Newbie Intro / Question on Credit Storage

[taligator]

I have been dithering about a degree for several years now. I've read the forums, I've done test CLEPs, I've found all the local test locations and costs, I've dreamed about finishing … but I've done nothing concrete.

I am, for the most, very anti-degree for most people. I understand the concept of having educated and well-rounded people but the emphasis on the importance of degrees has become insane.

I started my career doing technical support and systems administration. There was no degree plan that supported that career path. I moved into customer support and management. I'm now being passed over for entry-level jobs (despite 13 years of experience) because I don't have a degree. I feel I'm being forced to get a degree by "the man" and frankly, it irks me.

I work for a big company now and am being told that without a degree I can't hope to advance, "it's just not done." I'm attempting to transition from customer support into content/technical writing. It doesn't matter that I write better or that I have a stronger grasp of the subject matter than their degreed writers. I've done technical writing in all my positions as a component of my job and I've completed a technical writing certificate program, so I'm not without skills (just not titled skills and a degree to go with it).

That said, a business/management degree is logical for my current career. An English/creative writing degree supports my long-term interests of technical writing and fictional writing. A psychology degree supports my personal interests (I facilitate a support group).

My biggest issue at this point is that I can't decide what degree to approach. I know that when you test out of degrees there are similarities in all of them so my current plan is to take those common courses and get something done and hope that drives me towards a decision.

I know I'm not alone in my indecision and frustrations, this group has been an amazing source of inspiration for me and I hope to get it all figured out so I can join the ranks of degree holders (if only to "stick it" to the man by testing out of it all. )

I've searched for this question that I have but I've not found an answer that either makes sense to me or answers the question entirely, I do apologize in advance if I just haven't gotten it yet.

If I take these CLEP exams and don't enroll, where do my scores sit and do they have to go to a credit bank or sorts? I've not decided on a degree much less a school and I just need to know where to put all these tests results until I'm ready to use them.

I'm also thinking of using ALEKS for my math because I'm not very good at math and want to be good at it so I'm planning to take the time to work through the program and not just get through it to get the score. Most other subjects I don't care as much about but math has long been a nemesis of mine that I want to conquer.

I've looked up the credit bank questions and they somewhat answer the question but they also seem to assume you know which school you want to use.

Thanks.

Tracey

[rebel100]

CLEP and DSST just get "stored" with their respective agencies till you request they send out a transcript of your scores (small fee). They are generally good for 20 years, though occasionally you find schools that won't take scores that are too old...usually a non issue and it's generally felt that all your CLEP and DSST are good for 20 years.
http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalSer...t-form.pdf
http://www.dantes.doded.mil/Programs/Exa...quest.html

There are some schools that won't accept Credit By Exam (CBE) taken before enrollment, but most don't care and the Big 3 definantly don't care when you take them.

For a small fee you can pay to establish an ACE transcript, the aleks can be placed there till your ready to use them. https://www2.acenet.edu/credit/?fuseacti...ripts.main

[cookderosa]

You're right, it's insane that degrees are required by many fields now that used to be on the job fields. My specific field, cooking, is that way too. With the explosion of food tv shows, everyone wants to be a chef, and colleges are happy to meet the need. Thus, there is competition- REAL COMPETITION- for minimum wage jobs in my field. Line cooks have degrees. True. Line cooks don't NEED degrees, but if 10 job applicants show up for an opening, and 9 have degrees, the guy without looks like a slacker. So, what's a guy to do? Check the friggin box. Do it as fast, as cheap, and as painless as possible. You're not 18 trying to learn a trade, you're an adult who can do the job and needs to add a line on the resume. That said, I felt that way too, and was turned away for my tech training not once, but twice from several for profit schools and my local community college. No one wanted to give me a single credit for my AOS degree (accreditation issue, easily explained, but I didn't understand at the time). So, I eventually gave up, but when I decided to try a CLEP exam so I could understand the process for my son (so HE could earn credit) I realized I'd found a work-around to all the bull-doo and I earned my degree. I actually started from scratch, so I earned an AA and then a BA, but I did it. You can do it too, and don't get mad, just get it done.

