Finishing up a degree - the rip-off begins

[Patiod]

So my 46-you SO found out recently that he had left college only 9 credits short of a degree.

My father has been pestering him to return to school, and set up an interview with the dean of admissions.

Well, he may have been 9 credits short when he left, but he's now 30 credits short, since the dean told him "things have changed" since he graduated.

I warned him they are not "institutions of higher learning", they are BUSINESSES and they are going to pick every possible dollar from our pocket. Absolutely ridiculous. And it's a private school, so per-credit costs are sky-high, but he's afraid of all the credits he would lose trying to transfer to somewhere cheaper.

He's so disappointed and discouraged. He went in there this morning thinking he could take care of it in 1/2 semester, and now it looks like it will be more than a year, which we can't afford. :cry:

He dropped out originally due to a combination of his father dying and leaving the family penniless, Reagan cutting SS benefits for people of collega age whose supporting parent died, and an inability to juggle 5 jobs and school.

[dysfunctional press]

1. going to school just to get a degree is silly. especially at age 46.

if he has a definite plan/need for using the degree, fine...but otherwise- as you seem to be leaning- it's a waste of time and money.

learning for learning's sake is a GOOD thing- but now more than ever, it doesn't have to be done in the confines or at the expense of, a college or university.

i'm 48, never got my degree, and have no desire or need to do so.

[Patiod]

2. He wants to teach - so a degree would be helpful there

Certainly doesn't need for his main love - theater

[dysfunctional press]

3. does he already have a lot of credits in the education field...?

and then there's a year of student-teaching as well, isn't there?

[Wapsie B]

4. Does it have to be from that school?

What with all the non-traditional programs out there now he could transfer those credits to another college like a less expensive state school. Only downside is that wherever he ends up he'll most likely have to take 30 hours through that university. That's pretty standard now. At the time I could get by with only taking 15 through my alma mater. Thank god for small favors.

[Patiod]

5. He's being snotty about it right now

I went to a state school, and he went to an expensive private school that preyed on stupid rich kids (he was a scholarship students). Many of the people I know who went to his alma mater are the dopey, borderline-illiterate sons and daughters of rich Catholic families. But for some reason, he wants a diploma from there - go figure.

You are exactly correct - it looks like he'll need those 30 hours from anywhere he would transfer (if I could talk him into it)

He is going to talk to some of the professors who were there when he was there, and see if there is anything they can do to help him. He has contributed a lot of volunteer time to the school's drama program - but it doesn't seem to matter.

They actually are telling him that he needs to take basic freshman courses that he passed out of via AP credits. Freshman comp - he'd have to pay to sit through freshman comp. Amazing.

[Wapsie B]

6. Freshman comp?

I could maybe see retaking some upper division courses but freshman level? That's just wrong.

[rug]

7. Try here. He can finish by examinations.

https://www.excelsior.edu/