Excelsior. Good College? Anyone Liked/Hated It?

[Exfactor]

I looked at Liberty University when I first started looking. I sent for info to be sent to me, and they responded back. I read what they had to offer, but I didn't want to..better put...I had no desire and refused to take "requirements" on religious biblie studies. I'm not religious in any way. They require:

"APOL 104 Contemporary Worldviews 3"
"BIBL 104 Survey of Biblical Literature 3"
"THEO 104 Introduction to Christian Thought"

Thats in their business major. If you get more into liberal studies or other majors, the Bible class requirements get longer. For $350.00 a unit x 9 units. $3,150.00 That's a waste of money for me on courses I had no desire (and has no education baring on me) to learn.

Liberaty is still a good online college, but you have to be in a certain type of demograph for it. Excelsior's name...yes...at first few sights I thought it was (seriously) Excalibur. I still see the name of Excelsior and it just looks like "Excalibur" a bit to the point I picture Merlin and the round tables of camelot. But back to topic. I ran their tuition calculator and they seem more expensive than the other two. Although they seem to allow more transfer credit.

I've actually taken all those courses at Liberty. They have a way of bringing in biblical text in all sort of academic course work. For example, you could have a discussion on history or psychology and the bible would be use to justify a certain behavior or theory. If you don't know much about the bible you will after taking a course with them. I noticed many students would reference the bible more than a peer reviewed source. However, I actually enjoyed my experience there. They have a huge student population online so it can take forever to get things done. But it's a good school. I was also hesitant to enroll at Excelsior because of its name; however, I noticed in a Google search their were many Excelsior grads out there doing amazing things, and I just wanted to complete my degree, and go on to graduate school, which Excelsior provided for me.

[Christopher]

Yeah, Excelsior does look like a good school. Although the calculator showed it to be more expensive than others, but that was just a rough draft. I'm leading toward TESC now. We'll see...I have to take a few more regular night/online only classes at the CC again before I can see. I'll start the evaluation come summer. As long as they’re regionally accredited I’m fine with it.

Yes, I do know the Bible pretty well. Well, I did anyhow, it's been awhile. I was studying it on/off in my early 20s and ran social debate groups on it. My problem is I'm in the Agnostic/Atheist class so I would have no interest or care in studying about the Bible, Christianity or any of that stuff at this point. Maybe the psychological or poetic areas but that’s about it. However classes like "Introduction to Christian Thought" would be pointless to me. It just comes down to what works. We have California Lutheran University which is our version of Liberty University. Except it's a regular major campus, and draws a lot of the theological crows while the secular groups go to the state universities. Different strokes for different folks hehe.

I know one of my biggest regrets of not moving on and getting my BA/BS or even taking more lower level unit classes in the 2000-2003 era is the fact tuition was about 200 percent cheaper than it is now. Up into around 1993 the community college here charged $50.00 flat a semester for three classes at three units each equaling twelve units. When I started in 1998 it was $11.00 a unit or $33.00 for one full three credit hour class. Books were like $50.00 the most. Now it’s $46.00 for just one unit or $138.00 for one class. Argh, had I known, I would of taken more classes back in the 1999-2000 era even if I wouldn’t had used them at the time. My CC is horrible for students because it's literally fifteen minutes from the beach.

You can see the ocean from the top of the buildings so it's very distracting. So come spring/summer semester...lol. It was like that 1987 film "Summer School" for us. Santa Barbara/Ventura area. Only thing I'm seriously going to miss by online school is working with other students. I mean local students in a classroom where you would meet up for a group project, study together, or "get through class" with for those harder classes. But, I'll still be studying/working my classes at the beach when I start one of the big three, that's for sure lol. My laptop, wi-fi, my books, my projects won't be done in a bedroom for the most part come weekends/nights.

lol now all the memories are flowing back from my CC days. While most colleges the students study at the library, we would grab what we needed from the library, and spend hours at the beach studying or working on our papers/homework/projects. If we needed something from the college to help us, one of us would drive over real fast to get what we needed and come back to the beach. We would get overwhelmed...it was a dip in the ocean, watch the sun set, hit on some of the young chicks with lame poetry (hey we were 20 years old back then lol) and back to studying into the sun was fully set. All nighters studying at the all night diners and pizza joints during spring finals. Man was it great. Of course while my friends studied "Business Administration" I was the goofball idiot that studied Theater Arts on/off and writing courses than realized it's a dead end major, and never went on to my BA because I didn't know what other areas I wanted to take. As you can tell I actually liked college a lot when I was younger. I said in another post, if you're going back to school, have fun with it too. Don't make it some chore you're forcing yourself to do. It might be the non-traditional way for us, but enjoy it just the same.

