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+--- Thread: Best approach to use Pell Grant for CIS Degree-Enroll New Mexico Junior College? (/Thread-Best-approach-to-use-Pell-Grant-for-CIS-Degree-Enroll-New-Mexico-Junior-College)
Best approach to use Pell Grant for CIS Degree-Enroll New Mexico Junior College? - mednat - 07-12-2016
COSC has a reputation of being very helpful in setting up articulation agreements that allow you to take classes at other schools using pell money. I didn't qualify for pell, but if I had this is the route I would have chosen.
My understanding is that basically COSC would be awarded your pell money and they would pay the schools you wish to attend for the classes you take.
I would give them a call and let them explain it (i'm definately not an expert on this).
Best approach to use Pell Grant for CIS Degree-Enroll New Mexico Junior College? - dfrecore - 07-12-2016
Cindy907 Wrote:I am thinking about just trying to find the fastest way to get a Bachelor degree and it seems like the BSBA is the most straightforward one to test out of, although I'm not sure what doors that degree would open? I am interested in the CIS degree but am not sure how much time I would have to invest. Any advice?
MATH A055 Elementary Algebra C 3 - TESU won't take this
PRPE A108 Intro to College Writing C 3 - Not sure if they will accept this
ENGL A111 *Meth of Written Communication C 3 - Not sure where this will fit, but it should be accepted
ENGL A213 *Writing in Soc & Nat Sciences A 3 - Not sure if this counts as "Research Methods in the Social Sciences" (Info Lit Requirement)? But they should accept it.
First, I'm not familiar with the Pell Grant stuff, so this is not in response to that, but to this post in particular.
Also, I'm not as familiar with COSC, so I'm just going to tell you how this fits into TESU.
1) A BSBA is only the most straightforward degree IF your credits will fit into that plan. When I look at your credits, some won't transfer over, plus you have too many credits that won't fit into the BSBA at all because you've already filled the Gen Eds (19cr won't fit into the plan). So, a different degree like a BALS would be able to use all of your credits, and you would be a lot closer to your degree.
2) If you aren't sure what doors the degree will open, then my advice is to either do more research, or do a different degree. A business degree will open doors to all kinds of jobs - but if you don't already have an idea of what you want to do with this degree, then it may not be very useful to you personally.
3) If you've never taken a computer course, then you should start with that first. I would recommend the free TEEX courses. Go through all 3 of them, and see how you feel about tech after that. If you are starting from scratch, then I think the CIS degree (or really any degree) will take longer to get through than if you were getting a degree in something that really interested you and you already had some experience in. Since you've already taken a bunch of science courses, you would have an easier time taking more science courses; you would get through them faster and easier than someone like me, who hasn't taken one in 25 years. I've taken business courses on and off for 25 years - I'm going to have an easier time testing out of those than someone who doesn't have any experience in business and has never taken a business course before.
I do know that the business degree at COSC is a little more flexible than the one at TESU, so you may want to look into it. And, with the prices similar to each other, it pays to look at both. EC is a LOT more, and with the credits you have (science, humanities, social studies), there's no real benefit to that school - so I wouldn't have that on my list.
Best approach to use Pell Grant for CIS Degree-Enroll New Mexico Junior College? - Cindy907 - 07-12-2016
Thanks for the feedback,
I enjoy working with computers and am currently working on certifications now with basic programs to get a better job. I feel like a technical degree is the best route to pursue because of the amount of jobs out there hiring for computer related careers. I really enjoy biology but in reality there are just not many jobs out there and the degree takes forever to get with all the labs. My partner is military and we move often so it isn't ideal. I don't mind if it takes longer as long as I can get a job when I'm done, I think I will be eligible for a Pell Grant next year as well and would like to go back to school as soon as I can. I just am trying to figure out the best way to go after a technical, computer related, bachelor degree where I am able to test out and use my grant as well as take classes as needed. COSU has a cybersecurity degree but I feel like that is a pretty narrow field and would like something more broad such as IT or CIS or CIT.
TESU was the only school that I found that I can pursue a degree in CIS and test out, but the out of state tuition is pretty high so I don't know how I would use my pell grant. I could try to use my grant somewhere else to get basic classes I need that TESU would need and also start testing out on my own for classes required for the CIS degree. I really am in a bind and am just trying to get a plan together to get this done but I'm having a hard time getting it figured out. I read a lot of other threads but haven't come up with much as far as what I should do.
