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+--- Thread: I'm back... (/Thread-I-m-back--48250)
I'm back... - MISin08 - 12-20-2024
Seeking input on other choices than EU given my situation, and any gotchas or advice.
Your Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
Your Age: 63
What kind of degree do you want?: Soonest, but probably a flavor of Business
Current Regional Accredited Credits:
Community College:
Eng 120
Art Hist 1
Art Hist 2
Human Genetics
Cultual Anth
Hist 120 Western Civ
Speech 120
Mythology 12X (was prev accepted for 2nd written Eng)
Training design
Film as Literature
Intro Networking
Intro Programming
CLEP/DSST:
CLEP Psych
CLEP Sociology
CLEP A&I Literature
DSST Org Behavior (Upper)
CLEP Nat Sci
DSST Finance (Upper)
CLEP Intro Computers
DSST MIS (Upper)
ALEKS Stats
CLEP Mgt
CLEP Mktg
CLEP Macroeconomics
DSST Ethics
CLEP Fin Acct
DSST Biz Law
CLEP Microeconomics
Chadron State - All Upper level
Database Mgt
Systems Analysis & Design
Proj Mgt
E-Commerce
Colorado State
Operations Mgt (upper)
EU (then EC):
INL 102
Quant (upper)
Strategy (upper)
Supply Chain (upper)
Mgt Accounting (lower)
I need to review the individual credit hours, as some are quarter system and a few semester, so I haven't listed them, but in all, I have 117 credits that were accepted or completed at Excelsior by 2010. I was active in this forum and working on College Algebra in anticipation of attaining a BS in Business, MIS Concentration, when my bandwidth for studies dried up due to work commitments.
Budget: I want to minimize the new work I have to do, and especially speedrun anything where I have to take a conventional distance class for tuition reimbursement. I am in the Evaluation process at EU and looking at the current catalog, I expect that at a minimum I need to do 18 credits/7 with them, (Cornerstone, Crapstone, Bus Writing, Leadership, HR Mgt, Intl Biz) depending on the eval. I can readily afford items like subscriptions, testing fees, etc. If it's more than 18 or EU pushes for more than 7 credits in their world, I will start looking harder at options.
I'm pretty sure they are going to offer me BPS instead of BS, due to the age of my credits plus no longer offering a MIS concentration. I have an emotional reaction to this, but I suspect the utility of the degree is sufficient for my purposes, which are checking the box so that I don't have to answer questions about it from recruiters, satisfying myself, and taking some grad courses. I welcome insight on utility of the BPS from anyone with experience with it. I may do a masters, will almost certainly do a grad certificate of one sort or another.
Commitments: work, spouse with a disability.
Dedicated time to study: 2-3 hours daily; I can sprint more if needed.
Timeline: asap (I expect to be "in the job market" within 12 months), so prefer to be done with courses that I need to reimburse before the year is half over. Already into SDC (nearly done with Globalization & Intl Biz); I wish all the resources we have now had been there in 2010, I wouldn't be in this mess if there had been SDC, Sophia, etc.
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: $5K/ year, as long as I'm employed. I pay upfront.
Thanks for looking
RE: I'm back... - allvia - 12-20-2024
You should apply to UMPI (YourPace) for the BBA-PM&IS. See what they take of your existing. Another option if you just want to check the box and have the MIS references is their BLS-MIS. Either way, UMPI is probably your quickest and cheapest option, good option for tuition reimbursement plans as well. Here is the Wiki page for UMPI in case you're not familiar with them yet - https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/University_of_Maine_at_Presque_Isle
RE: I'm back... - bjcheung77 - 12-20-2024
With the 2-3 hours you can spend daily on your homework, going the way of UMPI would be a problem, you should just need 2 classes at Excelsior to finish off the degree. You're going to have to complete max transfer of classes using Sophia.org, Study.com, any other ACE/NCCRS options, etc. If you go the route for UMPI, you'll most likely need 3 sessions, not the two I was originally thinking... The cost/time would be very similar either way you go, the main point is, max your transfers and not take the classes at EU or UMPI.
