Need Bachelors in 6 Months...Options?

[jsd]

How are you finding History and Systems of Psychology from Tor to be? That one is next on my list. I've downloaded the materials, but I'm not quite sure how to approach it all.

I'll give a more detailed response to this soon (probably in a new thread) as I just finished that exam yesterday. I think I passed it... but honestly, if you can find ANY other option, I recommend going with that. It was the hardest test-out exam I've done (including the PattenU exams, which were dumb [but not difficult] for an entirely different reason). In it's favor, it's fair to the material... everything came from the text, but it is a bear. If you have a mind for history (I don't), it's probably not as bad as I make it out to be. I don't fault TorCC for it at all, there's nothing wrong with the test, it was just a challenge for me.

I'm still processing my thoughts on it, so bear with me before I give a full review, but basically, memorize the whole textbook.

Also, if you haven't already, email Tor now to make sure they'll let you take the exam. They implied to me that they've discontinued it, or at the very least will not allow an online-proctored version of it.

[Nodaclu]

I'll give a more detailed response to this soon (probably in a new thread) as I just finished that exam yesterday. I think I passed it... but honestly, if you can find ANY other option, I recommend going with that. It was the hardest test-out exam I've done (including the PattenU exams, which were dumb [but not difficult] for an entirely different reason). In it's favor, it's fair to the material... everything came from the text, but it is a bear. If you have a mind for history (I don't), it's probably not as bad as I make it out to be. I don't fault TorCC for it at all, there's nothing wrong with the test, it was just a challenge for me.

I'm still processing my thoughts on it, so bear with me before I give a full review, but basically, memorize the whole textbook.

Also, if you haven't already, email Tor now to make sure they'll let you take the exam. They implied to me that they've discontinued it, or at the very least will not allow an online-proctored version of it.

Whoa...thank you for that heads up in red. Need that class for my degree and it doesn't seem to be offered anywhere else.

Fortunately, I have a mind for history (it's my favorite subject, and was my major for most of my previous college life) so hopefully that will help.

[KayV]

Here's a History and Systems of Psychology independent study course from University of Idaho for $510:
Psychology

[Nodaclu]

Here's a History and Systems of Psychology independent study course from University of Idaho for $510:
Psychology

Thank you for that! More expensive than the $195 Tor option, but still far cheaper than having to take the full class itself somewhere.

[KayV]

I looked at all the likely credit sources a few weeks ago, and the Idaho course was the only semi-inexpensive one I found (besides the Tor course).
Good luck!

[AwardTour]

Nodaclu, your story and time deadline to get a B.S. within 6 months is inspirational to me. Can I ask why you chose Charter Oak State College? I chose Charter Oak as well purely for their friendly and quick customer service/quick response to my emails.

I noticed that FEMA credits were never mentioned in your degree plan? You had some of the top people on this site help you with your degree plan, I am just curious. As I said, you have inspired me to get started soon with my plan. I am going to post my revised Associates Degree plan here soon and hopefully get some good feedback/advice. Good luck!

[Nodaclu]

Wow! I'm so glad that my story has inspired someone else. You can do this!

Everyone's situation is a little different, but I'm happy to share mine.

I'm not working much at the moment, and my savings account isn't substantial. Working full time and pursing school at night isn't something that has ever worked for me. So when I was laid off from my job at the end of April, I decided to use this window of time to fully focus on finishing me degree - or at least getting so close that, by the time I went back to work, I could practically shame myself into finishing the last 2 or 3 classes...lol.

But because of all this, cost was my first and biggest consideration. For my particular program, COSC was the cheapest option by about $700 initially. That has grown a bit because COSC forgave a 1 unit lab requirement, which was going to be expensive to complete elsewhere. So they are now my cheapest option by about $1,000. (Truth be told, Excelsior was my first choice, but they are the most expensive, and their program has a research writing requirement that I'd like to avoid if possible.)

As far as FEMA, it was just never on my radar as an option. I was pretty tightly focused on Straighterline, CLEP, DSST and UExcel when I got to this forum. Once here, I discovered Study.com, and I was absolutely sold.

I'm not ashamed to admit it...I hate guesswork and having to create my own structure, and Study.com eliminated both of those things for me:

• No hunting down textbooks or wondering if you're studying the right material
  
• No worrying about whether or not you are prepared enough and ready to take the test
  
• No having to set an appointment at a testing center that could be several weeks out
  
• No having to drive 80-100 miles round trip (in my case) to said testing center
  

If you want the structure, and the step-by-step progression, then there is no beating Study.com in my opinion. Yes, the pacing structure is set up so that you can only take 2 tests per month, but that cadence is perfect for my available time and study habits. To top it all off, the cost comes out to about $33/unit - about half the cost of my local community college, where every single class is overflowing. And depending on your needs, there are ways to lower that amount as well.

So for me personally, it ultimately came down to cost, convenience, and a structure that best suited my personality.

I hope that helps! Please let me know if I can answer any other questions, or help in any way.

Best of luck to you!

Nodaclu, your story and time deadline to get a B.S. within 6 months is inspirational to me. Can I ask why you chose Charter Oak State College? I chose Charter Oak as well purely for their friendly and quick customer service/quick response to my emails.

I noticed that FEMA credits were never mentioned in your degree plan? You had some of the top people on this site help you with your degree plan, I am just curious. As I said, you have inspired me to get started soon with my plan. I am going to post my revised Associates Degree plan here soon and hopefully get some good feedback/advice. Good luck!

[AwardTour]

Thanks for telling me why you chose COSC. FEMA credits are actually free to get. You can get up to 23 total? I still need to research the total possible amount. COSC I believe is the last of the big 3 that accepts them. It looks like you already have experience in obtaining free credit with your completion of the Insurance Ethics. This is the same scenario with FEMA (just different subject matter).

I am going back and editing my post here:

I am going to take your advice and look at study.com. I will see what I can replace on my plan with Study.com. I might even look to replace some of my planed Straighterline courses. Is there a transfer/equivalence guide online specific to COSC for Study.com courses? For example, you are taking Intro To World Religions right now at Study.com instead of taking the DSST exam. How did you know COSC would accept it? Thanks again.

Editing again:
Ok lol, it looks like this is the study.com COSC transfer guide http://study.com/directory/school/Charte...ransferTab

[Nodaclu]

Makes perfect sense. To be honest, I hadn't done any research on potential FEMA credits at the time, and just dove in with what I knew, and incorporated pieces that others shared here into a workable plan. I'm one of those types that can plan things to death and get nothing accomplished if I'm not careful, so once I had a plan that made sense, I committed to moving forward with it.

Thanks for telling me why you chose COSC. FEMA credits are actually free to get. You can get up to 23 total? I still need to research the total possible amount. COSC I believe is the last of the big 3 that accepts them. It looks like you already have experience in obtaining free credit with your completion of the Insurance Ethics. This is the same scenario with FEMA (just different subject matter).

[alleycat]

Good for you and getting this whole degree thing going! Not an easy task to say the least! But you are making great headway!
I know the FEMA thing was mentioned. Great for free electives if needed to fill that area up and it is free. Yes no cost which is wonderful. Back when I got my degree I did what I like to call my "FEMA WEEKEND" Lol. I just hit the FEMA hard and got 8 or 9 done in the course of a weekend. It was great because each one I finished I printed it out and stuck it on the frig. My kids all looked at me like I lost my mind. But it was fun. Next I had my son due them for college credit and to finish high school free electives.