Best approach to use Pell Grant for CIS Degree-Enroll New Mexico Junior College? - Cindy907 - 07-12-2016
I am really looking into the CIT degree at NAU because you can test out of classes, if you pass the pretest with 86% you get credit for the class and don't have to do it, if you don't pass you can take the post test as many times as you want until you pass during the lesson (that's what the IT chat person told me anyway) and only pay $3,000 for a six month period. So far this seems like the best way to get started, opinions?
Best approach to use Pell Grant for CIS Degree-Enroll New Mexico Junior College? - dfrecore - 07-12-2016
Cindy907 Wrote:I am really looking into the CIT degree at NAU because you can test out of classes, if you pass the pretest with 86% you get credit for the class and don't have to do it, if you don't pass you can take the post test as many times as you want until you pass during the lesson (that's what the IT chat person told me anyway) and only pay $3,000 for a six month period. So far this seems like the best way to get started, opinions?
I didn't think about that - and I think a competency-based school is a great choice for that degree - NAU is good, Hodges would work as well ($2750 leaves you a little left over for some GenEd courses/exams), and maybe WGU ($2890 for the IT degree). I would apply to all 3 and see which one gives you the most credit and fewest remaining requirements.
Also, with any of these, it may be better to take some of your Gen Eds before you start, through Saylor, SL, Study.com, CLEP, DSST, ALEKS, etc. to make sure that when you start the program, you have as few classes as possible to do during the 6-month term. You don't want to be taking English Comp I or College Algebra, taking up valuable time. You want to do the required computer courses instead. So find out what they say you still have to take, and see if there's a cheap and fast way to take some of those ahead of time.
Keep us posted, we can help you find the courses you need.
Best approach to use Pell Grant for CIS Degree-Enroll New Mexico Junior College? - mednat - 07-12-2016
I would suggest checking out WGU. Their IT related degrees include certifications, which will be useful for getting your start. They allow some testing out, but I believe it must be done before enrolling.
Best approach to use Pell Grant for CIS Degree-Enroll New Mexico Junior College? - Cindy907 - 07-12-2016
I cranked out the numbers for the certifications I would earn at WGU for the IT degree, the total cost for the exams would be $1,560, WGU includes exam fees in their tuition, however it would cost $3,100 for a six month term at WGU with all fees. My Pell Grant is $1,582 per semester so I would have to take out a loan for the rest, around$1,500, which isn't terrible. Would I be better off getting the certs on my own once I get a job (we just moved to North Carolina) and waiting until next year or whenever I have enough money to get the certs myself and then transfer them over to WGU and start the program. I don't want to just waste my grant but I don't want to pay for something I can do on my own, or should I bite the bullet and see what I can get done in a semester. I haven't read a lot of good things about ANU, I'm not sure when I have to use my grant per semester, if I have enough time I can get some certs done on my own but only if I can find a job, which so far has been more difficult than any other place we have lived in. Any thoughts?
Best approach to use Pell Grant for CIS Degree-Enroll New Mexico Junior College? - Cindy907 - 07-12-2016
I don't believe I can get in to the program due to admission requirements, I am working on getting my Word and Excel office cert so I can land an office job so maybe those will help, I am going to call WGU tomorrow to see if that will work, if not I guess I can try to get a different cert before applying.
Best approach to use Pell Grant for CIS Degree-Enroll New Mexico Junior College? - dfrecore - 07-13-2016
Cindy907 Wrote:I don't believe I can get in to the program due to admission requirements, I am working on getting my Word and Excel office cert so I can land an office job so maybe those will help, I am going to call WGU tomorrow to see if that will work, if not I guess I can try to get a different cert before applying.
The Word & Excel certs will probably not work at WGU or anywhere else. They are looking for things like CCNA or CISSP or A+. More technical certs. Getting them through WGU will be beneficial; you're not just getting the certs, but study materials for them, and a degree at the same time.
I would talk to them about the pell grant situation and see what they say. I would also call Hodges and talk to them about it as well. One of these schools may have a plan for that.
Best approach to use Pell Grant for CIS Degree-Enroll New Mexico Junior College? - dfrecore - 07-13-2016
mednat Wrote:I would suggest checking out WGU. Their IT related degrees include certifications, which will be useful for getting your start. They allow some testing out, but I believe it must be done before enrolling.
Not sure about NAU & Hodges, but I know for certain that at WGU you have to apply, see how your credits apply, then take any additional Gen Ed courses BEFORE you enroll. Once you enroll, they will not accept any additional transfer credits.