Study.com is switching to non-proctored and open-book exams

[homeschoolmom1]

I just realized that the new College Starter plan is only available to new study.com subscribers. Our son has cancelled his subscription because he is currently working on some certificates on Coursera, and when he goes to study.com to reactivate the account, only the Premium and the College Saver plans are available at the old price. A quick email to customer service confirmed that the College Starter plan is not available to him. What a bummer! I expect that that will change in the future due to disgruntled old customers, but for now we are holding off of reactivating because now we are upset about that sort of treatment of old customers.

[Jonathan Whatley]

I just realized that the new College Starter plan is only available to new study.com subscribers. Our son has cancelled his subscription because he is currently working on some certificates on Coursera, and when he goes to study.com to reactivate the account, only the Premium and the College Saver plans are available at the old price. A quick email to customer service confirmed that the College Starter plan is not available to him. What a bummer! I expect that that will change in the future due to disgruntled old customers, but for now we are holding off of reactivating because now we are upset about that sort of treatment of old customers.

From the study.com customer support knowledge base:

Can I switch into one of the new College level plans if I am an existing member?
and Can I switch into one of the new College level plans if I was a past member?

indicate that if an existing member cancels their current account, or becomes a past member, they may sign up for the new College Starter plan or the new format College Saver plan (the new format being chapter tests required, quizzes not required), using a different email address. Progress in a course will not transfer from the old account to the new.

[homeschoolmom1]

It seems disingenuous though. We are not doing that. They need to change it so that existing members can register for the College Starter plan. Otherwise, we are doing Sophia.

Also, if you create 2 different SDC accounts with 2 different email addresses (1 with the College Starter and one with College Saver plan) would that not cause issues with transfer to Credly? Isn't Credly attached to the user's email account?

[jg_nuy]

It seems disingenuous though. We are not doing that. They need to change it so that existing members can register for the College Starter plan. Otherwise, we are doing Sophia.

Also, if you create 2 different SDC accounts with 2 different email addresses (1 with the College Starter and one with College Saver plan) would that not cause issues with transfer to Credly? Isn't Credly attached to the user's email account?

You can add more emails to the same Credly account. We did when our son had an issue with his original email. Gets a little tricky to remember sometimes.

[bjcheung77]

Please take some time to review the thread here in regards to the new Study.com subscriptions, also take some time to review their FAQ
Link: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...cing-95-mo

[Harrynguyen]

It doesn't make sense to get any other plans other than the saver plan. The saver should be your only option as that's what could get you the college credits.

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It seems disingenuous though. We are not doing that. They need to change it so that existing members can register for the College Starter plan. Otherwise, we are doing Sophia.

Also, if you create 2 different SDC accounts with 2 different email addresses (1 with the College Starter and one with College Saver plan) would that not cause issues with transfer to Credly? Isn't Credly attached to the user's email account?

You can add more emails to the same Credly account. We did when our son had an issue with his original email. Gets a little tricky to remember sometimes.

You could make 2 Study accounts? That's not against the TOS?

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Just for reference - https://support.study.com/support/soluti...re-courses-

[Jonathan Whatley]

It doesn't make sense to get any other plans other than the saver plan. The saver should be your only option as that's what could get you the college credits.

They just introduced a College Starter plan for $95/mo., with college credit but with a smaller selection of courses than College Saver which is still $235/mo.

You could make 2 Study accounts? That's not against the TOS?

Study.com directly suggests, in their customer support knowledge base posts linked above, that the same person can cancel then create a new account using a different email address.

[bjcheung77]

Study.com probably has gained more students in the current market share with their recent change, their new pricing is really awesome. I think the reason that returning students can't get in on this deal is because of a hefty make over or overhaul of the system to allow regular students to change between the memberships, that's why they allow multiple accounts, you would finish your current subscription and cancel, create a new account...

Previously, it was $235/month for 2 exams, $70/extra exam, up to a total of 5 per month, that's up to $445 if you wanted to take 5/month. When you change to a new account, you get 67 classes on their $95/month College Starter (a few are actually upper level, depending on the institution), students taking classes not related to any of their previous studies, shouldn't be affected much, you get more classes completed for cheaper, easier, faster.

It's going to be virtually the same for Sophia.org and Study.com as they have 75 and 67 classes on that price point... Depending on the institution you're going to graduate from, their classes may come in as lower level or upper level. Even though Study.com's College Starter account is for lower level credit, just like Sophia.org, they have a small sample that's actually upper level.

Now, for those taking the College Saver, the pricing remains at $235/month, you get all 220+ classes and upper level ones you're looking for, unlimited classes that month, but 3 classes at a time. Even if you finish your current studies, cancel the membership, and start a new account, you're getting access to more classes, effectively, making this cheaper, easier, faster to complete than before.

[Harrynguyen]

You could make 2 Study accounts? That's not against the TOS?

Study.com directly suggests, in their customer support knowledge base posts linked above, that the same person can cancel then create a new account using a different email address.

Oh wow, so let's say you finished a few courses and transferred the credits in from the old account. You could delete the account and make a new one, but would you be able to take advantage of the promotion of being a new customer?

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Idk to me it doesn't make sense of creating a 2nd account. It serves no purpose, I saw the new plan and I don't really like it. I think $235/m is a lot but it's whatever.

[bjcheung77]

Oh wow, so let's say you finished a few courses and transferred the credits in from the old account. You could delete the account and make a new one, but would you be able to take advantage of the promotion of being a new customer?

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Idk to me it doesn't make sense of creating a 2nd account. It serves no purpose, I saw the new plan and I don't really like it. I think $235/m is a lot but it's whatever.

As per my post above yours (last sentence): Even if you finish your current studies, cancel the membership, and start a new account, you're getting access to more classes, effectively, making this cheaper, easier, faster to complete than before.

Basically... You finish your current classes on the first account, cancel or close the account (not delete). You create a new account to take advantage of the 2 at a time, all you can do per month at $95/month for general education and electives.

And if you need to do $235/month College Saver for 3 at a time, or to get the upper level classes, you can upgrade then to finish all the requirements you need for upper level or classes not offered at the College Starter plan.

Note: $235/month may seem expensive, but it's the same pricing as if they've not changed anything. I repeat: Previously, it was $235/month for 2 exams, $70/extra exam, up to a total of 5 per month, that's up to $445 if you wanted to take 5/month.