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+--- Thread: 30 Free Ace Credits (/Thread-30-Free-Ace-Credits)
30 Free Ace Credits - videogamesrock - 09-16-2015
I just applied. Let's see how it goes.
30 Free Ace Credits - futuremrsmlb - 09-16-2015
Here's the response I got:
Because you are eligible for First-Year-Free and have *been enrolled in COM110 Interpersonal Communication. *The program will allow you to earn up to 30 credits for free. *The first class all our students take is COM110. *Once we have completed your transcript evaluation we can build you a schedule based on the courses you have already taken and course availability. *At that time we can see if the courses you have requested are available and fit into your plan. *
So, its really only useful to those who need lots of LL credit
30 Free Ace Credits - GradSchool1234 - 09-16-2015
I applied and am now enrolled in the COM110 class. This was, like others, not the class I wanted to take. This whole business seems sketchy to me. I don't understand how DreamDegree makes money.
Also, here (ACE CREDIT | The National Guide to College Credit for Workforce Training | Evaluated Organizations) is a link of all the organizations which are approved by ACE. I do not see Dream Degree anywhere, and then AlignDegree Services LLC (the old company?) is not online anymore.
Also, I have not seen anyone mention that textbooks are required for the courses which are not provided by DreamDegree. So there is a cost required, not much of a cost, but still a cost never-the-less.
Also, also, also, here is the description of my professor:
"A brief history of my background includes 16 ½ years in Marine Corps aviation. My last 8 years was spent as a Flight Engineer on KC-130 aircraft as well as being the NCOIC of Flight Engineer Ground Training at MCAS El Toro. Once I left the Marines, I worked at McDonnell Douglas/Boeing as a technical writer/editor in flight as well as maintenance manuals for the next 12 years and well as a holding management positions. When 9/11 caused the slump in aircraft sales, the subsequent downsizing of The Boeing Company led me to seeking full-time opportunities in education.
I currently hold 7 Masters degrees in business administration (MBA), human resource management (MA), human behavior (MA), aerospace operations (MAS), English (MA), instructional technology (MS) creative writing (MFA), and a doctorate in educational technology (EdD) from Pepperdine University. I am currently an associate professor at a university in Southern California."
He holds seven Masters degrees and works for an online company that makes no money? (face-palm) I want to believe this is something real, but my inner skeptic won't let me.
Part of me wonders if they even have any other courses ready to take besides COM110. I don't know. I'll keep pressing forward and report my findings back to you guys.
30 Free Ace Credits - dfrecore - 09-17-2015
I signed up for the Ethics course, still haven't heard from them. Going to try again. I don't need any of the other courses on the list, only Ethics, so if they try to force me to do communications, I think we'll know that that's all they have available, and aren't legit.
30 Free Ace Credits - socsci - 09-17-2015
It says the personal coach will help you find 2 to 5 universities of your choice. They will connect you with the university and you should receive acceptance offers.
"DreamDegree receives a placement fee for helping find just the right students for a particular college or university. This ensures enrolling students who have demonstrated motivation, completed up to 30 transfer credits, and identified a particular interest in a program at a particular participating institution. Placement fees paid by the institutions to Dream Degree represent a significant savings over what regionally accredited institutions are currently paying in hard-to-track advertising dollars to recruit students. Institutions win because they only pay when they accept the right kind of student they want for their institution."
It appears that they will be sending out your information to various universities that will accept the ACE credits. They only get paid if you sign up with the university, it would be great if you all managed to get free credits onto an ACE transcript, but they may want paying $33 per credit if you don't sign up to a uni through them.
$100 per course is still quite good, depending on if the materials are included and how lengthy they are.
$1299 at Straighterline gets 30 credits and a years worth of subscription. Add another 10 courses for $500 and that's 60 credits for $1799 or $29.98 per credit. Passing 20 SL courses in a year is very doable and a few are upper level at TESC. Of course there is the cost of books on top of that, but some are available here and there very cheap, or free.
Does principles of management transfer as upper level? It's available for free at Saylor only at 200 level.
30 Free Ace Credits - Prloko - 09-17-2015
I'm sure they're forcing everyone into the same course because that is the only one available (either instructor or other issue).
30 Free Ace Credits - sanantone - 09-17-2015
GradSchool1234 Wrote:I applied and am now enrolled in the COM110 class. This was, like others, not the class I wanted to take. This whole business seems sketchy to me. I don't understand how DreamDegree makes money.
Also, here (ACE CREDIT | The National Guide to College Credit for Workforce Training | Evaluated Organizations) is a link of all the organizations which are approved by ACE. I do not see Dream Degree anywhere, and then AlignDegree Services LLC (the old company?) is not online anymore.
