Excelsior question

[Fwahls30]

Hello all. I am new to this forum and working in completing my bachelors degree in business. I do not have specific questions as of yet but I will when I have time to post. I do have two questions. The first one is Do I need to get Pre Approved by an advisor for taking courses? Example I want to take statistics and biology from Straighterline. I am pretty sure they will be accepted so would I need to get permission to take the course? My next question is say Excelsior doesn't offer a sociology course but I take the clep. Even though they have no comparable course, it still shouod transfer as an elective  correct? Thank you to anyone who offers help and I will be posting more questions eventually for I am really wanting to finish this degree. Thanks

[eckadoodle]

The CLEP Sociology should transfer as an elective, I'm pretty sure it did for me at Excelsior. I've found that the advisors at Excelsior are super useful and reply quickly. If you have any questions as to which courses you should take, be sure to ask them.
P.S. you can also take the DSST Statistics if you don't want to use Straighterline for it.

[Fwahls30]

Do you think that the statistics DSST is easier? I really chose Straighterline because it may be easier to pass since they use the quizzes throughout the course to help with your grade and thought maybe it would give me a better chance at passing.

Also, anyone who is willing to recommend classes, please feel free. I am looking for affordable options. I will paste my classes needed and what I have down below. Thanks again! I really need assistance with UL credits. I heard Davar is a good option.

Credits Needed
Mathematics Requirement (pre-calc or above) 3.0
Statistics Requirement 3.0
Natural Science requirement 3.0
Business Data Analysis (formerly Quantitative Analysis) 3.0
Remaining Arts and Sciences Requirement 12.0
Information Literacy 1.0
Introduction to United States Business Law 3.0
Business Communication 3.0
Financial Management 3.0
International Business 3.0
Strategic Management Capstone 3.0
Additional Business Credit 15.0
Upper Level Credits Needed in Business- 15


Courses I have already taken
2001/FA MAT*110 BUSINESS MATHEMATICS I B 2.67 E L
ECPI COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY - VIRGINIA BEACH
2004/SP ENG*205 CRITICAL THINKING A 3.00 H L
2004/SP SPH*150 COMMUNICATION B 3.00 H L
J SARGEANT REYNOLDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
2009/SP ENG*111 COLLEGE COMPOSITION I B 3.00 W L
2009/SP ITE*115 INTRO COMPUTER APP/CONCEPTS A 3.00 B L
2009/FA ENG*112 COLLEGE COMPOSITION II B 3.00 W L
2009/FA PHI*220 ETHICS C 3.00 H L
2009/FA PSY*201 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY I C 3.00 S L
2009/FA HLT*116 INTRO TO PERSONAL WELLNESS C 3.00 E L
2009/FA MTH*120 INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICS C 3.00 N L
2010/SP HIS*121 UNITED STATES HISTORY I A 3.00 S L
2010/SP PSY*230 DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY C 3.00 S L
2010/FA ACC*211 PRINCIPLES OF ACCOUNTING I A 3.00 B L
2010/FA ECO*201 PRINCIPLES ECONOMICS I MACRO B 3.00 S L
2010/FA ITE*140 SPREADSHEET SOFTWARE (EXCEL) A 3.00 B L
2010/FA ACC*212 PRINCIPLES OF ACCOUNTING II B 3.00 B L
2010/FA ECO*202 PRINCIPLES ECONOMICS II - MICRO B 3.00 S L
2011/SP BUS*100 INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS B 3.00 B L
2011/FA FIN*107 PERSONAL FINANCE C 3.00 E L
EXCELSIOR COLLEGE
2012/FA CCS*100 EC STUDENT EXPERIENCE P 0.00 L
2012/FA BUS*351 MARKETING CONCEPTS AND APPLICATION A 3.00 B U
2012/FA BUS*341 MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS AND APPLICATIONS C 3.00 B U

[eckadoodle]

Do you think that the statistics DSST is easier? I really chose Straighterline because it may be easier  to pass since they use the quizzes throughout the course to help with your grade and thought maybe it would give me a better chance at passing.

Also, anyone who is willing to recommend classes, please feel free. I am looking for affordable options.  I will paste my classes needed and what I have down below. Thanks again! I really need assistance with UL credits. I heard Davar is a good option.

