I’m a people person. Not necessarily an always-surrounded-by-a-crowd type of people person, but I find myself drawn to individuals who need a helping hand.

The same way a car’s steering wheel determines where the vehicle goes, a focus on helping others often steers my decision-making process. I’m passionate about supporting the growth of those in my sphere of influence. This people-focused passion is the fuel that pushes me to accomplish my goals.

It’s at this intersection of focus and passion that I discovered:

1. A career in social work would allow me to influence the foster care system.

2. To become a social worker, I’d need a bachelor’s degree at minimum, but preferably a master’s.

My goals at this point were broad, but concrete. I wanted to work with foster youth of all ages, whittle down my focus to a more specific community or culture, and develop the gifts I had so that I could better serve the people I would one day work with.

While I understood that a college education would be necessary for my career, I also knew I would need hands-on experience working with people if I hoped to blossom in a helping profession.

Accelerated Pathways Gave Me Freedom to Pursue College and Experience Simultaneously

I had established my goals, so I began to review my college options. As I compared community college, a local state university, and private university options, nothing felt right.

I was frustrated with the traditional options. They were inflexible, expensive, and forced me into a box. That's when I heard about Pearson's online program Accelerated Pathways. A quick Google search later, and I was convinced it was for me.

I was right.

Accelerated Pathways' unconventional structure provided the flexibility I needed to invest in the people around me. Instead of being constantly consumed by class schedules and homework like many of my friends, I was able to stop and be present with friends, family, and kids in the various ministries I was involved in.

I was also able to work full time, intern at my church, provide childcare for foster children, and be a counselor at multiple summer camps; all of which has given me real-life experience in my desired field of work. Accelerated Pathways gave me the freedom to gain that valuable experience at a young age—a huge head start on the career path I am passionate about.

Choosing to be an Accelerated Pathways student allowed me to earn a BS in psychology before my 20th birthday. I was 15 and at the threshold of my junior year of high school when I started college through Accelerated Pathways. Because I earned dual credit, I was able to graduate high school the next semester and focus all my academic efforts on finishing college.

Because of the aforementioned flexibility I found in Accelerated Pathways, the speed at which I worked varied greatly. But I never felt “behind.” There was no pressure for me to work faster than I felt I could with excellence. But there was also no predetermined classroom pacing to hold me back if I quickly mastered a concept. I completed my courses in the standard 4 years, and at 20 years old, I am well prepared for the next steps toward becoming a social worker (i.e. heading off to grad school).

Finally, Accelerated Pathways allowed me to graduate from a private university completely debt free. Many of my family members and close friends ended up taking out massive student loans for their degrees. But it doesn’t need to be this way! I graduated without a penny of debt and with a savings account in place. This financial freedom has provided me with priceless opportunities, like the ability to travel and meet people that I never could have otherwise!

An Unexpected Benefit: College Classes Designed for Personal Growth

As if the freedom I experienced through Accelerated Pathways wasn’t enough, the program was also unexpectedly brimming with opportunities for personal growth—opportunities that I enthusiastically utilized!

From the very beginning, the Accelerated Pathways team carefully guided me toward a degree and school that matched my goals. I often find myself using the various practical skills I developed from my Accelerated Pathways experience to help others reach their goals as well.

Life After Accelerated Pathways

I started my Accelerated Pathways journey a little over four years ago, and since then my life has changed significantly. Some of the changes were natural and inevitable (like becoming an adult and doing those adult-ish things), but I have also grown in ways that I directly attribute to the unconventional way I earned my degree.

Before I became an Accelerated Pathways student, my goals were to gain experience with foster kids of various ages, find my niche, and develop my gifts.

I am now employed by a foster family agency, providing childcare for young kids in the foster care system. I spend my Wednesday nights eating a good home-cooked meal and doing Bible study with a group of former foster kids who are now young adults. And for the past couple of summers, I have been a counselor at a summer camp designed specifically for elementary-aged foster children.

Through these experiences, as well as my time volunteering with my church’s youth group, I have become aware of the heart I have for teenagers and young adults. My goals have shifted ever so slightly, and I am now focused on a future of serving these older kids who have been affected by foster care.

As for what the future holds, I am still unsure of the specifics; I have learned to move forward one step at a time. I know I’ll be continuing my education in the near future, but for the moment, I am enjoying the time I have to invest in the people in my sphere of influence.

You Can Do It Too

Though I still have much to learn and even more growth ahead of me, my Accelerated Pathways journey has been instrumental in getting me where I am today!

My unique college experience dramatically changed my outlook on life. I no longer feel bound to the (often low) expectations the world has set before me. I am confident in the skills Accelerated Pathways has equipped me with, and will continue to push forward toward each of my goals now that I’ve graduated.

And I am not the only student who has found success in utilizing the services that Accelerated Pathways provides. Your story will be different than mine. But if you have passions and goals that require a degree, and you find yourself wanting more out of your college years, Accelerated Pathways just might work for you too. I recommend giving it a try.

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Do you know how you’re going to pay for college? It’s something you should be thinking about. Why? Because going to college is expensive.

A recent U.S. News & World Report article found that for the 2020–2021 academic year, the average cost for tuition and fees at private institutions was more than $35,000 per year. Tuition and fees at public institutions may be less, but the cost for out-of-state students was still a whopping $21,000, whereas the average tuition and fees for in-state students was $9,700. That puts the average cost for a four-year college education at somewhere between $38,800 and $140,000.

Like we said, going to college is expensive, so you’ll want to have a plan for how you’re going to pay for it.

If you’re like most college students, you’re probably relying on financial aid to cover a large portion of that absurdly high cost.

However, as it turns out, most of your “financial aid” options are actually student loans. Also worth noting is that taking out a loan is not “paying for” college. It’s just putting off a payment you can’t currently afford.

