<![CDATA[Degree Strategy]]>https://degreestrategy.substack.comhttps://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!cM5y!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fdegreestrategy.substack.com%2Fimg%2Fsubstack.pngDegree Strategyhttps://degreestrategy.substack.comSubstackSun, 21 Jun 2026 13:18:10 GMT<![CDATA[I should have had Christie plan my degree]]>https://degreestrategy.substack.com/p/i-should-have-had-christie-plan-myhttps://degreestrategy.substack.com/p/i-should-have-had-christie-plan-myThu, 18 Jun 2026 13:30:00 GMTSummer is in full swing here in Los Angeles, with my kids on school vacation and afternoon temperatures heating up. My daughter is living her best “90’s kid” life, riding bikes and eating popsicles with the neighbors.

In the midst of all this, I recently sat down with Christie Williams, the founder of Plotted Path, to talk about how she helps adult learners shorten their timelines at UMPI using smart degree planning. You can watch the full interview with Christie here:

Image of Christie and Melanie, with the words "Is your degree plan wrong?"
Click on the image to watch the video

In our conversation, Christie touched on something I want to expand on here: the danger of hoarding random credits. A lot of people start collecting inexpensive Sophia or Study.com courses because they’re fast, assuming they’ll all transfer without a hitch.

If those credits don’t align with your school’s specific requirements, though, they just end up as “free electives.” Once your free elective slots are full, any extra courses you took are just wasted time and money. So for every class you’re thinking of enrolling in, take a minute to make sure it has a specific home on your degree map.

Your college BFF,

Melanie

]]><![CDATA[How to Map Out Your UMPI Degree (And Avoid Wasting Credits)]]>https://degreestrategy.substack.com/p/how-to-map-out-your-umpi-degree-and-191https://degreestrategy.substack.com/p/how-to-map-out-your-umpi-degree-and-191Wed, 17 Jun 2026 13:00:00 GMTIf you're heading to UMPI, the last thing you want to do is waste time and money taking classes you don't actually need. That's why I sat down with Christie Williams from Plotted Path, who has helped hundreds of adult learners figure out the absolute fastest and most efficient path to graduation. In this interview, we dive into her own experience as an UMPI student, how she maps out degree plans, and how you can level up your bachelor’s degree with only one or two extra classes!

Check out the video versions of each episode at https://www.youtube.com/@thedegreestrategist

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to UMPI and Personal Journey

04:00 The Decision to Return to School

06:54 Planning for Success at UMPI

10:01 Understanding Degree Planning

12:18 Exploring Credit Transfer Options

15:13 Common Mistakes in Degree Planning

17:54 Maximizing Educational Opportunities

20:05 The Importance of Strategic Planning

22:33 Final Thoughts and Advice

25:50 Real-Life Applications of Education

26:33 Transformative Impact of Clear Planning

26:33 Success Stories of Students

29:38 Personal Journey: A Mother's Perspective

35:13 Celebrating Achievements Together

35:33 Starting Your Educational Journey

37:27 Building Community and Support

Connect with Christie:

You can find Christie’s free UMPI degree planning spreadsheet on her website at https://www.plottedpath.com/free!

About Christie:

Christie is the founder of Plotted Path and a UMPI graduate who has helped hundreds of students map out their degree journey. She specializes in custom degree planning and transfer credit guidance to help students find the smartest, fastest route to their UMPI degree.

Connect with Melanie:

Join my Substack to get weekly study tips and bonus content: https://degreestrategy.substack.com/

You've got the experience, now let's get you that diploma! I'm Melanie, and I'm here to help midlife learners find the shortest path to earning a degree through competency-based learning. I'll also give you the tips and tools you need to finish it fast (even if you're parenting, caregiving, or working full-time).

]]><![CDATA[Have you tried this trick to find a study time?]]>https://degreestrategy.substack.com/p/have-you-tried-this-trick-to-findhttps://degreestrategy.substack.com/p/have-you-tried-this-trick-to-findThu, 11 Jun 2026 13:30:00 GMTIn my video this week, I talked about the two types of learners I see in competency-based degree programs: The Sprinter and The Slow and Steady.

You can catch up on it here, if you haven’t seen it yet:

Click the image to view the video

The internet loves to celebrate the sprinters who finish their degrees in a matter of weeks, but if you are balancing a demanding career, a family, and a household, trying to force yourself to get it all done ASAP is a recipe for a massive crash.

The secret to graduating fast without burning out is load balancing your energy.

Whether you have 5 hours or 25 hours a week to give to school, you need to break your coursework down into manageable, bite-sized “sprints” that fit into your actual daily windows.

Here is my 3-step framework to help you find the BEST pockets of time to get your coursework done:

  1. Audit your energy: 1 hour of study time on a quiet Saturday morning is vastly superior to 1 hour of study time at 10 PM after a hard day of work. Take a look at your calendar, and identify your peak focus windows. Also look for times where you can spare a few minutes for less demanding schoolwork.

  2. Categorize your tasks: Look at your upcoming milestone assignments. Separate the tasks that require massive mental power (like writing a rough draft) from the administrative tasks (like formatting citations or clicking through practice quizzes).

  3. Protect your peak windows: Schedule your heavy mental lifts only during your high-energy windows. Let the administrative, mindless tasks slide into your low-energy pockets.

Chunk the work down, protect your energy, and you’ll find the momentum to sustain your degree progress whether you plan to finish in weeks or months.

Your college BFF,

Melanie

]]><![CDATA[The WGU Experience and The Value of Non-Traditional Education]]>https://degreestrategy.substack.com/p/the-wgu-experience-and-the-value-5b0https://degreestrategy.substack.com/p/the-wgu-experience-and-the-value-5b0Tue, 05 May 2026 23:00:00 GMTWondering what it’s like to get your master’s degree at Western Governors University? My guest, Danny Schwantes, shares his journey through online education, balancing work and studies, and how his degree has impacted his professional and personal life. Discover practical tips on time management, motivation, and leveraging non-traditional education paths!

Get the FREE Online College Blueprint to help you discover your priorities and pick the right program the first time at https://degreestrategy.com/#blueprint

Check out the video versions of every episode at https://www.youtube.com/@DegreeStrategy

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You've got the experience, now let's get you that diploma! I'm Melanie, and I'm here to help midlife learners find the shortest path to earning a degree through competency-based learning. I'll also give you the tips and tools you need to finish it fast (even if you're parenting, caregiving, or working full-time).

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