Degree for my future...

[zebrahead]

Your Location: Argentina
Your Age: 24
What kind of degree do you want?: Computer Science
Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: 39 (Sophia), 12 (Google It Support Certificate)
Budget: Complicated... I'm from a third world country that's going down in terms of economy, so it's not easy to even approximate. Worst case scenario 6k usd, but impossible to pay in one go...
Dedicated time to study: As much as I can post-work (at least 3/4hs each day).
Timeline: As fast as possible, seriously... Max. 2.5 or 3 years?

Hi everyone, I'm from Argentina and basically I would like to obtain a Bachelor's Degree to be able to apply for overseas jobs. I'm currently working as a developer in my country and I enrolled in the BS of Computer Science from University of the People due to how cheap it is compared to other places, besides that I can finish it quickly and I can cut credits with Sophia (basically, rush the degree).
I started the degree in September 2022 after searching a lot through reddit and other places (I didn't know about this forum, never saw it in google xd) and I learned that it was the only way to get a degree faster and for not that much money, besides that it was accredited in the US (yeah, I know, it has a NA instead of RA).
Currently I'm 15 courses away from finishing the CS bachelor, and I would like to know what do you guys think about this.
To be honest, I need the degree because I would like to work overseas, and I started doubting about if this was going to be possible due to the accreditation...

- Will it be better for me to quit and change to another university to stop wasting time?

- Will it be better for me to finish this bachelor and apply for a Masters in a RA university? Which ones can accept my degree from UoP to continue my education (knowing that it's difficult for me to pay for them and some are really expensive)?

- Is there any university that you guys can recommend that it is NOT from the US but still a good option and affordable?


Hope I'm being clear with all the things I wrote, it was a long day so sorry if something doesn't makes sense, I'm tired as f hahhaha
If there are any doubts/questions I will answer them asap! Thanks

[rachel83az]

Unfortunately, the NA status of UoPeople is problematic both for working in another country and for continuing on to a Master's degree. Georgia Tech's OMCS is probably the most affordable option, but you'd have to contact them to find out if your UoPeople degree would be accepted or if they want an RA degree. If they'll accept the UoPeople degree: great! Continue on the path you're on and get the Master's degree.

If not, your only real option for a cheap Computer Science degree will be TESU. Depending on time and commitments, you can get a TESU Computer Science degree for $6000-8000 and in under a year. Unfortunately, they will not accept your UoPeople credits, so you'd find yourself redoing at least some classes. You'll still be able to progress quickly to graduation, but it is something to know about before you begin.

You can read more about TESU here: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Th...University
Degree plans start here: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...ts_Roadmap

[zebrahead]

Unfortunately, the NA status of UoPeople is problematic both for working in another country and for continuing on to a Master's degree. Georgia Tech's OMCS is probably the most affordable option, but you'd have to contact them to find out if your UoPeople degree would be accepted or if they want an RA degree. If they'll accept the UoPeople degree: great! Continue on the path you're on and get the Master's degree.

If not, your only real option for a cheap Computer Science degree will be TESU. Depending on time and commitments, you can get a TESU Computer Science degree for $6000-8000 and in under a year. Unfortunately, they will not accept your UoPeople credits, so you'd find yourself redoing at least some classes. You'll still be able to progress quickly to graduation, but it is something to know about before you begin.

You can read more about TESU here: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Th...University
Degree plans start here: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...ts_Roadmap

Are there other universities outside of the US that accept an UoP degree?

[rachel83az]

Maybe. It's going to depend a lot on the country and on the university in question. Unfortunately, in most cases, the answer is probably going to be no. Unfortunately, NA is generally considered to be similar to getting a titulo propio degree. Possibly okay for employment, not okay for immigration or for accessing higher degrees.

[Kab]

Hola @Zebrahead

It is difficult to use a National Accredited degree outside of US, specially Europe. Can it be done....in some places. Still if its your first degree or you do not have VERY clear what you want to do as a first option I will look for a RA degree. The main problem is going to come in one of this two instances:
1) You try to evaluate ("revalidar, evaluar, acreditar, combalidar") your degree officially abroad. In many cases will be problematic.
2) If you want to study a Master degree.... can be between problematic (loots of explanations and showing content) to impossible. Depends on country and university. But for sure is going to be harder than most people with a RA degree.

One question: are you a native Spanish speaker? Did you finish "secundaria" or "bachillerato" (I do not know which one you have) and have the title? Public universities in Argentina are free (in theory, no)? Can you not access one with the Sophia credits transcribed together with the UoP credits in the transcript? As a second year or something like that?

The good part is that a UoP degree is better than nothing. Maybe you are lucky and while inside the studies period it changes to RA (they are in process...but no guaranties). That will be awesome. Most jobs will care less about NA than universities and legal authorities and most do not know the difference. If you have experience and know how to do you job... the only problem is if you want to be a "funcionario" or public servant in your country. I do not know if a NA will be accepted. You should check it. I can tell you in advance that NA will not be accepted in Spain as an official university degree. But for work I will say nobody will care (if you can do your job).

I do not dislike NA degree, but they can probe problematic in the accreditation process abroad.
Excelsior University has a couple of technology bachelors. One in information technology and one in cybersecurity. Not what you want, but they should accept NA credits... I do not know how credits of your actual studies fit in EU studies.

