Enroll now or later?

[CGaboury]

First of all, I would like to say thank you for this forum. The people here have been amazing. Now, onto my question. I've searched and I seem to find a lot of conflicting information. Currently I am in the preliminary steps of enrolling at TESU. I've only just begun accumulating credits. What I would like to know, is if there is a benefit to in rolling now at an early stage or if I should wait till I have accumulated more credits.

Can I just continually send them ACE transcripts every so often? What criteria has to be met to maintain my enrollment as I accumulate credits from other sources outside of the school? Should I be taking my exams at Saylor, SL, etc and have it added to my ACE. Then send in updated ACE transcripts every few months?

Sorry if there's a lot of previously answered questions. I feel like every time I search for something I find a lot of contradictory information.

[dfrecore]

This is a question that there's no set answer for. Plenty of people on here will tell you to enroll now to lock in the catalog, and make sure that any changes that might take place at TESU won't affect you (most likely). I'm not one of those people, mostly because the changes that have taken place usually to happen on July 1 (change of catalog). Of course, this year they did a switcheroo, and changed some requirements as of April 1. So I wouldn't anticipate that you will need to do anything before April 1 of next year.

My other reason for not liking it is that I prefer to apply and send in as many transcripts as possible at once, and get that eval done with as many credits as possible. Remember, it costs $15(?) to send in an ACE transcript. So you don't want to do that every time you take a course. For SL, you can have your credits sent to TESU for free straight from SL. And CLEP/DSST will also send your transcripts for free at the time of testing (so you only want to do that once you have applied at TESU). BUT, it's important to note that TESU does a new eval each time you send something. And they frequently like to move things at random. And they take 25 business days to do the eval (even if it's one course, or something they already know). So if you're constantly sending them things, then you constantly have to monitor your eval. It gets crazy.

Finally, once you apply, you have a year to enroll. That will mean taking a course or TECEP at TESU.

So, my advice is, build up a bunch of credits now. Decide on a date that you want to enroll (March 15th?), and then do that. Send in all of your credits to date at that point. Check that eval once, make sure everything is where it's supposed to be, and then figure out what's left to complete.

[CGaboury]

Thank you for that thorough explanation. One last question, since CLEP AND DSST send credits on my behalf to the school, is it safe to say to avoid taking any of those until I have official enrolled? Is it possible to take those tests and just have them send a transcript when I enroll? Or is there no benefit?

[rebel100]

is it safe to say to avoid taking any of those until I have official enrolled?

No, go ahead and take them. College Board (CLEP), and Dantes/DSST will catalog your exams with scores and transcribe them whenever you request them for a small fee. Generally you will do pretty much all of them before requesting them to be sent over.

There are really only two big advantages to early enrollment, both of which are largely mitigated by your membership in this forum. First is that iswill lock you into the current catalog...but if you check in here in a regular bases, we usually have a heads up to anything big and you usually have time to act accordingly. The second big advantage is that the College will detail exactly how your credits will fall into place....this isn't particularly difficult for most of us using traditional credits, testing, and the known alternatives. I would only encourage early application if your credits are really unusual, something we don't normally see, if they are the usual collection tthis is mitigated. Often, folks on this forum understand the credit policies as well or better than TESC's own advisors...so again, check in here often.

[TrailRunr]

I'm one of those that think putting off enrollment is a really bad idea.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the TECEP residency change was not avoidable unless you were an enrolled student prior to 4-1. The change was announced in March. Only those who were enrolled prior to 4-1 could take TECEPs that counted.

Although there are more options today than ever, there are more requirements and roadblocks today than in the past. Not having to meet a new requirement at all is better than having more options to meet the new requirements.

Another problem is when TESU changes the course equivalency in a way that's unfavorable to you. Send that transcript for $5-$15 to lock it in.

And then there are the usual problems with catalog changes that are unfavorable to you once the new catalog comes in.

Speaking of new catalogs, where is the 2017 one? It's September already and they made major changes in March.

