newbie question regarding getting started

[tkdblackbelt]

I have been lurking here and trying to gather as much info as possible. I have 36 credits from years ago and am looking to finish my business degree in the fastest way possible to open up more work opportunities for me. My previous credits are in business admin and i am leaning towards COSC after reading many threads.

Do i register at COSC first and get my transcripts to them, or do i start taking tests (clep, penn foster, etc) and register later?

Sorry if this seems like a simpleton type of question, i'm just trying to get my ducks in a row since i never realized finishing my degree this way was even possible until recently. Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Rich

[dfrecore]

I am biased towards TESU, so keep that in mind.

If you decide on COSC, and apply now, you will have to pay some fees to enroll, plus you have to sign up for the Cornerstone course. If I'm wrong here, I'm sure someone more familiar with COSC will chime in and let you know.

If you decide on TESU and apply now, you can be on the Per-Credit Tuition Plan, which has no fees.

Also, COSC has the Capstone course in addition to the Cornerstone, which makes it quite a bit more expensive than TESU.

TESU allows you to pay no enrollment fees at all, but take 8 TECEP exams instead, to meet residency requirements. These 8 exams can be planned into your degree, so you save a boatload of money doing your BSBA this way. Other degrees will not be the same, as they will have a Capstone that can't be met except through TESU directly. I think the BSBA is the one degree program where there is a huge difference in the cost between the 3 schools.

That being said, here's what I would do:
1) Plan your BSBA at all 3 schools
2) Take courses that overlap at all the schools
3) Apply to all 3 schools
4) Finish at the school that allows you to get your degree cheapest/fastest/easiest - whatever you decide is your priority

Keep reading the forum - I've been doing this for years, and I still learn something new almost every day!

Good luck!

[burbuja0512]

It's been a while since I was in COSC, but I want to say that I was really happy with my decision. The customer service was great and they are very aware of the testing options, which makes it much easier when you're feeling lost.

You have no reason to apply or enroll now unless you actually want to take classes. Otherwise, you're just paying to take CLEPs. I agree with dfrecore's advice - just take your courses, perhaps those that overlap, but get started now!

I was very careful to create a spreadsheet with definite time frames and goals. I would set a date to take the CLEP - even schedule it ahead of time - then study intensively for the test. IMHO, if you don't set a short-term goal with a test and a time frame, you might get derailed. I hit my deadlines about 90% of the time, taking into account extenuating circumstances. Even if you change things up, or don't create a great plan, just move forward.

Once you're about 100-110 credits into it, then you can apply, pay your money and then HURRY to finish. COSC will charge you for your time there, so be prepared.


One final note and sorry for harping on this, but did I mention that you need to have a plan . Even if you change at the last minute, but map out a degree plan and GO GO GO. Don't make any excuses. Don't be the smart, hard worker who watches everyone else get a promotion because you don't have the piece of paper to match your skills. It is easy to move through the first few tests, but no one is watching you! So easy to earn a few more credits and let it slip. Use the forum, post every day, and you can do it!!!!!! If you don't know, please ask! And.. know that you WILL feel lost, or like you're "doing things incorrectly" for a while. This is not a traditional learning path and it does feel weird. You'll get used to it and pretty soon you'll love it.

[tkdblackbelt]

Thank you so much for the info and encouragement, i'm looking forward to the journey!

[Forgiven]

Hey Guys,

Newb here as well and was wondering this same thing if it was better to enroll or to take tests before hand. it seems like a double edge sward. if you enroll you end up paying the school for the time your their test taking unless you finish in 1 year. if you don't enroll you risk them changing requirements. please someone correct me if I'm wrong.

anyway the reason for my post was in response to dfrecore. on TESU's website it seems residency requirements are at this time 12 credits for Associates degrees and 24 credits for a bachelors degree. see here Thomas Edison State University | Per Credit Tuition Plan The per credit cost seems crazy high. i thought it was a mistake but then i saw this breakdown Thomas Edison State University: Selecting the Right Tuition Plan is this not the case? i pretty much planned on getting my degree from TESU but with what their website shows the cheapest degree you could get by CBE's is 9,036 dollars!

