I've found out something that is somewhat distressing, but it is tempered by another realization:

I found out today that my one year at a non-accredited college will count on my Law School Data Accumulation Services GPA. This college, New St. Andrews College, is notoriously difficult and does not believe in inflating GPA's. As such, despite my best efforts, in my 34 credit hours there, I only had a 3.01 GPA (helped largely by failing the ridiculously difficult science course). Anyway, I found out that I HAVE to report those credits and that they will be listed as part of my GPA. Now, considering that I have a grand total of 8 other credits with a GPA, my GPA is only going to be 3.19. Not very good for someone wanting to go to an excellent law school (need great LSAT and 3.5+ approx GPA normally).

So, I was thinking that I would need to get my bachelor's through Excelsior. Why? Excelsior assigns a GPA to several of the examinations that I've taken. I was considering doing this anyway... But, then today, I read that ANY credits gained prior to earning your first bachelor's are calculated in a student's LSDAS GPA. SOO, the long and short of it is that all I need from Excelsior is for them to take my current exams, give me the grades for them, which should up my GPA to a more respectable 3.56 or so, and send my transcript to LSDAS. Which should take care of my problem. I don't even know if I would need to actually graduate. Just being a current student with the grades would work.

So, my research on Excelsior's lousy (in my opinion) web site has left me with quite a few questions:

First, they say that they offer several different associates degrees. Most cost 895, but they do offer an "Associates in Applied Science" that is substantially cheaper (one in administrative/management another in technical studies, and another in aviation). I cannot find ANY information on this degree beyond that it's flexible (and cheaper). It's driving me nuts. Does anyone have any information on what the requirements for this degree are? Less money is much better in my opinion. If I can make that work, that'd be outstanding.

I'll restate the main point here for anyone skimming: Does anyone have any information on the Associates in Applied Science degree from Excelsior College? Or perhaps a business catalog PDF that explains it all? The business catalog is nowhere to be found on their publications page (:-P). I know I could make the normal associates in science work, but I'm not rich.

Oh yes, feel free to email me if you want to send me a PDF catalog from Excelsior. My address is my username here @gmail.com

Thanks!

__________________
Thomas Edison State College alum: BA in Liberal Studies, 06. Considering other school/career options... Working on sciences.

I just emailed you the Excelsior Business Catalog. Not sure if it will give you the info you are looking for though.

Let us know if you need anything else,
Snazzlefrag

__________________
My name is Rob
So far, I have earned 142 credits (12 not used).

Excelsior College
- BS Psychology (5 courses/exams to go)
- BS Business (2 courses/exams to go)
____________
Upcoming: N/A
In-progress: CSU-Pueblo: Labor Relations course
Most Recently Completed: English Composition at PFC (97).
Exams/Courses Passed To Date (43):
- Courses (4): 1 ECE, 1 CSU-Pueblo, 2 PFC.
- Exams (39): 24 DANTES, 15 CLEP.
GPA: 4.0

SirJake,

Why would non-RA credits need to be reported? It doesn't make ANY sense at all. But if it doesn't matter where you earned the credits, why don't you just take a few courses at the Snazzlefrag International Academy of Pennsylvania and bump up your non-RA GPA. I'm sure you would earn a 4.0 by tomorrow morning, and since ALL credits from ANY source must be reported, you would be obliged to also report these new credits.


I'm joking of course...but geez! Is New St Andrews accredited by DETC or something? It would make more sense to me if they were. But if not, and the law school is still requiring you to report them and factoring them into your GPA...well that's just silly!

Okay, moving on....I think Excelsior's Applied Science degrees are specifically for Military personnel.

You could certainly get an Associate in Arts degree in Liberal Studies without any further study based on your current credits. Just pay the fee and you'll have a legitimate GPA (prior to your Bachelors). You'll need to make sure you use as many GRADED exams as possible (mostly DANTES and a few CLEPs). You need 60 credits for an AA, but I think you can go over if you have more credits that you want to include in it.

Let me know if this interests you and I can certainly email you all the info you will need.

Best of luck,
Snazzlefrag

__________________
My name is Rob
So far, I have earned 142 credits (12 not used).

Excelsior College
- BS Psychology (5 courses/exams to go)
- BS Business (2 courses/exams to go)
____________
Upcoming: N/A
In-progress: CSU-Pueblo: Labor Relations course
Most Recently Completed: English Composition at PFC (97).
Exams/Courses Passed To Date (43):
- Courses (4): 1 ECE, 1 CSU-Pueblo, 2 PFC.
- Exams (39): 24 DANTES, 15 CLEP.
GPA: 4.0

Thanks. I just read over that section of the catalog you sent and you're correct, it does appear to be specifically for military personel. Jerks ;-)

And yeah, I was seriously bummed for a few minutes when I found out that NSA's credits must count. I figured for sure when I called that they'd say that not only do I not HAVE to count them, but I can't even if I want to. Ah well. Getting into law school apparently will cost a little more than I was hoping, but it's still way less than the "normal" route to a bachelor degree.

But yeah, liberal arts appears like it should work.

__________________
Thomas Edison State College alum: BA in Liberal Studies, 06. Considering other school/career options... Working on sciences.

Do you already have the AA Liberal Arts information, or do you need me to send it to you?

Just say the word,
Snazzlefrag

__________________
My name is Rob
So far, I have earned 142 credits (12 not used).

Excelsior College
- BS Psychology (5 courses/exams to go)
- BS Business (2 courses/exams to go)
____________
Upcoming: N/A
In-progress: CSU-Pueblo: Labor Relations course
Most Recently Completed: English Composition at PFC (97).
Exams/Courses Passed To Date (43):
- Courses (4): 1 ECE, 1 CSU-Pueblo, 2 PFC.
- Exams (39): 24 DANTES, 15 CLEP.
GPA: 4.0

I do have another question... How does that work? Are you allowed to just pick and choose which credits count in an area and which don't? I.e., I have an American Government CLEP that is only a B, do I have to use it since it will fit in a given area? Or if I have a credit in that area with a higher grade, or gain a credit thereafter with a higher grade, can I request that it be used instead of the lower graded item? Is it pick and choose?

Thanks!

__________________
Thomas Edison State College alum: BA in Liberal Studies, 06. Considering other school/career options... Working on sciences.

I might already have it (I'm not sure at this point), but it wouldn't hurt to have it again. Thanks!

__________________
Thomas Edison State College alum: BA in Liberal Studies, 06. Considering other school/career options... Working on sciences.