[davewill]

I'm also one of those that thinks that putting off enrollment is a bad idea. The last set of changes blindsided a lot of people. Also, even though people here can help you plan your degree, I found it very comforting to see my actual courses I had taken or was planning to take on an official TESU academic evaluation. Also motivating. To answer your practical questions, you have to apply, be accepted, then actually TAKE something at TESU become enrolled. It can be a TECEP, or the required cornerstone. Once you've done so, your enrolled status is good for a year before which time you need to take something else to maintain your enrollment (if you haven't graduated). Not hard since TECEPs are not expensive and there are TECEPs that will fit into just about any degree plan.

When you take a CLEP or DSST, you can immediately send the score to one school for free. If you're a student at TESU, then you just give their school code, and you're done. That way you don't have to pay to send the score later. As far as paying for extra transcripts from ACE, I agree that sending a new one every time you finish a class might be excessive, but sending one 2 or 3 times a year to keep your academic eval up to date seems reasonable to me. It also keeps you from being surprised if TESU changes transfer equivalencies, which they have done every now and again without any sort of announcement. However, if money's tight, you can wait and send them in all at once.

[Mamasaphire]

I'm one of those that think putting off enrollment is a really bad idea.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the TECEP residency change was not avoidable unless you were an enrolled student prior to 4-1. The change was announced in March. Only those who were enrolled prior to 4-1 could take TECEPs that counted.

Although there are more options today than ever, there are more requirements and roadblocks today than in the past. Not having to meet a new requirement at all is better than having more options to meet the new requirements.

Another problem is when TESU changes the course equivalency in a way that's unfavorable to you. Send that transcript for $5-$15 to lock it in.

And then there are the usual problems with catalog changes that are unfavorable to you once the new catalog comes in.

Speaking of new catalogs, where is the 2017 one? It's September already and they made major changes in March.

I'm also one of those that thinks that putting off enrollment is a bad idea. The last set of changes blindsided a lot of people. Also, even though people here can help you plan your degree, I found it very comforting to see my actual courses I had taken or was planning to take on an official TESU academic evaluation. Also motivating. To answer your practical questions, you have to apply, be accepted, then actually TAKE something at TESU become enrolled. It can be a TECEP, or the required cornerstone. Once you've done so, your enrolled status is good for a year before which time you need to take something else to maintain your enrollment (if you haven't graduated). Not hard since TECEPs are not expensive and there are TECEPs that will fit into just about any degree plan.

When you take a CLEP or DSST, you can send the score to one school for free. If you're a student at TESU, then you can let them send it immediately. That way your don't have to pay to send the score later. As far as paying for extra transcripts from ACE, I agree that sending a new one every time you finish a class might be excessive, but sending one 2 or 3 times a year to keep your academic eval up to date seems reasonable to me. It also keeps you from being surprised if TESU changes transfer equivalencies, which they have done every now and again without any sort of announcement. However, if money's tight, you can wait and send them in all at once.

I am also in the "apply now, lock your program in, take a TECEP, keep an active enrollment & send additional transcripts in as they come in" side of the camp.

Because I didn't do that originally, I missed using my FEMA credits and had the HTYH DSST I took years ago (when it was accepted as UL) reevaluated and bumped to a LL as TESC/TESU rules changed. However, because I am now aware of that possibility, I send transcripts just about every semester -- to make sure they are applied while they are still listed as being eligible for what I planned to use them for.

So for instance, I recently took two study.com courses, and as soon as they were both added to my ACE transcript, I paid the $15 to have a copy sent to TESU -- even though I still plan/need to take two more ACE courses. To me it is well worth $15 for relative peace of mind.

[dfrecore]

I will just say that for some people, spending $10, $15, $25 per transcript over and over again might make the difference between taking a course, or having to wait months to save up money to take one because they spent their exam money on transcripts. Not everyone can afford that.

