Seeking the Quickest and Easiest School Program

[nilo.laden]

Your Location: US, Massachusetts 
Your Age: 20
What kind of degree?: Bachelors
Credits / Other: None.
Sophia Learning Credits: None.
Any certifications or military experience?
None 
Budget: No budget constraints.
Commitments: Full time work
Dedicated time to study: Unlimited 
Timeline: asap
Goal?: I'm looking for a bachelor's program in any field just to "check the box," aiming for something quick and easy to complete. By easy, I mean it should have minimal capstone or writing requirements, be open-book, and have the fewest proctored exams possible.




Edit I've heard about UMPI's BLS program with one minor. Which minor would have the easiest, lowest capstone requirements, be open book, or have the fewest proctored exams possible if I'm just looking to check the box?

[bjcheung77]

"Goal?: I'm looking for a bachelor's program in any area that is quick and easy to complete. By easy, I mean it has the least demanding capstone or writing requirements, or is easiest to cheat in."

@nilo.laden, Great introduction post with the very basics needed for the addendum and template... Take some time reviewing posts, threads, WIKI for more information. Please do not 'cheat' the system, you're not learning anything and it may backfire in the long run, you're just getting yourself into frying pan and may fall into the fire later... Another mod, it's up to you to decide what to do with this thread...

My suggestion is, you're already 'cheating' the system by going with all the cheap, easy, fast, simple, and non-proctored options, it's all open book! There is absolutely no 'cheating' as it's all open book already, the only cheating is getting someone to do the homework for you, and that's mentioned in the Sophia.org and other providers, institutions, etc. These providers use Biometric typing, Geo-location/IP tracking, proctoring, and other technology to track and verify it's really you doing the work.

[nilo.laden]

"Goal?: I'm looking for a bachelor's program in any area that is quick and easy to complete. By easy, I mean it has the least demanding capstone or writing requirements, or is easiest to cheat in."

@nilo.laden,  Great introduction post with the very basics needed for the addendum and template... Take some time reviewing posts, threads, WIKI for more information.  Please do not 'cheat' the system, you're not learning anything and it may backfire in the long run, you're just getting yourself into frying pan and may fall into the fire later...  Another mod, it's up to you to decide what to do with this thread...

My suggestion is, you're already 'cheating' the system by going with all the cheap, easy, fast, simple, and non-proctored options, it's all open book!  There is absolutely no 'cheating' as it's all open book already, the only cheating is getting someone to do the homework for you, and that's mentioned in the Sophia.org and other providers, institutions, etc.  These providers use Biometric typing, Geo-location/IP tracking, proctoring, and other technology to track and verify it's really you doing the work.

I understand. Could you suggest a bachelor's program in any field that is quick and easy, with minimal writing and capstone requirements, and that is open book or has the fewest proctored exams possible?

[Duneranger]

I mean pick one.

Proctored exams or writing.

I mean you are going to have to do some work. UMPI is probably the quickest but you are going to have to write a decent amount. I don’t know what you are expecting but you’ll have to get over it.

[nilo.laden]

I mean pick one.

Proctored exams or writing.

I mean you are going to have to do some work. UMPI is probably the quickest but you are going to have to write a decent amount. I don’t know what you are expecting but you’ll have to get over it.

If I have to choose, I would prefer something with less writing because I'm not very skilled at essays. My main goal here is to find the easiest option. Is this forum intended for that purpose? I thought that was the point of this place.

[bluebooger]

> My main goal here is to find the easiest option. Is this forum intended for that purpose? I thought that was the point of this place.

different people have different goals

some people actually want to learn something

some people have the knowledge already (self taught programmers) and are looking for something fast (maybe that degree would also be easy because they already have the knowledge)
but a fast degree could also be one that allows you to move at your own pace or one that has 8 week terms instead of the normal 16 week terms

some people want to get licensed

some people want inexpensive

your goal is an easy degree -- but would you pay 15 thousand an easy degree when you could get a more difficult one for 9 thousand ?

would you do an easy degree if it meant you could only do 2 courses every 16 weeks ?
or a more difficult degree where you could do 2 courses every 8 weeks ?

the purpose of this forum is NOT to help people find diploma mills

its to help people reduce cost by using CLEP, study.com, DSST, sophia.org, straighterline.com, coopersmithcc.net, saylor.org, and other sites https://www.acenet.edu/National-Guide/Pa...tions.aspx

the purpose of this forum is to help people find school like LSU, TESU, WGU, SNHU and many others that are regionally accredited and will meet thier educational needs whole also accommodating their financial and personal needs

[Vle045]

I am not sure if it’s your intention, but you are coming across as someone who wants to get a degree without having to do any work. That’s just not going to work. Perhaps you should step back for a second and figure out what it is you want to do. That’s the first step. If you want a “check the box” degree, a couple of good choices are liberal arts or business. Depending on what you want to do, a business degree will at least give you some practical knowledge.

The purpose of the board is to find ways to cut time and cost. This can vary for everyone. If you really have no idea what you are interested in or what you can spend, start by collecting some alternate credits. Start with Modern States. This can be the cheapest place to start and you can work at your own pace. Then move on to Sophia. Especially if you find you can work fast. The faster you can work through the courses, the less it will cost.

