Michael, I like your answer. You are right, it is a service. I don't know much about CollegePlus either, but I have read what is available to joe public. You hit on something when you brought in home schoolers as clients of the business.

Home schoolers don't have guidance counselors- in fact, this is an area ripe for entrepreneurs. If I had a desire to launch a new business, it would be in this area. There is a rolling group of 2 million people who need college counseling and have ZERO. Statistically, most homeschool parents DID NOT go to a 4 year college- and really DON'T KNOW how to get there.

You should know that I fit this category (until last year when I started gettin' educated ) and had STRONGLY considered sending my son to private high school TOTALLY for the benefit of college counseling. I am not alone. This is a common concern.

You have to understand environment in a homeschool family. Homeschool parents give up a lot- at a minimum they give up half or whole of one income and at least one parent's career to do this. They have invested in out of pocket curriculum costs ($500-$2000 per child per year, most have large families) and must seek out ($) extracurricular and athletic activities for each of their children. All of this on one income. The same resources are provided free to public school children whose parents are both working. For them, it is worth it. Now- why does that matter? It's their state of mind. After ALL OF THE SACRIFICE, they are not going to drop the ball in the final seconds of the game. If someone can help them at that moment-get their child into college- it's worth a couple thousand dollars.

Homeschool parents probably have other children they are schooling- and time is a premium. While it is true that we adults are motivated to figure this process out- what tests are what- what to study- where to find answers- what about at age 17? It's a service. The parents are buying a service- delegating THIS out to someone else so they can keep focused on educating their other children.

PS The fact that it is a Christian business will allow them to advertise in the major homeschool publications. And ALL major homeschool publications/organizations are Christian. (at this time)

PSS I took a CLEP to see how it works- to see how I could use them in my homeschool program. I hadn't intended on earning a degree in the process... but once I understood the process, I couldn't pass it up. I help (for free) our homeschool co-op parents who have high school children. I talk to them about CLEP and AP exams, availability of distance learning options and duel enrollment options locally. Of course, my son will not be needing the high school guidance counselor, but CollegePlus meets a need.

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Jennifer
ALM, Psychology, Harvard University, in progress
AA & BA, Social Sciences, Thomas Edison State College, 2008
AOS, Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America, 1990

IC WORKS! http://www.degreeforum.net/general-e...g-members.html

"Brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.” Randy Pausch

I am also a collegeplus student. I think another benefit of having a personal coach is that they set up the degree template according to your personal tastes. It is a bachelors degree program. The average cost of a bachelors degree is 10,000 dollars.( I believe they figure in books as well) you test out of as many couses as you can. I will have finished my degree by the time I graduate highschool. ( I am 16 and have close to fifty credits and have never taken a single class) Also, your coach will give you tips on studying for each exam. etc. Plus, my coach encourages me spiritualy. I am a christian and I think that it is really refreshing to have that perspective in my education. For 10,000 dollars you have an acredited degree through Thomas Edison. All you have to do is study. (no worrying about transferring credits or what courses you need,) Well, my brother and I have been very blessed to have found out about collegeplus. It has really fit in to our life well.

Wow, princykit, to hear that you ar 16 and will get your college degree by the time you graduate high school.

This is truly an indication of your level of commitment and resolve. Keep up the good work and please keep us posted. It sounds like we can all learn something from you.

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ImustStudy
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A.S. Liberal Arts- Excelsior College

B.S. Criminal Justice- Excelsior College

M.S.- To be announced

CLEP and DANTES
English Comp (62)
College Spanish (76)
Astronomy (56)
Rise and Fall of Soviet Union (50)
Principles of Supervision (60)
Introduction to Law Enforcement (67)
Criminal Justice (59)
Intro to Business (63)
Intro to Sociology

FEMA: 13 units
Penn Foster: Info Literacy, Criminology

Number of classes remaining:
0