Questions from a Clep/Dantes newbie

[Freddie]

Hello all,

I have a question about getting a degree mostly through CLEP/Dantes tests.

Is it difficult to find the readings to study for the tests?

Programs such as College Plus have students taking a CLEP test every 4 weeks. Do you really feel that you know the subject matter?

If you aren't very good at being a self starter, would you recommend instead, just taking the class through a community college where the book list and readings are scheduled out for you?

Do you miss the learning through discussion?

It seems like I would get the basics of a topic, but I might miss out on topics that aren't covered by tests. That there might not be room for exploration. Is that the case?

What sorts of jobs have people gone on to after securing a degree this way?

Is it lonesome? Do you go stir-crazy?

If you've done College Plus, what are the 5 things you wish you'd known before you'd started?

If you've done College Plus, what are the 5 things you would have done differently?

What recommendations do you have to research this? I'm new and need to understand more.

[rick471]

Hello all,

I have a question about getting a degree mostly through CLEP/Dantes tests.

Is it difficult to find the readings to study for the tests?

Programs such as College Plus have students taking a CLEP test every 4 weeks. Do you really feel that you know the subject matter?

If you aren't very good at being a self starter, would you recommend instead, just taking the class through a community college where the book list and readings are scheduled out for you?

Do you miss the learning through discussion?

It seems like I would get the basics of a topic, but I might miss out on topics that aren't covered by tests. That there might not be room for exploration. Is that the case?

What sorts of jobs have people gone on to after securing a degree this way?

Is it lonesome? Do you go stir-crazy?

If you've done College Plus, what are the 5 things you wish you'd known before you'd started?

If you've done College Plus, what are the 5 things you would have done differently?

What recommendations do you have to research this? I'm new and need to understand more.

1. No, there's alot of material online alone that you can use. Check the Exam Specific Threads.

2. CollegePlus! seems legit, but very costly for something you can do on your own with guidance from members on this board. I feel after I study that I know the majority of the information on the individual test.

3. Definitely.

4. I dont miss any form of discussions in class. I like the fact that I can test out of the majority of my classes and save a huge amount of money.

5. Yes. If you want to really know a subject fully, then take the class. Testing out will not get you that, in my opinion.

6. I think your question is too vague. Liberal Arts is not the only degree people are obtaining here. Plus, some people use the bachelor degree to apply for a masters in a different school.

7. No. I dont go to school for social reasons. I just want my degree. Loneliness doesnt factor into the equation.

8 & 9. I havent used CollegePlus. I havent read anything on it on this forum. I'd venture to say most people havent. I dont see the need to pay college type tuition to get your TESC degree when it can be done without CollegePlus. Just my opionion.

Hope this helps.

[Freddie]

Thanks so much for your quick reply. If you don't mind, I'll try to clarify my job prospects questions.

Do you know of anyone who has obtained a job in the field they desired earning their degree in this fashion? Whether you are taking business or liberal arts or whatever subject, surely you need to earn money at some point. Even if you pursue academia, you are likely pursuing a career. Do you feel that you have the preparation you need for the career you are pursuing?

Do you feel you are behind, ahead, or walking in the same stead as those with traditional degrees as far as earning money in your field?

[rick471]

I will give you my scenario as an example.

I had 42 traditional credits from my local community college that I accumulated over the period of 3-4 years.

I am now attending another university taking upper-level classes, while at the same time, trying to test out of anything I can by clep or dantes test.

If I can test out of it, I will. I have tested out of 30 hours so far and have taken 6 hours traditionally. Therefore, I am up to 78 hours.

I will test out of 12 more credits this month at which point I will max out my testable classes. The remainder will be traditional. The traditional classes total about 36 more hours.

I am currently employed, but am getting this degree to further my career by getting higher in the food chain.

I know alot of people are going the EC and TESC route on this board, but several are probably not.

Also, I will go from a sophomore to a senior in the span of 5 months. I am definitely ahead.

[Freddie]

What field are you in, if you don't mind my asking?

[rick471]

Criminal Justice

[GettinMyBA]

Do you know of anyone who has obtained a job in the field they desired earning their degree in this fashion? Whether you are taking business or liberal arts or whatever subject, surely you need to earn money at some point. Even if you pursue academia, you are likely pursuing a career. Do you feel that you have the preparation you need for the career you are pursuing?

Do you feel you are behind, ahead, or walking in the same stead as those with traditional degrees as far as earning money in your field?

