List of Lingering Questions (BSBA Journey)

[SlowReader]

Hello all,

First, thank you all for the priceless help in demystifying and taming this beast called higher learning. It can be overwhelming after all these years of life at full speed, to suddenly stop and make time for this.

MY DETAILS
Location: TX, US
Age: 46
Degree: (seeking) Bachelors in Business
Credits: TTU 9 Credits: ENG 1301, FR 1507, Jazz Ensemble
CLEP 6 Credits: Spanish I & II
GPA: 3.4
No Military
Priorities: Efficiency/speed from a widely recognized uni is my priority. Secondary is budget. Hoping to stay under $10K, but willing to consider spending for speed & quality.
Commitments: I can focus on study, but have other projects. Ideally looking to study 4 hours per weekday and 4-8 on weekends.
Timeline: 6 mo or less ideally
Caveat: If I find a decent full-time job, commitments/time may shift suddenly
Goal: SaaS Senior Management position - also eventually business ownership
Additional Details: I have a ton of experience, and am finding (once again) that my experience doesn't mean much without a sheepskin. I owned/operated a graphic design/photography business for over ten years, then worked up to 3 years SaaS Sales Leadership at a corporation, then got a team lead position at a SaaS company (2 years). I have (outdated) experience with HTML, CSS, PHP4, MySQL, and some Javascript.

My passions are business strategy, developing/refining processes, building strong cultures, running teams, and helping people advance their careers. I prefer tech/SaaS and prefer leading teams (including but not limited to sales) over programming. Therefore, I think the path for me is a Bachelor of Science In Business Administration (BSBA), but am requesting experienced suggestions from you. I love project management, but PM's seem to average $80K (according to the Uni sites), whereas I was making $95K - $160K over the past 6 years and am pursuing a degree in order to match or increase that.

LINGERING QUESTIONS:
1) Based on the decision table, I made my own table to eliminate some noise (as a US citizen, eliminated English/Int'l info as well as schools I'm not focused on). From this, and partially through instincts, I'm leaning toward Western Governors (WGU), because their term is 6 months self-paced for a nominal fee - which gives me ample time to cram and pivot as life unfolds; whereas Excelsior and UMPI charge per 8wk term, and (I believe) TESU charges per month, which can get expensive if life gets in the way. What do you think?

2) It's been recommended here to create an ACE account for unifying/collecting credits. However, ACE doesn't seem to have a membership/login option. I've since noticed that Credly seems to be their main provider. So my question is whether creating a Credly account is what is meant in step 1 here?

3) That being said, it's also recommended to go ahead and start taking Sophia and/or getting free credits before committing to a uni. However, I fear that I'll wind up wasting time gaining credits that I don't need/will not apply toward my degree path. How can I avoid this without first choosing my uni?

4) I'm super curious about CPL (I think that's the accronym for "experience"), because I do have a ton of experience and training. However, official courses/training have been limited. What is the best way to find out if my experience is worth any credits? ACE testing?

5) PMP (Project Management Professional) seems to be a credential that is very respected in my field. CAPM is the ladder to PMP. Does anyone know if CAPM can serve as college credit - specifically towards a BSBA degree?

6) I like the idea of qualifying for certificates (e.g. AWS) that could advance my current career prospects. Is there some place to check certificate courses to be sure the course will count toward my degree before I take it? Is this possible to do before deciding on a school?

Thanks in advance!

[bjcheung77]

@SlowReader, Welcome to the board, great intro post with the addendum, template, plus additional details. There's a little mix-up in a few areas, but, it's pretty well written in regards to the questions. Here are my answers...

1) Excelsior, TESU doesn't charge by month, but by credits per term, UMPI are 8 week sessions at a flat rate just like WGU. You should add TAMUC into the list, that would be my first choice, UMPI as a second choice. If you want to transfer a max of credits, then Excelsior/TESU would be a tie. WGU would be my recommendation for a graduate degree (if you're not doing the UMPI MAOL).

2) You're looking at 'older/outdated' info from when I first started the Beginner's Guide, ACE transcript service changed or migrated to Credly. You should always review the posts, threads, and WIKI to verify information, usually by the dates. Steps can be done interchangeably, you don't really have to go in the exact specific order...Having said that, you need to do all the steps to get to the finish line...

3) Starting is the hardest step, you need a degree plan that incorporates all the cheapies/freebies into your degree general education and electives. You can always decide on the degree/institution when the time comes, as up to 90 credits will transfer into those particular areas for multiple degrees/institutions. An example is the Sophia.org equivalency on the mentioned WIKI...

4) CPL, credit for prior learning or continuing professional learning, may be used in a portfolio to showcase what you know. I think it's too much work and time consuming, you can probably finish more credits with Sophia.org and get it done cheaper, easier, faster. You can do a quick write up and not do the PLA and see if the institution will grant you elective credits.

5) PMP and other certificates may be worthy of credit, it all depends on the institution you're ultimately going for and the degree you want.
6) WIKI has some for the Coursera/Edx certs, such as Google, IBM, etc, TEEX freebies, and non-credit Edx options as well.
As I always recommend, a balanced mix/match trifecta of certs, degree, experience, would get you the best ROI/Value and can 'personalize' your learning.

[SlowReader]

Thanks for the prompt response, @bjcheung77! I'm taking time to consider each answer, so my response(s) will trickle in over time. Immediately, I think there have been some changes with how schools are charging. So, I'll probably additionally check for a tuition/fees thread and/or add one of my own (to help).

[Duneranger]

Thanks for the prompt response, @bjcheung77! I'm taking time to consider each answer, so my response(s) will trickle in over time. Immediately, I think there have been some changes with how schools are charging. So, I'll probably additionally check for a tuition/fees thread and/or add one of my own (to help).

Even with experience, I wouldnt think a BA is going to all of a sudden thrust you into top tier salaries. A lot of it is luck and who you know. PMs are a dime a dozen being that it is essentially a "soft skill". A degree will help you get past HR filters though.

[artidiotic]

Transitioning into tech sales with a BBA from UMPI sounds like a solid plan, especially if you're aiming to complete it quickly. Ensure your EMT credits from Sierra Community College transfer to UMPI to minimize required coursework. With 40-50 hours per week available for the next four months, consider enrolling in as many courses as possible during this period. UMPI offers a competency-based program that allows you to progress quickly if you're dedicated.

[Abine]

Hi Sean! Transitioning into tech sales with a BBA from UMPI sounds like a solid plan, especially if you're aiming to complete it quickly. Ensure your EMT credits from Sierra Community College transfer to UMPI to minimize required coursework. With 40-50 hours per week available for the next four months, consider enrolling in as many courses as possible during this period. UMPI offers a competency-based program that allows you to progress quickly if you're dedicated.

Could you please tell more about this UMPI program?

[bjcheung77]

Removed spam link for both posts above... and from a separate post almost two years ago linked to previous post #5