TESC: Received Evaluation. Help!

[Lindagerr]

TESC has people that Have Doctrates and Masters in their field as Mentors, BUT a Professor teaches a class giving lectures etc. a Mentor just corrects written assignments and maybe participates in online discussions if it is an online course. The only TESC course I have taken it was a Guided Study program and I thought the mentor was good, but I only had responses to e-mail questions and comments on my essays to judge that on. All assignments, exams and textbooks are standard for the course, the mentor just gives grades for each assignment, they can not even add points for effort. My mentor thought I did A work with 94 and 96 on mid-term and Final, and 100 on 8 of 10 assignments and 90 on 1 assignment. I just could not get to the last assignment so I got an A-. Not bad I Know, but I only missed an A by .8 If it had been up to the mentor she would have given me the A, but the computer calculates the score and gives the grade.

I agree with Jennifer this may not be the type of school you are looking for.

[livingproof]

Interesting, thanks to both of you for clarifying the mentor/professor issue. I suppose my next question in this area would be, for those who are applying to graduate schools/have applied, has anyone asked a TESC mentor for a letter of recommendation? Since most professors who write letters of rec at the majority of big universities only know a student based on their coursework (papers, test grades) -- I'm assuming it's possible for a TESC mentor to write a letter of rec based on the work the student has provided for the course?

I'm planning on applying to Landscape Architecture programs.

[livingproof]

Also, thanks for clarifying the "free electives" issue. So, I can choose whatever 27 credits I would like in that area?

[cookderosa]

Interesting, thanks to both of you for clarifying the mentor/professor issue. I suppose my next question in this area would be, for those who are applying to graduate schools/have applied, has anyone asked a TESC mentor for a letter of recommendation? Since most professors who write letters of rec at the majority of big universities only know a student based on their coursework (papers, test grades) -- I'm assuming it's possible for a TESC mentor to write a letter of rec based on the work the student has provided for the course?

I'm planning on applying to Landscape Architecture programs.

>>

I did have to supply letters of rec for all of my grad school apps. None specified that one needed to be from an undergrad teacher, but if that were the case, I might have taken a class locally to fill that criteria. If I had to choose between a mentor and a former employer, I'd choose the employer. The mentor's letter AT BEST is going to only attest to your writing ability and promptness.

I had very strong letters of rec, and I think that is because I have a lot of work history in my field- however, if I were starting over, I would assemble these people in my pocket with great care. For example, can you do any volunteer work with an existing landscape architecture company? If so, an owner or VIP would be an EXCELLENT person to recommend you.

If you can't do volunteer, what about paid entry level work in landscape? Again, owners and managers are excellent sources letters. (assuming you kick butt and are not a slacker )

Next, you have a lot of previous credit, before too much time passes- contact your old professors. Get letters from them ASAP. Ask them if you can have a generic "to whom it may concern" for now, and if the situation presents itself, would they be willing to prepare a more specific letter at a later date? (some want a template, a form, etc)

[livingproof]

Thanks Jennifer. Right now I'm volunteering with Rutgers Garden, so that's one down. I'm also about to start volunteering at Liberty State Park in the Horticulture department, so that's another down. It seems all the programs I'm applying to want 3 letters of rec. -- at least one or two from academia. I just remembered last night I had a professor twice last year (community college; online) -- I'm hoping that professor can write one for me, to at least have one academic letter of rec!

[alleycat]

Were are you thinking about getting your Landscape Architecture degree? Is that a Master or a Certificate?

[livingproof]

Some schools offer a Graduate Certificate, however I'm going for my Masters.

My list so far is:
University of Georgia
Virginia Tech
UMass - Amherst
Clemson University
Rutgers

I might also apply to two Urban Planning programs:
Rutgers
Clemson University


I see that you're thinking about a degree in Historical Preservation? I thought about that too for a little while. The College of Charleston has a great program that is linked through Clemson University. It's really interesting, you should look into it.

I'm looking into a Landscape Arch. certificate (undergrad) program at a local county college, also. I would love to have it completed before applying to grad school, but that's just not going to happen -- so I'm not sure what to do.

[cookderosa]

Some schools offer a Graduate Certificate, however I'm going for my Masters.

My list so far is:
University of Georgia
Virginia Tech
UMass - Amherst
Clemson University
Rutgers

I might also apply to two Urban Planning programs:
Rutgers
Clemson University


I see that you're thinking about a degree in Historical Preservation? I thought about that too for a little while. The College of Charleston has a great program that is linked through Clemson University. It's really interesting, you should look into it.

I'm looking into a Landscape Arch. certificate (undergrad) program at a local county college, also. I would love to have it completed before applying to grad school, but that's just not going to happen -- so I'm not sure what to do.

>>


Keep up the volunteer work and skip the community college cert. Once you have your bachelor's, no one will look twice at a cert...and once you have your master's, no one will look twice at your bachelors. You are VERY close to completion- keep on moving forward.

(have you thought about the FEMA classes? They are free. Free as in zero dollars, and you can use up to 27 of them in your free elective area.)

[livingproof]

The thought about doing a Landscape Arch certification was simply to help get into a graduate program in Landscape Arch. Probably not the wisest decision financially at this point, considering graduate programs for landscape arch don't give a crap what you're undergrad degree is in.

The FEMA classes are an option, but it's an option at this point I'm not very comfortable with. These grad programs are going to be looking at my transcript and I'm pretty set on having it look like a general undergrad transcript. I need letter grades on a transcript (I'm assuming FEMA doesn't do that?) that will influence my GPA. Though, I do appreciate the mention from you.

[alleycat]

My list so far is:
University of Georgia
Virginia Tech
UMass - Amherst
Clemson University
Rutgers

I might also apply to two Urban Planning programs:
Rutgers
Clemson University

I thought the UMass programm was only a certificate? Are these all distance learning programs? What are the prerequisites for them? I saw a phd in landscape from the University of Edinburgh and also a master in golf course design. I took a class in Landscapes and Landmarks.