Freddie,
When you ask about people who have earned their degrees "in this fashion", it almost sounds as though you might be feeling that there's some scam or impropriety with what we are doing. In a job interview, have you ever had anyone scrutinize how you earned credit for something? If you'll feel more comfortable paying a lot of money to sit in a classroom setting, listening to lectures, and taking 3 to 4 months to accomplish what testing could accomplish in 2 weeks - by all means... do so. The fact is that the tests that we are studying for, and passing, are equivalent to the final exams that are given in the classroom setting. True - we didn't spend 4 months painstakingly reading superfluous text... we are getting right to the meat of what's important. Now, that being said - if it were my intention to perform brain surgery for a living, I would not want to trust just the knowledge gained from a one month cramming session of a REA guide and some electronic "flashcards", nor would I expect anyone to hire me for such a job.

As far as lonliness... uhhhhhhh, I dunno - I guess if lonliness is an important issue, perhaps classroom instruction is better.

[studyhard]

Is it difficult to find the readings to study for the tests?

No. That's one of the benefits of being a College Plus student. They recommend study resources for you for every test.

Programs such as College Plus have students taking a CLEP test every 4 weeks. Do you really feel that you know the subject matter?

Yes. In fact, my sister and I chose to test more oftern than that. What we found worked for us was to do a test a week for three weeks and then take a two-week break.

If you aren't very good at being a self starter, would you recommend instead, just taking the class through a community college where the book list and readings are scheduled out for you?

No, I'd still stick with the CLEPs and DSSTs (faster, cheaper, easier), but I would go ahead and schedule them out in advance so that you have a deadline looming over you that you have to stick to.

Do you miss the learning through discussion?

No. I bounce ideas off my family now and then for discussion, but most of the material is very self-explanatory and doesn't really need a group discussion.

It seems like I would get the basics of a topic, but I might miss out on topics that aren't covered by tests. That there might not be room for exploration. Is that the case?

My philosophy is that I'd rather get the basics and just get the degree out of my hair. Then I am free to explore all I want to on topics that interest me. The classes have been a great way to expose me to new topics but I'd rather check into them in detail later on my own time and concentrate on the degree now.

Is it lonesome? Do you go stir-crazy?

LOL, NO!!!! A primary reason I chose this route is that I'm already so busy with so many things that I don't have time for a traditional college route! Studying is just one more thing that I've added to my schedule of teaching music students, performing in a harp duo, writing for a local paper, volunteering at a local museum, participating in an English Country Dance group, doing Civil War reenacting, and other stuff like that.

If you've done College Plus, what are the 5 things you wish you'd known before you'd started? If you've done College Plus, what are the 5 things you would have done differently?

I've been very happy with College Plus. Yes, they are doing something that an advisor could do for free. However, I've been unimpressed by the advisor system at TESC. They approved my degree audit and I found out LATER by MYSELF that two of the courses overlapped and I couldn't take one that I had initially planned on. Sheesh. To be fair, College Plus didn't catch it either, but then they weren't the ones officially approving my course plan! If you e-mail an advisor at TESC it can take several days to get a response. If you call them, you get a different person every time. There's no personalization to it whatsoever. Whereas, with CP, your coach knows you and you can get in touch with them whenever you need to and you're not just lost in the shuffle somewhere.

Plus, structuring your entire course outline is just kind of overwhelming when it's all new--at least, it was for me. It was helpful to have someone like College Plus do all the legwork for me. They sent me a proposed template and I just tweaked a couple of things here and there.

My coach had gotten her degree through TESC as well and had taken many of the tests that I took. So it was helpful just to be able to talk to someone who had already been there, done that and could answer questions and settle my nervousness.

And, as I said, CP provides a good resource list for the courses. I didn't have to do my own digging to come up with the materials I needed.

Incidentally, don't feel tied to what CP recommends in terms of schedules, "Life Purpose" analysis or the worldview essays they suggest. Those are suggestions and our coach was happy to let us skip that stuff. Not that it's bad stuff--I just didn't need it. I'm not a 17-year-old that's never thought about what I want to do with my life. I've already studied worldviews extensively and know how to apply a Christian one to topics. While those are things they offer if the student (or his parents!) want it, they do not insist on it and you can do what you want.

Basically, CP saves you time, stress, and hassle. Can you get the degree without them? Of course. But I'm glad I went through them---it took a lot of pressure off.

What recommendations do you have to research this? I'm new and need to understand more.

I don't know 'cause I went through College Plus, lol!

[lrgaul]

Hello all,

I have a question about getting a degree mostly through CLEP/Dantes tests.

Is it difficult to find the readings to study for the tests?

Programs such as College Plus have students taking a CLEP test every 4 weeks. Do you really feel that you know the subject matter?

