My Time is Running Out

[ExpeditedInfo]

Back in 2009 I decided to get an easier job than waiting tables, so I took the LSAT that year, scored a 172, and have been working as an LSAT instructor ever since. Now I'd like to go to Law School, having the LSAT score and all, but it expires soon: August 5th, 2014. So that's the timeframe I'm working with. I need to apply to Law Schools before then. But I need a college degree first.

I have been to school: three semesters (89-90; 93) at UMass, one semester (92) at Palomar Community College, one semester (95) at Florida Keys Community College, and two semesters at Harvard Extension School (mid-2000s.) I've managed to amass a fairly spectacularly bad GPA over those years. I plan on not using any of that schooling toward my degree.

What I'd like to do is to quickly bang out a 4.0 at one of the Big Three. This may not be at all feasible- or it may be only just barely plausible- but if it's even remotely plausible I'd like to give it a shot.

In the last three weeks I picked up 33 credits by CLEP: 12 today (Spanish) 6 yesterday (English Lit) 6 earlier this week (American Lit) and two weeks ago I took Sociology (3) and English Comp (6, if I passed.)

I believe that I can complete 27 FEMA courses by the end of the year: 1 per day should get me there. I actually took 2 tonight.
The 27 FEMAs and the 33 credits I've earned would add up to 60.

Next week I plan to take the Biology CLEP (6) and the Anthropology DSST (3)
The following week I plan on taking Human Cultural Anthropology DSST (3) and College Math CLEP (6.)

Assuming that I pass all 4 planned tests over next two weeks, and that I both can and do complete 27 FEMAs, and that there's no overlap among the credits... that's still only 78 credits. I'd still have to complete at least 42 credits to get a degree. And these will have all been lower level classes. Would it be possible to cheaply CLEP my way to any sort of Bachelor's degree by spring, at any of the three colleges? If so is any of these ways significantly cheaper than any other?

By the way, I'm aware of the fact that even if I do get a 4.0, it'll be massively watered down by all of my past college experience.

Thanks!

[corpsole2]

It is impressive that you are going at warp speed to earn credits. Not many can do that.

Do you have any idea as to what your major will be? A few friends of mine who recently graduated law school said they are more inclined to accept students who have a liberal arts degree, as you generally have more practice at writing and thinking critically.

I banged out 78 credits in eighteen months via Straighterline. Twenty six courses at about one course per week when I didn't have to do a writing course. So that is an option if you don't want to exclusively test out of a subject.

If you could post your courses and the credits you earned for us on this forum, we might be able to help out. Ultimately I would advise you have your credits evaluated by any of the Big Three. My alma mater, Thomas Edison State College, allows you to "bank" credits without enrolling. You would be able to transfer your credits in and see how they fit into the degree requirements in real time without having to pay tuition.

Keep in mind, also, that the Big Three are starting to not allow you to just test out of a degree. If you use financial aid, TESC wants you to take at least one course through them prior to graduating. It is a good idea since it gives you a letter grade. They also are starting to require students to take their capstone course prior to graduating. I am finishing that course, and it really isn't as difficult as it sounds; it just takes a lot of time, especially if you are used to testing and getting same day credit.

I am amazed that a person could take the LSAT without a college degree. I didn't think it was allowed. I'm thinking about taking it early summer 2014, along with the GMAT, and see who bites first. ;-)

[KayV]

Wow, congrats on earning so many credits so quickly! You should seriously consider TESC, because they do not use grades in transfer- it goes on their record as credit, not a letter grade. Also, they will take "D for Diploma" grades for everything but English Composition and classes in the major. Thus, your total GPA of record could be determined solely by your Capstone grade. As you mention, though, law schools will look at your past college experience too.

[UptonSinclair]

I am not sure if this applies at law school, but most of the graduate programs I have looked at only calculate the last 60 credits toward your GPA for enrollment. In addition, every school I have applied to for undergraduate degree required all undergraduate work to be submitted. Be careful if there is any undergraduate work you don't disclose. It would suck to run into academic integrity issues.