[Leherself]

On TESU's website it seems residency requirements are at this time 12 credits for Associates degrees and 24 credits for a bachelors degree. see here Thomas Edison State University | Per Credit Tuition Plan The per credit cost seems crazy high. i thought it was a mistake but then i saw this breakdown Thomas Edison State University: Selecting the Right Tuition Plan is this not the case? i pretty much planned on getting my degree from TESU but with what their website shows the cheapest degree you could get by CBE's is 9,036 dollars!

They key to getting an inexpensive degree at TESU is using TECEPs. TECEPs are $37 per credit, or $111 apiece. If you're getting a Business Degree, you can satisfy the 12/24 credit residency requirement completely with TECEPs. Liberal Arts degrees (AA, most AAS, BA, etc.) require a capstone course where you'll have to pay the full tuition for 3 credits, but if you do the other 7 courses with TECEPs your total outgo is more like $2500 rather than $9000.

[dfrecore]

Hey Guys,

Newb here as well and was wondering this same thing if it was better to enroll or to take tests before hand. it seems like a double edge sward. if you enroll you end up paying the school for the time your their test taking unless you finish in 1 year. if you don't enroll you risk them changing requirements. please someone correct me if I'm wrong.

anyway the reason for my post was in response to dfrecore. on TESU's website it seems residency requirements are at this time 12 credits for Associates degrees and 24 credits for a bachelors degree. see here Thomas Edison State University | Per Credit Tuition Plan The per credit cost seems crazy high. i thought it was a mistake but then i saw this breakdown Thomas Edison State University: Selecting the Right Tuition Plan is this not the case? i pretty much planned on getting my degree from TESU but with what their website shows the cheapest degree you could get by CBE's is 9,036 dollars!

Not sure where you got $9036, that's crazy. 8 TECEP's is $888 (for a BSBA), 7 TECEP's and 1 capstone (for any degree other than a BSBA) is $2,337 out-of-state. Those are your only fees at TESU on the Per-Credit Tuition Plan (except of course an application fee and a graduation fee, but you'll pay those at any school).

And don't forget, for the $888/$2,337, you're getting 24cr!

[AngelaP]

Another thing to consider is the UL credits you will need. These are easier to fill at TESC than COSC. You will need a cornerstone and capstone at COSC and one of those classes alone is over 1K.

I know when first coming here it is difficult to wrap your head around everything. You read and read and read and it just gets more confusing. I received my AS through COSC and was very pleased with my experience. However, if I had to do it all over again, I would probably just go the TESC route. If you don't have a lot of credits, it makes sense as it will cost you less money by doing the TECEPs to meet the residency requirements. You are going to need the classes anyway. I would try to get the degree plan straight beforehand though so you have some idea of what you are trying to accomplish. Also, you can go ahead and start taking some classes, just make sure they fill the spot you want them to and are still valid on ACE. The good thing with taking a TECEP is that it locks you into the current catalog for a year. You can use certain things to help you out with the time though. You could apply to TESC in May or June to hold you for six months while taking classes. When your time is almost up, enroll and sign up for a TECEP, which will hold you for a year.

Of course that is just one idea and there are more. You just need to figure out what is right for you.

[dfrecore]

I agree with AngelaP, you need a good plan; although you also need to START.

I would create a plan for all of the Big 3, to see what is best/easiest/cheapest/whatever your priority. If you have credits already, I would suggest applying at all of the Big 3 first to see where your credits fall.

You can always post your credits here (course number & name, where you took it, number of credits you received), and we can help figure out where they would fit at each school, and what degree you're closest to (if you don't know which one you want yet). If you have "normal" credits, we will probably be pretty close. If you have things that are less familiar to us, we will tell you that we don't know!

Good luck!

[tkdblackbelt]

Thank you everyone for the info and support, I plan to have my BSBA completed in no later than 12 months. I have 41 credits from a previous life in college, i have put together a plan from looking at info on this forum and the various other sources that have been recommended here. I agree that getting started is the key so.......

1. signed up for instacert and begun studying flashcards for my first test (business ethics and society)
2. got info on the local testing facility for dsst/clep tests.
3. hope to take my first test in a few weeks.

I'm sure i will have many more questions on this journey but damn the torpedo's and getting started without having every little detail worked out.