Tips to Maximize Efficiency

[LakeMomNY]

BABA is definitely slower than the BLS especially now with Milestones requiring affirmation. Some of the business professors are very slow to affirm. The history professors seem to have this program down to a science and get students moving quickly. I have both the BLS and the BABA. The BABA took longer and I didn't need my Milestones affirmed then. Much longer papers than the history courses. PM and MIS both have courses that will slow you down. Some due to the professor. Some due to the Final Assessment. PM has 2 courses not on the learning platform and you're at the professor's mercy. She's been very slow responding this session. I'm talking over a week if she responds. There's no options for professors in the YourPace program. You get who is teaching that session and that's it.

It would be very helpful to know which courses are likely to be "slow" vs "fast" so that I can try not to have both in progress courses be "slow" ones. 

It is also entirely possible that I could knock out another study.com course between now and May 8.  Is there a course on the list that would make the MOST sense to knock out through Study.com?

[ss20ts]

Study for 1 course is kind of pricy. Keep in mind you must complete a minimum of 30 credits at UMPI and a certain number of ULs. There's no way to really know which course will be fast or slow. It all depends on your knowledge, how much time you put into the course, how quickly you can write, how quickly the professor affirms Milestones and returns Rough Drafts - this changes constantly, no way to know who's teaching a course until you're enrolled in it. Some of the history courses tend to be faster than some of the business courses. Some of this is due to the writing and papers. Some is due to the professors. One of the history professors is 1000% on top of his YourPace course load. The man is like lightning. Others take their sweet time. If someone has an emergency, there's no way to know. When on campus students have the day off, in my experience the professors have the day off too which isn't super helpful with an online program, but it is what is.

[LakeMomNY]

Study for 1 course is kind of pricy. Keep in mind you must complete a minimum of 30 credits at UMPI and a certain number of ULs. There's no way to really know which course will be fast or slow. It all depends on your knowledge, how much time you put into the course, how quickly you can write, how quickly the professor affirms Milestones and returns Rough Drafts - this changes constantly, no way to know who's teaching a course until you're enrolled in it. Some of the history courses tend to be faster than some of the business courses. Some of this is due to the writing and papers. Some is due to the professors. One of the history professors is 1000% on top of his YourPace course load. The man is like lightning. Others take their sweet time. If someone has an emergency, there's no way to know. When on campus students have the day off, in my experience the professors have the day off too which isn't super helpful with an online program, but it is what is.

I already have a membership until 5/20.  I have completed 3 courses and will likely complete the 4th tomorrow or the next day, so I'll have one more exam available.

[origamishuttle]

It would be very helpful to know which courses are likely to be "slow" vs "fast" so that I can try not to have both in progress courses be "slow" ones. 

This is the challenge. The four I mentioned previously are a good place to start. For papers, anything with Dr. Z will likely be a good experience, but some require less work than others. For exams, less milestones will likely be at least a little bit faster, all things considered.

It is also entirely possible that I could knock out another study.com course between now and May 8.  Is there a course on the list that would make the MOST sense to knock out through Study.com?

Does this mean that you have decided on the BABA? For BLS, the remaining required courses don't have a Study.com equivalent, so you would just want to focus on preparing for the UMPI courses.

[LakeMomNY]

It would be very helpful to know which courses are likely to be "slow" vs "fast" so that I can try not to have both in progress courses be "slow" ones. 

This is the challenge. The four I mentioned previously are a good place to start. For papers, anything with Dr. Z will likely be a good experience, but some require less work than others. For exams, less milestones will likely be at least a little bit faster, all things considered.

It is also entirely possible that I could knock out another study.com course between now and May 8.  Is there a course on the list that would make the MOST sense to knock out through Study.com?

Does this mean that you have decided on the BABA? For BLS, the remaining required courses don't have a Study.com equivalent, so you would just want to focus on preparing for the UMPI courses.

I haven't really decided...I told Jessica that my plan is to start working on the BLS, see how it goes, and make a decision on the BABA from there.

Is there a way to see a course syllabus before adding courses? 

I have budgeted the time and money for both Summer sessions, but I really have no idea what is realistic.  (I have completed 2 Sophia and 3 (almost 4 - preparing for final) Study.com classes since 4/17.

I know there are people who have knocked out a 10+ courses in a session....but I also don't love History or writing papers, and it is really hard to have a sense of what is realistic.

[origamishuttle]

Is there a way to see a course syllabus before adding courses? 

This document will provide some idea, but it doesn't specify number/length of quizzes or milestones:
https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/attachm...p?aid=4286

Also, you can ask Jessica for documents like this describing courses for all the areas - business, history, education, and criminal justice.

I have completed 2 Sophia and 3 (almost 4 - preparing for final) Study.com classes since 4/17.

One course every 2.5 days is a good pace! The content and difficulty can affect this, but it's a good indication of your ability to manage the structure of the courses and follow through.

I know there are people who have knocked out a 10+ courses in a session....but I also don't love History or writing papers, and it is really hard to have a sense of what is realistic.

I don't love those things either, so I focused on exam courses as much as possible. However, the ability to turn in a draft and get feedback can really help, especially with an encouraging professor who is quick to respond.

[rachel83az]

If you don't like History and would prefer to do Business classes, that's going to slow you down massively. Doing ten classes you like can be easier than doing a single class you hate.

[LakeMomNY]

Is there a way to see a course syllabus before adding courses? 

This document will provide some idea, but it doesn't specify number/length of quizzes or milestones:
https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/attachm...p?aid=4286

Also, you can ask Jessica for documents like this describing courses for all the areas - business, history, education, and criminal justice.

I have completed 2 Sophia and 3 (almost 4 - preparing for final) Study.com classes since 4/17.

One course every 2.5 days is a good pace! The content and difficulty can affect this, but it's a good indication of your ability to manage the structure of the courses and follow through.

I know there are people who have knocked out a 10+ courses in a session....but I also don't love History or writing papers, and it is really hard to have a sense of what is realistic.

I don't love those things either, so I focused on exam courses as much as possible. However, the ability to turn in a draft and get feedback can really help, especially with an encouraging professor who is quick to respond.

Thank you...that's very helpful.

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If you don't like History and would prefer to do Business classes, that's going to slow you down massively. Doing ten classes you like can be easier than doing a single class you hate.

Yeah. I mean, I can slog through whatever if I have to, and I generally get good grades on papers, but I don't enjoy writing them AT ALL.  I can have a lot of anxiety over what is "good enough."  I like assessments that are very clear and very black and white.  LOVE discussions that are full of nuance and debate, but I like assessments that aren't.

[ss20ts]

UMPI won't release the syllabus until you're in the course. The syllabus is really a waste of paper. It's all about policies and blah blah blah. The Final Assessment instructions I found to be far more important as the entire grade is that exam/paper/project.

There are no discussions at UMPI. History courses are all papers or PowerPoints. With the papers and projects you get to submit a Rough Draft and the professor gives you feedback and changes that are needed. Exams don't get a second chance unless you fail. If you fail and exam, you can retake it. It's not the same questions again. I don't know anyone who has failed one of the papers/projects courses unless they ran out of time or if they plagiarized. I do know more people who have failed exams. They didn't really study like they needed.

It seems like the days of knocking out 10+ courses are over with the Milestone affirmations. Don't worry about what others do. I was the first one on here to attend UMPI and share all kinds of info. I completed 4 courses my first session and 8 my second. I was really interested in the courses when I completed 8. It's not a sprint. It's a marathon.