Fortunately, there are six simple and effective ways to pay for college that don’t involve grasping for student loans and hoping against hope that the debt doesn’t bury you alive

How to Pay for College Without Loans

The idea that you can pay for college without student loans can be hard to wrap your head around, but it’s possible. From finding an affordable degree to applying for scholarships and financial aid to getting a job with an employer that offers tuition assistance, there are many ways to get from point A to point B.

1. Find an Affordable Degree

Before asking how you’ll pay for college, consider how much you should pay for college. Not everyone needs to shell out five figures a year for a top-tier college experience.

Do some research. By using tools at your disposal like transfer credit, alternative options, and affordable degrees, you can significantly reduce the cost of your degree, removing the need to borrow money in the first place.

2. Apply for Scholarships

Applying for scholarships doesn’t have to be as scary as it sounds. Just give yourself enough time to apply (our counselors recommend applying before your senior year of high school), and set clear expectations for how much effort you’ll put into the scholarship search. Eliminating both crunch time and vague expectations will help get you through the application process more quickly and will produce better results.

If you want to learn more about applying for scholarships, read our post on the subject.

3. Apply for Financial Aid

Once you’ve exhausted steps one and two, complete a FAFSA, short for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, to find out if you qualify for any grants. If you do, don’t hesitate to accept them. These grants are free gifts of money, set aside to help students like you pay for your education. They won’t negatively impact your future.

A variety of specific grants are available for college students. Some are based on merit; some are based on need. (For a full breakdown of the various types of grants that are available, check out the Sallie Mae website.)

4. Find a Job That Offers Tuition Benefits

Just don’t forget, the FAFSA isn’t the only place you can go for financial support. Consider getting a job with an employer that offers tuition benefits. If you already have a job, find out if your employer has a tuition assistance program. Your employer wants you to get your college education, so you may be surprised at the willingness to help you with the process.

5. Practice Money-Saving Habits

If you followed these steps in order, your final out-of-pocket costs should be significantly less daunting than they were when you started. At this point, you have one final goal: avoid debt. However, you can take other steps to save money. For example, live at home instead of on campus. Buy used books. You could also take online courses one at a time instead of paying for a whole semester in advance—we call this technique “cash-flowing college.” 

Find creative ways to cut the fluff and maybe even reallocate your own resources. Debt-free degrees are unapologetically minimal.

6. Get a Part-Time Job

Many part-time jobs can help you pay for college, and, as we stated above, some of them might offer tuition assistance programs. Also worth noting is that in some cases, your student aid package might include work-study funds, which you can use to pay for college. Work-study programs pay students at least $7.25 per hour.

Paid internships, babysitting jobs, nanny jobs, and part-time gig economy jobs (such as driving for Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and Postmates) are also options worth exploring

Smart Choices Can Save You Money

By exploring the options above, debt-free college isn’t just possible—it’s definite, and most students can successfully cut their overall costs in half by simply talking to an adviser.

If you’re interested in learning more about cutting your own college costs, sign up for a free personalized college cost comparison—including a total cost breakdown for your dream school and creative ways to make it more affordable.

Your degree shouldn’t cost $40,000 to $100,000, and it certainly shouldn’t be a debt sentence.

Sources

Federal Student Aid, Complete the FAFSA Form

NerdWallet, “What Is Work-Study?”

Sallie Mae, Grants for College

The Balance Careers, “Companies That Offer Tuition Reimbursement Programs”

U.S. News & World Report, “See the Average College Tuition in 2020-2021”

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In many ways, your child’s future depends on what their high school transcript shows. Universities expect an error-free, professionally formatted transcript before they can even consider a student's applicattion, so putting together a "perfect" homeschool transcript can be stressful for homeschool parents.

The reality of preparing transcripts is actually much less dramatic.

Sure, you’ll spend hours combing the internet for how-to guides worrying that you might be missing something. You’ll dig through your long-forgotten records from years ago to find evidence that your student actually did do math at some point in high school.

But in the end, you’ll bring everything together in a neat little package with just the right formatting and all of the needed information in its proper place. Great job! If you’ve followed along with the online how-to’s, you’ve just created a very professional document. But don’t celebrate just yet.

If your goal is to give your child their best chance possible of getting into their dream college, there’s one more thing for you to worry about.

Will a cookie cutter transcript make it easier for your child to get into their dream college?

Probably not. Every year, colleges are flooded with millions of transcripts. It’s a safe bet all of them are formatted correctly. Most of them even have all of the information transcripts are supposed to have.

If all that you’ve focused on has been including the right information and using the right format, your transcript is now exactly like the millions that admissions counselors see every year.

Want to help set your child apart from the crowd that is already clamoring at the gates of higher education? You'll have to do something a little different from everyone else...

Here’s how to prepare a transcript that helps your child stand out. (It’s easier than you think.)

Making your homeschool transcript stand out is a fairly simple two-step process.

First, prepare early by keeping accurate and complete records. Make complete lesson plans and keep any major assignments your child has completed. And on top of that, you should create a course of study for every class. Even if you forget or can’t do this at the beginning of each school year, do your best to gather all of this information before writing out your student’s transcript.

This may sound like a lot of work, but in the end, it makes your life simple. With good records, the total time it takes to put a transcript together is actually quite minimal, and you can definitively prove any claims you make on your child’s transcript. (Most of the horror stories that involve homeschool transcripts happen because someone waited until the last minute to start putting their records together.)

Next, simply show how your child’s studies, as a whole, have been different.

Homeschool students tend to have more opportunities than students in public or even private schools. We can thank the flexibility of a homeschooler’s schedule for that. Homeschoolers are better able to invest time in internships, specialized study, or traveling. These extra opportunities are what make your child stand out on paper.

So if your child has done or earned something that shows exceptional growth, maturity, responsibility, merit, talent, or recognition (especially from a governmental body), put it on their transcript.

Not exactly sure what extra items your target college would like to see? While every college is different (and you should do your research to figure out what your target college wants to see) there are a few things you could list on your child’s transcript that will impress just about all of them.

Here’s what admissions departments like to see on high school transcripts.