[cookderosa]

As mentioned, clearly you're able to amass credit, but how do you plan on getting a 4.0 GPA? IN MY OPINION, you should send 100% of your transcripts to TESC and enroll in one full 12-credit quarter. You said your old GPA isn't great, but "I think" it's easier to spin a story about why you had poor old grades a million years ago when you're pulling A's at TESC, you can argue upward trajectory. Your transfer credit WILL NOT appear on your TESC transcript as graded (cr.) so your GPA will be whatever your TESC courses are. I also think, though I'm not sure, that you have to disclose all credits on your law school application, which might be like med school, and they construct an overall GPA from everything, but again, I wouldn't give that much thought. Send in your transcripts!

[ExpeditedInfo]

Apparently you guys don't think I'm totally insane, and I hope you're right.

Corpsole2, check out this link: About the LSAT. It's nowhere near as intimidating as you night think. Also, thanks! As to my major: I don't really care, whatever is fastest and cheapest. Given my knowledge set, probably English or Liberal Arts, but if IT were faster/cheaper, I'd be happy with that.

Jennifer and Upton, I'm aware of the fact that I have to disclose all former transcripts to Law Schools, but that's thanks to old posts I found here originally posted by Jennifer! Thanks Jennifer, seeing you respond made me feel like I was noticed by a rock star.

KayV, and everyone else, one thing I have to constantly keep in mind is that I'm not made of money. Actually, it's kind of the opposite. (Working for Test Prep companies turns out not to be the way to make bank. Who knew?!) Given that, the idea of paying $6,000 for a full 12 credit course at TESC, not including their $3000 fee, would put this whole thing in the area of fantasy land for me. I need not just fast, I need cheap. I could probably dig up $5000 max over the next 4 months to invest in this.

I'm just looking for the most cost effective way to get ANY degree, from scratch, using the CLEPS I mentioned, and may main problem seems to be finding cheap Upper Level courses. Where are those guys?!

Having said that early this next week I'll try to dig up my grades. The only one I know off hand is this...

1992 Spring
ENG 236 CREATIVE WRITING 3.00 3.00 B 9.000
FREN 101 ELEMENTARY FRENCH 5.00 0.00 F 0.000
MUS 175 MUSIC READING FOR GUITAR 1.00 0.00 F 0.000

...which is probably pretty indicative of my overall record.
Wait! Got this:

Term Course Title Instructor Grade Credit Status Credits Earned
Fall Term 2004 EXPO E-25B Acad Writing, Critical Reading Ringel B minus UN 4
Fall Term 2004 GOVT E-1029 Genocide Meierhenrich E UN 0
Fall Term 2004 GOVT E-1064 Religion,Liberalism,Democracy Feldman B minus UN 4
Fall Term 2004 GOVT E-1800 Intro/International Relations Rezvani B plus UN 4
Spring Term 2004 ECON E-1040 Strategy,Conflict,Cooperation Neugeboren C plus UN 4
Spring Term 2004 ENVR E-130 Global Climate Change Weiskel E UN 0
Spring Term 2004 LSTU E-105 International Criminal Law Gillerman B plus UN 4

The above lists are only missing the 3 semesters of UMass (for which I have probably very little credit) and the 1 semester of FKCC (ditto.)

[sanantone]

The easiest and fastest degree to complete will be one in liberal arts/studies or a self-designed degree like TESC's Learner Designed Area of Study or COSC's Individualized Studies. Other fast and easy degrees to complete are business administration, psychology, and social science. History and humanities are somewhat easy to complete.

If you really want to use those FEMA credits, you might as well drop Excelsior off the list since they don't take FEMAs raw. COSC might be your best bet since they'll give grades for two-digit DSSTs, Uexcel, and Straighterline. However, you will have to attend there for a minimum of two semesters since you can't complete the required cornerstone and capstone course within the same semester. If you find it too time consuming to meet the UL requirements at COSC, then TESC would be the next best option.

COSC would also be the cheapest option for fees unless you choose TESC's Per Credit Tuition Plan and meet the residency requirements with TECEPs, but taking courses under this plan will cost $476 per credit hour (although, it's not required). The TECEPs are only $36 per credit hour and you wouldn't have to pay the enrollment fee, but TECEPs aren't graded. COSC's tuition is higher than TESC's so the savings on the enrollment fee will diminish the more courses you take.

