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Course Catalog / BMU 103 / Course project

Course Project: My Debt Free Degree Game Plan

BMU 103 Back to School Game Plan. About 30 to 60 minutes. Your work saves on this device as you type.

This is your capstone. Fill in each part for your own life. When a part is ready, press Check this part. The page checks it against the rubric line right away and tells you exactly what to fix. There is no limit on tries.

How it works

  1. Build it. Fill in each part below. Use your lesson work.
  2. Check each part. The page checks every rubric line for you. You do not grade yourself.
  3. Fix and check again. Each part that is not ready yet shows what is missing and how to fix it.
  4. Finish. When every part passes, press Check my whole project. Then download or print your finished product.

Your Certificate of Completion needs two things: every part of this project passing its automatic check, and a Posttest score of 80% or higher.

Leave out private details like account numbers, Social Security numbers, or your home address.

Part 1: Target (Lesson 1)

Rubric line, ready: Role, minimum credential from five postings, and a backup

Five real job postings

EmployerCredential the posting requires

Leave extra rows blank.

See a strong and a weak example for this part (made up)

Strong: passes every check

A made up learner. Use it as a model, then write your own.

Target role

Medical billing specialist

Five real job postings

EmployerCredential the posting requires
Mercy HealthCertificate in medical billing
County ClinicBilling certificate
CareFirstAssociate degree or billing certificate
Valley HospitalMedical billing certificate
Ortho GroupCertificate preferred

The minimum credential most postings ask for

Medical billing certificate

Your backup role

Patient access representative

Weak: not ready yet

A first draft by the same made up learner, with mistakes people often make.

Target role

Something in health care

Five real job postings

EmployerCredential the posting requires
Mercy HealthCertificate in medical billing
Mercy HealthBilling certificate
Indeed listing

The minimum credential most postings ask for

A degree

Your backup role

left blank

Why the weak one is not ready, and how to fix it

This is what the page said when the weak version was checked.

  • Five real job postings: row 3 is only partly filled in. Finish it or clear it.
  • Fill in 5 postings with an employer and a credential. You have 2.
  • Use five different employers.
  • Your minimum credential should match what the postings say. Use the words they use.
  • Name a backup role.

Taught in: Lesson 1: Define the Target.

Part 2: Credit (Lesson 2)

Rubric line, ready: Credit folder complete, accepted credit in writing

What is in your credit folder?
How do you know which credit the school accepts?

See a strong and a weak example for this part (made up)

Strong: passes every check

A made up learner. Use it as a model, then write your own.

What is in your credit folder?

Transcripts from every school; Military or job training records (like a JST); Licenses and certifications

How do you know which credit the school accepts?

A written credit evaluation (email or PDF) from the school

Credits accepted in writing

18

Weak: not ready yet

A first draft by the same made up learner, with mistakes people often make.

What is in your credit folder?

Transcripts from every school

How do you know which credit the school accepts?

An adviser told me on the phone

Credits accepted in writing

18

Why the weak one is not ready, and how to fix it

This is what the page said when the weak version was checked.

  • Your folder needs at least 2 kinds of records. You have 1.
  • Get the accepted credit in writing before you plan around it (Lesson 2).

Taught in: Lesson 2: Count What You Already Have.

Part 3: School (Lesson 3)

Rubric line, ready: Three schools ranked on total cost to finish, accreditation checked

Three schools

SchoolAccreditor checked (yes, and which)Total cost to finish ($)Rank (1 is best)

Leave extra rows blank.

See a strong and a weak example for this part (made up)

Strong: passes every check

A made up learner. Use it as a model, then write your own.

Three schools

SchoolAccreditor checked (yes, and which)Total cost to finish ($)Rank (1 is best)
Metro Community Collegeyes, HLC48001
State Onlineyes, SACSCOC92002
Career Techyes, ACCSC145003

Weak: not ready yet

A first draft by the same made up learner, with mistakes people often make.

Three schools

SchoolAccreditor checked (yes, and which)Total cost to finish ($)Rank (1 is best)
Metro Community CollegeI think so48002
State Onlineyes, SACSCOC92001
Career Techabout 14k3

Why the weak one is not ready, and how to fix it

This is what the page said when the weak version was checked.

  • Three schools: row 3 is only partly filled in. Finish it or clear it.
  • Fill in all 3 schools. You have 2.
  • Check accreditation for every school. Start that box with yes and name the accreditor.
  • Each total cost must be a number.
  • Rank on total cost to finish: rank 1 should cost the least.

Taught in: Lesson 3: Choose Your Path.

Part 4: Funding (Lesson 4)

Rubric line, ready: Sources in order, each with an official source to verify it

Your funding sources, in the order you will use them

SourceAmount ($)Official place to verify it

Leave extra rows blank.

See a strong and a weak example for this part (made up)

Strong: passes every check

A made up learner. Use it as a model, then write your own.

Your funding sources, in the order you will use them

SourceAmount ($)Official place to verify it
Pell Grant3000studentaid.gov
Employer tuition help2000HR benefits page, financial aid office
Federal student loan1000studentaid.gov

Weak: not ready yet

A first draft by the same made up learner, with mistakes people often make.

Your funding sources, in the order you will use them

SourceAmount ($)Official place to verify it
Federal student loan1000studentaid.gov
Pell Grant3000a friend said
Employer tuition help2000

Why the weak one is not ready, and how to fix it

This is what the page said when the weak version was checked.

  • Your funding sources, in the order you will use them: row 3 is only partly filled in. Finish it or clear it.
  • List at least 3 sources with an amount and where to verify. You have 2.
  • Each source needs an official place to verify it, like studentaid.gov, va.gov, or the school's .edu page.
  • Put loans last. Free money comes first (Lesson 4).

Taught in: Lesson 4: Fund It in the Right Order.

Part 5: Pace and checkpoints (Lesson 5)

Rubric line, ready: Realistic pace, finish date, and checkpoints on the calendar

Checkpoints

DateWhat you will check

Leave extra rows blank.

See a strong and a weak example for this part (made up)

Strong: passes every check

A made up learner. Use it as a model, then write your own.

Credits left to finish

42

Credits per term you can carry

6

Terms per year

3

Your finish date

900

Checkpoints

DateWhat you will check
60Grades from term 1
180Credits done versus plan

Weak: not ready yet

A first draft by the same made up learner, with mistakes people often make.

Credits left to finish

42

Credits per term you can carry

18

Terms per year

3

Your finish date

200

Checkpoints

DateWhat you will check
60See how it goes

Why the weak one is not ready, and how to fix it

This is what the page said when the weak version was checked.

  • Credits per term above 15 is not a realistic pace while working.
  • Your finish date is too early for your pace. Credits left divided by (credits per term times terms per year) gives years; move the date later.
  • Add at least 2 checkpoints with a date and what you will check. You have 1.

Taught in: Lesson 5: Your One Page Plan.

Finish your project

The download is a web page file you can open, print, or save as a PDF. It holds only what you typed here.

Next up: Take the Posttest. Back to the last lesson.

Stuck on a part after two tries? Contact BMU Learner Support with the part name and what you tried. Please do not send private details.