I am 40 and need a Bachelors Degree….any suggestions?

[Gerald]

Hey I am 40 and this is getting on my nerves …I need an Online Bachelors degree to make my life and family secure. I have been working as an electronic technician for 20 years. I have also spent 10 years as a labor representative (Union). Now I am tired of watching other’s with any kind of B. degree move ahead and not me. I do not need an Engineering degree. Just something that says B. degree on it. My company does not have a generous tuition reimbursement. I also need my degree fast…I am not getting any younger. All this is making my family worried about me. I have info about online B.degrees but need accredited ones to earn a better future. It would be pleasant of you folks if you can provide me with useful inputs. I know that there are options like PU, Ashford …but can you suggest some more to make me decide better considering the finance issue.

[barcotta]

If you want fast AND accredited, I recommend Excelsior college. You may not get much of a tuition reimbursement but it doesn't cost much either. It sounds like you don't have any credit to start, but you can likely transfer in anything you do have--Excelsior is great for that. It's also easy to figure out how to transfer things like your labor relations experience to college credit via testing.

Scour this forum for info re Excelsior's liberal arts degrees and then decide if you want to test out of as much as possible before even enrolling (using basic info you can find here) or if you want to enroll so you have an advisor. That only matters in terms of cost. If you wait until you're almost done with the degree--you can guarantee you'll only have to pay one year's tuition (about a grand) plus the costs of the CLEP and DSST tests (just under $100 each usually) and Excelsior tests (around $210 each).

If you want fast, sign up for instantcert now and begin studying the Sociology flash cards--now--as in right now. Your life will be flashcards until you're done and the next hour you spend watching TV could have put you an hour closer to your degree. In the meantime you are also spending a few hours on this forum reading how others have done it and putting together a rough degree plan. In a week or two you'll be ready for the CLEP sociology test--you'll take it and pass--and you'll have three college credits. Only 117 to go! Then you can start stacking related tests and taking more than one at a time.

It's not unheard of to complete 12-15 credits in one day using this method. If you can put the time into studying and can retain quickly--you are only 40 tests away from your accredited Bachelors degree--and since you already passed Sociology, make that 39.

I think you'll have trouble beating the Excelsior/Instantcert combo for speed and cost.

Good luck.

[Greggy_D]

Ditto everything barcotta just said. They key is to get on a roll and NOT lose focus and get derailed (like I did). Just keep the train moving until you reach your degree. It's entirely doable. You've already taken the first step by posting here and I commend you for that. Now get studying!!!

Good luck!

[Blitzstudie]

In addition to Excelsior you may want to look at Thomas Edison and Charter Oak which are the other 2 in the big three. Print out the requirements and make a matrix to see which one gets you there the fastest,cheapest or whatever is most important.

Also important to consider is since you have 20 years in electronics is if you can get credit for that and/or industry training certification etc. Both Excelsior and TE offer Electronic Eng AS and BS options dont know about Charter Oak

[Epiphany]

Ditto Ditto.

I've taken about 1 test a week since starting. I have a full time job, travel frequently.

1. Use the IC flash cards Barcotta aluded to.
2. When you can't use them (away form the internet say) print out some of the study guides or quick word docs others have posted and read them. Or buy an REA CLEP study book.
3. Don't get too caught up yet in trying to determine which school to go to or apply at. Just take a few tests that can apply anywhere and you'll be on a roll. (Sociology is a good one).
4. If you travel for work, use some of that time as an opportunity to study in airports or on the plane. (Next month I'm in Europe for 3 weeks. Several flights, trains, ferries, and long transfers. I can't wait! Endless hours of study time. Bring on the delayed flights, I'll rack up more credits.)

[barcotta]

(Next month I'm in Europe for 3 weeks. Several flights, trains, ferries, and long transfers. I can't wait! Endless hours of study time. Bring on the delayed flights, I'll rack up more credits.)

I am SO jealous. I can only imagine what I could do with that kind of uninterrupted study time.

In any event, here's a link for Gerald that'll help get him started. http://www.instantcertonline.com/forums/...dents.html

[cookderosa]

Hey I am 40 and this is getting on my nerves …I need an Online Bachelors degree to make my life and family secure. I have been working as an electronic technician for 20 years. I have also spent 10 years as a labor representative (Union). Now I am tired of watching other’s with any kind of B. degree move ahead and not me. I do not need an Engineering degree. Just something that says B. degree on it. My company does not have a generous tuition reimbursement. I also need my degree fast…I am not getting any younger. All this is making my family worried about me. I have info about online B.degrees but need accredited ones to earn a better future. It would be pleasant of you folks if you can provide me with useful inputs. I know that there are options like PU, Ashford …but can you suggest some more to make me decide better considering the finance issue.

>>

Welcome! You came to the right place. Sometimes it takes getting mad enough to get in gear! Of course I'll suggest TESC where I am enrolled, but there are a few good choices that will no doubt be shared with you. You didn't mention testing, but THAT is the way to knock out major amounts of classes in tiny bits of time. It is reasonable for a motivated adult to earn a bachelor degree in 1 year through online classes and CLEP testing. IT CAN BE DONE!!

[AdrianPeterson]

hey Gerald, I am in a similar situation. Here is how I got motivated. Basically a BA through Thomas Edison State College (One of the big three) is 120 credits. I am not sure about any other of the big three but im sure someone on this bored can fill in the blanks. Now heres how to get started. Ok, the BA is 120 credits. Now get this. go to google and type in "FEMA tests" on that site. you get one credit for exam. they are very easy. there is atleast 35 tests that give you one credit. They are free and you get your results back in mins-to hours. The BA through Thomas Edison State College requires 27 free electives to graduate. That means you pass 27 tests. that is 1/4 of your degree done. Just do a test a day. I hope i am correct in my information.

[ShotoJuku]

Sent you a PM.

[studyhard]

If you don't care what your degree is in, you could opt for a history degree. That's what I'm getting mine in because it's fast. I've always been a history buff anyway so it's working great. What I love about history tests is that you don't have to actually UNDERSTAND the material to get a good score, you only have to REMEMBER it. hilarious hilarious But seriously, that is helpful. Biology, math, micro/macroeconomics.........those were ones that I actually had to think and understand concepts. But many of the others are just about learning facts and learning jargon.

I'm going through Thomas Edison State College.........so far it's going great. I'll be done next month.

If you're interested in a history degree, feel free to shoot me a note and ask for my list of courses that I took.