Diving in...but got major questions...(Fin Aid, Which School, Fees, etc)

[redheadsrule]

Doh! Meant to post in the General forum! Sorry...don't know how to delete posts

[TMW2010]

I'm going to post a few questions today, and i hope they fall in the appropriate forums.


I finished an AT degree in Broadcast Technology. It's a trade school that just went from a 1 through 4 clock-hour grading system to a GPA-based, credit-hour, grading system in my last semester.

I want to work towards a BA in Communications - preferably with a Journalism or Media Major.

I haven't had anything near $75 to rub together to apply in the last few weeks to any of the "Big Three" here, but it looks like I will soon. I know I am still eligible for Pell, but for some reason I didn't receive a second-year loan from Sallie Mae which left me and my son in a dire situation. We got through it, but I don't want to experience that again.

I'll see what I can answer forya... I can only speak from experience with Excelsior, so that's what my answers are going to be based on.

What I am looking for is:

1. A school that will allow my BA in Communications - Journalism or Media Major to transfer into a school such as Gonzaga or UMissouri who have online masters programs in that field. Or USC's writing program...drool...

Excelsior's BA in Communications should fit all of the requirements. If I recall correctly, they require 33 (Now 36 with the capstone) credits in specific areas of Communications to fulfill the major.

2. Fast and attentive Financial Aid. Who is best for disbursements? How did you juggle your Pell and Loans? TESC is SO expensive immediately - but they seem to have the most of what I want and have to offer them to get a BA.

Excelsior's FA department has treated me well. They've been responsive, and fairly quick when offering FA. The disbursements tend to occur about 2 weeks after the midpoint of the semester, and they do *not* cover books initially, but you can get the money back via the disbursement. I expect to receive any disbursement I'll get for the classes I started on July 6th around September 15th.

One way to reduce initial costs with Excelsior is to go through an organization with a partnership agreement. Peace Officers Association of Georgia is a popular one, and one that I went through. For $25 (actually $20, more on that in a bit) you can get a year membership to the organization, and that membership allows you some pretty good discounts. Instead of $895 for the enrollment fee, partership students pay around $130. Graduation fees drop from $495 down to $195 or so, and you get a discount on classes taken through EC. The price per credit drops to around $250-270/credit. (It was $250 for mine, but the price went up in July.) The partnership agreement says that you'll take 12 credits worth of courses through the school to gain the eligibility for these reduced prices. If you don't take 12 credits, but finish up the degree, the difference in the enrollment fee is added to your graduation fees.

3. Accepts life-learning or a resume and reel. (Optional...I know it's a long-shot)

EC accepts PLAs, but its been generally viewed as too much trouble for what you actually get out of it.

4. CLEP friendly - which seems to be universal with the three...but now and then I read something that says otherwise.

EC will accept all the CLEPS & DSSTs you want to throw at them, but may not use all of them if you've filled up specific areas of credit while needing credit from other areas.

5. Doesn't charge massive fees for CLEP, graduation, or out-of-state.

No fees for using CLEPs, or being out of state. Grad fee is $195-$495 dependant on the situation. (as stated above with the partner agreement stuff.)

6. I've utterly broke for a while, but I want to get this thing rolling. What are the immediate out-of pocket expenses you've paid before even starting one class or test? I'm not military, so I cannot get an application fee waiver...but if you have tips on waivers and getting some free shwag from a school that really wants you, what did you do?

If you didn't have to rely on FA, I would say test as much as you can before enrolling, but since you do rely on FA, the costs will likely be $75 for application, $135-895 for enrollment and then the cost of books for whatever classes you select, out of pocket. And you need to have internet access for the online courses (obviously) but they do offer CDROM courses which you can snailmail or Fax in your assignments (But you cannot take more than 1/2 of your courses at any time as CDROM courses if you want FA).

I know a LOT of this is covered in the forums, and I am so saturated and overwhelmed, I really just need to put all that info in one place. So, sorry for the repetitious questions, but it's a sanity thing at this point

I want to start ASAP, but am happy to wait until next semester.

Thank you, thank you!

Good luck! Just FYI, EC courses seem to start every other month. The next course start times are Sept & November.

**Edit forgot to talk about the what I meant on the $20 fee for POAG. Associate members (People who are not involved with Law Enforcement but want to support the organization) are supposed to pay $25. The way they have it set up in their 'storefront' you only have the option to pay the $20 fee as if you were a member of law enforcement. Pay the fee, notate on the application that you have no LE experience but want to be an associate member, and you'll get the card, but they don't seem to ever send you a bill for the other $5..

[TMW2010]

Oh yeah... I would recommend (even if you don't choose EC, but at least to get information out of them) creating a MyEC Account at http://www.excelsior.edu. The account gives increased access to publications and such.

The info on the communications major starts on Pg 32 of the catalog, and it looks like they have 5 areas of specialization (besides Generalist) which are Organizational Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, Strategic Communications, and Media Studies.

[redheadsrule]

Awesome...what excellent coverage...I can't thank you enough

A curiosity...the enrollment fee - no way of getting around that until FA hits, huh?

Glee! That helped a ton.

[redheadsrule]

uh...I mean, no way to delay paying that until a disbursement with a little extra after everything's covered....I loved getting those surprise checks. Sometimes only for a hundred bucks, but it helped each time!

[achilles]

Yep that's what I would have responded.




No really very good, I learned too.
Thanx

[TMW2010]

uh...I mean, no way to delay paying that until a disbursement with a little extra after everything's covered....I loved getting those surprise checks. Sometimes only for a hundred bucks, but it helped each time!

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a way around paying the enrollment fee before they'll let you start. They do have payment plans that you can enroll in if you decide to not go the partnership route, for the enrollment, but even the first of the 4 payments in the plan costs more than the Partner membership & enrollment fee together.

Also, on CLEP acceptance, EC does not award credit for the Freshman and English comp tests that were retired in July. I'm not sure how they handle the new tests that Collegeboard released to replace them, but likely they won't fulfill the WER.

Have a great one!

[redheadsrule]

I found this on the Charter Oak site:

Charter Oak State College

I think the field narrowed like, 40%....

If I could back that Journalism.Comm degree with a film education....I'd be in heaven. My film/commercial work really helped me receive a TON of life-credit for my AT in Broadcasting Tech.


Very cool...

[redheadsrule]

Thanks for the update....It's helping me work on a financial plan. This info is so great!

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a way around paying the enrollment fee before they'll let you start. They do have payment plans that you can enroll in if you decide to not go the partnership route, for the enrollment, but even the first of the 4 payments in the plan costs more than the Partner membership & enrollment fee together.

Also, on CLEP acceptance, EC does not award credit for the Freshman and English comp tests that were retired in July. I'm not sure how they handle the new tests that Collegeboard released to replace them, but likely they won't fulfill the WER.

Have a great one!

[NAP]

Hi!

Yes, check the programs at all 3 schools to find the one that best fits your needs.

Alissa was helping with a Communications degree plan for EC earlier this year. Maybe you will find some useful information in this thread for your situation:

http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...tique.html

Since this major already required a capstone course, I don’t think the recent capstone change will affect it.

I don’t know if any/all of your previous credits will transfer. That would be a reason to consider applying to see what EC says, at least unofficially. (Also, quarter hours transfer as fewer credits than semester hours.)

Please keep us updated on your progress with this.