Any guidance for newbie?

[realbatman]

Hey, y'all. I hope I'm putting this in the right category. I'm brand new here but I have been looking around for a while. I think I have a good idea about how this show works, I've read the Beginners Guide and walked around the wikia. I've also researched the Big 3 and am interesting in getting a BA in General Studies from COSC, unless I've missed something and there is a serious reason why I shouldn't go for this one. I'm basically trying to figure out if this course of action would work for me.

Currently I am about to finish my Associate of Applied Science in a concentration that I'm actually passionate about (Photography), however my main goal is to work abroad while I work on my photography. Most countries require a Bachelor in order to get a working visa so that is why I need to get one. I've already spent 3 years at my community college which does not offer a Bachelor's degree at all. I don't want to spend a lot more time at a university and unfortunately, with money restrictions, I can't afford to do that anyway. I feel like I would rather take this nontraditional, 'diy' approach and get my degree quicker. Long story short; I have some questions and I hope they're not too ridiculous...

- Since I'm a few months away from finishing my associate's, I would like to finish that first. Is it too early to start making a plan or spreadsheet?
- I'm still confused as to how to figure out if the gen ed classes I've already taken would transfer to COSC. Some of them are obvious like English 1010 > English Composition 1, but others not so much. Do I really have to contact the college first?
- I'm looking at this Concentration Requirements page and this General Education page, and trying to figure out what the whole curriculum would look like. I'm confused about the necessary electives in general.

Thanks for reading this if you did. Sorry, it was so long ;_; please help me understand all of this.

[KayV]

Welcome! Post the courses you have already completed ("English Composition I 3 (credits)", and whether they are semester or quarter hours, and we can help you with the rest.

[realbatman]

All are semester hours. Lowest grade C.

Fitness Walking – 1
Photography I – 3
Beginning French I – 3
Photography II – 3
Digital Imaging & Workflow – 3
Technical Video Production – 3
English Composition I – 3
Intro to Studio Photography – 3
Adv Digital Imaging Techniques – 3
Photojournalism – 3
Web Design I: Intro Web Tech – 3
Graphic Design Fundamentals – 3
Music Appreciation – 3
History of Photography – 3
Studio Still Life Photography – 3
Drawing I – 3
General Biology I w/ Lab – 4
Portrait Photography – 3
Spec Tops: Food Photography – 3
Web Design II: Web Fundamentals – 3

and I’m currently enrolled in a class to cover my Social/Behavioral Science requirement. (Concepts of Wellness)

[High_Order1]

I have found that if you don't have to support yourself, and can devote a few hours of a day to it, and you already are inculcated in the 'college way of doing things', and of course, can afford it, you could really knock out a complete, totally legitimate bachelors in under a year starting at credit zero.

So, you could absolutely do it.

No, I don't think it's too soon at all. Get with a counselor *immediately*, and get them to start looking at your stuff.

The faster you go, the more it will cost, I think, so if financials are an issue, and you can't take a full load to get financial aid, you may need to play chess instead of checkers with your credit planning.

To figure out what will transfer in: these people here will know. But a counselor can start plugging them in, too.

For me at TESU, I simply sent them my transcripts and stroked a check, and they basically said what the people here, said.

I didn't realize the school requirements for a working type visa. Thank you for that!


Edit: a thought occurs. Could you not study abroad? Part of it might be that you'd need to work, but I wonder if a student visa would be easier?

[KayV]

All right, your credits are from an AAS degree so they are concentrated heavily on Photography with not much else to fill the general education requirements.
The COSC American Studies concentration is not a very test-out-friendly degree.

I think a BA in Liberal Studies or a BSPS with a career track in Photography from Thomas Edison State University would work better with your credits.

You could also do something like a COSC BS in Liberal Studies with Photography/ Psychology being the subjects.

[realbatman]

I have found that if you don't have to support yourself, and can devote a few hours of a day to it, and you already are inculcated in the 'college way of doing things', and of course, can afford it, you could really knock out a complete, totally legitimate bachelors in under a year starting at credit zero.

That's encouraging, thank you :") I'm in a pretty good way as far as not having to support myself totally, so working and having the money to spend on courses would not be too hard.

I'm going to send over my transcript and see what happens. I felt like it was a good idea to see the feedback here too!

I didn't realize the school requirements for a working type visa. Thank you for that!

Yeah, most visa require a Bachelor's, but in Taiwan you can teach with a associate's and a certain teaching certificate but I hear it's a low-paying job.

A far as study abroad. There are a few trips that last a few months. But ultimately, if I wanted to stay longer the easiest/cheapest way that I know of is if I to enrolled in a 4 year college and possibly got in on a 1-year exchange program, and I believe that's only for students in foreign studies or language degrees.

[realbatman]

Thank you very much! I looked into each of those. I feel like the BA in Liberal Studies at TESU would be the best option for me.

[videogamesrock]

Knock out math using ALEKS. It is $20 to take up to 12 credits per month.

[videogamesrock]

Are you fluent in any languages?

[Sacricolist]

TESU also offers a BA in Photography. I'm not sure how the degree plan would work out. But certainly most of your AAS in Photography course work should satisfy a number of degree requirements. Here is the link:

http://www.tesu.edu/heavin/ba/Photograph...graphy.cfm

I hope this helps.