Back to College: January 7, 2005

Ask the Experts: Are Portfolio Credits 'Real' Credits?
Featured Expert: E. Faith Ivery, Ed.D.

Question: I am considering Thomas Edison State College (TESC) to complete a BA in communication. I have 2 years of college (Bard) and experience in the film and videogame industry including writing. My question is: If I do complete a degree from TESC or some other school which gives credit for portfolio evaluation will that prevent me from using the degree in applying to a graduate school? I know that TESC is regionally accredited but I have also heard that some graduate schools do not consider portfolio credits "real". - Ted

Answer: Ted, Thomas Edison State College is an excellent school for distance learning and the adult student. They are one of the original schools that recognized the needs of adult learners almost 30 years ago, and began offering such teaching methods. They are a regionally accredited institution. Portfolio credit is a valid option to the award of college credit (see How to Accelerate Your Degree Plan). Whether or not another institution will except such credit in transfer, or recognize such credit to meet requirements for graduate study is up to that institution. Graduate school admission is based upon meeting a set of requirements, and on the "pool of applicants" which apply when you do. You should consult a few of the schools which you would like to consider for graduate study and ask the department of your major area of study how they view campuses for adult learners as to "competitiveness". - Faith

Question: Hello. My question is: I am applying for admissions to a graduate program and the application essay asks about my past work experience and my current employment. The issue is that I am and have been a stay at home mom for the last 5 years. How can I have that come across in a positive way in an essay of this sort? Thank you! - Kim

Answer: Kim, always be honest about your past histories for work and life. Explain your situation and that you are an adult learner wanting to complete a graduate degree. Hopefully, you have selected a school that works favorably with adults. Explain the skills you have used over the years as manager of your household, and associate them with the major of study you plan to enter - family finances, bookkeeping, budgeting, time management, social skills, communication skills, volunteer work, and past employments. Be positive, and let the admissions people know you want this degree to further your career. - Faith

More Ask the Experts.

One of the most pressing questions often heard about returning to school after age 50 is one of practicality: is returning to school really practical for someone who should be considering retirement? The truth is that today, the security of retiring with a substantial income, worry- free housing, and the good life deserved after being employed for a lifetime is non-existent for many. Instead you are often faced with forced early retirement, job replacement, unemployment, and a market requiring skills you simply don’t have. The question of age practicality becomes moot because age does not determine practicality and retirement does not guarantee financial security.

The decision has to be based on survival. Viewing your situation on the grounds of survival clarifies direction, and a more practical question can be considered, “How can I survive comfortably as I progress into my retirement age?” If survival involves brushing up old skills or relearning new ones, returning to school is a clear-cut, confusion free decision. So the next question is, “Where do I start?”

1. Be prepared to do research. Specific information is mandatory. Research what is required on your present job that will enable you to compete with the new generation. For example, the public school system is changing dramatically. In some areas, teachers that have been on the job for years have to reapply for their positions. The new trend is charter schools and the demand for future teachers is skills that will rescue the student that has fallen through the cracks. These skills require techniques that improve communication between student to student and teacher to student. New approaches to assist learning will be in demand. A long-term teacher could research the higher learning institutions for degrees or certifications that will make her/him more marketable. If you are not employed, research the job market; find out what the top jobs are and what skills the employers require. If you are not sure what direction you want to go in I would suggest reference books like Cool Careers for Dummies, by Nemko Edwards, or consult your local library or online bookstores.

2. Having assessed the required skills, research the institutions of higher learning that offer degrees or certifications that teach or enhance those skills. You can request a syllabus in many cases and compare the curriculum and prices to determine which is best in terms of your needs. Many institutions have Web pages that answer questions concerning curriculum, admissions, financial aid, location, housing, contact information and/or scheduling. You can choose between distance learning or physically attending a college or university. If you are not computer savvy, your local library will provide you with that information.

Many perspective students will need financial aid. After determining what the cost of your education will be find out if the institution offers financial aid in the forms of grants, scholarships and/ or loans. It is best to familiarize yourself with financial aid applications and their deadlines. You can review the downloadable forms on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Web site. Reading and practicing filling out the forms clears some of the confusion in the application process. Applying online is efficient and convenient and directions are given step by step.

In This Issue