Only pursuing AA, best option for Big 3?

[walkingbyfaith]

Hi everyone, I have been reading back posts for months. I amazed how helpful a community you all are! I have a Senior that is just starting on the CBE journey (having just recently been enlightened). She should be close to an AA when finished this year, and I was wondering what the most cost efficient way is if she is not going to pursue her BA right away, but only go for an AA at one of the BIG 3 and then stop, (at least for a while).

[Ideas]

She could probably get a Board of Governors AAS degree for almost nothing. The Big 3 are around $2200-2800 more than the BOG AAS.

[walkingbyfaith]

She could probably get a Board of Governors AAS degree for almost nothing. The Big 3 are around $2200-2800 more than the BOG AAS.

I did see that option and was definitely interested, but I thought they had to be 2 years out of high school, or something like, that to qualify. I will keep looking into it, because money is definitely an issue! Thanks for your input.

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She could probably get a Board of Governors AAS degree for almost nothing. The Big 3 are around $2200-2800 more than the BOG AAS.

If it helps, these are the cleps that she is either studying to take in the next few months, or has lined up to take after the end of the this year when she finishes the corresponding classes. She has not taken any at all yet, so not too late to alter any plans I might have in my head.

English Composition Clep
College Algebra Clep
World History Clep
Analyzing and Interpreting Lit Clep
Spanish 1 Clep
US History 1 Clep
US History 2 Clep
Biology Clep
Chemistry Clep
American Literature CLEP
American Govt Clep

Classes still to be decided this year based on what path we decide on...
Undecided: Science (Astronomy or Physics?)
Probably 2 Electives (Art Appreciation or History maybe, another undecided)

Only other classes she has taken that I don't know if can be leveraged toward something would be Old Testament Survey, New Testament Survey, and Family and Consumer Science (Home Ec). 

She is thinking possibly and AA with a concentration in Creative Writing, or Literature.

Thanks!

[dfrecore]

Here are the costs for the different schools (Big 3):

COSC $1738 + 57cr (need to take a cornerstone)
TESU $2207 + 60cr
EC $3000 + 57cr (need to take an AA capstone)

You might also look into Patten, they have AA's as well. If you can get enough credits transferred in that she only has to take one 4-month term, it's only $1316 for unlimited courses. I would say that if she could do it with just 3-4 courses left to complete, it's totally doable.

PATTEN $1316 + 48cr (finish 4 courses in 4 month term)

[walkingbyfaith]

Thank you. I had only quickly glanced at Patten before. I have looked it over more at your recommendation and am very interested. My question would be...since I do not see a BA in her area of interest, if in the future she decides to switch to one of the Big 3 for a BA, would she have trouble transferring their credits? Also, do you know if they use a GPA?

Thanks for inspiring a new interest! Also, thank you for the cost breakdown. Very helpful.

[cookderosa]

The big 3 don't incentivize a student to earn an AA, they want you to earn a BA. So, the costs dfrecore laid out don't go up by much when you switch to a BA. The credits, of course, you have to pay for- but you have total control over where/how to do that. So, the "perfect" BA for your daughter if she decides to pursue one, would be at the same school she earned her AA. Assuming nothing changes, it will fit inside the BA and she'll have her last 60 credits.

As you can see from the cost, an AA from the big 3 isn't enticing because of the cost (you could pay a lot less at your local CC) rather it's enticing because of the independence allowed. You'll have the freedom to complete those courses via CLEP, DSST, AP, Straighterline, college courses, or anything you want- you get total flexibility. THAT is what sells their AA.

It comes down to what you want- since your daughter is homeschooled and you still control all the curriculum, no question that you can align all of her schooling to earn an AA.

[dfrecore]

Thank you. I had only quickly glanced at Patten before. I have looked it over more at your recommendation and am very interested. My question would be...since I do not see a BA in her area of interest, if in the future she decides to switch to one of the Big 3 for a BA, would she have trouble transferring their credits? Also, do you know if they use a GPA?

Thanks for inspiring a new interest! Also, thank you for the cost breakdown. Very helpful.

I have no idea on the GPA situation, but I don't think it matters much, if she's planning on going to one of the Big 3.  My main concern would be if she decides to go somewhere else for her degree.  You're kind of boxing her into a corner with the fully tested out of AA.  I would probably have my child take a few courses at the local CC to get some good grades.

I would also check with Patten to see if they give grades.

Regarding staying at the same school for an AA/BA, I don't think it matters.  It wouldn't be a deciding factor for me personally.  People get their AA/BA at different schools all the time (anyone who goes to a CC before transferring to a 4-yr school does this).  Instead, I would look at the 4-yr schools she is leaning towards, and then look at what she would need to get in.  Does she need specific courses/prereq's?  Does she need a certain GPA?  Then work on getting those into your degree plan so that she has what she needs to get into the school of choice.  In other words, work backwards from what you want, to make sure you accomplish all of the goals while you're getting that AA.

[walkingbyfaith]

The big 3 don't incentivize a student to earn an AA, they want you to earn a BA.  So, the costs dfrecore laid out don't go up by much when you switch to a BA.  The credits, of course, you have to pay for- but you have total control over where/how to do that.  So, the "perfect" BA for your daughter if she decides to pursue one, would be at the same school she earned her AA.  Assuming nothing changes, it will fit inside the BA and she'll have her last 60 credits.

As you can see from the cost, an AA from the big 3 isn't enticing because of the cost (you could pay a lot less at your local CC) rather it's enticing because of the independence allowed.  You'll have the freedom to complete those courses via CLEP, DSST, AP, Straighterline, college courses, or anything you want- you get total flexibility.  THAT is what sells their AA.  

It comes down to what you want- since your daughter is homeschooled and you still control all the curriculum, no question that you can align all of her schooling to earn an AA.

Thanks Jennifer, She really is not in a hurry to get an AA, but it seemed too convenient not to aim for it after senior year. I may have her finish her "goal" of AA credits (not applying for degree), take a short break (she is worried if she buckles down too hard for a BA that her side business ventures will suffer) and then work towards a BA at one of the Big 3, then apply for her BA degree when she's close to 120 credits. I guess I will be asking more pointed BA questions if we go that path. My rush to decide on a college is to see if she should use a particular credit source (SL, Sophia, etc) to match her end goal since I am just now signing her up for her senior courses and would love to do that strategically.

[cookderosa]

<<Regarding staying at the same school for an AA/BA, I don't think it matters.  It wouldn't be a deciding factor for me personally.  People get their AA/BA at different schools all the time (anyone who goes to a CC before transferring to a 4-yr school does this).  >>


My recommendation is because she was going to CLEP out of her AA - that makes her AA a little less normal. I doubt she'll get a full transfer from most colleges, in fact, she might get as few as 15-45 credits. That's why I suggested she could continue her BA at the school for her AA.

EDIT to add: sorry- I can't navigate this new quote system very well! Sorry!

[walkingbyfaith]

I need help Can somebody tell me what I am doing wrong, every time there is a link in a post that is supposed to lead to another post, when I click the link it sends me back to the main forum page every time.

Thanks!