Volunteer work

Volunteering is more important to some colleges than others. However, nearly every college likes to see some form of voluntary community service. To admissions departments, volunteer work is a signifier of leadership, initiative, personal development, and experience.

Internships

Internships have similar benefits to volunteer work. The major difference is internships tend to be more focused on developing critical skills and experience in a specific industry. Internships show that your child has a plan for their life after college and has started proactively working toward that life. They’re also valuable as an endorsement from a respected member of your community.

Specialized training

Colleges like to see students who choose to invest in their area of interest. For example, let’s say your child intends to study computer science. In this situation, if your student has gone outside of the typical high school curricula to learn specific programming languages, that reflects well on your child and should be placed their transcript.

Extracurricular activities

Colleges like to see extracurricular activities on transcripts because it gives them an idea of who the applicant is. If a student is driven, competitive, disciplined, passionate, or just plain motivated, it shows in the activities they do outside of school. But don’t go overboard with these! Keep this section short and relevant. You want your child to look good on their transcript, so if an extracurricular activity doesn’t suggest a desirable character trait, don’t list it.

Prestigious awards

Has your child earned recognition for their service, studies, or accomplishments? Prestigious awards look great on transcripts. Governmental awards (such as The Congressional Award) and earned ranks (like Eagle Scout) are particularly desirable.

A word of caution.

As I said before, the benefit of being homeschooled through high school is you typically have more opportunities than students in public schools.

Homeschoolers have more flexibility to develop specialized skills, serve their community, or focus their studies on something that interests them. So, it’s possible you have an abundance of extra items you’re tempted to include on your child’s transcript. But if you want to make your child look as good as possible, only include information that is relevant to both your student’s studies and the college that they’re applying to.

Remember that colleges receive millions of transcripts every year. So you want your transcript to be effective but short. This makes the extras you choose to list more likely to be read and remembered. A technical school with no sports program won’t care if your child plays pickup basketball on the weekends, or if a painting they created when they were 4 won a blue ribbon at the county fair. Leave those things for the scrapbooks.

If you keep your student’s transcript focused, start preparing early, and show how your child’s studies have been different, you will sleep well knowing you’ve prepared an awesome transcript that makes your student stand out from the crowd.

One excellent way to ensure your student stands out is by pursuing dual credit in high school. Not only will your student prove their readiness for college-level work, they can also shave some time (and money) off their future degree! Click to learn more about earning dual credit in high school with Accelerated Pathways.

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If you’re stressing about choosing a major, you’re not alone.

Choosing a major is something nearly half of all college students struggle with, often changing majors at least once throughout their college careers. What’s worse: of the students who finally make a decision on their major, 1 in 3 reports that they chose the wrong one. They aren’t satisfied with their major after they graduate and would change it if they could.

You shouldn’t have to spend tens of thousands of dollars and four or more years of dedication on a degree you don’t actually want.

That’s why we’re breaking down key factors for deciding what you should major in—so you can get a head start on this process and find the best major for you.

Choose a Major by Salary

You might want to select a major that could potentially yield a high salary. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), these are some of the highest-paying occupations and their median annual wages by college major.

Criminal Justice

Criminal justice degrees prepare students with the knowledge and skills to serve their communities by upholding justice, safety, and security.

Top-paying criminal justice jobs include:

• Judge, magistrate judge, and magistrate, $136,910

• Lawyer, $122,960

• Detective and criminal investigator, $86,030

You can use the following resources to learn more about these career options:

• LiveCareer, “6 Tips Criminology Majors Can Use to Prep for Their Career”

• U.S. News & World Report, “10 Questions to Ask to Decide If You Should Be a Lawyer”

Health and Life Sciences

Health and life sciences degrees are designed to help students become healthcare professionals who can deliver high-quality care to patients in need and make a difference in people’s lives.

Top-paying health/life sciences jobs include:

• Obstetrician and gynecologist, $208,000

• Surgeon, $208,000

• Prosthodontist, $208,000

You can use the following resources to learn more about these career options:

• American Dental Association, Resources for Dental Students

• Association of American Medical Colleges, The Road to Becoming a Doctor

Social Sciences

Social sciences degrees appeal to students with an interest in human behavior and psychology, arming them with the skills to work in fields such as mental health, psychology, and anthropology.

Top-paying social sciences jobs include:

• Psychiatrist, $208,000

• Political scientist, $122,220

• Economist, $105,020

You can use the following resources to learn more about these career options:

• American Psychiatric Association, “Choosing a Career in Psychiatry”

• Investopedia, “A Day in the Life of an Economist”

Information Technology and Information Systems

Information technology and information systems degrees provide students with technical skills in computer science, web development, cybersecurity, and data management so they can build careers in fast-growing and in-demand fields.

Top-paying information technology/information systems jobs include:

• Computer and information systems manager, $146,360

• Computer and information research scientist, $122,840

• Computer hardware engineer, $117,220

You can use the following resources to learn more about these career options:

• TechRepublic, “How to Become a Software Engineer: A Cheat Sheet”

• U.S. News & World Report, “What Can You Do with a Computer Science Degree?”

Business

Business degrees are designed to provide future business leaders with the strategic, financial, and project management skills they need for success.

Top-paying business jobs include:

• Chief executive, $175,310

• Advertising, promotions, and marketing manager, $135,900

• Financial manager, $129,890

You can use the following resources to learn more about these career options:

• The Balance Careers, “Best Jobs for Graduates with a Business Degree”

• Investopedia, “How to Become a CEO”

Choose a Major by Job Outlook

You might also want to select a major in a field with high projected job growth and an increasing demand for talent. According to the BLS, here’s how much jobs in each major are expected to increase between 2019 and 2029.

