Online Degrees and CLEP and DSST Exam Prep Discussion
Why did you choose the Big 3? - Printable Version

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Why did you choose the Big 3? - bjcheung77 - 04-09-2022

Basically, I get so many people asking about the Big 3 or the competency based degree providers we recommend and use, this has been asked before...  What was your reason for selecting the school you went to or going to right now?  Cost, ease, speed to finish?  How about name, ranking, recognition, etc? 

This is an old article from 9 years ago, it was one of a few articles that made me rethink my educational goal.  I've been recommending the Big 3 and WGU before the article came out, but really looked into them for myself in 2012, placed my education on hold, and afterwards, ultimately decided on TESU when they became rebranded as a state university.

Spoiler: Someone we know and have talked about in a previous thread is in this article, yes - the TESU grad who became a Harvard Professor!  Not only that, another TESU grad who went onto an Ivy League for an Executive MBA and a Masters in Leadership from a Top 50 school.  Big 3 and WGU grad's aren't that bad, they get places as with any other school you finish the Bachelors with, they look at you as a package and what you bring into the table for admissions.

Hopefully you can read this link without a subscription: Thomas Edison State College Pioneers Alternative Paths - The New York Times (nytimes.com)


RE: Why did you choose the Big 3? - Vle045 - 04-09-2022

Darn. I can’t read it. It says I’ve reached my limit of free articles


RE: Why did you choose the Big 3? - rachel83az - 04-09-2022

(04-09-2022, 05:29 AM)Vle045 Wrote: Darn. I can’t read it.  It says I’ve reached my limit of free articles

Try opening in an incognito window, sometimes that works.

I had to turn off JS to read the article.

Very interesting that people still have similar concerns now as they did 9 years ago. You'd think that all of the decades that TESC/TESU has been around would quell dissent and spread awareness, but it hasn't. I guess things move slowly in academia.


RE: Why did you choose the Big 3? - LevelUP - 04-09-2022

As a computer science major, you know stuff, so yes, I can read the article. lol

You can graduate using a high amount of alt credits and end up getting into a competitive master's program.


RE: Why did you choose the Big 3? - bjcheung77 - 04-09-2022

My recommendation for those who are still adamant that the Big 3 or WGU and other CBE's are not "real" education is... go for something else.  For those who are for using them or at least neutral to trying alternative education, as long as the institution is Regionally Accredited, you have nothing to lose; it's just like any public/state school where you pay THOUSANDS more than what alternative education providers who take 90+ credits towards the Bachelors degrees (45+ for Associates).

If you don't know how to disable javascript on your Chrome or Edge browser and have no subscription, here are two links that will show the article.
Link 1: https://news.tfionline.com/post/44058306934/adults-are-flocking-to-college-that-paved-way-for
Link 2: https://readthinkwriteteach.wordpress.com/2013/03/01/adults-are-flocking-to-college-that-paved-way-for-flexibility/