The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Education/tuition advice please?
MindLib
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So I've been attending an online school for the past year. AS in IT, maybe continuing on for a BA. It's brick/mortar and is locally and nationally accredited with degrees available at the Master's level. A friend of mine got her Master's in Nursing there after attending a brick/mortar school and is making a lot of money now, but I'm a little nervous. I recognized going into it that the tuition was quite high. The cost of an associate's degree is going to end up being around 30K. That's high, very high when compared to a 10-15k cost at a local community/state college. The curriculum and teaching is merely adequate, and sometimes I'm left feeling a little under-taught. I'm a good student, have a 3.6 GPA. I'm thinking about transferring, but only a handful of my courses are eligible, about half.
My question is, should I saddle myself with what will be an essential $7500 (15K total, 7500 = estimated half the value of my transferred credits) dollar loan with nothing to show for it simply to move schools? Or should I stick it out and get my associate's degree, and move to another school afterwards? I may end up having to do portions of my degree again anyway?
My question is, should I saddle myself with what will be an essential $7500 (15K total, 7500 = estimated half the value of my transferred credits) dollar loan with nothing to show for it simply to move schools? Or should I stick it out and get my associate's degree, and move to another school afterwards? I may end up having to do portions of my degree again anyway?
MindLib on
0
Posts
If you definitely don't want to do a BA, that changes and becomes more dependent upon what exactly the physically-present schools near you will accept, what tuition is per credit/full-time, and if you would plan on going part- or full-time.
Yes, I'm going to go for a BA. My worry was that transferring would be essentially the same result whether or not I had the degree. Is it really the case that other schools will probably accept the AS after I grad. and allow me to move on to complete my BA without issue? If that's the case then sticking it out may be the best option. I'm just really regretting not doing more research about tuition before I'd begun.
In the long run, though, the difference in my monthly student-loan bill would be marginal. http://apps.collegeboard.org/fincalc/sla.jsp
I calculated that if I switch now my bill would be around $305.00 a month (estimating having to do about half my credits over). If I stick it out and finish, then switch, my bill would be about $390.00. Both are under the recommended 15% of a projected starting income of $35,000 a year, which is conservative.
Also, if there is a way for you to get your degree that ISN'T from an online university, or a university primarily identified as online, you should do your best to do so.
South University Online is the name of the school. So you recommend just transferring now and biting the bullet?
This needs to be plastered all over the fucking internet.
I could get two BAs at my local state school for that much.
Yeah, I know. I've made a mistake. I'm trying to figure out the best possible outcome now. Should I stay or should I go?
Indeed, same here. But I didn't figure that out as I was buttered up by lies and deceit as a stupid kid with parents who didn't care!
Online courses are a crapshoot. They might transfer, they might not.
EDIT: Well, at least you found out now, right?
You have a couple of options- you could just finish the degree at the apparently not-worth-a-damn online school. Or you could head to a community college and build up some cheap credits there before you finish at the four-year school. Or you could just take your losses and start at the four-year school with what you can transfer over.
I'd recommend the community college route. I'ts cheaper, and you can build up a bunch of needed credits for cheap.
I can has cheezburger, yes?
This, absolutely. I was able to pay my community college tuition all on my own without any loans, and the credits I earned transferred completely to the private university I attend now. Community college will save you a lot of money and the education you receive isn't as poor as some elitists would have you believe.
I'm thinkin' this is what I got to do.
While I can understand your dismay, better to realize this now before you get even deeper in debt.
These schools tend to prey on people. Yes some can make a fine living graduating from one, but most people just find themselves in massive debt for absolutely nothing.