Also, I have not seen anyone mention that textbooks are required for the courses which are not provided by DreamDegree. So there is a cost required, not much of a cost, but still a cost never-the-less.
Also, also, also, here is the description of my professor:
"A brief history of my background includes 16 ½ years in Marine Corps aviation. My last 8 years was spent as a Flight Engineer on KC-130 aircraft as well as being the NCOIC of Flight Engineer Ground Training at MCAS El Toro. Once I left the Marines, I worked at McDonnell Douglas/Boeing as a technical writer/editor in flight as well as maintenance manuals for the next 12 years and well as a holding management positions. When 9/11 caused the slump in aircraft sales, the subsequent downsizing of The Boeing Company led me to seeking full-time opportunities in education.
I currently hold 7 Masters degrees in business administration (MBA), human resource management (MA), human behavior (MA), aerospace operations (MAS), English (MA), instructional technology (MS) creative writing (MFA), and a doctorate in educational technology (EdD) from Pepperdine University. I am currently an associate professor at a university in Southern California."
He holds seven Masters degrees and works for an online company that makes no money? (face-palm) I want to believe this is something real, but my inner skeptic won't let me.
Part of me wonders if they even have any other courses ready to take besides COM110. I don't know. I'll keep pressing forward and report my findings back to you guys.
He's an associate professor at USC and works part-time for this company? Dream Degree came before Align Degree Services. I don't know if they're switching back to the Dream Degree name, but the ACE recommendations used to be under Dream Degree and were switched to Align Degree. Are you all being directed to Align Degree Services for the course? This company looks like it's about to become defunct.
30 Free Ace Credits - futuremrsmlb - 09-17-2015
sanantone Wrote:He's an associate professor at USC and works part-time for this company? Dream Degree came before Align Degree Services. I don't know if they're switching back to the Dream Degree name, but the ACE recommendations used to be under Dream Degree and were switched to Align Degree. Are you all being directed to Align Degree Services for the course? This company looks like it's about to become defunct.
Once you are sent log in instructions you are redirected to a site that says Dream Degree (FYF Dream Degree) log in
My goal was to take Principles of Management. Since you don't get to choose, I'm not proceeding. I need only UL credit at this point
30 Free Ace Credits - jawbreakingrr - 09-17-2015
Looks like they updated their website. It doesn't take for ever to load and some up to date material on it.
30 Free Ace Credits - GradSchool1234 - 09-17-2015
I sent an email to further clarify some questions I had. Here is the email and the response, hope it's helpful!
"I am generally confused about all this. So please help shed light of some of my questions:
1). How does DreamDegree make money?
2). Am I absolutely able to take 10, 3 credit courses, for free and receive accreditation from ACE?
3). If I understand correctly, DreamDegree used to be AlignDegree Services LLC. AlignDegree Services LLC is listed under the ACE accredited organizations, but DreamDegree isn't. Is DreamDegree approved for credit by ACE, or is still waiting to be evaluated?
4). I did not register to take COM110, however I was informed this class is mandatory for all new students. I would like to take multiple classes at once. Will I be able to take whichever and however-many courses I chose after completing COM110?
5). For COM110 homework assignments are based on the reading of a required text. Do all courses require textbooks which are not offered by DreamDegree?
6). Is credit award for a class upon the completion of the finial? Is any grade above a 70% eligible for credit?
I am grateful for the opportunity to test run this process, but am suffering from confusion due to lack of information.
Thank you for your time. "
Response:
"Thank you for your interest in DreamDegree. We are excited to have you as part of the First-Year-Free Program.
1. We fund First-Year-Free for our students by charging the colleges/universities an administrative fee for students we assist with credit transfer and placement.
2. The way the program is set up, all student begin in COM 110. Once we receive your unofficial transcripts we evaluate the credits you have earned at previous institutions to determine the remaining number of credits and course topics required to bring you to a total of 30 credits earned. So to answer your question, if you have not completed any previous college course work, you may be eligible to take 10, 3 credit courses.
3. DreamDegree™ educational platform courses are delivered by AlignDegree Services, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of SignificantTechnology, LLC, which has offered courses with ACE CREDIT’s recommendations since 2011.
4. It is true that COM110 is the first course in the First-Year-Free program. Once we receive your unofficial transcripts we evaluate the credits you have earned at previous institutions to determine the remaining number of credits and course topics required to bring you to a total of 30 credits earned. The courses will be selected for you based on your evaluation and the schedule of available courses. To ensure students are successful, students are not permitted to take more than one course at a time.
5. All required textbook materials are embedded inside each course.
6. A grade is posted upon completion of the course.
We hope that this will help alleviate your confusion and are very happy to have you as part of the program.
Best wishes,
DreamDegree Support"