Credits Needed
Mathematics Requirement (pre-calc or above) 3.0
Statistics Requirement 3.0
Natural Science requirement 3.0
Business Data Analysis (formerly Quantitative Analysis) 3.0
Remaining Arts and Sciences Requirement 12.0
Information Literacy 1.0
Introduction to United States Business Law 3.0
Business Communication 3.0
Financial Management 3.0
International Business 3.0
Strategic Management Capstone 3.0
Additional Business Credit 15.0
Upper Level Credits Needed in Business- 15


Courses I have already taken
2001/FA MAT*110 BUSINESS MATHEMATICS I B 2.67 E L
ECPI COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY - VIRGINIA BEACH
2004/SP ENG*205 CRITICAL THINKING A 3.00 H L
2004/SP SPH*150 COMMUNICATION B 3.00 H L
J SARGEANT REYNOLDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
2009/SP ENG*111 COLLEGE COMPOSITION I B 3.00 W L
2009/SP ITE*115 INTRO COMPUTER APP/CONCEPTS A 3.00 B L
2009/FA ENG*112 COLLEGE COMPOSITION II B 3.00 W L
2009/FA PHI*220 ETHICS C 3.00 H L
2009/FA PSY*201 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY I C 3.00 S L
2009/FA HLT*116 INTRO TO PERSONAL WELLNESS C 3.00 E L
2009/FA MTH*120 INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICS C 3.00 N L
2010/SP HIS*121 UNITED STATES HISTORY I A 3.00 S L
2010/SP PSY*230 DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY C 3.00 S L
2010/FA ACC*211 PRINCIPLES OF ACCOUNTING I A 3.00 B L
2010/FA ECO*201 PRINCIPLES ECONOMICS I MACRO B 3.00 S L
2010/FA ITE*140 SPREADSHEET SOFTWARE (EXCEL) A 3.00 B L
2010/FA ACC*212 PRINCIPLES OF ACCOUNTING II B 3.00 B L
2010/FA ECO*202 PRINCIPLES ECONOMICS II - MICRO B 3.00 S L
2011/SP BUS*100 INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS B 3.00 B L
2011/FA FIN*107 PERSONAL FINANCE C 3.00 E L
EXCELSIOR COLLEGE
2012/FA CCS*100 EC STUDENT EXPERIENCE P 0.00 L
2012/FA BUS*351 MARKETING CONCEPTS AND APPLICATION A 3.00 B U
2012/FA BUS*341 MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS AND APPLICATIONS C 3.00 B U

Mathematical req: You can do CLEP PreCalc, it's not that hard if you understand Algebrae
Statistics: I do recommend DSST over Straighterline, the test is better and it's quicker to get the credits and DSST (the company is Prometric) is better known than Straighterline. I used the DSST Statistics for my statistics requirement
Natural Science: Maybe CLEP Biology or CLEP Chemistry, whichever you're better at
The Information Literacy has to be taken at Excelsior, it's not hard and you can go at your own pace.
US Business Law: I don't know, but ask if you can take the CLEP Business Law for this req
And the Capstone has to be taken at Excelsior as well

Hope this helps

[bluebooger]

...

Credits Needed
...
Business Data Analysis (formerly Quantitative Analysis) 3.0
...

why not this https://www.excelsior.edu/exam/quantitative-analysis/

[Fwahls30]

Ha! Thank you. Somehow I missed that. Information overload!!! I will look into the DSST options as well for Pre-Calc and Statistics. I have been out of school for almost 20 years so I will need some refreshing. I have a coupon for straighterline for 50 off membership and 50 off a course so I will use those to maybe fill some electives. I am also doing Modern States for clep vouchers. Thanks for the help!

[dfrecore]

I do recommend DSST over Straighterline, the test is better and it's quicker to get the credits and DSST is better known than Straighterline. 

Just a quick note on this comment: Excelsior does not care if you get your credits from DSST or Straighterline, they only care that they are ACE/NCCRS approved, and both are.  Also, Straighterline is a partner school of EC, so I'm guessing they know them pretty well.

This is a strange argument to make in relation to any of the Big 3; if this was going to be transferred to a school that wasn't known to take ACE then it MIGHT matter but since it's not, it's just weird.

As for taking an exam vs. an online course, it's entirely up to you as to which you think will work better for you.  If you're not up to an exam, then you're probably better off with a course.  If you want to take a free course like Khan Academy to prepare you, then take the exam, that's a good option too.  Neither one is better than the other.

