Homeschool: Transcript & TESC help!

[hahtjh]

Hi!
I'm hoping another homeschooling parent can help me out with this one. I will be graduating my high schooler this year. He has accumulated 33 credits through CLEPS, DSSTs, and Straighterline courses and is pursuing BSAST in I.T. with TESC. We are considering beginning the admissions process with them (holding off on enrollment) but hoping to have access to the credit evaluation. So my questions...
When I create his highschool transcript for TESC should it include the CLEPS & Straighterline courses OR do I create two separate transcripts (one for highschool and one for CBE's)?
Also, currently his CBE's are still on file with the college board. When should I have those sent to TESC? And if I do have them sent, are they ever transferable to another college?
Lastly, any other homeschoolers have experience with the letter of appeal to TESC? Should it be written by me as a parent or by my son? Any tips to help with acceptance due to him being under 21?
So thankful for the help!
Heather

[cookderosa]

Hi!
I'm hoping another homeschooling parent can help me out with this one. I will be graduating my high schooler this year. He has accumulated 33 credits through CLEPS, DSSTs, and Straighterline courses and is pursuing BSAST in I.T. with TESC. We are considering beginning the admissions process with them (holding off on enrollment) but hoping to have access to the credit evaluation. So my questions...
When I create his highschool transcript for TESC should it include the CLEPS & Straighterline courses OR do I create two separate transcripts (one for highschool and one for CBE's)?
Also, currently his CBE's are still on file with the college board. When should I have those sent to TESC? And if I do have them sent, are they ever transferable to another college?
Lastly, any other homeschoolers have experience with the letter of appeal to TESC? Should it be written by me as a parent or by my son? Any tips to help with acceptance due to him being under 21?
So thankful for the help!
Heather

Congratulations to your son!! 33 credits is rockin!

1. You don't create a transcript "for" TESC, you actually create it for your son's permanent record- he'll need it a dozen times in his life, so you'll do it once officially, and then send copies to wherever/whenever from now forward.

2. One transcript. YOU will decide how you want to award high school credit, colleges will decide how/if they want to award college credit. So, for instance, let's say he took American Literature CLEP. You'll identify the class on his transcript as "American Literature" and the appropriate credits (1) and his grade you are giving him. Now, the fact that he took the CLEP also as part of that class (much like the way an Advanced Placement student might take the AP exam at year's end) you can -if you choose- indicate that the CLEP exam was taken as part of that class, maybe by an asterisk or footnote. In addition, FAILING A CLEP doesn't mean they don't get high school credit. So, try and keep them as individual events in your mind.
I hesitate to urge you in one direction or another because it's like chocolate/vanilla- all preference. Another homeschool parent here (Shawn, can you chime in?) will say absolutely yes indicate that they took the CLEP, while I am in the other camp. My son's transcripts do not indicate CLEP exams.

3. Straighterline. This is just curriculum- so if he took the Biology 1 with Lab course for 4 credits, it will appear on his high school transcript as "Biology w/Lab" 1 credit and the grade. In any subject the brand of curriculum isn't listed on the transcript (you wouldn't list "Saxon Algebra" you'd list "Algebra 1" etc. ) You have the freedom to award your own grade and not use his SL grade, you are the high school, so how YOU award credit/grades is up to you. Again, you can footnote or asterisk that this was a college credit ACE evaluated course if you want.

*know that your indication of college credit on his high school transcript will NOT mean that he gets college credit. That is up to the receiving school (TESC, or whoever), which is why I don't bother listing it as such. You can, if you'd like, indicate "College Level" or "College Prep" or "Honors" or some other phrase if you'd like when writing the course title. I'd emphasize keeping it simple.

4. College Board keeps records for 20 years, no worries on them expiring. Since he is applying now, you can put in a transcript request to College Board and SL right now- TESC will do an eval when everything comes in. It seems a little chaotic, but it should all wind up in his unofficial evaluation when they write it. If something is missing, an email to TESC letting them know will generate a new eval when all transcripts are received.

5. College Board documents, SL documents, high school documents are all original sources. So, if he later applies to another school (like grad school) he'll need to send original sources. In that case, it will be College board, SL/ACE, high school, AND TESC. Having a TESC transcript that houses TESC courses is only "original" for TESC courses. In other words, there is never a real merger of credit. He will ALWAYS have individual transcripts for each of the sources.

6. Letter of appeal- easy, 10 minute quick request. Written by your son if he's over 18, by you if he's under. There have been several here who have shared their letters, you might find some in the archives or someone might feel generous to share...but again, simplicity is all that's required. They want to know he's capable of doing college work, which he is, evidenced by already holding college credit.

Hope that helps Heather!

[Devanna]

Hi!
Lastly, any other homeschoolers have experience with the letter of appeal to TESC? Should it be written by me as a parent or by my son? Any tips to help with acceptance due to him being under 21?
So thankful for the help!
Heather

When I wrote mine I listed my academic achievements (for your son this would be accumulating 33 credits in high school) and my GPA and then I did some buttering up, talking about how TESC and I had similar goals (I think) and it seemed to be the best fit for me, etc and then said all this was why I felt I should be accepted to TESC.

They basically want to make sure that if they let your son in he will do well (and give them lots of money, lol). I think he's basically proved he will, it shouldn't be too difficult for him to get into TESC.

Here are some threads where other homeschoolers talk about the letter:

http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...ppeal.html
http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...ption.html
http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...-tesc.html

[HorseManiac]

I was homeschooled the whole way and started testing in 10th grade. Cookderosa gave you great advice. She definitely knows what she's talking about. Like she said, it's pretty much your preference. For my transcript, my mom listed all my high school courses, the high school credits earned, and the grade. Then she starred all the courses that I also took a CLEP for and on a separate page she listed all my college courses/tests, the score/grade, and the credits recommended. Again, that's what we did...doesn't mean that what is best for you, but hopefully it gives you an idea.