[videogamesrock]

Amazing where tuition has gone.

[Christopher]

Yes. These ongoing tuition hikes are unneeded. Yes, I can understand inflation. Obviously what ws $50.00 in 1989 isn't the same $50.00 today. But inflating tuition by over 400 percent (and talks about more rising) is a joke. The colleges respond around the L.A. area is "student loans, federal loans, or trade school". I guess they figure with a federal loan they'll get their money no matter what so it'll be between the student and Government to fight it out on paying it back. We're always reading about how USA has the lowest math scores, are education levels are dropping, and how only 35-40 percent of the USA population will obtain an AA or higher. But colleges and state colleges keep hiking those tuition rates up, and making it harder for young kids (especially ethnic minorities) to get in or attempt college. Or it makes majoring in certain majors (like "Art Appreciation") on the BA level not worth the $50,000.00 in tuition. Our H.S. Counselors now inform, almost plead with students, to start at community college. Get your two year lower level and GD courses finish there, so that you can save $20,000.00 or $30,000.00. The same Sociology 101: Intro to Sociology course at one of the private colleges here is $580.00 a unit compared to only $46.00 a unit hour at the CC. Both use the same textbook edition.

But, I miss those days at CC where it wa $99.00 for three courses at three units a course. With books (some of the art classes like Theatre Arts almost never had books since it was hands-on work) the semester tuition was maybe $200.00 total with classes, books, and those health fees most colleges weed in. Back in the 1980s and 1990s our CC even offered for an additional semester side fee HEALTH INSURANCE lol. You can take our private health insurance at the college if you were enrolled in 12 or more units. They had a pregnancy center, psychologists on campus, AIDS testing center, and a full blown Cafeteria with cooks. All gone now. Although we still have the Zoo here. The cafeteria is just vending machines of frozen foods, and they have those regular academic counselors on campus but that’s about it.

Amazing where tuition has gone.

[Westerner]

I like the name Excelsior!

I got my BA History from TESC, but I was really interested in Excelsior for a time. The one thing I love about them (that I still really don't like about TESC) is that they figure some tests (DSSTs, ECEs...) into the GPA, instead of just putting "credit" like TESC does. I would've liked to have my test scores, that I studied hard for, to be recognized.

But then Excelsior had some drawbacks too - for my situation, at least. Namely, the English 101-102 reqs can't be filled by CLEP, and the tuition is higher. I got financial aid that completely covered my TESC classes because they were cheaper; it wouldn't have covered the Excelsior classes I would've had to have taken to be eligible for the aid.

But, thank God, everything worked out. Though a test-inclusive GPA would've been really nice, I'm happy with my TESC degree and the classes i got to take there.

[Christopher]

Yes, I guess its what fits one best. The English 102, 202, whatever they call it I’m not worried about. I have English 1A – English Composition down. I was the only student to get 100 percent in the class. Took it in CC. In fact my placement test stated I should major in English writing or literature. I’m set to take English 2C – Critical Writing and Composition this semester at the CC. Writing comes easy for me and I enjoy it. It’s also my way of relieving stress by just writing short stories or poems or theatre plays. Probably why I write novels instead of posts on forums like these. I’m trying to test out only as needed. Especially multiple choice tests as I’m bad at multiple choice stuff. Well, not bad, but I don’t like blind tests. I prefer to write essays and research projects. Not kidding either. I rather write a ten page essay on Sociology than take a multiple “What is it called when…” test that can have three answer choices that all look almost the same. Plus, the time I spend studying, and buying material, I’m better off just taking the class when it’s said and done. Anyhow I got off subject. Although, if it saves some money and time, I’ll CLEP out of some stuff for free electives. I have an AA already from local CC so most of my GE stuff is don’t for the BA. I just have to do that second English comp course, and higher Mathematic course, and some free electives.

