Exams

[Ideas]

I would do CLEPs if possible because they are more widely accepted than DSST. Also, CLEPs are free through Modern States (although you have to wait for a refund for the test center portion). DSSTs are about $95-105 with the test center fee.

[miah]

Miah,

When I first found this forum, I had a lot of the same questions you do. Ultimately, I found many ways to integrate college credit into a high school program- I even wrote a book about it. I'm not promoting my book (it's for homeschooling) but my encouragement to you is that you study for and pass a CLEP or DDST - whichever has a testing center close to you. Currently you can get a fee waiver for CLEP if that makes a difference, but DSSTs are on sale for $70, so still not expensive. Once you do one, your level of understanding of how to use these with your students will magnify ten-fold. For anyone entering advising, my sincere advice is to walk the path so you can not only understand the advantages but the disadvantages too.

Thanks! I wish I knew this forum existed 7 urs ago and that there was a book about it! Unfortunately I had not come acrossed it soon enough for my foster son and a friend of mine that’s daughter struggles fitting in in HS and wasn’t quite ready for traditional college. I’m sure she c/would have used this information and maybe things would not have been so costly for them and maybe she would have been more successful using the outline noted on your blog! I’m definitely going to refer people to your blog and your book and to this site in the future!

[cookderosa]

Miah,

When I first found this forum, I had a lot of the same questions you do. Ultimately, I found many ways to integrate college credit into a high school program- I even wrote a book about it. I'm not promoting my book (it's for homeschooling) but my encouragement to you is that you study for and pass a CLEP or DDST - whichever has a testing center close to you. Currently you can get a fee waiver for CLEP if that makes a difference, but DSSTs are on sale for $70, so still not expensive. Once you do one, your level of understanding of how to use these with your students will magnify ten-fold. For anyone entering advising, my sincere advice is to walk the path so you can not only understand the advantages but the disadvantages too.

Thanks! I wish I knew this forum existed 7 urs ago and that there was a book about it! Unfortunately I had not come acrossed it soon enough for my foster son and a friend of mine that’s daughter struggles fitting in in HS and wasn’t quite ready for traditional college. I’m sure she c/would have used this information and maybe things would not have been so costly for them and maybe she would have been more successful using the outline noted on your blog! I’m definitely going to refer people to your blog and your book and to this site in the future!

Well, it's never too late!! My husband and I both had associate degrees and were working as chefs when I discovered this forum around 2006. I was 38 years old (so was he) and neither of us would have been tagged "college material" for sure! Since then, my family and I have earned 7 degrees, and I still have 2 more kids in high school who will add to that number. None of us are brainiacs and none of us have student loan debt. Though my blog is for homeschoolers, the forum here is for everyone. It's how I got started, and it's a free resource that anyone can tap into. If your son and friend's daughter want help, just send them this way. It's never too late.