


TEEX:
Cybersecurity 101
Cybersecurity 201(in progress, slowly)((not sure about this based on what TESU looks to be applying these credits for))
 
Budget: The cheaper the better. I am mostly looking for options to pay over time if possible
 
Commitments: Not much aside from work

Dedicated time to study: I can study as much as needed. I work full time, but I often have long periods of downtime. I can also study/work on things at home as needed

Timeline: I don’t have a major timeline, but I am antsy about doing things. Impatience is my downfall on this stuff

Tuition assistance/reimbursement: Not likely. Will almost certainly be selfpay/financial aid if possible

[bjcheung77]

@tdat314, Great addendum and template! Did you get your BOG AAS sorted out yet? If yes, then do the UMPI BAS with MIS minor, if not, then do the UMPI BABA PM & IS concentration. Hmm, it won't really matter which one you select as you're trying to get a balanced mix/match trifecta of certs, degree, experience.

[tdat314]

@tdat314, Great addendum and template! Did you get your BOG AAS sorted out yet? If yes, then do the UMPI BAS with MIS minor, if not, then do the UMPI BABA PM & IS concentration.  Hmm, it won't really matter which one you select as you're trying to get a balanced mix/match trifecta of certs, degree, experience.

I'm still waiting to hear on the BOG AAS. I'm a bit antsy about it taking so long, but trying to give them the time they need to process it. I figured the longest waiting part would be the degree grad audit, not my transcript eval.

Will UMPI allow me to start classes on that track even if I don't have the AAS yet?

Also, any particular reasoning for UMPI over the others? I've noticed you recommending them a lot more recently than some older threads.

For context, I received my TESU evaluation back today and it looks to be over halfway done, but I was expecting a bit more, so I'm more than willing to keep trying and see where my best option is.  UMPI seems good and the "Maine" name feels a bit better too, tbh

[allvia]

Also, any particular reasoning for UMPI over the others? I've noticed you recommending them a lot more recently than some older threads.

For context, I received my TESU evaluation back today and it looks to be over halfway done, but I was expecting a bit more, so I'm more than willing to keep trying and see where my best option is.  UMPI seems good and the "Maine" name feels a bit better too, tbh

UMPI would (almost certainly) be cheaper than TESU, which is what you said was a priority.  Also the UMPI option is generally set up in a way it would be easier to get financial aid if you were looking to fund it that way (which you also mentioned). As far was UMPI vs TESU, they are both state schools, so having Maine in the title is nothing more than a personal preference. Now if you're primary goal is a CS degree or IT degree then TESU has those options (now are both offering alternative credit paths to completion), the UMPI BAS MIS is more about the management (business side) of technology.

You didn't say what your career goals are, but you're of an age now that you could already have some work experience in your chosen field and this degree is a stepping stone you need to move forward, onto or up into the next position. If that is the case, it likely won't matter which of the options mentioned you choose. Now if you're looking to change the entire career path you're already on then you might want to think a bit more on it. 

What is the goal or purpose to you in obtaining a degree at this time?

[bjcheung77]

Will UMPI allow me to start classes on that track even if I don't have the AAS yet?

Also, any particular reasoning for UMPI over the others? I've noticed you recommending them a lot more recently than some older threads.

Yes... You can start UMPI before the AAS has been conferred. In addition to what allvia mentioned, UMPI should be cheaper, easier, faster, than TESU because the capstone course itself may be more work than 30 residency credits combined at UMPI.

TESU is great for max transfer of credits up to 114 but only 30 are electives, UMPI with 90 max credits isn't far behind with better ROI/Value as you can throw in 60 credits alone into the electives if you go the BAS route vs the BABA PM & IS I mentioned.

[tdat314]

Also, any particular reasoning for UMPI over the others? I've noticed you recommending them a lot more recently than some older threads.

For context, I received my TESU evaluation back today and it looks to be over halfway done, but I was expecting a bit more, so I'm more than willing to keep trying and see where my best option is.  UMPI seems good and the "Maine" name feels a bit better too, tbh

UMPI would (almost certainly) be cheaper than TESU, which is what you said was a priority.  Also the UMPI option is generally set up in a way it would be easier to get financial aid if you were looking to fund it that way (which you also mentioned). As far was UMPI vs TESU, they are both state schools, so having Maine in the title is nothing more than a personal preference. Now if you're primary goal is a CS degree or IT degree then TESU has those options (now are both offering alternative credit paths to completion), the UMPI BAS MIS is more about the management (business side) of technology.

You didn't say what your career goals are, but you're of an age now that you could already have some work experience in your chosen field and this degree is a stepping stone you need to move forward, onto or up into the next position. If that is the case, it likely won't matter which of the options mentioned you choose. Now if you're looking to change the entire career path you're already on then you might want to think a bit more on it. 

What is the goal or purpose to you in obtaining a degree at this time?

I'm currently working in the IT industry at a sort of mid-tier level. The degree more specifically in my field would be nice to have, but it isn't really necessary as my experience has started to outweigh that kind of thing.

At this point, I think it is just a sort of personal challenge. I enjoy learning, and if I can do it while also gaining a benefit, I might as well. Based on some more research, i think the UMPI route seems good and I went ahead and sent over the YourPace application yesterday. I'll be working on sending transcripts (yet again, yuck) to them this week.

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I'm continuing to add Sophia classes to my roster, just started Human Bio yesterday and I've knocked out more than half already. I am thinking I will have to start doing some of the touchstone ones, in particular the language and perhaps public speaking ones, which i've been avoiding like the plague for exclusively anxiety-based reasons lol

I am just trying to make the most of my subscription to sophia, even if I don't need to take the class. I think just taking whatever I can and having it available isn't going to ever hurt my transcripts.
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I've looked through the wiki for some answers and I think I'm running into the issue of multiple years worth of answers being mixed together with different results. Are the language classes on sophia the better option over taking the classes at UMPI?

[rachel83az]

Definitely take language class(es) at Sophia instead of UMPI. As far as I'm aware, the professor is still the same. Which means the class is likely to be nearly identical as the pre-Brightspace one, so far as teacher expectations go.

[tdat314]

I've been making progress on my UMPI degree plan and transfers. 

Initially, I had to apply and enroll as the BABA degree program, as the initial advisor said they would be unable to put me into the BAS program until I had the AAS conferred.

On a hunch though, I decided to reach out to Jessica Winslow after my first degree audit and ask about transferring to the BAS without the degree conferred yet, or the BLS so I would have a better idea of what was needed.

She immediately came through and put me into the BAS program and has started a second degree audit for me.

Very happy with the progress on this.

Relating to this, my transfer credits have initially come in sitting at 132 credits, which is so much better than anticipated. I have a few additional credits being sent over from Sophia to cover the GEC, but it looks like I'm already well on my way to covering all of the gen eds.

Currently trying to finish up the Sophia Spanish 1 class, but aside from that I think all I'll have are basically the required UL and residency classes to actually take at UMPI.

I want to again thank everyone for the info here. It is so greatly appreciated.

[bjcheung77]

Wait, are you doing Summer session 1? or are you doing Summer session 2? If you're doing Summer session 2, application deadline hasn't even happened...

[tdat314]

Wait, are you doing Summer session 1? or are you doing Summer session 2?  If you're doing Summer session 2, application deadline hasn't even happened...

I'm planning for summer session 2. Just trying to get all my ducks in a row asap