Comments on: Private Colleges May Cost Less Than You Think http://greatcollegeadvice.com/private-colleges-may-cost-less-than-you-think/ Expert Advice on College Admission Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:09:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: markm http://greatcollegeadvice.com/private-colleges-may-cost-less-than-you-think/comment-page-1/#comment-1782 markm Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:51:04 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=1378#comment-1782 Hello, Janet. Thanks for visiting my blog. The only folks who can really answer your question definitively are the folks at Concordia. I'm not completely clear from your question whether Concordia will even accept any online courses for their degree program. It seems that they will not. This is not totally unusual: even religious colleges and seminaries must pay the bills, and college sometimes require that at least the lion's share of courses counted toward their degree be taken--and tuition paid--at that college. So you must start with the transfer policies of Concordia. What will they let you do? My understanding is that they will not accept outside credits. If this is the case, and you cannot move to St. Louis, you need a "Plan B." But before I could counsel you on that plan, I'd need to ask you more about your purposes in entering the seminary. Are you preparing for a particular profession or other opportunity for which this sort of degree is required? Or are you pursuing this because of your faith and interest in Gospel? Depending on your answers to these questions (and others), I could suggest that you seek online opportunities irrespective of Concordia. Or you might find other ways to minister to others closer to your home, without paying for further education. And if financing is an option, you really must think about your return on investment--or you must discount it entirely and realize that you are doing this for reasons that have no rational grounding in economics. You may find that the investment in your self and your faith is worth any expense. Or you may determine that you can nurture your faith in other ways, without the loans and without the move to St. Louis. I don't know if my response has been helpful, but I do wish you all the best as you struggle with a difficult decision. Thanks again for your visit! Hello, Janet. Thanks for visiting my blog.

The only folks who can really answer your question definitively are the folks at Concordia. I’m not completely clear from your question whether Concordia will even accept any online courses for their degree program. It seems that they will not. This is not totally unusual: even religious colleges and seminaries must pay the bills, and college sometimes require that at least the lion’s share of courses counted toward their degree be taken–and tuition paid–at that college.

So you must start with the transfer policies of Concordia. What will they let you do? My understanding is that they will not accept outside credits.

If this is the case, and you cannot move to St. Louis, you need a “Plan B.” But before I could counsel you on that plan, I’d need to ask you more about your purposes in entering the seminary. Are you preparing for a particular profession or other opportunity for which this sort of degree is required? Or are you pursuing this because of your faith and interest in Gospel? Depending on your answers to these questions (and others), I could suggest that you seek online opportunities irrespective of Concordia. Or you might find other ways to minister to others closer to your home, without paying for further education.

And if financing is an option, you really must think about your return on investment–or you must discount it entirely and realize that you are doing this for reasons that have no rational grounding in economics. You may find that the investment in your self and your faith is worth any expense. Or you may determine that you can nurture your faith in other ways, without the loans and without the move to St. Louis.

I don’t know if my response has been helpful, but I do wish you all the best as you struggle with a difficult decision.

Thanks again for your visit!

]]> By: Janet Askew http://greatcollegeadvice.com/private-colleges-may-cost-less-than-you-think/comment-page-1/#comment-1779 Janet Askew Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:42:52 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=1378#comment-1779 I am looking for possible online courses which would transfer/dove-tail into the deaconness program of Concordia Seminary of St. Louis, MO. The DEACONNESS is "a woman called and commissioned by the (Lutheran)church to meet the need to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ through a ministry of service and compassion; spiritual care and teaching the Christian faith." My advisor at Concordia tells me all courses are taken --no online, but it is going to be dif- ficult for mme to move to St. Louis at this time to begin studies in Sep, '09. To put things into perspective, I'm 70, widowed and am living with my 91 yr. old mother and helping her in any way I can. Her health is good but she has slowed. Should the Lord will that I take courses in the program, she would move to campus with me. As I said, I'm concerned about online courses and also financing. My age will probably work against me when it comes to paying back loans; my husband was military retired and when he passed, his benefits were no more (except for the health insurance). Any avenues which I can check out? Thank you kindly and may your Christmas and 2009 be blessed in every way by our Lord and Savior! Janet I am looking for possible online courses
which would transfer/dove-tail into the
deaconness program of Concordia Seminary
of St. Louis, MO. The DEACONNESS is “a woman called and commissioned by the (Lutheran)church to meet the need to
share the Gospel of Jesus Christ through
a ministry of service and compassion;
spiritual care and teaching the Christian faith.” My advisor at Concordia tells me all courses are taken
–no online, but it is going to be dif-
ficult for mme to move to St. Louis at
this time to begin studies in Sep, ’09.

To put things into perspective, I’m 70,
widowed and am living with my 91 yr. old mother and helping her in any way I can. Her health is good but she has slowed. Should the Lord will that I take
courses in the program, she would move
to campus with me.

As I said, I’m concerned about online
courses and also financing. My age will
probably work against me when it comes to paying back loans; my husband was
military retired and when he passed, his
benefits were no more (except for the
health insurance). Any avenues which I
can check out? Thank you kindly and may
your Christmas and 2009 be blessed in
every way by our Lord and Savior! Janet

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