08-27-2013, 06:32 AM
Hi all,
After posting updates on my progress on and off over the past two years, but not having much time to hang around, I am happy to say that as of last night, all my final assignments were completed and turned in. I can now put Global MBA with a focus in emerging markets on my resume
I would like to give my heartfelt gratitude for IC and all of the forum users who have helped and provided inspiration to continue. When I first began the journey here, in spite of my personal and professional accomplishments, I never thought that I would find the time to finish an undergraduate degree. CLEP/DSST and other non-traditional methods to learn and obtain credit are not easy, and I can personally attest to the fact that they require much more discipline than a "real" class with classmates, a professor, and deadlines. However, had it not been for the ability to save time and money on my BS, I am not sure I would have ever considered graduate school. I am so grateful that my younger brother (COSC grad from years ago) found out about IC and shared it with me, even if it took a few years and a few false starts before I really got into the swing of things. This forum provides so much support - I am certain that the reason I was able to "stick with it" this time was due to the encouragement from this site.
A special note to adult learners: If you're busy with a family, work, or life in general, and feel bad about not having a degree, DON'T GIVE UP. No, there is no easy way to graduate. Yes, you will have to study and learn things that are new to you, and there will be significant sacrifice involved. However, there is only one way to stop worrying about not having a degree: just do it! I am a mom to 4 kids + 1 almost full-time stepdaughter along with being a loving wife who works full time and just last week hit United 1K status (this means I have flown over 100,000 miles this year for business and still have at least 30k more to go in the next two months) I can confirm that it is difficult, but obtaining your degree is doable with enough motivation. Do you have a hobby? Drop it for a while in exchange for study. I used to love watching a couple of tv shows with my husband and kids in the evening. I didn't want to give up this time with the family, so I just decided to bring my laptop to the living room while everyone watched tv. Other ideas include: Stay up an hour late or get up an hour early to study, watch Khan Academy on YouTube while you work out, replace your car radio habit with educational podcasts, involve your significant other if he/she also is interested in going back to school, there are lots of other ways but it's important to make focused study a part of your life for a while. You can always change back to your old habits, but once you earn your diploma, it's yours FOREVER and you'll never feel like you're missing opportunities because you don't have that piece of paper.
To anyone lurking who is considering using CLEP/DSST for some or part of your undergrad: Why not try it? Don't commit to a full program of CLEP where you over-zealously determine that you are going to be the world's fastest tester. Remember that taking a CLEP is kind of like walking in on the final day of the course and taking the final exam. Yes, if you have life experience in a particular area, it will help, but in many cases, you will need to plan a few weeks of daily study (or more) to pass. However, with the rising cost of education, unless you are going to a top tier school or seeking a major that is in very high demand, your ROI will be much higher on a "Big 3" degree. Try it out - decide to take ONE test and see how it goes. If you find that self-guided, independent learning is right for you, then don't waste time. Put together a plan and GET STUDYING!!! It feels like forever, but you will be done in NO TIME! And once you decide to start - DO NOT STOP. Continue. Yes, you will hate it at times, you will want to do anything but study when the subject matter is dull or challenging, or when the sunny day outside is calling you to get off the computer. However, in the end it will all be worth it and it may not seem like it at times, it will go by much quicker than you anticipate.
Thank you again to all and now it's time to go update my signature
Sincerely,
Burbuja0512, Global MBA
P.S. For those of you that are my Facebook friends and are confused as to why I got all the "congrats" posts a few weeks ago, it's because we had our group graduation ceremony early. So, the pics and the parties were slightly premature due to the program schedule, but now it's officially over!!!
After posting updates on my progress on and off over the past two years, but not having much time to hang around, I am happy to say that as of last night, all my final assignments were completed and turned in. I can now put Global MBA with a focus in emerging markets on my resume
I would like to give my heartfelt gratitude for IC and all of the forum users who have helped and provided inspiration to continue. When I first began the journey here, in spite of my personal and professional accomplishments, I never thought that I would find the time to finish an undergraduate degree. CLEP/DSST and other non-traditional methods to learn and obtain credit are not easy, and I can personally attest to the fact that they require much more discipline than a "real" class with classmates, a professor, and deadlines. However, had it not been for the ability to save time and money on my BS, I am not sure I would have ever considered graduate school. I am so grateful that my younger brother (COSC grad from years ago) found out about IC and shared it with me, even if it took a few years and a few false starts before I really got into the swing of things. This forum provides so much support - I am certain that the reason I was able to "stick with it" this time was due to the encouragement from this site.