If you aren't very good at being a self starter, would you recommend instead, just taking the class through a community college where the book list and readings are scheduled out for you?

Do you miss the learning through discussion?

It seems like I would get the basics of a topic, but I might miss out on topics that aren't covered by tests. That there might not be room for exploration. Is that the case?

What sorts of jobs have people gone on to after securing a degree this way?

Is it lonesome? Do you go stir-crazy?

If you've done College Plus, what are the 5 things you wish you'd known before you'd started?

If you've done College Plus, what are the 5 things you would have done differently?

What recommendations do you have to research this? I'm new and need to understand more.

[SIZE="2"][COLOR="Navy"]Hi Freddie! I was very interested in your post and I figured that I would drop you a line and attempt to answer your questions.

First, I think it is noteworthy to mention that not everyone is taking mostly CLEP/DANTES exams to earn their degree. In fact, I have found them to be very practical for a strong number of situations. In my case, I attend the University of Maryland University College FT. I also supplement this experience with "on campus" mathematics classes at my local community college because math is not my strong suit :p and the credits at my local community college are MUCH cheaper than the ones through my university.

The beauty of CLEP/DANTES for me has been that I can transfer up to 60 credits earned through examinations AND still earn a traditional degree. This will allow me to complete my entire degree in just under 2-years! More importantly, I was able to move straight into my upper-level courses since I expressed my interest in "CLEPPING" out of my generals. Not a bad solution at all!

You have to decide what the best solution is for you. I definitely believe that you need to be a motivated self-starter if you are going to follow the path that I have chosen to earn my degree. However, I will not hesitate to add that I believe you will need that skill to be successful in any pursuit. CLEP and DANTES will challenge you in any case and you will have to study for sure. I can tell you that I am a 4.0GPA right now and the information that I have learned through studying for CLEP or DANTES exams has definitely offered me a great foundation to be successful in my upper-level courses so far!

As for your questions about the "social" aspect of credit by examination options, this seems like an unusual concern if it is coming from an adult learner. I can certainly understand this concern in the case of a traditional student; however, adult learners typically have more social integration through work, marriage, parenting, and other obligations than they can handle as it is. For heaven's sake, I would LOVE to be lonely for at least one entire day![/COLOR][/SIZE]

[Runner4064]

OK here's my 2-cents. About half of my education was done through traditional college. The rest through distance edu.
I guess traditional college was ok when I just got out of high school. I didn't know different so it was the norm. However now that I'm a bit older if I had to go back to a traditional B&M school I'd lose my mind. I have friends in traditional colleges and see the hell they go through with petty teachers, idiot academic advisors, MOUNTAINS or RED TAPE, inflexible schedules (this is huge if you have responsibilities), and "retarded pookie's" who spout about the merits of a war they know nothing about while a soldier who just returned is forced to listen to this garbage so everyone has "equal time." The only way I would attend a B&M school again is in a grad program from a top tier school on a full ride with a hefty stipend.

I AM SO thankful this option is available, you have no idea. I no longer have to navigate around other peoples stupidity and schedules. As far as learning. My take is this:

1) College is like a spoke in a wheel. It's a critical part of an education but is by no means a complete education.

2) You get what you want. If you seriously want to learn the stuff you will. I don't care if it's clep, DSST, portfolio, online, etc. As with ANYTHING you can learn enough to B.S. your way through or you can delve into something and know it. You don't need college to do this. For example when I did the B&M option I shoveled so much B.S. I should have worn rubber boots to class. In retrospect I'm not proud of this but I was young and had to hurry up so I could drink my body weight in beer...nightly:o
Conversely. I've learned enough from DSST to easily go "blow for blow" with my traditional counterpart. To study, I'll often augment books with other methods. For example when I was studying DSST- Civil war I read multiple books, bought documentaries, and even went to California's largest civil war reenactment and talked to people who are into this. For Russian History I loaded for bear! The result? I'm a tutor at a local college in this subject. Could I bluff my way through this stuff? Sure. Do I? No.
I'm not a kid who's parents mandated them to go to school. I'm in school because I want to be. I take it seriously- lest I be a dumb-ass with a degree. To put it in analogous terms it would be like getting a Black-belt without earning it- in the end you are a paper tiger- and a target.

Is it lonely? I've been watching this forum for a few months and have been a member for a few days. There is MORE comradery and help floating around this forum than in all of the time I was in traditional college.

Sorry this was a bit long to to summarize the most important point. It's up to you. You can learn as much or as little as you want- regardless of the type of school.