West Texas A&M ACE/Study.com not accepted for Masters work

[Gloddy]

Good Afternoon,

I am posting this here because it relates to study.com but it is in regards to graduate work as well. I am going to post it in the Graduate School Discussion as well.  I apologize in advance if this is a no-no, but I want people to be aware of this.

I just received official notice that I will graduate from TESU with a BSBA on 9/14!   

My plan is to do a Masters next.  I am leaning towards Finance instead of the MBA.

For this reason, I am considering West Texas A&M Master in Finance and Economics for the following reasons:
Accredited
Online
Inexpensive
"The program earned a 2018 #18 ranking as a best graduate business program by U.S. News & World Report.­"

I read the following on the website:
Receive Your Personalized Plan of Study: Please send a copy of your current resume and your unofficial transcripts today to receive your personalized Plan of Study.

So, I did this.  Long-story short...They will not accept the study.com (ACE) for Finance, Stats and Accounting.  I will have to take 3 "Leveling courses" prior to being able to move fully into the masters program.

I asked if their are exceptions.  One of my professional designations, CIMA, was taught by Wharton professors and I have 20+ years in Financial Services.  No luck.

I am sharing this because I completed almost 100% of my non-B&M courses at study.com.  I didn't think this would be an issue, but apparently it can be.

Right now I am feeling a little salty about it but I guess this is the price that will have to be paid. 15 courses instead of 12 isn't the end of the world, but it bothers me, plus it will take longer.  This program is not competency based like a WGU, so it will cost me time.

Gloddy

[jsd]

Can you take those 3 courses at a CC (maybe Rio if not a local one) online for cheap and a quick pace instead?

[Gloddy]

Can you take those 3 courses at a CC (maybe Rio if not a local one) online for cheap and a quick pace instead?

Perhaps.  The cost is not that bad it really is the time.  Nothing like just completing the 3 courses this year only to have to take them again.

[Lewis.Yim]

Are you adamant in going for that Finance degree? Have you investigated the MBA program as well? Someone on this board is taking the MBA program and I didn't read that they had any issues, they may not have taken those exact courses from Study.com though: See here - https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid261151

[Gloddy]

Are you adamant in going for that Finance degree? Have you investigated the MBA program as well?  Someone on this board is taking the MBA program and I didn't read that they had any issues, they may not have taken those exact courses from Study.com though:  See here - https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid261151

Thanks for the response. Maybe Kaskadia will see this and add some light.

Of course I am now second guessing my decision.  3 extra classes isnt't the end of the world but I am 45 and time is not on my side at least professionally.  Now I can't help but to reconsider the MBA, especially through WGU. My only challenge to this is the program is un-ranked (I don't care, but people on the east coast in Financial Services do) and I would prefer to get a masters in Finance.

To put it into perspective, I have a client who earned their PHD from Texas A&M in the 80's. When I mentioned this program, the response was "it's online though, right?".  The client wasn't being pretentious or condescending, more like, why bother?

I always appreciate the views here, so if you are reading this, please feel free to chime in.

Thanks
Gloddy

[Lewis.Yim]

Hmm, I have a recommendation or suggestion: Since you already applied to the West Texas A&M school of business, ask to get a plan of study for the MBA program, see how the courses pan out.

If they for some reason ACCEPT those Study.com courses, then, ask them nicely why it was rejected for the Finance program. If they do not provide you an answer that is acceptable, then move up the chain to the Dean and ask for an exception. If they don't accept those Study.com courses, I would hazard a risk in asking for the Dean to see if there is a chance to "reconsider" those and have an exception added.

Basically, you want to stress to them, these courses were "evaluated" as equivalent to TESU's courses. Ask if they would accept it directly from TESU, if so - why would an equivalent course be rejected? Re-state that your degree is from TESU and you have all the required courses to graduate from TESU without a need to take any additional courses. Illustrate to them that you have all the prerequisites for entry into the program without needing to "bridge" as your BSBA is in Finance.