A special note to adult learners: If you're busy with a family, work, or life in general, and feel bad about not having a degree, DON'T GIVE UP. No, there is no easy way to graduate. Yes, you will have to study and learn things that are new to you, and there will be significant sacrifice involved. However, there is only one way to stop worrying about not having a degree: just do it! I am a mom to 4 kids + 1 almost full-time stepdaughter along with being a loving wife who works full time and just last week hit United 1K status (this means I have flown over 100,000 miles this year for business and still have at least 30k more to go in the next two months) I can confirm that it is difficult, but obtaining your degree is doable with enough motivation. Do you have a hobby? Drop it for a while in exchange for study. I used to love watching a couple of tv shows with my husband and kids in the evening. I didn't want to give up this time with the family, so I just decided to bring my laptop to the living room while everyone watched tv. Other ideas include: Stay up an hour late or get up an hour early to study, watch Khan Academy on YouTube while you work out, replace your car radio habit with educational podcasts, involve your significant other if he/she also is interested in going back to school, there are lots of other ways but it's important to make focused study a part of your life for a while. You can always change back to your old habits, but once you earn your diploma, it's yours FOREVER and you'll never feel like you're missing opportunities because you don't have that piece of paper.
To anyone lurking who is considering using CLEP/DSST for some or part of your undergrad: Why not try it? Don't commit to a full program of CLEP where you over-zealously determine that you are going to be the world's fastest tester. Remember that taking a CLEP is kind of like walking in on the final day of the course and taking the final exam. Yes, if you have life experience in a particular area, it will help, but in many cases, you will need to plan a few weeks of daily study (or more) to pass. However, with the rising cost of education, unless you are going to a top tier school or seeking a major that is in very high demand, your ROI will be much higher on a "Big 3" degree. Try it out - decide to take ONE test and see how it goes. If you find that self-guided, independent learning is right for you, then don't waste time. Put together a plan and GET STUDYING!!! It feels like forever, but you will be done in NO TIME! And once you decide to start - DO NOT STOP. Continue. Yes, you will hate it at times, you will want to do anything but study when the subject matter is dull or challenging, or when the sunny day outside is calling you to get off the computer. However, in the end it will all be worth it and it may not seem like it at times, it will go by much quicker than you anticipate.
Thank you again to all and now it's time to go update my signature
Sincerely,
Burbuja0512, Global MBA
P.S. For those of you that are my Facebook friends and are confused as to why I got all the "congrats" posts a few weeks ago, it's because we had our group graduation ceremony early. So, the pics and the parties were slightly premature due to the program schedule, but now it's officially over!!!
Regis University, ITESO, Global MBA with a focus in Emerging Markets 4.0 GPA, Dual-university degree (Spanish/English)
ISSA Certified Nutritionist
COSC BS, Business Admin
My BS Credits:
Spanish 80 | Humanities 67 | A & I Lit 72 | Sub Abuse 452 | Bus Ethics 445 | Tech Writ 62 | Math 53 | HTYH 454 | Am. Govt 65 | Env & Humanity 64 | Marketing 65 | Micro 61| Mgmt 63| Org Behavior 65| MIS 446|Computing 432 | BL II 61 | M&B 50 | Finance 411 | Supervision 437| Intro Bus. 439| Law Enforcement 63| SL: Accounting I B | Accounting II C+| Macro A | ECE: Labor Relations A | Capstone: A| FEMA PDS Cert
ISSA Certified Nutritionist
COSC BS, Business Admin
My BS Credits:
Spanish 80 | Humanities 67 | A & I Lit 72 | Sub Abuse 452 | Bus Ethics 445 | Tech Writ 62 | Math 53 | HTYH 454 | Am. Govt 65 | Env & Humanity 64 | Marketing 65 | Micro 61| Mgmt 63| Org Behavior 65| MIS 446|Computing 432 | BL II 61 | M&B 50 | Finance 411 | Supervision 437| Intro Bus. 439| Law Enforcement 63| SL: Accounting I B | Accounting II C+| Macro A | ECE: Labor Relations A | Capstone: A| FEMA PDS Cert
![[-]](https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/images/collapse.png)
, Bus Ethics & Society - 447, Prin. of Finance - 437