I only have test out plans for TESC. People have posted their personal degree plans for the other two schools, but most of them are outdated.
http://degreeforum.wikia.com/wiki/Sanant...Management
http://degreeforum.wikia.com/wiki/Sanant...Psychology
http://degreeforum.wikia.com/wiki/Sanant...al_Science
http://degreeforum.wikia.com/wiki/Sanant...athematics
http://degreeforum.wikia.com/wiki/Sanant...Humanities
http://degreeforum.wikia.com/wiki/Sanant...in_History

[Prloko]

Considering the fact that you're an LSAT rockstar and taught the course, why not just take it again, and go a little slower with college and try to get many graded credits that will negate the old stuff? From what I understand, if you're not in a top law school, its tough to get work as a lawyer. What law school are you going to impress with a CLEP degree and a bunch of F's? I would try to get a lot of graded credit if I were you.

[Daithi]

ExpeditedInfo,

That's an outstanding LSAT score! A 172 LSAT with a 4.0 GPA is just about an automatic acceptance into a T14 law school. However, your GPA will most likely be problematic whichever way you go. Nevertheless, if I were in your shoes, I'd probably do exacly what you are planning -- get a quick degree with a 4.0 and take my chances. Basically, your relying on the fact that the top schools are competing for students with high LSATs and GPAs, for no other reason than U.S. News uses them heavily in their rankings. With this in mind, it may be easier to explain your one course 4.0 GPA, acquired as a result of earning a degree in a non-traditional manner, so as to be able to take advantage of your high LSAT score. I just don't see one of the T14 schools accepting a poor GPA no matter what the reason -- whereas they might accept the single course 4.0 GPA. If you had the time, you could take several courses at a traditional university to prove you can earn a 4.0, but it doesn't look like you have that time. Your working as an LSAT instructor, references, and if your are an under represented minority may play major roles as well. (My apologies for disagreeing with cookderosa )

I've laid out a BA in Liberal Studies at TESC that it sounds like you could knock out fairly quickly based on your current progress. I've included the courses/CBEs you have already taken and the ones you indicated you planned on taking. I hope this helps.

Please keep us informed on your progress and let us know which schools accept you as well.

================================================================================================================

BA in Liberal Studies Credit Distribution

Subject Category__________________________________________Credits
I. General Education Requirements______________________________60
A. Intellectual and Practical Skills [IPS]_____________________15
___CLEP___ENC-101/102 College Composition______________________(6)*__Meets English Composition I/II Requirements
___CLEP___MAT-102/103 College Mathematics______________________(6)*__Meets College-Level Math Course Requirements
___CLEP___COS-101 Information Systems & Computer Applications__(3)___Meets Remaining IPS Credit Requirements

B. Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World [HCPNW]___18
____CLEP__SPA-101/102/201/202 Spanish Language________________(12)*__Meets Humanities & Remaining HCPNW Credit Requirements
____DSST__GOG-120 Human/Cultural Geography_____________________(3)*__Meets Social Sciences Requirements
____DSST__AST-101 Astronomy____________________________________(3)___Meets Natural Sciences Requirements

C. Personal and Social Responsibility [PSR]_____________________9
___DSST___PHI-287 Ethics in America____________________________(3)___Meets Responsible Ethical Leadership Requirement
___DSST___ANT-101 General Anthropology_________________________(3)*__Meets Diversity/Global Literacy Requirement
___CLEP___SOC-101 Introduction to Sociology____________________(3)*__Meets Remaining PSR Credit Requirements

D. General Education Electives_________________________________18
___CLEP___BIO-111/112-CE Biology_______________________________(6)*
___CLEP___LIT-291/292 Analyzing and Interpreting Literature____(6)
___CLEP___NAS-101/102 Natural Sciences_________________________(6)

II. Area of Study: Liberal Studies_____________________________33
___CLEP___PSY-101 Introductory Psychology______________________(3)
___CLEP___LIT-205/206 American Literature______________________(6)*
___CLEP___LIT-208/209 English Literature_______________________(6)*
___DSST___CIS-301 Management Information Systems_______________(3) UL
___DSST___SOS-305 Substance Abuse______________________________(3) UL
___DSST___PHI-384 Business Ethics and Society__________________(3) UL
___DSST___PSY-361 Organizational Behavior______________________(3) UL
___DSST___REL-405 Introduction to World Religions______________(3) UL
___TESC___LIB-495 Liberal Arts Capstone________________________(3) UL__The only course that will have an actual grade.

III. Free Electives____________________________________________27
___FEMA Courses_______________________________________________(27)*

[sanantone]

How would the one course, 4.0 GPA work if the law school is going to see all of the transcripts? The OP is still going to have to boost the cumulative GPA.