Distance Learning. What are my options?

**Flynn4Heisman** · 01-22-2013, 01:13 AM

It's 1:00am, and am absolutely exhausted, but wanted to make this post before I forgot. So if I ramble a bit, or don't make much sense, that's why.

All right, I'm ready to transfer to Ames this fall. Will be applying in the next couple weeks, and I will have 68 credits ready to go.

Here's my dilemma:

I originally was planning on continuing my computer studies at DMACC (as I do those better in a classroom), and continue my Philosophy studies online at Iowa State. Speaking with an advisor last week, turns out ISU will only accept 65 credits from a junior/community college. Frustrating for me, but obviously makes a lot of sense. My friend takes classes at both, however he still has eligible credits to gain from DMACC, and I won't. Hence why I was led to believe otherwise, and make the plans. Not to mention it would help keep prices down, and travel wouldn't be as bad overall, especially since I am now fully committed on going full time (this is my first full time semester. My previous two and half years at DMACC were all 9 credits, or 3/4 time), as I want to graduate before I am 30 (26 now), and am on pace to graduate in May 2015 (28 1/2 years old).

So that means I have to go 100% Iowa State. Continue the family legacy of my father, mother, stepmother, and sister. To say this is a big deal to me would be a huge understatement. As dramatic as this sounds, this is pretty much all that has mattered to me my entire life.

However, I do not want to move for the third time in three years, and have now finally really settled into my current apartment (amazing location, get along wonderfully with the manager, and really making the place my own), and have every intention of renewing my lease in June (I actually want to stay here until I graduate).

I need to go back and review requirements, but if I recall, I am only allowed to do so many online courses. I believe it was something like 1/4 of my credits can be online, but the rest have to be on campus? I figure stretch those out a bit, and take one or two one semester, then another one or so the next, etc.

Does ISU offer anything off campus, but in a classroom environment, closer to Des Moines? Perfect example would be DMACC offering different courses at Urban, West, or Ankeny Campuses. There's an ISU Extension Office right next door to my building, but I really have no clue what they do.

This has also thrown my job plans for a loop as well. I was going to be applying for a couple full-time computer related jobs here soon, but due to my having to devote my time to Iowa State, as opposed to a combination of ISU/DMACC, I figure what's the point? The jobs are full-time only, and school would interfere way too much.

Driving an hour and a half round trip every day (more than three times a week specifically) that I have class would get very old, very, very quickly as well.

I completely forgot to mention, I will be a Liberal Arts major with an emphasis on Computers, Philosophy, and one more to be determined (as Iowa State requires three areas of study for a Liberal Arts major).

Okay, I'm off to bed now. So tired....

**IAStubborn** · 01-22-2013, 05:34 AM

You could take some courses w/U of I at papajohn down town as i believe only your final 30hrs have to be exclusive at ISU. Also Grandview other DSM ptivates an option though only credits transfer not grades.