Starting out

[Lunita]

I will try to keep this short, I'm sorry if this is very newbie, I tried reading some threads but quickly realized that the advice was so specific and full of acronyms that, well, it might be better to just reach out. I'm a homeschooling mom. My daughter will be starting 8th grade next year. We live in NJ and she wants to study English. Just for background. We have actively started preparing for next year's potential CLEPs. I figured that it could work for homeschool even if the credit doesn't transfer. 

My question is this, what would be the best way to get rid of not major related pre-requisite type classes in math/science? When I was in college, I took classes aptly named "Math for Liberal Arts Majors" and "Rocks for Jocks". Whereas, the only classes that, say, Rutgers, seems to accept as a transfer is AP Calculus. Is there a way to not take such a hard course, yet still get rid of math/science pre-requisites while still in HS? Or, would we need to do DE at a community college to ensure transfer? 
Any further advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[rachel83az]

DE might be an option for you, but depending on how much it costs locally, a better option might be for her to pursue an Associate's degree using TEL Learning: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/TEL_Learning The credits won't transfer in a block, but they'd still knock out most gen ed requirements at most schools.

If you live in NJ, working toward a TESU English degree could be a good option: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...ts_Roadmap
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan

Most sources listed on those two pages accept HS students. The exception is ONU (Olivet Nazarene) which requires students to graduate from high school before they'll be accepted.

[ss20ts]

Every school has different requires for their general education requirements. I finished my BLS last year and the lowest level math course accepted was College Algebra. Nothing like Rocks for Jocks was available. Many schools have gotten away from these "dumbed down" type of courses because in many careers you need to be able to use algebra and things like proper grammar/spelling which we're all losing thanks to technology. Technology is currently telling me we're is spelled wrong even though we and are is a contraction.

Can she take AP exams as a homeschooler in Jersey? Some colleges will accept certain CLEP exams. Many schools are picky on which ones they accept. Does she want to go to a school like Rutgers or does she want to go on an alternative route where she can use ACE credits?

[bjcheung77]

@OP - Grade 8 is the perfect start for AP and CLEP/MS, if you want to take some ACE/NCCRS courses, that would work as well. I suggest starting off with courses that interest your daughter, there is no need to rush, take the CLEPs slowly and surely until you are ready for the next CLEP as there really isn't a set order to get these credits...

Further to this, I suggest when they're in grade 10 or later, take courses at the community college as dual enrollment, it can be online or if you prefer, on campus if it's near. The main goal is to educate your daughter and obtain college credit at the same time, you should be able to get enough credits for an Associates by the time she graduates HS.

If your daughter wants a real challenge, during the next few years, try to slowly get up to 90 credits with the ACE, AP & CLEP/MS options towards a Bachelors of her choice, be it Business, Liberal Studies or whatever. Keep that door open to higher education, the ACE/AP/CLEP will practically be "3" years of college education at a fraction of the price.

[carrythenothing]

NJ Transfer might be quite useful if your daughter decides to take classes at a community college and attend a 4-year college/university in NJ: https://njtransfer.org/faq/

Rutgers University - New Brunswick also recently announced their Scarlet Guarantee: https://www.rutgers.edu/news/rutgers-uni...access-and

[Lunita]

@OP - Grade 8 is the perfect start for AP and CLEP/MS, if you want to take some ACE/NCCRS courses, that would work as well.  I suggest starting off with courses that interest your daughter, there is no need to rush, take the CLEPs slowly and surely until you are ready for the next CLEP as there really isn't a set order to get these credits...

Further to this, I suggest when they're in grade 10 or later, take courses at the community college as dual enrollment, it can be online or if you prefer, on campus if it's near.  The main goal is to educate your daughter and obtain college credit at the same time, you should be able to get enough credits for an Associates by the time she graduates HS.

If your daughter wants a real challenge, during the next few years, try to slowly get up to 90 credits with the ACE, AP & CLEP/MS options towards a Bachelors of her choice, be it Business, Liberal Studies or whatever.  Keep that door open to higher education, the ACE/AP/CLEP will practically be "3" years of college education at a fraction of the price.