[UptonSinclair]

From everything I have learned, credit banks are a waste of money. When you apply to a degree program, you are going to be required to submit transcripts from all schools, CLEP, Dantes, and ACE. It is better just to take your exams and let them sit with the prospective agency until you are close to degree completion. At that point, it will cost money for each transcript, but far less than what you would have paid for the classes. I just applied to COSC and the fees are listed below. All of my credits are listed with Excelsior, but as far as I know, it does no good when applying to another school.

DSST: $30
CLEP: $20
Community College: $6
CC Air Force: Free
ACE (Aleks Credits): $15
COSC Fee: $75

[taligator]

Thanks!

I did go off on a bit of a rant there .. hah! I'm just so tired of being looked down upon for not having a piece of paper (especially one that says nothing about me as an employee).

I've been thinking COSC may be the way to go for me though previously I thought it would be TESC. I've got some B&M credits I want to try and transfer in as well. I believe they can do a transcript evaluation without enrollment, is that correct? It takes off the need for 4 tests if they take them.

I am going to rank my classes in terms of easiest to hardest and get started. Now that I know the companies hang onto the scores for me sets my mind at ease

[UptonSinclair]

You can get an evaluation by paying the $75 application fee and having your transcripts sent. They will hold the evaluation for six months, but if it takes longer you will have to reapply. Here a couple of links that will give you an idea about requirements and how COSC applies the various exams.

Master Exam List
http://www.charteroak.edu/Current/Academ...r-list.pdf

Catalog
http://www.charteroak.edu/PDF/Official%20Catalog.pdf

It is critical to become familiar with the catalog of whichever school you intend to attend. There is far more information and it is explained in detail in the catalog. Don't make the mistake I have made in the past and base decisions on what you see listed on the web page for your school. Finally, you are already on the right track talking to people here who have experience with the various schools. I am a current Excelsior student, but there are students from the other two on here with far more knowledge about TESC and COSC. I am looking at COSC because I am a disgruntled Excelsior student at the moment.

[sanantone]

All of the Big 3 will evaluate your credits after applying, but before enrolling. Excelsior's initial evaluation is very vague. COSC's evaluation is decent, but it doesn't list each individual course and its equivalent. TESC's evaluation is very detailed, and they'll do two before you enroll. I applied to all 3 to see which school would be best for my transfer credits. If you're starting from scratch, it's all a matter of what you value most: time, cost, ability to nearly 100% test out, majors available, etc.

[taligator]

If I bring in any credits it'll be an intro psych, speech, management and intro computers style class. I don't think any of them are a huge loss if I have to test them. I think what I'll do is wait until I get the rest of my stuff figured out and planned and when I'm about halfway through or greater then I'll nail down the school and get the transcripts evaluated and take those tests last if they don't transfer.

I'm going off of Burbuja0512's plan for COSC business at this point. I think the courses are going to be similar for a business degree no matter what school I choose.

I'm feeling excited about this.... I need to schedule my first test and just take the plunge.

[cookderosa]

If I bring in any credits it'll be an intro psych, speech, management and intro computers style class. I don't think any of them are a huge loss if I have to test them. I think what I'll do is wait until I get the rest of my stuff figured out and planned and when I'm about halfway through or greater then I'll nail down the school and get the transcripts evaluated and take those tests last if they don't transfer.

I'm going off of Burbuja0512's plan for COSC business at this point. I think the courses are going to be similar for a business degree no matter what school I choose.

I'm feeling excited about this.... I need to schedule my first test and just take the plunge.

Yes, that's what you need to do! Just jump in. Choose something from the plan that interests you (or maybe top 2-3 options, some are easier as others as a first test) and just start. You don't have to pick a school until your credit is starting to rack up.

[EI2HCB]

someone on here just mentioned being familiar with the school catalog this is important, if you think you need a test and aren't familiar with the college policy you could end up wasting time and money. An example of this is the Natural sciences CLEP if you gain 6 credits for this you can't apply CLEP biology towards your sciences as it duplicates in some catalogs in Excelsior. Always set out with a goal in mind. Pick your degree, search the catalogs for that degree at each of the big three. Choose a college, get your preliminary evaluation, (mine wasn't vague, from Excelsior) Lock in the catalog you've chosen to enroll under otherwise the goalposts change, you will need to enroll to lock in the catalog and rules by which your degree is granted. Some people here have two or three degrees so you can expand your knowledge as you go along.