Criminal Justice

Criminal justice jobs are projected to grow steadily:

• Forensic science technician, 14%

• Police detective and investigator, 8%

• Lawyer, 4%

Health and Life Sciences

Health and life sciences jobs are projected to grow substantially:

• Nurse practitioner, 52.4%

• Home health and personal care aide, 33.7%

• Medical and health services manager, 31.5%

Social Sciences

Social sciences jobs are projected to grow steadily:

• Economist, 14%

• Environmental science and protection technician, 8%

• Political scientist, 6%

Information Technology and Information Systems

Information technology and information systems jobs are projected to grow substantially:

• Information security analyst, 31.2%

• Data scientist, 30.9%

• Software developer and software quality assurance analyst and tester, 21.5

Business

Business jobs are projected to grow considerably, with more variation among specific occupations:

• Operations research analyst, 34.6%

• Financial manager, 15%

• Management analyst, 11%

Choose the Right Major for You

Now it’s time to get personal, taking your passions and career dreams into account. That may seem pretty daunting, but it doesn’t have to be.

Lucky for you, choosing the right major is exactly what this free e-book can help you with.

While I can’t guarantee reading this book will magically make your decision easy, you’ll at least be able to make it with confidence, knowing that you’ve made a strong, future-oriented decision that will be an asset, not an expensive regret.

Here’s how we’re going to do this. In order to make the best decision possible, you’ll need to figure out what you want from life after college and then work backward by asking some important questions:

• What lifestyle do you want?

• What career path do you find interesting and meaningful? 

• What tools, knowledge, or experience do you need to support your life after graduation? 

• How can you use your college experience to prepare for this future as well as you possibly can?

Each question you answer about your future reveals another piece of the puzzle—from the type of degree you need to the particular courses you should take to the type of college that would be the best fit for you. Answer enough questions, and you won’t need to stress about your choice. Your perfect major will reveal itself.

And don’t worry if all of this is a little overwhelming. I’ll walk you through every step.

Ready to get started? Get the e-book for free!

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Computer Hardware Engineers

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Computer and Information Research Scientists

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Detectives and Criminal Investigators

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Economists

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Fastest Growing Occupations

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections—2019-2029

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Environmental Science and Labor Technicians

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Financial Managers

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Forensic Science Technicians

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Highest Paying Occupations

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Lawyers

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Management Analysts

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Political Scientists

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I’m sure you’ve already heard the oft-repeated advice, “community college is cheaper than university.” And while it isn't flashy, you have to admit earning two years of inexpensive credit before transferring into a university is the best choice for your wallet.

But a couple of Google searches in, you’re accosted by horror stories of community college graduates losing nearly all their credit upon transfer.

Is taking a risk with transfer credit really going to be worth it in the long run?

Actually, yes. If you know what you’re doing, earning transfer credit can be a safe way to save money on your degree.

The key is to start with the end in mind and develop a foolproof plan before enrolling in any courses.

To do this, you must know which degree you want, which college you want to transfer to, and what their transfer policy is. Then you can spend your precious time and money on just the courses you know will transfer. (Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started.)

But how do you know which courses will transfer before taking them?

The answer: college course codes.

Are you looking to earn college credit that is guaranteed to transfer? Or, do you have existing credit you'd like to transfer into a future degree? At Accelerated Pathways, our academic advisors can help! Get a complimentary advising session and find out about earning college credit that is guaranteed to transfer through our programs.

How College Course Codes Work

Colleges use course codes to describe and organize their courses in a way that can be easily understood by both colleges and students (if said students have translation guides, that is).

They consist of four important blocks of information.

1. Course Prefix

The first part of a college course code is simple: a series of letters indicating the course's general subject. This is the course prefix, and it’s fairly intuitive.

Tip: if you get stuck wondering what a particular set of letters means, compare several courses sharing the same prefix. Or Google it.

How to use it

Course prefixes will help you understand if the two courses you're trying to compare are part of the same academic department.

For instance, if your bachelor's degree requires 3 business math (BUS) or finance (FIN) credits, a general MAT math course won’t fit that requirement.

2. Course Numbers

The second part of a college course code is a series of numbers. These are often three digits long, but many colleges use four digits (or even five).

These numbers are the main way colleges organize their course catalog. No two courses at a college will share the exact same course number.

The most useful thing for students to understand about these numbers is how to distinguish between upper-level credit and lower-level credit.

Remedial courses do not count for college credit. Students only take them if they aren't able to start 100-level work yet. 100-200 courses are “lower-division” courses—often covering a wide range of foundational topics. 300-400 courses are “upper-division” courses. These courses provide more in-depth study, frequently in the student’s major.

(If your college uses a four- or five-digit numbering scheme, this rule will still hold true. 0000 is remedial, 1000-2000 is lower division, and 3000-4000 is upper division.)

The second and third digits in a course number are used in a variety of ways by different schools. While there isn’t a universal rule for what each number means in relation to each other, the main idea is just to distinguish different courses that are from the same department at the same level.

How to use it

Apart from that first digit, course numbers honestly aren’t very helpful for transferring credit. They vary widely between colleges and would take immense study just to learn how one specific college uses them. Even once you do understand your college’s system, these numbers won’t provide much assistance in understanding if your courses will transfer.

The one thing to remember about course numbers is that the first digit indicates what level of study your course is. That is likely the only uniform (and truly helpful) piece of information these numbers will provide for you.

3. Course Name

The third element of a course code is obvious: the name of the course. A course's name tells you what that course is about, and is actually the most useful way to compare courses.

Unlike course numbers, which are specific to each college, course names can be fairly standard between institutions—especially among lower-division subjects. (It’s likely the material taught in British Literature I at the University of Texas will match NYU’s British Literature I class.)

How to use it

Compare the name of the course you want to take to the name of a course your chosen college offers. The more exactly the names match, the better chance your credit will transfer.

Don't forget to check your degree’s program requirements, too. Does your college of choice require this specific course for your degree?

4. Course Description

The last thing you'll read about a course is its description. A course description is a general explanation of its topics and teaching methodology. This will give you added information about the course and the way it’s taught.

