Getting started with BALS (Template Q&A)

[CiggyTardust]

Usually, we transfer ACE credits after gathering a certain number of credits. This is bcos it costs $ 20 to make the first transfer, and $ 15 for successive transfers. But in this case, you could consider transferring as soon as you complete other TEEX courses. If you only plan to take one course, you should transfer it. TEEX courses expire end of this month, and you want your credits sent in before that.

TEEX courses expire at the end of this month?  Is this dictated by ACE or someone else?  Is this a regular occurrence?  I had no idea!

[davewill]

It's dictated by ACE. Whenever they review a course, and approve it, that approval has an expiration date. It's up to the course provider to get the course renewed before the deadline. Typically, we'll hit these deadlines, then see them extended as the course provider starts to try and get the renewal, but not always.

Actually, you should be fine so long as you complete the courses by the expiration deadline, although it wouldn't be a bad idea to get them onto your ACE transcript immediately. You can send them to TESU when you're ready, that timing won't be affected by the courses expiring.

[CiggyTardust]

Actually, you should be fine so long as you complete the courses by the expiration deadline, although it wouldn't be a bad idea to get them onto your ACE transcript immediately. You can send them to TESU when you're ready, that timing won't be affected by the courses expiring.

How can I stay apprised of these expiration deadlines?  Is there a list somewhere?  I will be sure to get the courses added to my ACE transcript as I complete them.

[mysonx3]

Actually, you should be fine so long as you complete the courses by the expiration deadline, although it wouldn't be a bad idea to get them onto your ACE transcript immediately. You can send them to TESU when you're ready, that timing won't be affected by the courses expiring.

How can I stay apprised of these expiration deadlines?  Is there a list somewhere?  I will be sure to get the courses added to my ACE transcript as I complete them.

If you search a course in the ACE database (like you're going to add it to your transcript), it lists the dates for which the course is approved. Also, when a common one is coming up on its deadline you'll usually hear about it on the forum.

[bjcheung77]

Ciggy, you should do the following FREE courses in this order because of the following.
1) The free Ethics course from the Institutes - 2 UL credits, it's the easiest of them all and ACE expires end of this month
2) The remainder of your TEEX courses - 6 LL credits total, they're the longest of them all and ACE also expires at end of the month
3) The 2 free Sophia courses expire later in the year so you don't have to rush on these - 2 LL credits total.

Note 1: Ethics is 2 credits, you'll need one of the Sophia course to make up 1 credit from the General Education/Free Electives
Note 2: For the BALS, I would place all of these courses into the elective free credits requirements

Since you're starting off, you should start off with the CLEP/MS option unless you're far from a test site or if there is none in your area. I would only recommend the "easier ones" and that doesn't duplicate Onlinedegree.com's offerings. Otherwise, you can start off with the Onlinedegree.com courses and take all of them, as it's 44 credits right there for Gen Ed/Free Electives. Each course at OD.com is only $9 for the exam, the final exam is only worth 40% of the grade, and an added benefit is that you get to do these from the comfort of home!

[MNomadic]

Ciggy, you should do the following FREE courses in this order because of the following.
1) The free Ethics course from the Institutes - 2 UL credits, it's the easiest of them all and ACE expires end of this month
2) The remainder of your TEEX courses - 6 LL credits total, they're the longest of them all and ACE also expires at end of the month
3) The 2 free Sophia courses expire later in the year so you don't have to rush on these - 2 LL credits total.

Note 1: Ethics is 2 credits, you'll need one of the Sophia course to make up 1 credit from the General Education/Free Electives
Note 2: For the BALS, I would place all of these courses into the elective free credits requirements

Since you're starting off, you should start off with the CLEP/MS option unless you're far from a test site or if there is none in your area. I would only recommend the "easier ones" and that doesn't duplicate Onlinedegree.com's offerings. Otherwise, you can start off with the Onlinedegree.com courses and take all of them, as it's 44 credits right there for Gen Ed/Free Electives. Each course at OD.com is only $9 for the exam, the final exam is only worth 40% of the grade, and an added benefit is that you get to do these from the comfort of home!

This is all very solid advice. The TEEX courses are a real chore and although I completed all of them, some find them too unpalatable to complete so don't feel bad if you give up on them.

[CiggyTardust]

This is all very solid advice. The TEEX courses are a real chore and although I completed all of them, some find them too unpalatable to complete so don't feel bad if you give up on them.

Thanks for saying this!  I got through the first one just fine but the second (which goes over wire fraud legislation and other stuff) has been tough.  I thought it was just me 

[MNomadic]

This is all very solid advice. The TEEX courses are a real chore and although I completed all of them, some find them too unpalatable to complete so don't feel bad if you give up on them.

Thanks for saying this!  I got through the first one just fine but the second (which goes over wire fraud legislation and other stuff) has been tough.  I thought it was just me 

Yup. If I remember correctly, the 3rd one gets worse yet.

[quigongene]

This is all very solid advice. The TEEX courses are a real chore and although I completed all of them, some find them too unpalatable to complete so don't feel bad if you give up on them.

Thanks for saying this!  I got through the first one just fine but the second (which goes over wire fraud legislation and other stuff) has been tough.  I thought it was just me 

I work in the field and these were dry AF.

[CiggyTardust]

Here's one for you.

Hi @dfrecore and everyone else 

I've been away for a few weeks because life got hectic but the good news is I'm enrolled at TESU and they sent me back my Academic Evaluation.  When I look it over, it looks a bit different from the plan you laid out for me @dfrecore (see this link for the evaluation).  I'm wondering about the courses you listed under Free Electives in my plan that are now under B: Liberal Stud in the Academic Evaluation--is the evaluation considered the final word or can I structure it as you did in the plan from above?  Now with the discrepancy I'm a bit confused on my path forward so any insights you can offer would be much appreciated.