[Gloddy]

Thanks. That is a good idea but I feel with so many options, I should just move on.

I live in the Philadelphia area. Maybe I am just better off with a West Chester University MBA at $17k or even a Penn State Master of Finance.  Maybe I just take the 3 darn courses and move on with my life.

Thank You for your thoughts.  I do appreciate them.

[dfrecore]

My reply from the other post:

Many schools want specific courses to be graded, so they won't take alternate credit for those. They will accept your degree, but want grades for those courses. It's a bummer, and if you would have known that you wanted to go this route, you could have planned for it in advance.

But, I would not let that stop me, especially if the degree I wanted from a good school was an option. I'd suck it up and take the courses.
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Edit to add: 45 is hardly old! Think about this: if you're working in the private sector, and aren't able to retire with a full pension at 55 like many government workers, you quite possibly could work for another 25 years. So in the big scheme of things, taking those 3 courses again, and getting that degree, is a very good investment of your time and money. I would do it in a heartbeat (and I'm 47).

[Gloddy]

My reply from the other post:

Many schools want specific courses to be graded, so they won't take alternate credit for those.  They will accept your degree, but want grades for those courses.  It's a bummer, and if you would have known that you wanted to go this route, you could have planned for it in advance.

But, I would not let that stop me, especially if the degree I wanted from a good school was an option.  I'd suck it up and take the courses.
-----------------
Edit to add: 45 is hardly old!  Think about this: if you're working in the private sector, and aren't able to retire with a full pension at 55 like many government workers, you quite possibly could work for another 25 years.  So in the big scheme of things, taking those 3 courses again, and getting that degree, is a very good investment of your time and money.  I would do it in a heartbeat (and I'm 47).

Thanks dfrecore.  Your responses are always appreciated.

I provide comprehensive financial planning to professors and medical professionals.  Many of my clients work well past the age of 70! Not because they have to but because they love what they do.  One professor working at an Ivy for 50 years just retired at 81 and only did so because his spouse wanted to visit family in Europe!  My personal financial plan has me working until 70.

I am so conflicted primarily because there are so many choices.  Like a child eating at a restaurant for the first time and trying to choose from a large menu at a diner. 

I am now looking at Penn State  (Finance), West Chester University (MBA) and Purdue Global (Finance) and still considering if I should just do the MBA at WGU and get it done in a year.  Of course, I have no idea if any of these other schools will accept the courses in question.

Gloddy

[dfrecore]

My reply from the other post:

Many schools want specific courses to be graded, so they won't take alternate credit for those.  They will accept your degree, but want grades for those courses.  It's a bummer, and if you would have known that you wanted to go this route, you could have planned for it in advance.

But, I would not let that stop me, especially if the degree I wanted from a good school was an option.  I'd suck it up and take the courses.
-----------------
Edit to add: 45 is hardly old!  Think about this: if you're working in the private sector, and aren't able to retire with a full pension at 55 like many government workers, you quite possibly could work for another 25 years.  So in the big scheme of things, taking those 3 courses again, and getting that degree, is a very good investment of your time and money.  I would do it in a heartbeat (and I'm 47).

Thanks dfrecore.  Your responses are always appreciated.

I provide comprehensive financial planning to professors and medical professionals.  Many of my clients work well past the age of 70! Not because they have to but because they love what they do.  One professor working at an Ivy for 50 years just retired at 81 and only did so because his spouse wanted to visit family in Europe!  My personal financial plan has me working until 70.

I am so conflicted primarily because there are so many choices.  Like a child eating at a restaurant for the first time and trying to choose from a large menu at a diner. 

I am now looking at Penn State  (Finance), West Chester University (MBA) and Purdue Global (Finance) and still considering if I should just do the MBA at WGU and get it done in a year.  Of course, I have no idea if any of these other schools will accept the courses in question.

Gloddy

Obviously you won't have an issue at WGU.

I think a Master's in Finance is a much better way to go than an MBA, which is fairly generic.  I'd always opt for something more focused if that's where your interests lie.