How to use it

When evaluating a transfer course from another school, colleges typically want to see at least 80% content overlap when compared to their own course. So even if a course you are considering has the same title as a course at your target school, be sure to examine the descriptions of each for similar terms and topics to get a feel for how well-aligned the content really is.

Where to Go From Here

So you’ve picked a college and degree. You also know more about college course codes than you ever wanted to. How do you start actually taking affordable transfer credit?

We can help.

For the past 15 years, our Central Registrar’s Office has helped thousands of students graduate debt free via affordable online courses selected specifically for their degree at their school.

We’ve already done the research you need, and can take the stress and confusion out of your college transfer.

Click here to learn more about degree planning through Accelerated Pathways, and how it can save you thousands of dollars on your bachelor’s degree.

However, if you think you're ready to go it alone, here are some other resources that may help you along the way:

• How Many Credits Do I Need for a Bachelor’s Degree?

• Why Won’t My Credits Transfer? (Transfer credit series pt. 1)

• How to Transfer Colleges Without Losing Credit (Transfer credit series pt. 2)

 

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Bad news for transfer students: according to the National Center for Education Statistics, you have a 70% chance of losing some or all of your previously earned credit during your college transfer (costing you thousands of dollars in lost credit). This is largely due to broken transfer policies that you have no control over.

While you unfortunately can’t control what transfer credit colleges accept, you can control which college you transfer credit into. By making the right choices early on, it’s absolutely possible to transfer from one college to another without losing a single credit. 

How to Transfer Credit

Students change schools for a variety of reasons, such as needing to relocate, pursuing a different career path, or choosing to graduate from a more prestigious institution. In other cases, students may have dropped out of school before completing their degrees and now want to pick up where they left off. 

If you’re a first-year student and already know where you plan to transfer to, be sure to research that school’s general education program. This can help you choose gen-ed courses that will satisfy the requirements for the school you plan to transfer to. 

On the other hand, if you hadn’t planned on finishing your degree at a new school, the below tips can help you get started. 

1. Investigate transfer policies before enrolling.

Every college has published policies indicating what transfer credit it will accept. Take these policies into account when choosing where you want to graduate from.

How to check if a college will accept your credit:

1. Request an unofficial transcript from your previous college (for details of your credit).

2. On your future college’s website, locate the most recent academic catalog.

3. Compare the credit you have (as listed on your transcript) with the school’s catalog. Take note of which of your transfer courses match courses the school offers by comparing course codes, titles, prerequisites, and descriptions. This is the credit your future college will accept.

4. Accepted credit isn’t always the same as applicable credit. Next, locate your desired degree’s requirements (posted online as well). Does the degree you want have room for your accepted transfer credit? You may think, “If my college accepts the credit, why do I need to check the specific degree?” The fact that your desired college accepts your transfer credit in general doesn’t necessarily mean that those credits all apply to your particular degree program’s specific requirements. So be sure not to skip this step!

5. Now do a search on the website for the school’s transfer policy to discover:

• How much transfer credit it accepts

• What kind of transfer credit it accepts

If you have questions, direct them to the school’s registrar. (The registrar is usually the one to transcribe credit for transfer students, so they will be able to help.)

2. Choose a transfer-friendly school.

Colleges commonly accept between 15 and 90 transfer credits, so it’s worth shopping around to find a college that will accept all your transfer credit.

This may mean choosing something “less impressive” than the college you had in mind. If that’s the case, examine your priorities. Do you really want to spend time and money re-earning credit from an “impressive” school when you can use credit you’ve already earned somewhere else? As long as the college you choose is regionally accredited, you can rest easy knowing it’s a fine choice.

3. Know where you’re graduating from.

Colleges evaluate transfer credit based on their requirements, not those of your previous school.

For example, unless your community college has an articulation agreement with a specific school, a 60-credit associate degree probably won’t count as 60 credits toward your bachelor’s at another school. They simply have different requirements.

Use community college or online course providers as a way to find and take courses for your future degree. Don’t bother with a community college’s "graduation requirements.”

(Use the method in tip #1 to compare the courses your future college offers with the courses you want to take. This strategy allows for a much more successful credit transfer.)

4. Stick to general education and elective courses.

Most colleges require that students take major-specific courses from their schools and nowhere else. If you’re planning to transfer colleges, hold off on these courses. 

Stick to earning general education courses and free electives for now. (These courses have a higher chance of transferring into your future college.)

5. Enlist professional help.

How much of your precious time do you want to dedicate to this process? Save time and hassle by letting us help.

Accelerated Pathways has worked with over 1,800 colleges across the United States. We’ve already done the transfer credit research you need, and we can guide you through this process.

Pearson Accelerated Pathways will help you choose the best school for your goals. And since we aren’t affiliated with any college, we’re free to give you unbiased college advice. Then, we’ll help you build a college plan which takes into account the transfer credit you have. This plan will be tailored to the school you want to graduate from.

If you’d like to earn more transfer credit, you can do so with our own affordable online course options. These courses can help you save thousands of dollars on your degree.

Other Credit Transfer FAQs

If you’re trying to navigate the credit transfer process, you probably have a million questions. Although we can’t answer all of them in one blog article, we can provide answers to the three we hear most often:

Do I have to transfer all college credits?

If you’re concerned you’ll need to transfer all of your credits to a new school (including that one C- you’re still trying to erase from your memory), you can relax. Most colleges won’t accept transfer credits unless you earned at least a B. Others will give you credit as long as you earned a passing grade. Since these policies vary from school to school, the best answer to this question will come from the registrar’s office of the school you’re transferring to.

Can I choose which credits to transfer?

Yes and no. Although you can choose not to transfer certain course credits (especially ones you didn’t do well in), you also don’t get to decide what your new school will accept. For example, if you’re majoring in American history and you took several core courses required to graduate from school A, school B still might not accept them. Each school has its own major requirements. 

Do I have to transfer credits when switching schools?