And, I don't think anyone responded to my point about having to monitor TESU when they do an eval, but it has happened to me numerous times that they moved courses around when I brought in a new course. Almost every time I get an eval. And, they've done things like taken a course out of my AOS and moved it to Gen Ed or something crazy. I've had to spend too much time getting them to switch things back to what it was.

AND, if they move something, and you don't notice, and then they change the rules on you, it might be very difficult for you to get them to move it back later.

So, my advice is NOT to send transcripts and exams continually to them. Take your CLEP's during a short time frame, have them sent, and then monitor your eval for those CLEP's to make sure they go where they're supposed to. Take a screen shot of your eval. Then, do SL (or ALEKS or whatever) and send in a bunch of courses again. Monitor and screen shot. Repeat. So, in my opinion, it is MUCH easier to send things in less often just so there's less of a chance for them to screw things up.

And remember, they take forever to do the eval, each and every time, so it starts to feel like you're forever monitoring it trying to make sure it's correct, which just started to really frustrate me instead of feeling like I accomplished something.

[Toastmaster]

How much is it to apply at TESU? I'm thinking of applying now, and not taking the TECEP for awhile. I'm currently finishing up my Associates at Excelsior, and will be done with the vast majority of credits by December. Reading this thread has me thinking that maybe I want to lock in TESU's current system. I totally miss the TECEP counting as residency, as well as the Arnold Fletcher Award (the old system of qualification)

[Mamasaphire]

I will just say that for some people, spending $10, $15, $25 per transcript over and over again might make the difference between taking a course, or having to wait months to save up money to take one because they spent their exam money on transcripts. Not everyone can afford that.

And, I don't think anyone responded to my point about having to monitor TESU when they do an eval, but it has happened to me numerous times that they moved courses around when I brought in a new course. Almost every time I get an eval. And, they've done things like taken a course out of my AOS and moved it to Gen Ed or something crazy. I've had to spend too much time getting them to switch things back to what it was.

AND, if they move something, and you don't notice, and then they change the rules on you, it might be very difficult for you to get them to move it back later.

So, my advice is NOT to send transcripts and exams continually to them. Take your CLEP's during a short time frame, have them sent, and then monitor your eval for those CLEP's to make sure they go where they're supposed to. Take a screen shot of your eval. Then, do SL (or ALEKS or whatever) and send in a bunch of courses again. Monitor and screen shot. Repeat. So, in my opinion, it is MUCH easier to send things in less often just so there's less of a chance for them to screw things up.

And remember, they take forever to do the eval, each and every time, so it starts to feel like you're forever monitoring it trying to make sure it's correct, which just started to really frustrate me instead of feeling like I accomplished something.

dfrecore, you always have some really great words of wisdom!

I didn't respond to your point about keeping an eye on the TESU eval because I forgot, but that is a very very good point. In fact, it was really helpful to me personally when you mentioned that in conjunction to my classes/academic eval you helped rearrange. I think you are right, that for many people, keeping an eye on that academic eval/arrangement might be more stressful than just wondering if the course will eventually be utilized correctly -- so, IMO, for those people it would make more sense to send them every 6-12 months or so. I just had my final CC transcript and the ACE transcript sent to TESU, so I might be spazzing out soon myself if they shift things all around strangely, lol.

As for money adding up, that is a great point too. For me, the SL transcripts were free, and my CC transcripts were $5.00 each, which was the majority of what I have sent -- and since I don't drink Starbucks-ish drinks more than a very few times a year & don't go to movies, etc, I guess I considered it a type of spending cash/"mad money"/hobby cost. I will admit it was a hardship when I had to pay for an expensive ACE transcript (when they were still $40 for the initial one), but after that I started budgeting for the couple $15.00 ones.

I guess it should be self-evident to potential students that if paying an additional $15 twice or 3 times a year is going to hurt their budget, then they shouldn't do it.

On the other hand at the end of the day, I still think getting courses applied to a plan before changes are made is a good idea -- when possible.