All three have their ups and downs. I ruled out CCSC. I don’t like “General Studies.” I want a major. Our CC has the General studies stuff now. “AA: General Studies in Humanities”. It just sends a message of “I generally studied a bunch of different classes in Humanities, but not one topic in debt.” Even if that’s not entirely true. Plus I don’t have a Science lab course done, and I really don’t want to take one. It wasn’t required for an AA. They’re only 1 credit courses, but they’re just as hard as a three credit courses. I really only need a BA to get higher advancements at work as I have a pretty decent job now, but the General Studies thing just doesn’t fit for me.

But, hey, at least we have these options. Regionally accredited online colleges FOR ADULTS. Since the regular colleges are more designed for the 18-24 year old that can afford to take M, W, F off from work/life to attend classes from 8AM-1PM.

Hahaha. Like I said, had I known in 2000, I would of taken a whole slew of classes and saved them for transfer. Back when tuition was $33.00 for one three credit class. I have twenty-four or something free electives to fill.

I like the name Excelsior!

I got my BA History from TESC, but I was really interested in Excelsior for a time. The one thing I love about them (that I still really don't like about TESC) is that they figure some tests (DSSTs, ECEs...) into the GPA, instead of just putting "credit" like TESC does. I would've liked to have my test scores, that I studied hard for, to be recognized.

But then Excelsior had some drawbacks too - for my situation, at least. Namely, the English 101-102 reqs can't be filled by CLEP, and the tuition is higher. I got financial aid that completely covered my TESC classes because they were cheaper; it wouldn't have covered the Excelsior classes I would've had to have taken to be eligible for the aid.

But, thank God, everything worked out. Though a test-inclusive GPA would've been really nice, I'm happy with my TESC degree and the classes i got to take there.

[islandcoli]

I would kill to put Regents College on my resume instead of Excelsior. A lot of hiring agents are soured on for-profit schools and when they hear a school name they've never heard of that's in a different state then the one I reside....I just know it hurts me. I don't agree with the bias, however I think it's dumb not to include it in your decision making.

[Christopher]

Well, I talked to my aunt. She lives in NJ and use to work administration at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. She's retired now. She stated TESC is a very well respected college in NJ. It's right behind Rutgers and they compete for student admissions. It's not a college that if you live in NJ you say "oh...one of those diploma mill colleges, probably ran out of an office building an PO Box for students whom couldn't make the big time." It's the type of college that Rutgers would love to see "go away" because it's competition. I can only image if they go to University status.

However I know what you mean about out of state. Its like "wait...you went to college in New Jersey, and you live in California, and were working in CA when you attended this college in NJ. What’s going on here?"

It's the same way in California. We have a major private University called "University of La Verne" It's respected, large campus, and also targets adults through special degree program, but the name most hate. People will joke and say "University of La Verne and Shirley" or "University of Loser Ville". The name makes it sound like some cheesy cartoon college. But it's a major University in La Verne, California and has satellite campus' in some areas of the state. But the name really hurts it.

I turned them down after evaluation because their per credit fee was insane at $580.00 credit, and they required 128 credits instead of the regular 120 credits, and that's before all the other registration, health, and semester fees.

[yb1]

man so I am super confused.

I live around DC on the maryland side in montgomery county and I am so sick of having to try and take these remedial classes. I would rather spend 300-500 on scuba diving lessons.

are there schools that I could transfer too like a state college and just test out of them completely? this would be amazing if it were the case. I would much rather study my ass off every day from 9-12 and then go on with my day if I could..

ugh I am very stressed out. I am 25 and need to get the ball rolling. I only have thirty credits. Honestly I would love to go teach English in south east Asia but I need a bachelors. can anyone send me in the right direction?

sorry if I sound like I am complaining but damn. stressing on a Friday night!

[Exfactor]

I would kill to put Regents College on my resume instead of Excelsior. A lot of hiring agents are soured on for-profit schools and when they hear a school name they've never heard of that's in a different state then the one I reside....I just know it hurts me. I don't agree with the bias, however I think it's dumb not to include it in your decision making.

Excelsior isn't a for-profit school. There are thousands of schools which hiring agents have never heard of, most schools are only popular due to sports, anyway. I don't think the name is too bad it actually reminds me of many of the other names of colleges and universities in NY such as Bard College, Skidmore College, Vassar College, and Hilbert College. A name really does not project much bias, matter of fact most just care that you have received your degree. I had a relative who a couple years ago received their BA degree from TESC, and had problems having their degree recognized for a nursing program.