You’re by no means required to transfer credits, but it is a good idea as transferring gen-ed credits could save you a lot of money. If you have a specific concern about transferring credits, contact the registrar’s office at the school you plan to transfer to. It should be able to answer your questions and address your concerns. 

Whether You Already Have Transfer Credit or Want To…

Accelerated Pathways help you make the most of your transfer credit. Learn more about our college planning process and sign up for a free College Options Report. This report will help you understand your best college options when it comes to credit transfer and saving money on your bachelor’s degree. 

Want to get started on your free College Options Report immediately? Take the first step to find out if you’re a candidate for Accelerated Pathways.

Best of luck in your transfer journey!

Want to read more? Try these!

• How Many Credits Do I Need for a Bachelor's Degree?

• Can You Earn a Legitimate Degree Online? Here’s How to be Sure!

• 9 of the Best Dual Credit Options for Homeschoolers

Sources:

U.S.News and World Report, “How to Transfer a High Number of College Credits” U.S News and World Report, “Transferring Colleges: 10 Frequently Asked Questions”

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Going to college may have been an easy choice for your parents. Twenty years ago, career paths were more straightforward, and a bachelor’s degree was almost guaranteed to mark you as the cream of the crop. Not only that, but when a year of college cost barely more than a new iMac, it was much easier to pay for if you simply had some savings or even a part-time job. In a world like that, why wouldn’t you go to college?

But the world has changed.

Bachelor’s degrees are still respected, but they’re also flooding the marketplace. This means they’re not the guaranteed “in” they once were. At the same time, costs have risen so much that a year of school today costs almost five iMacs. And that’s not even counting books and housing fees.

Going to college is no longer a no-brainer.

So before you take out a $30,000 loan for something you may not even need, ask yourself the hard question: is a college degree necessary for the career you want?

type: entry-hyperlink id: IKKV7YIpvxntqHdLd2tXfIf you want to go into law, engineering, the medical field, or similarly specialized fields, there’s no question. You 100% need a degree. Stop questioning your decision, and instead, focus on figuring out the best (and most affordable) way to earn it.

But what if you’re considering work as a missionary, welder, graphic designer, or any of the various vocations that may not require a college education? It’s possible you could benefit more from earning a specialized certification tailored directly to your chosen career, letting you start working sooner and with a much smaller financial investment.

Obviously, choosing whether or not to go school won’t necessarily be as simple as this graphic describes, and there’s often not a clear-cut “right” or “wrong” choice. But we made this graphic simple for a reason. When it comes to deciding whether college is for you, you really just need to answer three important questions which we’ll discuss later in this post. Everything else will fall into place based on your answers to them.

The Benefits of College

The benefits of getting a college degree are still numerous. For example, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reports that the average college graduate earns $78,000 per year, against an average of $45,000 per year for individuals with only a high school diploma. Other benefits include the following:

College graduates have greater access to employer-offered benefits, paid time off, and employer-sponsored retirement savings plans, such as 401(k) contribution matching. The Association of Public Land-Grant Universities reports that bachelor’s degree holders are 47% more likely to have health insurance through their jobs than individuals who hold only a high school diploma.

• Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics has consistently shown that college graduates have lower unemployment rates than individuals who did not go to college.

• College graduates have more career options. For example, someone who majors in psychology can go on to become a clinical psychologist. Or, if they don’t want to practice psychology, they can pursue jobs in sales, marketing, education, and countless other fields. Although most employers require that candidates have a college degree, unless the job is degree-specific (e.g., mechanical engineer), their majors are often irrelevant.

The Challenges of College

Although going to college has numerous pros, you should also weigh the cons. For example, tuition fees have increased by more than 25% in the past 10 years. Other cons include:

• Student loan debt can be difficult to manage. The average college debt for the class of 2019, including federal and private loans, was recorded at $29,900. As such, individuals who are weighing college should research student aid resources and college budgeting resources and plan accordingly.

• The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reports that as of June 2020, 39% of recent graduates and 32.7% of college graduates were underemployed and working in jobs that did not require a college degree.

• The increased rate at which students are earning college degrees has diluted their value.

The 3 Questions to Ask When Making a College Decision

Making the decision to go to college requires thought and reflection. Here are some important questions to ask yourself before you go.

1. Do I know what career I want?

Going to college means making a significant investment in your future. No matter how you slice it, you’ll be spending no small amount of time, money, effort, and focus to gain an education.

So you better be sure you actually need the schooling before making the investment.

Are you interested in being a masseuse, airline pilot, entrepreneur, electrician, or athlete? None of these jobs require a bachelor’s degree. Some require an associate degree. Some require non-college education. Some, simply on-the-job training.

Every career requires a unique form of preparation. So determine what career you’re aiming for first and don’t bother wasting time and money on training that won’t benefit it. Choose the training that’s right for you.

2. Can I afford college?

I realize that student loans are the norm these days, but they’re also ruining people’s lives.

The average national student debt is almost $30,000. Among student loan borrowers, 20% said their loans delayed their ability to get married, 30% said their loans prevented them from starting a family, and 50% said they couldn’t buy a home because of their student loans.

Life is so much bigger than college or even your career. And if you hastily choose to go to college on borrowed money, you may find yourself regretting that decision in 20 years when you realize those loans are preventing you from living the life you went to college to build in the first place.

Fortunately, debt isn’t your only option.

It’s a rare day indeed when a student pays the exact sticker price for their education. Often, if you’re not savvy, you’ll end up spending a whole lot more. But if you are savvy, you can spend a whole lot less. We should know—that’s what we do all the time! Using a variety of methods, such as affordable transfer credit and in-depth degree planning, Pearson Accelerated Pathways’ admissions advisors help students cut their degree costs in half and graduate debt free.

Making college affordable is possible—it just takes some effort.

So, before giving in to a loan or giving up on college altogether, take time to really explore your options and do what you can to reduce your costs. (And maybe find out if you’re a candidate for Accelerated Pathways.)

