UMPI Newbie

[jnl131]

Hey guys, first time posting here, and I want to thank everyone for all the information you all put out there for people like me. :-)

I registered for UMPI as a complete newbie no transferable credits, and I just found out about Sophia a month ago. Since then, I have taken the Sophia courses listed below. My start date is 8/28/23 and I just wanted to get some advice on which courses I should focus on next before my start date. I really want to transfer in as many credits as possible, so any help is much appreciated. 

Environmental Science
US History I
Intro to Ethics 
Visual Communication 
Intro to Business 
College Algebra 1 - still in class
Introduction to Nutrition- Just started.


Thank you! 

[rachel83az]

With no transferable credits, since you don't already have sciences, you NEED to take Human Biology + Human Biology lab. You also NEED to take Spanish. Those should be your top priority after finishing up what you have in progress.

Make sure you have the GEC filled out: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...quivalents

Once you are fully enrolled, you will need permission from UMPI to transfer in further Sophia classes. There are degree plans here to help you get as many transfer credits as possible to help keep your UMPI costs as low as possible: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:UMPI

[jnl131]

With no transferable credits, since you don't already have sciences, you NEED to take Human Biology + Human Biology lab. You also NEED to take Spanish. Those should be your top priority after finishing up what you have in progress.

Make sure you have the GEC filled out: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...quivalents

Once you are fully enrolled, you will need permission from UMPI to transfer in further Sophia classes. There are degree plans here to help you get as many transfer credits as possible to help keep your UMPI costs as low as possible: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Category:UMPI

Thank you so much! I will take those next. I have another question, is there much of a difference in a BLS Bachelor of Liberal Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration?

[rachel83az]

Yes! There is a lot of difference aside from which classes are required! The BLS is a check-the-box degree. It's useful for many situations, but not all of them. The BABA can also be a check-the-box degree, but it shows business knowledge. If you are in a managerial role or want to get there eventually, the BABA will probably serve you better than the BLS would. The BABA will allow you to continue on to an MBA (if desired) while the BLS might not; this depends on the school.

If your intention is to continue on to UMPI's MAOL program, either degree will suffice.

[bjcheung77]

@jnl131, What is it you're looking for? What's the end goal? Everyone does things differently, I suggest to max your Sophia.org and Study.com courses before you go the UMPI route... BTW, Welcome to the board, you may want to fill in the template and last post addendum here, it'll give us a greater overview of your courses you've taken and also your budget, commitments, study habits, etc: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Area-works

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Edit to clarify: Please do the template and addendum, you can disregard the classes/courses as you have it in the original post. If you prefer, copy/paste what you have in the original post and add those details to the template/addendum when you reply to this post.

[jnl131]

USA: Savannah, GA
Age 37
Business Management Degree
Sophia Learning

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: Sophia
Environmental Science
US History I
Intro to Ethics
Visual Communication
Intro to Business
College Algebra 1 - still in class
Introduction to Nutrition- Just started.

Applied at UMPI

Budget: I'd like to go the quickest route, and my job does have tuition reimbursement
Commitments: I currently work full time and can work on my studies on the weekends and Mondays
Dedicated time to study: I can study about 6 hours during the weekend and all day on Mondays.
Timeline: Finishing the courses required for the degree as fast as possible would be ideal. I would like to finish within 1-1.5 years (12-18 months)
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: Yes, my work offers tuition reimbursement for As 100% Bs 80% and Cs 60%

[allvia]

USA: Savannah, GA
Age 37
Business Management Degree  
Sophia Learning

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: Sophia
Environmental Science
US History I
Intro to Ethics
Visual Communication
Intro to Business
College Algebra 1 - still in class
Introduction to Nutrition- Just started.

