Back to the grindstone - college that is

Good luck Jimmy, I have the same degree as you and hope to go back one day. My kids are 8 and 2 so it will be a while for me. I have to get them two thru college first.

Jimmy Cleveland, post: 409352, member: 91 wrote: I am looking forward to the classes, and from what I have researched, it will be a good experience.

Congratulations Jimmy, ya ain't never too old to learn. I'd wish you success but it's obvious you already know the path thereto. 😎

Good for you. Whether you ever see any monetary gain from the additional education you won't regret it. It forces you to "stretch" to gain the new knowledge. Keep it up.
Andy

Thanks guys. It isn't about any monetary increase, or advancing. I am licensed in 5 states, and as high in my new firm as I can go. It is about personal satisfaction, and having that knowledge that I want. If a degree is the by product, then all the better.

Good luck. I know I could never go back to school. Hated every minute of it, and barely graduated college, (not a surveying degree, but math-related).

Jimmy Cleveland, post: 409352, member: 91 wrote: ...I have an AAS in Civil Construction Engineering Technology from State Technical Institute at Memphis (1996), and a Diploma in Surveying and Mapping from International Correspondence Schools (1998). I also have some coursework from Longview Community College in Lee's Summit, MO (2012).

My AAS degree transferred in for all but about 3 classes for the first 2 years of the BAS in Land Surveying at Great Basin College. I have about 20 classes to take to finish up my 4 year degree...

I would have expected the ICS course would be prior to the AAS. However since the AAS it is in Civil Construction Engineering Technology, was the other course work to fill in holes in surveying? Having said that have you received any credit for any of the non AAS courses? Can you use any of the non AAS courses as a basis for requesting a "Test Out" for any of those 20 new classes? I do understand that many degree programs require a minimum of their own courses for transferring in students.

Since you are already licensed in 5 states, have you previously taken the FS and PS national exams? I recall that Thomas Edison
State University gave credit for the PS exams as a part of it's old BSAST in Surveying program.

Congratulations on getting more education, and the following was already commented on by others. I had been a PE for at least 15 years when I decided to advance my Surveying Education. Besides the tuition costs I also set aside engineering work opportunities to have time for that education. I knew before beginning that I would never recover the majority of that money and have not ever regretted my choice.

Paul in PA

Jimmy Cleveland, post: 409352, member: 91 wrote: My AAS degree transferred in for all but about 3 classes for the first 2 years of the BAS in Land Surveying at Great Basin College. I have about 20 classes to take to finish up my 4 year degree. I am looking forward to the classes, and from what I have researched, it will be a good experience.

Hats off to Byron Calkins, the program advisor. He has been very helpful, as have the rest of the staff in admissions, and financial aid. For anyone interested in furthering their education, this looks to be a very affordable option.

Jimmy~ I'm taking my last class at Great Basin College this next semester. Excited to be at the end. I started back in 2013 and went part time. I have all but positive feedback about the program. I've been through all of the ups and downs and Byron has taken the program to a new level. It is still being updated, but I found all the classes informative and challenging. Just remember it is a online class, which means you do all the work and studying.

Paul,

I started my AAS degree straight out of high school (1992), and was on the mechanical/industrial engineering route. Both my dad and step dad were in those types of environments with fabrication,metalwork, industrial plants, etc. I found a local civil engineering and surveying firm close to home in 1995, and was hired, and the rest was history. I changed my major, and finished up in 1996.

I did not learn about the ICS program until I was involved in the surveying profession, and I saw an advertisement in POB magazine. That helped fill in some of the gaps in the surveying classes I took, especially on the law parts, PLSS, and the history.

I have taken both the PS and PS exams, both in the Fall of 2000, at the same time I took my TN state exam. I passed all three the first time. That was when you could take all three in two days. None of the ICS courses transferred in, and I didn't expect them to. All but a few of my AAS classes transferred in, and those that did not were a Circuits class I took, and maybe an industrial or mechanical engineering class.

I have not explored testing out of any classes, and don't plan on it. I want an better in depth study of the material, from a different perspective. When I took my two classes at Longview to qualify for my Missouri exam, the different perspectives discussed by the students, and insight from the instructor, changed the way I conducted my research on jobs. I would rather spend the money and take the class just to gain additional insight into the subject matter, and make myself a better professional.

Several of the classes I need to take are the management/ethics type classes, and I am sure they will help to a certain degree as well.

Congratulations on going back to college. I just finished my first semester with Great Basin College and found it to be exceptionally well organized. Byron is super fast on getting back with you whenever you have any questions. I'm looking forward to starting the new semester next week. Good luck Jimmy.

Jimmy Cleveland, post: 409394, member: 91 wrote: Paul,

I started my AAS degree straight out of high school (1992).

I see that 60 credits are required in house, hence your 20 classes. How long do you anticipate being at GBC?

I had my law courses out of the way before attending NJIT and only attempted 3 courses for 1 semester. I tested out of 1 course another semester, had 1 summer class and fished up the Junior/Senior Surveying in 2 years (2 courses a semester) except for one course still to go. it was busy but manageable. My plan was to graduate my daughter, 2 years before my son and then it was my turn to go back to college. My daughter added a summer session plus 1 more semester, my son an extra year, which overlapped my first year. I got my PA PLS before finishing all the classes. The next goal was a diploma and the NJ PLS, however cancer put me into a year of recovery and I have yet to get back to finish my goal. We do not get to control everything, but we do what we can and enjoy the opportunity. Right now the opportunity is enjoying our grandchildren while they are young and still nearby (7 blocks and 7 miles).

Paul in PA

Congratulations. You're a better man than I, because if I went back to college now, I'd break out in hives. 203 credit hours is enough.

Top Jimmy cooks, top Jimmy swings.

Paul in PA, post: 409380, member: 236 wrote: I would have expected the ICS course would be prior to the AAS. However since the AAS it is in Civil Construction Engineering Technology, was the other course work to fill in holes in surveying? Having said that have you received any credit for any of the non AAS courses? Can you use any of the non AAS courses as a basis for requesting a "Test Out" for any of those 20 new classes? I do understand that many degree programs require a minimum of their own courses for transferring in students.

Since you are already licensed in 5 states, have you previously taken the FS and PS national exams? I recall that Thomas Edison
State University gave credit for the PS exams as a part of it's old BSAST in Surveying program.

Congratulations on getting more education, and the following was already commented on by others. I had been a PE for at least 15 years when I decided to advance my Surveying Education. Besides the tuition costs I also set aside engineering work opportunities to have time for that education. I knew before beginning that I would never recover the majority of that money and have not ever regretted my choice.

Paul in PA

Paul,

I see that I failed to answer one question you had above. The additional course work from Lee's Summit in Missouri was to meet the educational requirements to sit for the Missouri exam. It was Evidence and Procedures for Boundary Location, and Boundary Control and Legal Principles. Two 3 hour classes that were very good, and offered through a web-based format. Highly recommended.

Jimmy