3. Do I enjoy formal education?

Think about it: you’re signing up to spend the next four years (at least) in the classroom. If that sounds like hell, don’t do it.

Not only would you be torturing yourself, but it’s likely your sheer dislike for what you’re doing would cause your performance to struggle. Your personal life would suffer, and you’d likely end up dropping out anyway—which means throwing away a ton of time and money.

If you hate school, but you’re willing to make the sacrifice to get the job you want, then more power to you! But in most cases, if formal education isn’t for you, the jobs that follow aren’t either. If you dislike formal education, we recommend you reconsider your career choice—maybe do some job shadowing, volunteer, or talk to professionals in the field—to ensure that choice is really for you before jumping into college.

How to Figure Out a Career Path

Whether or not you should go to college depends entirely on what you want to do and how you can best prepare for that future. But what if you still don’t know what you want to do? If you’re still trying to decide on a career path, consider the following steps:

Get a job.

Start earning basic work experience in a job that doesn’t require a degree. You’ll get both a head start on your resume and a good perspective of the real world (outside of school).

Get an internship.

Find an internship or volunteer in a field you’re interested in. You’ll be able to learn about that field firsthand and get some hands-on experience for your resume too!

Take affordable courses.

If you’re leaning toward college, there’s no harm in getting started now—as long as you’re not isolating yourself from the world or going into debt to pay for it. Try taking affordable courses you know will transfer into your chosen degree to learn what subject areas you may want to pursue further.

Ask a professional.

Find someone working a job you think you may want and strike up a conversation! Ask what they like and don’t like about their job, and hear their own opinions on what it takes to “make it.”

Seek counsel or mentorship.

Sometimes it’s worth talking to someone who has seen a lot more of the world, even if they’re not working in your field of choice. They might have the perspective you need to develop a wise plan for moving forward. (Your parents are a great choice for this; however, they may be too emotionally invested in your decisions to provide the clarity you need. In addition, consider talking to a close adult friend, academic counselor, or church leader.)

Or consider working with a career counselor. Career counselors are an invaluable resource for individuals who are still trying to map out their employment and career goals. You can also take a free career test. Career tests consist of a variety of questions designed to home in on your interests and personality traits, which are used to match you with possible career choices.

Start learning on your own.

You don’t need to be enrolled in college to learn. Find online resources like Khan Academy, Lynda, Codecademy, Udemy, or another, and just start! Use this time to assess what career and lifestyle you want, as well as the best way to achieve it.

Try choosing at least two ideas from this list and pursuing them in tandem. For example, if you’re thinking of becoming a veterinarian, volunteer at a local vet’s office while pursuing a flexible, affordable education.

I know that one quick blog post isn’t enough to help you finalize a decision this big. No amount of reading other people’s opinions for and against college will truly help you make this decision. But hopefully this has at least helped you get started.

Fortunately, as long as you take time to think through your options and begin broadening your life experiences, you’re headed in the right direction. Just consider carefully and make the wisest choice you can with the information you have.

If you want some more help figuring out your college path, be sure to check out some of our other posts!

• Is College The Best Way to Get an Education?

• What Should I Major In?

• What You Need to Know About Choosing a Career

Additional Sources:

• CNN Business, “College Grads Earn $30,000 a Year More Than People with Just a High School Diploma”

• PrepScholar, “Should You Go to College? 4 Pros and 3 Cons”

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We live in a culture that values busyness.

During college, I worked a job a that consumed 30 hours every week (at minimum). The volunteer work, internships, and study groups I liked to add on the side made sure my schedule was always overflowing. And since I have a tendency to overcommit, I pushed myself to maintain full-time student status on top of everything else.

Why not add one more thing to my never ending to-do list?

Busyness itself isn't inherently bad. When accompanied by productivity, a busy schedule can result in huge successes! However, we must be careful to avoid filling our schedules without purpose.

Take it from me, it is not easy to stay on top of your studies as a working student. With so many varied projects on your plate, it’s often difficult to focus on what actually matters right now.

Don't get discouraged, though! Difficult does not mean impossible.

With some intentionality and creativity, you can stay productive amidst the busyness. Here are 6 tips for students who want to adopt a lifestyle of productivity.

1. Write it Down

Take time to write down what you need to accomplish. This brings tasks from the ambiguity of your brain to the reality of ink and paper (or text on a device, if you prefer).

Need to stop by the bank on your way home from work, email that report to your boss, or call your mom? Write it down. This may take the form of a color-coded calendar, a list of bullet point points, or even weekly/monthly/yearly goals written in your favorite journal. Find what works for you!

Having everything written down in front of you will keep important tasks from falling through the cracks.

2. Prioritize Rest

When you have what feels like a million things to do, rest probably isn't your first priority. However, getting enough physical, mental, and spiritual rest is much more important than you may think!

If you want to have the ability to focus on the tasks at hand, produce quality work, and avoid running out of steam, rest must be a priority. During an especially busy season of my life, I found that the only way I would rest is if I scheduled it in. I physically wrote “read a book,” or “take a nap” in my pocket-sized planner.

Crazy? Maybe. But it was effective. Do what it takes to ensure you are well-rested and thus prepared to tackle those challenging assignments.

3. Set a Timer

People are more productive when working in focused intervals. Rather than attempting to multitask, you can accomplish more by attending to one subject matter at a given time. Timers can help to separate your studying into manageable chunks while giving you a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

Try setting a timer for 30 minutes and dedicate that time to studying for your dreaded calculus test. Because you have a set end for your study time, you will be more likely to focus and actually learn the information you need to instead of quitting after 5 minutes. Not quitting is the goal, right?

4. Turn Off Notifications

As a working student, your time is valuable. And social media, email, and texting all have a nasty habit of stealing it. You will never get back those hours spent scrolling, clicking, and typing!

If you want to be productive (instead of “busy” on Facebook), you have to set boundaries. A simple way to do this is by turning off those pesky notifications that scream “Stop what you’re doing! I’m important! You must look at this NOW!”