[ROYISAGIRL]

This has nothing to do with anything but we went to the same cc

[Fwahls30]

That's awesome .You must of spent some time in Virginia. I guess my last question for now would be do I really need to get permission before every alternative course or exam I take. I ask because when I ask my advisor about things, I'll get a general response instead of a yes/no. She will also recommend Excelsior exams and courses which is fine because I am taking courses through them with the assistance of my employer but I would like to complete other courses outside of Excelsior. I asked my advisor about Davar a few days ago and did not receive a response as of yet. Don't get me wrong, I love Excelsior and the flexibility. I just want to be able to plan my degree and cost ahead of time. I guess I'm wondering when others completed their degree, did you make a spreadsheet, use this forum, and do your own thing at your own pace? Transfer in things as you took them?  I have four days off and can knock out a bit of work but my advisor insist I ask about a course when I'm ready to take it. Example I asked if Shmoop needed to be proctored or not. She responded with when you get to the course you want to take let me know. That's fine but a simple yes or no would of let me go ahead and complete the courses instead of checking in 1 by 1 if that makes sense. Because it can takes days for a response, it slows me down a little. Thanks all again!

[shadowgem]

Do you think that the statistics DSST is easier? I really chose Straighterline because it may be easier  to pass since they use the quizzes throughout the course to help with your grade and thought maybe it would give me a better chance at passing.

Also, anyone who is willing to recommend classes, please feel free. I am looking for affordable options.  I will paste my classes needed and what I have down below. Thanks again! I really need assistance with UL credits. I heard Davar is a good option.

Credits Needed
Mathematics Requirement (pre-calc or above) 3.0
Statistics Requirement 3.0
Natural Science requirement 3.0
Business Data Analysis (formerly Quantitative Analysis) 3.0
Remaining Arts and Sciences Requirement 12.0
Information Literacy 1.0
Introduction to United States Business Law 3.0
Business Communication 3.0
Financial Management 3.0
International Business 3.0
Strategic Management Capstone 3.0
Additional Business Credit 15.0
Upper Level Credits Needed in Business- 15


Courses I have already taken
2001/FA MAT*110 BUSINESS MATHEMATICS I B 2.67 E L
ECPI COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY - VIRGINIA BEACH
2004/SP ENG*205 CRITICAL THINKING A 3.00 H L
2004/SP SPH*150 COMMUNICATION B 3.00 H L
J SARGEANT REYNOLDS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
2009/SP ENG*111 COLLEGE COMPOSITION I B 3.00 W L
2009/SP ITE*115 INTRO COMPUTER APP/CONCEPTS A 3.00 B L
2009/FA ENG*112 COLLEGE COMPOSITION II B 3.00 W L
2009/FA PHI*220 ETHICS C 3.00 H L
2009/FA PSY*201 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY I C 3.00 S L
2009/FA HLT*116 INTRO TO PERSONAL WELLNESS C 3.00 E L
2009/FA MTH*120 INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICS C 3.00 N L
2010/SP HIS*121 UNITED STATES HISTORY I A 3.00 S L
2010/SP PSY*230 DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY C 3.00 S L
2010/FA ACC*211 PRINCIPLES OF ACCOUNTING I A 3.00 B L
2010/FA ECO*201 PRINCIPLES ECONOMICS I MACRO B 3.00 S L
2010/FA ITE*140 SPREADSHEET SOFTWARE (EXCEL) A 3.00 B L
2010/FA ACC*212 PRINCIPLES OF ACCOUNTING II B 3.00 B L
2010/FA ECO*202 PRINCIPLES ECONOMICS II - MICRO B 3.00 S L
2011/SP BUS*100 INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS B 3.00 B L
2011/FA FIN*107 PERSONAL FINANCE C 3.00 E L
EXCELSIOR COLLEGE
2012/FA CCS*100 EC STUDENT EXPERIENCE P 0.00 L
2012/FA BUS*351 MARKETING CONCEPTS AND APPLICATION A 3.00 B U
2012/FA BUS*341 MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS AND APPLICATIONS C 3.00 B U

Mathematical req: You can do CLEP PreCalc, it's not that hard if you understand Algebrae
Statistics: I do recommend DSST over Straighterline, the test is better and it's quicker to get the credits and DSST (the company is Prometric) is better known than Straighterline. I used the DSST Statistics for my statistics requirement
Natural Science: Maybe CLEP Biology or CLEP Chemistry, whichever you're better at
The Information Literacy has to be taken at Excelsior, it's not hard and you can go at your own pace.
US Business Law: I don't know, but ask if you can take the CLEP Business Law for this req
And the Capstone has to be taken at Excelsior as well

Hope this helps

Will Excelsior not accept the Davar Academy Eng 103 course to meet the Information Literacy requirement?