Fast paced EU based - advice needed

[lacussucceed]

Hi everyone!

I've been reading a lot on this forum and on the wiki, and all your contributions are greatly appreciated. I hope some of you are willing to help me on the start of my own journey. I have some credits from the past, although I am not sure if starting over wouldn't be better. In the end a bachelors degree in business (or something else, maybe two or Hons?), perhaps a masters could be next. I do want it high paced, testing is no problem. Anyway, some essential parts are unclear to me, I'd appreciate a general review and experiences of others from Europe.

The credits I already have are all European, a total of ~90 "ECTS". If transfer gives an advantage, that might be an option. However I have no information on the exchange rate (2 European = 1 credit?  1,6 European = 1 credit?). I wouldn't mind taking tests on these subjects (or new) if transfer is more costly or if it is too much of a hassle. I don't have (local) transcripts, nor do they will be easily linked to US courses.

- Transfer existing EU credits ?

The recognition of the probably US degree in the EU would also be somewhat important. I think only bachelors degrees (with higher level/less "applied" courses) from regionally accredited universities will be valued as a sufficient (EU) bachelors degree. Approval in advance is not possible.

- Reconition of a US degree in Europe?

Next I looked at the suggested universities, however I am not sure on what might be the differences. Also maybe admission isn't possible for non US residents.

- Based on what should I choose the university?  (differences Big3, WGU?, admission for EU national?)

As for the actual testing, I would prefer e-proctored or locally proctored tests, if neither is possible: assignments. For DSST and CLEP there doesn't seem any location in W-Europe (for non-military students). Is that correct? Are there other options?

- Available test centers in W-Europe? (preferably within Belgium, Germany or NL?)

On the free credit part. I would like to get as much as possible, but I think TEEX, FEMA, NFA might be for USA residents only, can someone clarify?

Would finishing within this year be possible? (Are the 2017 plans I see likely also usable in 2018? Or is there a way to lock a plan with a university?) What do you think? All feedback, shared experiences and information is very much appreciated! Thanks!

[sanantone]

WGU will not be an option if you're living overseas. How many credits you'll be able to transfer will depend on which evaluation company you choose. The Big 3 will have a list of which ones they accept. American bachelor's degree programs are typically around 120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours.

I strongly advise against attending a nationally accredited school. If you stick with regionally accredited, you should be fine. I haven't checked into this myself, but Johann has stated that an evaluator in the UK does not recognize national accreditors.
Have you looked into UK programs such as Heriot Watt or Open University?

[bjcheung77]

I would recommend reading through this thread: http://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/showthre...?tid=27493
In short, reply to this post with your country of schooling and what educational credits you have that may be transferable.
If you do have 3 years from a recognized university in Europe already, continue onward and graduate with your Bachelors.

I would then recommend you to finish a Masters in Europe as most countries nearby (3 of them) are free for grad school.
You should start looking at a "cheap/easy/fast" competency-based degree provider in the US for a Masters degree only if you can't get into a program of your choice OR if you want to finish something in 8 months or less VS in Europe.

[lacussucceed]

WGU will not be an option if you're living overseas. How many credits you'll be able to transfer will depend on which evaluation company you choose. The Big 3 will have a list of which ones they accept. American bachelor's degree programs are typically around 120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours.

I strongly advise against attending a nationally accredited school. If you stick with regionally accredited, you should be fine. I haven't checked into this myself, but Johann has stated that an evaluator in the UK does not recognize national accreditors.
Have you looked into UK programs such as Heriot Watt or Open University?

I'll definitely stick with the Big 3 and tests. Next I'll look into the recognition of my previous credits.

http://info.excelsior.edu/student-polici...anscripts/ (if not on "Transcripts Accepted Directly From Institutions Outside the U.S. and U.S. Territories" list)
http://www.tesu.edu/academics/catalog/In...licies.cfm
https://www.charteroak.edu/catalog/curre...udents.cfm

In this case I'll need to get an evaluation report from ECE.
https://www.ece.org

---

I would recommend reading through this thread:  http://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/showthre...?tid=27493
In short, reply to this post with your country of schooling and what educational credits you have that may be transferable.

I have the equivalent of 1,5/3 years full time study. Business/psychology/(local) law/general academics: 38/15/33/5. Everything should be transferable. It's all at fully accredited by the NVAO (accreditation Belgium, NL) universities. Studying (attending) here is too time consuming or costly. For example Open University UK costs over $22k, besides the whole EU referendum.

[bjcheung77]

Great, you would use ECE as the evaluator as all three accept them. I think WES is another one as well, but Excelsior might not take them. Get a course by course evaluation and see what they say - then transfer to TESU/Excelsior or COSC.

If you are going for BS in Business, you should go for TESU, then Excelsior and Lastly COSC due to "extra systematic/programmatic accreditation). That's what I would do for Business, as that's your degree of choice.

For all other degrees, it's a coin toss practically identical as all three are Regionally Accredited. Unless of course, it's a specific field that also has secondary/programmatic accreditation, choose the one with the more recognized degree.

[dfrecore]

Great, you would use ECE as the evaluator as all three accept them.  I think WES is another one as well, but Excelsior might not take them.  Get a course by course evaluation and see what they say - then transfer to TESU/Excelsior or COSC.  

If you are going for BS in Business, you should go for TESU, then Excelsior and Lastly COSC due to "extra systematic/programmatic accreditation).  That's what I would do for Business, as that's your degree of choice.

For all other degrees, it's a coin toss practically identical as all three are Regionally Accredited.  Unless of course, it's a specific field that also has secondary/programmatic accreditation, choose the one with the more recognized degree.

I would say that you get the degree from the school where more of your credits fit, and will cost you less than the others.  If it's close between 2 schools, then you can take your pick.  But if it's going to costs a lot more in time/money at one school over the other, I'd go with the fastest/cheapest/easiest.

[davewill]

I would say that you get the degree from the school where more of your credits fit, and will cost you less than the others.  If it's close between 2 schools, then you can take your pick.  But if it's going to costs a lot more in time/money at one school over the other, I'd go with the fastest/cheapest/easiest.

I would go one step further and apply to multiple schools to see how they use your credits, since it is harder to predict how they will be applied. Also don't forget that they will require the TOEFL unless you come from an English speaking country (or have a year of college in a English speaking country).

[lacussucceed]

Thank you all for your replies, I've started the process based on those pointers.
For now I will have to wait for the transcripts, which can take up to 8 weeks plus two weeks for the evaluation. After that I think the application to all Big 3 sounds like a sound plan.
As for the TOEFL, I will check if I have such a score / if it is still valid. Otherwise I'll have to take one of those too.

Are there, besides the programmatic differences/transfer policies, any differences between the Big 3? For example prestige. possibilities for a fast track masters with a bachelors from one of them?

While waiting, are there any CLEP testing locations in W-Europe? Or are there any other credits I can already obtain which will (probably) be useful for any school? And are the free credit options (FEMA,TEEX,NFA) open for non USA residents ?