I often keep my phone on silent to avoid distraction. Yes, I will reply to that text, like the photo of my friend’s adorable puppy, and delete dozens of emails. But I’ll do it later, when I have a free moment.

5. Eat Healthy

There is a stereotype that college students survive off of Top Ramen and caffeine. While I love a good cup of coffee (or even a bad cup of coffee if I’m desperate), I have quickly learned that quality food matters.

Who wants to take the time to make a healthy meal after a long day of work when there are 3 hours of studying still to be done? I understand. I’ve been there. For some people, eating healthy may mean buying prepackaged salads from the grocery store. For others, it may entail meal prepping at the beginning of the every week. Find the system that works best for you.

It does take effort to keep your body healthy, but I promise your overloaded brain will thank you.

6. Get Accountable

What is more difficult than embracing a productive lifestyle? Maintaining it. This is where accountability comes in.

You were not meant to go through life alone. Balancing various responsibilities can be challenging, but becoming productive doesn’t need to be a solo journey. Getting support from someone close to you—someone who can keep you focused on your goals—will make you much more successful in your pursuit of productivity.

I learned to value consistent accountability when I was an Accelerated Pathways student. One of the many services provided by Accelerated Pathways is regular phone calls with an academic coach, providing this much-needed accountability.

As I was earning my degree, my coach supported me and kept me on track with my academic goals as well as my personal ones. She was a lifesaver throughout my hectic college experience!

Busyness is often unavoidable. But it doesn't have to consume your schedule.

With these simple tips, you can take charge and turn your busyness into productivity.

 

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Imagine a spectrum of college students: on one end, you have the student who has known since they were two days old that they wanted to be a doctor (specifically a surgeon, specializing in oncology—in case you were wondering). On the other end of the spectrum is the student who basically just knows college is a good thing and plans to get a degree in… something. Ideally something they like, if they can figure out what that is. Then of course, there are quite a few students who fall somewhere in the middle.

As an academic advisor, I’ve encountered students at every point of the spectrum. And while many pieces of the college and career puzzle are highly specific to each one, there is one concept in particular that comes up frequently across the board. I’ll call it, The Great Degree Type Dilemma: What is the difference between a BA and a BS, and which one should I choose?

Understanding this concept could save you some blood, sweat, and tears, whether you know what you want and just need to know the best way to get there, or are just focusing on figuring out the first right step toward… something.

So let’s talk about that.

What Is a Degree Type?

First off, let’s make sure we’re on the same page about what I’m even talking about when I refer to a “degree type.” When you ask a college student what they’re studying, they’ll usually say something like, “I’m majoring in Business,” or, “I’m studying Psychology.”

What they don’t talk about, and may not even fully understand, is what type of bachelor’s degree their major is tied to. These degree types are typically indicated by two or three little letters at the front of a specific major. Some of the most common ones include BA (Bachelor of Arts), BS (Bachelor of Science), and BM (Bachelor of Music), to name a few. Of all of the degree types, BA and BS are the most common—and also the most unclear. These are the culprits I’ll be focusing on the most in this post.

To understand the difference between the BA and the BS, first know that any given college will break their degree down into three main categories: General Education, Major, and Electives.

The General Education section is designed to provide a solid foundation in all basic subjects (composition, math, science, literature, etc.). The Major is where you complete in-depth study in one particular area (Business, Psychology, Criminal Justice, etc.). This is the part that you quote to people when they ask what you’re studying. If you still have some credit space leftover after meeting General Ed and Major requirements, then you can fill that up by adding in some Electives—basically, any subject of your choice.

What’s the Difference Between a BS and a BA?

The degree type typically affects the General Education requirements first. At many schools, the difference between a BA and a BS is that the BA will require more classes in humanities and the arts, specifically including foreign language, while the BS will require more classes in math and science. This can be easy to remember since foreign language falls more under the Arts (BA), and math and science fall under… well, the Sciences (BS).

These adjustments to the General Education can also bleed over into the Major and Electives. A BA is usually designed to be a little broader in scope, giving students the opportunity to sample a variety of liberal arts subjects outside their Major. In addition to focusing more on humanities in the General Ed, a BA can mean a larger General Education section as a whole, more Electives, and fewer requirements in the Major as compared to a BS. This is why highly technical subjects such as Engineering and Biological Sciences tend to only be available as BS degrees instead of BAs.

Which One Is Best?

A school may offer both a BA and a BS in Criminal Justice, and at some point you have to decide between the two. Does it really make a difference? If a school only offers a BA in your area of interest, should you consider switching schools to one that offers the BS—or vice versa?

Most of the time, the choice between a BS and a BA really just comes down to preference. Do you like writing, literature, and foreign language, or have an interest in building interpersonal or intercultural skills? Choose a BA. Do you prefer math and science and see yourself in more of a technical or analytical niche? Choose a BS.

There are only a few situations when your degree type makes a significant difference. The most common example is probably graduate school. If graduate school is a requirement or a goal for you, it is important to look at typical standards for your area of interest. Some programs may specifically state a degree type they require; this happens most frequently with music performance and composition graduate programs, which frequently require a Bachelor of Music (BM) as opposed to a Bachelor of Arts (BA).

For other programs, the benefit of one degree type over another is more subtle. In Psychology, for example, a graduate program will usually just require students to complete a certain number of psychology, math, and science credits in order to be considered for admission. In cases like this, you may find that it’s easier to meet those requirements by pursuing a BS rather than a BA. Can you still complete those specific requirements within a BA? Yes, you usually can; it just takes more intentionality and careful planning than it would with a BS. This concept applies to a lot of technical and science-based graduate programs.

So in the end, how much do those little letters matter? Let me be clear: you do not have to be afraid of picking “the wrong one” and barring yourself from entering your dream field. There are times when choosing either a BS or a BA can make the process easier for you, but those two little letters don’t have the power to ruin your career.

But if we can make things easier, by all means, let’s do that. College is complicated enough.

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