Thank you,
What is MS? NCCRS? I also see  LL and RA mentioned around here, no idea what that means. Oh, and since I am shamelessly asking, what is CSMlearning and is it worth it?
I have been thinking that an Associate degree might be an option, my only concern is having difficulty in transferring those credits. It's hard to break free from the usual path, but for all I know, we might end up doing everything online like some other folks here.

[carrythenothing]

Thank you,
What is MS? NCCRS? I also see  LL and RA mentioned around here, no idea what that means. Oh, and since I am shamelessly asking, what is CSMlearning and is it worth it?
I have been thinking that an Associate degree might be an option, my only concern is having difficulty in transferring those credits. It's hard to break free from the usual path, but for all I know, we might end up doing everything online like some other folks here.

MS: Modern States
NCCRS: National College Credit Recommendation Service (provides credit recommendations, similar to ACE or the American Council on Education)
LL: Lower-level
UL: Upper-level
RA: Regionally accredited or regional accreditation
NA: Nationally accredited or national accreditation
CSMlearn: https://csmlearn.com/

You might also see some other terms: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Common_Terms

[Lunita]

Every school has different requires for their general education requirements. I finished my BLS last year and the lowest level math course accepted was College Algebra. Nothing like Rocks for Jocks was available. Many schools have gotten away from these "dumbed down" type of courses because in many careers you need to be able to use algebra and things like proper grammar/spelling which we're all losing thanks to technology. Technology is currently telling me we're is spelled wrong even though we and are is a contraction.

Can she take AP exams as a homeschooler in Jersey? Some colleges will accept certain CLEP exams. Many schools are picky on which ones they accept. Does she want to go to a school like Rutgers or does she want to go on an alternative route where she can use ACE credits?

What are ACE credits and how do we go about getting them? I've only heard of CLEP and APs. She can take both AP and CLEP, I mean as a homeschooler. And we have a CC close by, so that would also work. As for math, she just started working on College Math for CLEP, hopefully won't be too overwhelming.

---

DE might be an option for you, but depending on how much it costs locally, a better option might be for her to pursue an Associate's degree using TEL Learning: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/TEL_Learning The credits won't transfer in a block, but they'd still knock out most gen ed requirements at most schools.

If you live in NJ, working toward a TESU English degree could be a good option: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...ts_Roadmap
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan

Most sources listed on those two pages accept HS students. The exception is ONU (Olivet Nazarene) which requires students to graduate from high school before they'll be accepted.

Wow, you guys have all the resources lined up. Thank you very much! As for CSMlearn, yeah or nay? LL = pre-requisites, like when it says you need 2 maths and 2 sciences if you are not pursuing those careers?

[dfrecore]

My advice, if your daughter doesn't yet know what she wants to do, is take actual courses (online or in-person) from schools that are free or cheap. Really basic things like English Comp I, Intro to Psych, Intro to Bio w/Lab, College Algebra, etc, will transfer to almost any college out there.

RA is your best bet. I would not do CLEP if you're not yet sure that you want to go to a school that will take them, as the college-level course will be a better bet for you at this point in time.

If you start to get to the point where you decide that TESU is the way you want to go (in-state, and they have an English degree), THEN start to incorporate ACE, NCCRS, etc. Until then, there's not a huge rush to collect alternative college credit.

[P226mem]

seconding dfrecore's suggestions about the alternative credit wait.

Homeschooling: I'd like to suggest looking at Dual Credit at Home's free video course to introduce a lot of the terms and how to's when still in high school. https://dualcreditathome.com/college-degree-roadmap/ that group also has its own path for studying for cleps etc. Our family didn't use that part. just the free stuff.
and/or check out a website called homeschooling for college credit in their section called "parents start here" https://homeschoolingforcollegecredit.com/

Both of those will help to learn the ropes before figuring out classes and exams and such for the approaches that impact designing high school and college. Then more of this forum will make sense.