Hello Everyone!

I am so glad to have found a forum where I can find advices on online college. Before, I proceed with my question, let me first give you a background. Because of health and ultimately money issues, I was not able to finish high school. I dropped out when I was 18, but I have redeemed myself, got my GED, and an Associate degree in Finance. My health has improved, but I am in the waiting list for a kidney and I've been told it might take a year from now before I get one. I'd like to earn a Bachelor Degree during that time, but I haven't found a university that will let me go on my own pace. I feel like if I don't get my BS during that year I have, I may never be able to do it again and I am willing to work as a mad woman so I can achieve my goal. I fortunately have found someone to sponsor my education. Is there an online university that would allow me to work at my own pace so I can finish my degree sooner? I am not currently working, so I have time to dedicate to studying. I've heard Ashford University lets you take 2-3 classes together after passing the first two ones, but I really don't know anything about them. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Kaplan lets you take extra classes to finish sooner.  Students typically take 2 classes a term, but you can increase your load to 3. 

Hi Melissa,

By at your own pace do you mean submit assignments whenever you can and not have to meet deadlines?  There are schools that do that.  Or do you mean highly accelerated but with quick turnaround times on assignments, because there are schools that do that too.  Generally self paced to me means whenever I get around to it and if I want to go faster I can, if I want to go slower I can. 

If that's what you mean next I need to know if a nationally accredited (vs. a regionally accredited) degree will work for you.  I ask because there are certain NA schools that are more geared towards self paced than RA schools tend to be.

Lastly what is your budget and what major would you like to study?

Penn Foster College is a go at your own pace and they offer a business degree and as far as money goes thy are cheap.I wish you the best  in what ever you choose .

Hi Melissa,

I share Cajun's questions.  Penn Foster is a good choice if a nationally accredited school will work for you.  Do you know the difference?

-=Steve=-

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B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress

I would also be interesting in learning more about "at your own pace" programs (meaning no deadlines, whenever I get to it, etc).  Personally, I am thinking more like certificate programs as I am enrolled in a Masters program right now. 

Whenever I am finished with my weekly assignments for my Masters class, I usually study some for tech certs (right now I am studying for a Microsoft cert).  The thing I like about this is that it it completely my own pace as to when I take the exam.  So if I have a busy week with my university class, I can ignore my Microsoft studies for awhile or I can put it on hold if life gets busy in other ways or if I just want some extra leisure time.

 So, while tech certifications basically meet this need for me, I would also be interesting in university certification programs too.  Something like web design/development, or programming would be great for me as I don't have very much experience there and would love to learn more.  I have noticed some interesting certificate programs but I'm believe most I have seen are not self-paced.

I would prefer regionally accredited, (it was important to me that my bachelors and masters were regionally accredited) but for a certificate program nationally accredited would probably be fine and I wouldn't automatically rule it out.

I know there are several offerings in self paced certificate programs, most of the ones I know of are hosted by Thompson-Prometric but they are usually offered by regionally accredited schools.  One such program would be ATM University http://capso.tamu.edu/all-programs however you need to check with each program as things may change.  Also I know Rutgers did something similar for a while http://imed.rutgers.edu/.  Also you can check out our search engine here. 

Western Governors University is a self paced program. Take as many/few classes as you want each semester for a flat rate. Good luck! Make sure to line up an internship so you have some experience to show potential employers.

Jeanie62:

Make sure to line up an internship so you have some experience to show potential employers.

We actually have an article on internships for working adults:

http://www.elearners.com/careerstimuluspackage/stimulate-my-career/internships-for-adults-why-you-should-consider-an-internship/

-=Steve=-

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B.S., Info Sys, Charter Oak State College
M.A., Educational Tech Leadership, George Washington University
Doctor of Health Education, A.T. Still University, in progress