Plan of action

[publius2k4]

After much help from this forum, I've finally decided on Charter Oak State College. Here's how I came to this decision:

I found bain4weeks.com around 2007. I thought it was a neat idea, but didn't pursue it. Then, I decided to enroll in college and try the traditional DL route. After completing about 75 credits at Western Governors University, I'm burnt out with it. It's a great school, but I'm just tired of it. So I started taking a couple of tests, and applying to each of the big 3. It seems that Charter Oak accepts the most credits, and has credit requirements that I have already met, for the most part. I should only have to take the DSST Public Speaking test, and possibly another CLEP General exam of my choosing. That would leave me with only the cornerstone and capstone to be taken.

The main factors in my choosing Charter Oak were
1. Price
2. Customer Service
3. Most accepting of credits when compared to the other 2 members of the "Big 3"


When I first dreamed of earning my degree by this method (in 2007) I anticipated I would go to Excelsior College, because they didn't require a capstone. Since that time, however, all 3 have begun requiring capstone courses. And meeting Charter Oak's written english requirement is a lot cheaper than meeting Excelsior's.

All of my transcripts are in at Charter Oak, and I'm waiting on my evaluation. If my count is right, I should have around 112 credits (FEMA, Georgia Dept of Corrections, 20 Community College Credits, 6 CLEP, 3 DSST, and 75 WGU Credits).

With any luck, I'll be a college graduate by Christmas

[sanantone]

Charter Oak is the cheapest (when almost completely testing out and your major/concentration options are limited when doing this) and has the best customer service, but I haven't seen anything that would make it the best in accepting credits, in general, besides the GRE subject tests. Excelsior is the best for NA and IT credits and TESC is the best for getting UL credit. It seems that COSC might be the best in accepting your credits, however; but, you're still waiting on an evaluation. You might have a special case with WGU units. At least you finally made a decision on which school is right for you and that's the first step. Good luck!

[rebel100]

I think you'll be happy with your choice (imagine me saying that!). I'm also really anxious to see how they evaluate those WGU courses though...your the first person I've heard of going that way...trailblazer!

[cookderosa]

After much help from this forum, I've finally decided on Charter Oak State College. Here's how I came to this decision:

I found bain4weeks.com around 2007. I thought it was a neat idea, but didn't pursue it. Then, I decided to enroll in college and try the traditional DL route. After completing about 75 credits at Western Governors University, I'm burnt out with it. It's a great school, but I'm just tired of it. So I started taking a couple of tests, and applying to each of the big 3. It seems that Charter Oak accepts the most credits, and has credit requirements that I have already met, for the most part. I should only have to take the DSST Public Speaking test, and possibly another CLEP General exam of my choosing. That would leave me with only the cornerstone and capstone to be taken.

The main factors in my choosing Charter Oak were
1. Price
2. Customer Service
3. Most accepting of credits when compared to the other 2 members of the "Big 3"


When I first dreamed of earning my degree by this method (in 2007) I anticipated I would go to Excelsior College, because they didn't require a capstone. Since that time, however, all 3 have begun requiring capstone courses. And meeting Charter Oak's written english requirement is a lot cheaper than meeting Excelsior's.

All of my transcripts are in at Charter Oak, and I'm waiting on my evaluation. If my count is right, I should have around 112 credits (FEMA, Georgia Dept of Corrections, 20 Community College Credits, 6 CLEP, 3 DSST, and 75 WGU Credits).

With any luck, I'll be a college graduate by Christmas

Charter Oak is the school I'm least familiar with of the big 3, so I don't have any suggestions. Only encouragement, good luck with this plan! If it needs any tweeking, plenty of people will help you. You'll be a degree holder before you know it.

[Daithi]

I thought I would provide this link -- http://www.charteroak.edu/PDF/Official%20Catalog.pdf

I found that information on COSC's degree requirements is a lot clearer in their Official Catalog than it is on their website. Heck, I'm even thinking of changing my plan from TESC to COSC, so I may be seeking advice from Rebel100 myself.

[publius2k4]

I think you'll be happy with your choice (imagine me saying that!). I'm also really anxious to see how they evaluate those WGU courses though...your the first person I've heard of going that way...trailblazer!

As soon as I get my Charter Oak evaluation back, I'll post my evaluations from all of the Big 3 for reference, so people can have an idea of how WGU's credits are viewed. Sanantone, you're right: I misspoke when I said COSC was the most accepting of credits. They just seem to accept more of MY credits than the others. But I could be wrong.....as I said, I still don't have my evaluation back.

[ryoder]

I found bain4weeks in Nov 2010 after having completed a few CLEPs already with a plan to complete my studies at my local university.
By late November I had decided to go straight to TESC and finish a BSBA CIS. I completed my last TESC course in early Feb.
The plan on bain4weeks is not doable any longer but that site was inspirational.

Good luck publius.