Degree planning

[Setta]

Hello everyone,
I've been lurking on these forums on and off over the past two years and I have always been interested in doing what so many of you have done or are in the process of doing. I'm 28 years old and I have always wanted to obtain my degree but never had the time or money to do so. Money is still a bit tight but I figured I've got to start sometime or I will never get things moving. I sincerely apologize coming on this forum as a new member with my hand out hoping to receive before I even contribute a single thing to do the community. All I can say is I will definitely pay it forward both along and after this journey.

With that out of the way, i suppose I should start explaining my situation because in my humble opinion I believe to be a bit unique. Though I've never been a full time student, throughout the years, whenever I had a bit of extra cash and time I would run off to the local community college and take a class, which amounts to a whopping grand total of 3 classes at 3 different ccs. Also I passed 3 AP exams in high school but I believe those are void since its been over 2 years? I hope to get a degree from Thomas Edison state college because I believe their per credit enrollment plan is the least expensive(?).

I plan on taking cleps,dantes,fema, straight liner and whatever options/tests are available to me. However here is where it gets a bit complicated; I am currently living overseas in Japan and I am NOT military. This makes it extremely difficult for me to receive regular consultation from tesc because international phone calls are too expensive. Also I live about 2 hours away from the nearest military base so I cannot bang out tests every weekend. I have called the testing center in the military base and they assured me that civilians are permitted to take cleps on the base.

Also I wish I could use those 3 classes I took back in the states but contacting them to mail tesc transcripts seems like a daunting task since I am overseas. I wish to get a degree in psychology from tesc and I read sanatones (thanks you for your hard work) wiki guide, but I wanted some advice on what would be a quick and least expensive way for me to obtain my degree. I was thinking take applicable fema classes since they are free and online( meaning I wouldn't have to travel), then taking straightliner courses for GE courses, cleps/dantes for anything left over, then finishing up with the tesc in house exams for upper level classes that are not available through cleps/dantes.

I don't have any particular attachment to tesc so if I'm looking at this incorrectly or if there is any advice anyone wishes to give me, it would be sincerely appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read my novel and I thank you all in advance!

[KittenMittens]

What degree are you looking to do? FEMAs are best done through COSC and there's a sample B.S. in Business Admin degree in my sig you can check out. I like TESC and COSC from a price:value standpoint. I'm biased since I went to COSC, and I think any of the 3 institutions will do the job, but first figure out what you're looking to do, for how much (what's the msot you'er willing to spend/save, etc.), in how much time, etc.

[Setta]

Thank you so much for your reply,

I am looking to earn a degree in Psychology and as far as willing to spend I would be willing to pay anything but in terms of what I CAN spend, it wouldn't be much at all. I honestly don't know if I can afford to get a degree and it's not like I have a budget set aside, I'm pretty much planning on paying for exams and courses out of my paycheck and saving every month for any large payments(ie enrollment fees, etc). I was planning on taking them exams and banking credits then enrolling once I have the money saved up. I'm motivated and consider myself fairly decent at test taking so I was looking at a 6months to 1 year time frame for obtaining my degree.

[Setta]

Wow I just read your guide that you had in your signature and it's extremly comprehensive and helpful. Thank you so much for your hard work. There is so much information out there, it's quite daunting at times but your guide is very easy to follow and understand. If it was for a psychology degree I would literally just follow it to the letter.

[KittenMittens]

Thank you so much for your reply,

I am looking to earn a degree in Psychology and as far as willing to spend I would be willing to pay anything but in terms of what I CAN spend, it wouldn't be much at all. I honestly don't know if I can afford to get a degree and it's not like I have a budget set aside, I'm pretty much planning on paying for exams and courses out of my paycheck and saving every month for any large payments(ie enrollment fees, etc). I was planning on taking them exams and banking credits then enrolling once I have the money saved up. I'm motivated and consider myself fairly decent at test taking so I was looking at a 6months to 1 year time frame for obtaining my degree.

I can't speak personally for psych, but FEMAs are practically acceptable at COSC. Cost-wise TESC could be done for about $2,900 from scratch. COSC probably around $5,500ish. Excelsior - I can't say but probably $7,500+.

Here's a sample degree plan for psych through TESC: Sanantone's BA in Psychology - Degree Forum Wiki

I've taken a few of the UExcel psychology exams - they're all pretty interesting, and straightforward. Check out the pass rates on instantcert.com

COSC is coming out with a new psychology degree starting this July 1 so it remains to be said what the degree requirements are but they're probably similar to these: Psychology - Charter Oak State College Catalog

Figure out what exams you would want to take, and what degree plan through TESC (say you do the 8 TECEP exams - which ones would you do and why?) or COSC for instance. Check out 123collegedegree.com, bain4weeks.com, freeclepprep.com for good info about the exams (in general).

Most importantly, just read read read and figure out what will be the best option for you through searching this website, other similar ones, and so forth.

[KittenMittens]

Wow I just read your guide that you had in your signature and it's extremly comprehensive and helpful. Thank you so much for your hard work. There is so much information out there, it's quite daunting at times but your guide is very easy to follow and understand. If it was for a psychology degree I would literally just follow it to the letter.

No problem. The important thing is to at least start thinking and considering different arguments overall, but the good news is that as far as exam recommendations go, there's a lot overlap between colleges particularly for gen. eds. At least the thought process should be the same for colleges as far as what resources to use, how to study, cost, etc etc

[Setta]

I can't speak personally for psych, but FEMAs are practically acceptable at COSC. Cost-wise TESC could be done for about $2,900 from scratch. COSC probably around $5,500ish. Excelsior - I can't say but probably $7,500+.

This is me being dense but I can get a degree from TESC for $2,900?? Is that including all GE and UL courses? As in take all relevant clips,dantes,FEMA,TECEP and get a degree for $2,900?

[KittenMittens]

This is me being dense but I can get a degree from TESC for $2,900?? Is that including all GE and UL courses? As in take all relevant clips,dantes,FEMA,TECEP and get a degree for $2,900?

yep, it's good if you're on a budget - check out this: TESC Degree Plans - Degree Forum Wiki and this http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...post172165 though I disliked the use of TECEPs some people around here are ok with them. If money is tight, I think it's a good option.

[Setta]

That is very doable, thank you so much for this information. It literally brings tears to my eyes to think that I can finally afford to get a degree. Sanantones page is awesome but I wish he/she had the general education courses that are applicable via testing/straightline/fema (with price breakdown) like yours does but I shouldn't complain about someones hard work and effort (just me wanting to have my cake and eat it too). Ive done tons of research and Im just worried that I will take a test that I can't use and end up wasting money. Since Im really counting every dollar I really hope to avoid such a scenario. I wish I could just make a phone call to TESC and ask for advice but the whole international phone call thing makes it difficult.

[Prloko]

Setta,

Just for clarification, TESC no longer accepts FEMA courses for credit. So if FEMA was an important part of your degree planning, then TESC is not a good choice. Of course, there are other options to fill those, but FEMA isn't one of them.