Applied at UMPI

Budget: I'd like to go the quickest route, and my job does have tuition reimbursement
Commitments: I currently work full time and can work on my studies on the weekends and Mondays
Dedicated time to study: I can study about 6 hours during the weekend and all day on Mondays.
Timeline: Finishing the courses required for the degree as fast as possible would be ideal.  I would like to finish within 1-1.5 years (12-18 months)
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: Yes, my work offers tuition reimbursement for As 100% Bs 80% and Cs 60%

You would be much better going for the BABA vs BLS, especially for long term ROI.  The BLS is not a Business Degree, it is a general degree with a minor in business. Since you're starting from scratch it's no more work or money to get the BABA; as you have no credits to lose.  And if your company tuition reimbursement is based on 'degree in related field' the BABA (being an actual business degree) is always an easy sell.

Get all you can from Sophia first (focus, you still have quite a bit of time before you're set to start) - then if you have time/money consider the SDC options. Sophia is very low out of pocket cost, and since you have tuition reimbursement doing everything else at UMPI (and doing so will likely not add any time to completion) - https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...egree_Plan. 

You still have quite a bit of time for Sophia before you begin at the end of August - rachel83az's correct about getting that Spanish and Bio w/lab done next. Also, in case it's not clear on the Wiki - Comp I & Comp II - do those at UMPI (not Sophia, they are much easier at UMPI).

[bjcheung77]

@jnl131, I agree with recommendations above... You should review the WIKI for UMPI. You may want to get a spreadsheet up and ready for reference and tracking purposes, you should do one for UMPI BABA Management & Leadership or if you prefer, the BABA Project Management & Info Systems instead. It's all personal preference, either of those or other concentrations would hit your Business Management degree requirement.

[jnl131]

USA: Savannah, GA
Age 37
Business Management Degree  
Sophia Learning

Current ACE, CLEP, or NCCRS Credits: Sophia
Environmental Science
US History I
Intro to Ethics
Visual Communication
Intro to Business
College Algebra 1 - still in class
Introduction to Nutrition- Just started.

Applied at UMPI

Budget: I'd like to go the quickest route, and my job does have tuition reimbursement
Commitments: I currently work full time and can work on my studies on the weekends and Mondays
Dedicated time to study: I can study about 6 hours during the weekend and all day on Mondays.
Timeline: Finishing the courses required for the degree as fast as possible would be ideal.  I would like to finish within 1-1.5 years (12-18 months)
Tuition assistance/reimbursement: Yes, my work offers tuition reimbursement for As 100% Bs 80% and Cs 60%

You would be much better going for the BABA vs BLS, especially for long term ROI.  The BLS is not a Business Degree, it is a general degree with a minor in business. Since you're starting from scratch it's no more work or money to get the BABA; as you have no credits to lose.  And if your company tuition reimbursement is based on 'degree in related field' the BABA (being an actual business degree) is always an easy sell.

Get all you can from Sophia first (focus, you still have quite a bit of time before you're set to start) - then if you have time/money consider the SDC options. Sophia is very low out of pocket cost, and since you have tuition reimbursement doing everything else at UMPI (and doing so will likely not add any time to completion) - https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/UM...egree_Plan. 

You still have quite a bit of time for Sophia before you begin at the end of August - rachel83az's correct about getting that Spanish and Bio w/lab done next. Also, in case it's not clear on the Wiki - Comp I & Comp II - do those at UMPI (not Sophia, they are much easier at UMPI).

Thank you so much for all the information!

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@jnl131, I agree with recommendations above... You should review the WIKI for UMPI. You may want to get a spreadsheet up and ready for reference and tracking purposes, you should do one for UMPI BABA Management & Leadership or if you prefer, the BABA Project Management & Info Systems instead.  It's all personal preference, either of those or other concentrations would hit your Business Management degree requirement.

Thank you. I have started a spreadsheet with what I have and what I thought I needed, I will use the links you all provided and update it. I really appreciate all the help.

[ishady]

@jnl131, I agree with recommendations above... You should review the WIKI for UMPI. You may want to get a spreadsheet up and ready for reference and tracking purposes, you should do one for UMPI BABA Management & Leadership or if you prefer, the BABA Project Management & Info Systems instead.  It's all personal preference, either of those or other concentrations would hit your Business Management degree requirement.

Hello,
What are the strategies to pass Sophia's and UMPI classes in a few days or less than a week? I try Sophia's but the quizzes are so many, while UMPI do not have so many but how to move thru fast?
Thank you.