RE: I'm back... - LevelUP - 12-21-2024
With EU, you only get one free evaluation, so you’d better make sure everything is correct before submitting it. Otherwise, you’ll be charged for additional evaluations.
RE: I'm back... - MISin08 - 12-21-2024
Thank you for the replies, folks.
EU gave me an eval that guts my oldest business credits, leaving me with 33 cr to complete in order to finish a BSBA, mostly introductory subjects and a couple Core subjects that have been added over the years, that are "new" to me, though none of it is truly new learning. I only need 3 upper level Business credits. I've asked them to map my transcripts to the BPS as a f'rinstance (no mention of a fee so far), but by my estimate that will be 24 credits to finish, including their Capstone.
If I'm correct, I'm considering going for the BSBA, if they’ll approve my plan. I can re-take everything plus new credits via SDC or Sophia fairly quickly, while the BPS route would probably have me taking the Capstone over Summer or Fall, increasing the risk I end up paying out of pocket for it.
It sounds silly, and is annoying, but from the standpoint of marginal cost, as well as intangibles, it makes sense to me. My only regret, other than wishing I had come back 5 or 6 years ago, is that I was thinking of taking some useful electives, and there may not be time.
I did a little research, and while I believe the Professional Studies degree is "just as good" I fear it may be perceived as less rigorous, or at least "different" by gatekeepers. I'm also a bit later in my career than the target market for this degree, and don’t expect to be asked about my studies anyway, so taking the fresh capstone isn't that valuable to me.
RE: I'm back... - bjcheung77 - 12-21-2024
Maybe the controversial option would work for you, do the ENEB double degree offerings that interest you, get an academic evaluation as per WIKI, then apply to HAU for their 3K MBA, you can call it a day as the ENEB offerings will be equivalent to RA Bachelors & Graduate certificate, your $3K HAU MBA would take a year to do. Total, 1.5 years for the entire thing...
RE: I'm back... - allvia - 12-21-2024
(12-21-2024, 01:53 PM)bjcheung77 Wrote: Maybe the controversial option would work for you, do the ENEB double degree offerings that interest you, get an academic evaluation as per WIKI, then apply to HAU for their 3K MBA, you can call it a day as the ENEB offerings will be equivalent to RA Bachelors & Graduate certificate, your $3K HAU MBA would take a year to do. Total, 1.5 years for the entire thing...
I think a master degree you can sign up for through Groupon will be perceived far less 'rigorous' (to quote the OP) than the OP getting a EU BPS. Plus the ENEB route still leaves the OP with no bachelor at all, and in the US that is a red flag on a resume/CV (has master but no bachelor). However, the HAU MBA is a good option after the OP gets a bachelor if they're looking for graduate degree options; no matter what bachelor they choose, the EU BPS/BSBA or UMPI BLS/BBA (for example).
One thing the OP (MISin08) should keep in mind is that at 63, your work experience on your resume/CV will count for far more than any bachelor degree major (especially since the average age of person graduating with a bachelor is 23). At this point (age) it would most certainly be about having a bachelor in order to 'check the box' than anything else.
RE: I'm back... - TINASAM - 12-21-2024
OP, also remember you can get free tuition when you reach 65. https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_341.518
RE: I'm back... - MISin08 - 12-21-2024
(12-21-2024, 03:30 PM)allvia Wrote:(12-21-2024, 01:53 PM)bjcheung77 Wrote: Maybe the controversial option would work for you, do the ENEB double degree offerings that interest you, get an academic evaluation as per WIKI, then apply to HAU for their 3K MBA, you can call it a day as the ENEB offerings will be equivalent to RA Bachelors & Graduate certificate, your $3K HAU MBA would take a year to do. Total, 1.5 years for the entire thing...
HAU MBA is a good option after the OP gets a bachelor
work experience on your resume/CV will count for far more than any bachelor degree major
I will probably look at HAU, I'm intrigued. Agree the name of my major isn't that impactful, that's where intangibles come into play.