Trying to apply at TESU

[TrailRunr]

I'm not the average student and I still wish I had the $2000 option over the $3400 I paid to enroll just a month ago.

When comparing between new per-credit and EO, the breakeven point is two courses (6 credits) unless you fail to graduate prior to the EO plan expiring. And you get to keep the 2015-2016 catalog, which might mean nothing or might help you. I think you did the right thing even though it's mostly a tie.

[jsd]

Yeah, that is probably right because I'm not calculating in the discount per credit with the EO. Coincidentally, 6 cr is exactly what I have left

[dfrecore]

dfrecore already addressed the point about the $3400 enrolled option (among other points), and with those points in mind I stand by the fact that this is a net benefit to your average TESU student. I'm not the average student and I still wish I had the $2000 option over the $3400 I paid to enroll just a month ago.

Aren't you allowed to switch to a different plan within a month of enrolling??? I thought that was an option.

[managerman]

It's only in the last few years that the Per-Credit Tuition Plan even existed. Prior to July 1 2013, that wasn't an option at all. Everyone paid the Enrolled Options Plan fee of something like $3000 to enroll. When they added the PCTP with the TECEP being able to meet residency requirements, most of us on this forum at that time were shocked. We knew it couldn't last, and I'm surprised they didn't close up that loophole the very next year, let alone take almost 3 years to figure it out.

Anyway, while I understand people being unhappy with the school's decision to change it back to what it was (it's now actually cheaper than it was back in 2013 to enroll), you still have to just evaluate it for what it is and decide if it makes the best financial decision for you to get a degree at TESU based on WHAT IS, rather than what used to be. If it does, keep on moving forward. If it doesn't, move on to one of the other schools that gives you a better outcome.

And, schools and all businesses are here to make money. It's like being angry with your grocery store because they make a profit. If they don't, they go out of business. But if you don't like their prices, you are always free to shop somewhere else, where you feel like you get better service, or more for your money, or whatever you value.

I did post "new students" as this would be most applicable to students who didn't enroll 3 years ago. As you may recall that plan didn't have a residency requirement (other than the capstone for $750),
so the 16 credits (which they now require for residency) will cost almost $8000. From a cost standpoint this incentivizes students to pay the waiver and get cheaper credits elsewhere, not take classes from them. I am actually disappointed in TESU for the same reason I was disappointed with my daughters charter school. They require students to wear a certain uniform. They started a program with box tops that if you brought in X number of box tops per month then you get a "dress down" wristband to dress down on a certain day the next month. As we don't usually buy the types of food that are related to these box tops we didn't have any. I tried to pay the equivalent amount in cash but was informed they don't sell the passes as that would be unethical. So giving them little box tops which are redeemable for cash is ethical, but giving straight cash is unethical? I don't like that they bend the rules on their uniform standards by giving the school a financial reward. This is teaching them how to be corrupt. In the same vein, TESU is saying this is our requirement, but, if you give us $2000 dollars then we will look the other way. It seems a bad move for a new university. As I said in my post, I don't begrudge any business for making a profit. Maybe if this was packaged a little differently I wouldn't be griping. It does make me wonder how much they could make off of a "math waiver" or even a "capstone waiver" I don't mind paying full price for my groceries, I just don't want to pay for groceries I never got. I don't even care about the "check out" (graduation) fee as I know there are costs in getting ducks in a row to graduate. It just feels like paying for something you never got. In the end its just more expensive groceries.

[Mamasaphire]

It does make me wonder how much they could make off of a "math waiver" or even a "capstone waiver" I don't mind paying full price for my groceries, I just don't want to pay for groceries I never got. I don't even care about the "check out" (graduation) fee as I know there are costs in getting ducks in a row to graduate. It just feels like paying for something you never got. In the end its just more expensive groceries.

I love your analogy And I'd be all over the hypothetical math waiver if I hadn't already met the requirement for my major

[jsd]

Waiving courses for cash is comparing apples to oranges (and sounds like a great plan for TESU to lose accreditation). It's pretty understandable that a school would prefer you take at least some classes with them before they hand you a degree, and outside of the big 3 you're not going to find many places that are flexible with that.

I'm not sure what the alternative is that you're pressing for here? don't allow folks to pay the waiver and force the 16-24 in house credits? That seems like a much bigger shakedown.

[managerman]

I like the program where I pay for the their exams that I take and I pay for the capstone, then I pay for the graduation fee and walaaa! I graduate. Oh hey, that is the plan I am on.

[managerman]

Waiving courses for cash is comparing apples to oranges (and sounds like a great plan for TESU to lose accreditation). It's pretty understandable that a school would prefer you take at least some classes with them before they hand you a degree, and outside of the big 3 you're not going to find many places that are flexible with that.

I'm not sure what the alternative is that you're pressing for here? don't allow folks to pay the waiver and force the 16-24 in house credits? That seems like a much bigger shakedown.

I agree that a University should want you to complete credits with them which is why I don't understand why they would give students the option of paying 8 grand for 16 credits with them, or pay 2 grand and bring in your own (probably cheaper) credits.

[jsd]

to capture part of a niche market that they would otherwise lose entirely? better to make some money then no money of folks like us.

[managerman]

I appreciate your viewpoint. I disagree with some of the points you have made and I am sure you feel the same. As I have posted earlier I love a different opinion or view of things, but I don't see much fruit that will come of this so lets move on to something else.