While you are collecting credits, take a look at the requirements for the degree(s) you want and try to take the courses that align with it. For example, make sure you get enough history, math, science, sociology, language, etc. for the degree you want. Once you start trying some of the business courses on Sophia, you might be able to tell if that will be a good major for you. If not, those courses may still fit in as electives for a liberal arts degree.

You mention that you are working full time, so that can limit your time available to study. Once you get started on the alternative credits, you will start to see how fast you might be able to get through the courses and that might help you determine the type of program you want (CBE vs traditional semesters).

Also, check with your employer to see if there is any type of tuition reimbursement program. That could also be a determining factor on what route you choose.

My son is only a couple years younger than you and this is basically the same advice I give to him. He has no idea what he wants to do yet. His employer has some fully paid degree options and reimbursement options. He’s about to start his senior year of high school so he still has a year to figure it out. But, I am encouraging him not to leave those benefits on the table. What I am telling him is to chip away at gen eds and go for a business degree since he is unsure what he wants to do. Business skills can benefit you in almost any scenario. Could get you into a management role sooner… or even help you if you decide to go into a trade and start your own business. If he finally lands on a goal, he can always pivot.

As you work through those credits and determine what you want to do, you can always come back to the board to figure out ways to fill those gaps. There’s a ton of options - Study.com, straighterline, Coursera, Saylor, Sophia, Modern States, etc.

[Duneranger]

I mean pick one.

Proctored exams or writing.

I mean you are going to have to do some work. UMPI is probably the quickest but you are going to have to write a decent amount. I don’t know what you are expecting but you’ll have to get over it.

If I have to choose, I would prefer something with less writing because I'm not very skilled at essays. My main goal here is to find the easiest option. Is this forum intended for that purpose? I thought that was the point of this place.

---

I mean pick one.

Proctored exams or writing.

I mean you are going to have to do some work. UMPI is probably the quickest but you are going to have to write a decent amount. I don’t know what you are expecting but you’ll have to get over it.

If I have to choose, I would prefer something with less writing because I'm not very skilled at essays. My main goal here is to find the easiest option. Is this forum intended for that purpose? I thought that was the point of this place.

No the forum is not intended for people who want to do little to no work. This is how your post comes across.

By your own words, you dont want tests (only open book tests is not realistic), you want little writing and I am going to guess you dont want projects and certainly not group projects. Do you want to do anything? I mean its a serious question.

If you arent skilled, you get better and learn. Literally the POINT of going to college. If you are bad at guitar, do you just throw up your hands and say well guess I will never do that again. No, you go out and practice and do it over and over.

You need to slow down and take a step back while thinking over things

[natshar]

Your Location: US, Massachusetts 
Your Age: 20
What kind of degree?: Bachelors
Credits / Other: None.
Sophia Learning Credits: None.
Any certifications or military experience?
None 
Budget: No budget constraints.
Commitments: Full time work
Dedicated time to study: Unlimited 
Timeline: asap
Goal?: I'm looking for a bachelor's program in any field just to "check the box," aiming for something quick and easy to complete. By easy, I mean it should have minimal capstone or writing requirements, be open-book, and have the fewest proctored exams possible.




Edit I've heard about UMPI's BLS program with one minor. Which minor would have the easiest, lowest capstone requirements, be open book, or have the fewest proctored exams possible if I'm just looking to check the box?

You are 20 years old. What is the purpose of the degree? Why specifically "quickest and easiest"

Sometimes older people who are in careers just need a "checkbox degree" but younger people it might make sense to take longer to get a better degree. For example, if you wanted to work in tech/computers/IT you COULD just get a Bachelors of Liberal Studies but with your age and income potential it might more sense to get a BS in Computer Science or IT. EVEN IF that BS in computer science or IT takes 2 years vs 1 year for a BS Liberal Studies (example timeframes). But that extra year would pay dividends with your age and income potential. 

Whats your career goal? Because we can certainly can you a degree under 4 years and without mounds of debt, but given your age and career status, I'm not sure "quickets and easiest" makes the most sense.

Also, just so you know once you get your first bachelors you usually aren't eligible for any aid for a second bachelors, meaning you might have to pay all out of pocket. Which is why getting a liberal studies degree now and going back for a major you actually want later, doesn't make sense.

[davewill]

The easiest degree for most people would be a Liberal Studies degree, simply because of the large number of subjects that can be chosen from. If you like math, you can load up on math, if you like history, English, sociology, bio, psych, etc... you can use those kinds of courses.

Other popular choices are Business Administration, Computer Science, and IT/CIS. These are popular because a lot of people who have been in the workforce already have experience and knowledge in these areas, and they are very marketable to perspective employers. If you have aptitude in those areas, they are not necessarily much, if any, harder than Liberal Studies.

Now, both to save money and time, we have found schools that will take a lot of alternative credit. These courses are great because they are cheap, and you can work at your own pace. This works especially well for adults who actually know a lot of things, but don't have college credit. For someone like you, it can still work to save money and time, but you do have to learn the material and either write papers or pass exams. One advantage to alt credit that may appeal to you is that the grades do not transfer to your school, you either pass or fail. So once you've studied enough to get 70%, you can go ahead and move on.

In your case, I'd spend more time reading threads here, and looking at the Community Wiki to see if any of the degree plans there sound like something you would be able to do easily.

If you are just itching to get started, there are a good number of general education courses that you could start taking while you are making up your mind where to go and what to degree to get.