[zebrahead]

Maybe. It's going to depend a lot on the country and on the university in question. Unfortunately, in most cases, the answer is probably going to be no. Unfortunately, NA is generally considered to be similar to getting a titulo propio degree. Possibly okay for employment, not okay for immigration or for accessing higher degrees.

Damn, it's basically like not having a degree at all :'(
My idea was to immigrate to Asia, not specifically the US and/or Europe, so that's why I was still having a minimum hope that the degree can be worth it... TESU, like you said, will be like 6k - 8k, and I will have to start from zero, it is basically not an option due to money (really low amount of time to get 6k, impossible with my country's conditions) + stress hahaha
I was thinking about degrees from other parts of the world, that can be "respected" and accepted for immigration/jobs overseas, and I have found the International University of Applied Sciences (IU), but I'm skeptical about it to be honest...

Hola @Zebrahead

It is difficult to use a National Accredited degree outside of US, specially Europe. Can it be done....in some places. Still if its your first degree or you do not have VERY clear what you want to do as a first option I will look for a RA degree. The main problem is going to come in one of this two instances:
1) You try to evaluate ("revalidar, evaluar, acreditar, combalidar") your degree officially abroad. In many cases will be problematic.
2) If you want to study a Master degree.... can be between problematic (loots of explanations and showing content) to impossible. Depends on country and university. But for sure is going to be harder than most people with a RA degree.

One question: are you a native Spanish speaker? Did you finish "secundaria" or "bachillerato" (I do not know which one you have) and have the title? Public universities in Argentina are free (in theory, no)? Can you not access one with the Sophia credits transcribed together with the UoP credits in the transcript? As a second year or something like that?

The good part is that a UoP degree is better than nothing. Maybe you are lucky and while inside the studies period it changes to RA (they are in process...but no guaranties). That will be awesome. Most jobs will care less about NA than universities and legal authorities and most do not know the difference. If you have experience and know how to do you job... the only problem is if you want to be a "funcionario" or public servant in your country. I do not know if a NA will be accepted. You should check it. I can tell you in advance that NA will not be accepted in Spain as an official university degree. But for work I will say nobody will care (if you can do your job).

I do not dislike NA degree, but they can probe problematic in the accreditation process abroad.
Excelsior University has a couple of technology bachelors. One in information technology and one in cybersecurity. Not what you want, but they should accept NA credits... I do not know how credits of your actual studies fit in EU studies.

About being a native speaker and stuff: yes, I'm native in Spanish, and I did finished the secundaria/bachillerato (I did the 2nd one, but it's basically the same...) and I do have the high school degree/diploma. The thing is that I studied Systems Engineering in my city for 3 almost 4 years (total to graduate: 5) but the problem is that you cannot graduate quickly, and usually it's not a 5 year degree due to the complications the professors put over you to make you spend more and more time, besides that how the curriculums are made (even more time), so it ends up being a 7/8/9 (or even more years) degree, and it's not worth it because it's not even updated curriculums. The most probable thing is that they will not get my degree as part of "transferring credits", and if they do, it will not make me go that far, only stay at max. 2nd year due to the curriculum. Basically it's the same as starting from zero, I will have to wait for +6 years to graduate, not an option to be honest. Besides that I truly hate the curriculums and study methodologies from here, so forget about it hahaha
I saw the bachelor of information technology from Excelsior University, and it looks good, I will have to search more info about it (money, time it takes to complete, how many credits I can transfer from University of the People bachelor, etc)

[rachel83az]

If you have any Argentinian credits at all from your time studying, I would look into getting them evaluated for TESU and/or Excelsior. If you have any credits that qualify as "upper level" ones, you might essentially be done with TESU or Excelsior. It would also dramatically lower the cost of a TESU degree.

[zebrahead]

If you have any Argentinian credits at all from your time studying, I would look into getting them evaluated for TESU and/or Excelsior. If you have any credits that qualify as "upper level" ones, you might essentially be done with TESU or Excelsior. It would also dramatically lower the cost of a TESU degree.

It will end up being a lot of work, time and money: translate it to english, then notarization of that translation, then the apostille, then another legalization for the final documents, then being able send it and I don't even know if they will accept it. All that work not because the specific university asks for it, just because this country works like that, it's awful... Besides that, it can end up taking like 3 months to have some parts of that process done because government things doesn't even work properly.
This country works in a really weird way, it's something stupid. It tries to take down every citizen trying to progress in life with stupid laws/processes/rules that doesn't even make sense.
It would be easier to not think that I have any advance in the argentinian university, seriously, that's why I decided to enroll in UoP at the beginning, to forget about the argentinian universities.

[rachel83az]

It makes sense that it would take a lot of time/effort. At the same time, however, it could save you even more time/money at both Excelsior and TESU. They don't necessarily need to be UL credits. It depends on exactly what you took and what your grades were, though.

[bjcheung77]

@zebrahead, a very similar post. You basically answered my question here... More details would be better on your situation (last post addendum, are you a good test taker or would you rather take courses, how much time/day do you have again? Another Q, are you planning to go for a Masters? Link: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid387071