Online Degrees and CLEP and DSST Exam Prep Discussion
OK... transcript evals from each of big 3. Help w/decision, please?! :) - Printable Version

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OK... transcript evals from each of big 3. Help w/decision, please?! :) - studyingfortests - 05-11-2021

So, based on the awesome advice I've received here so far, I applied to TESU as well as Excelsior and Charter Oak.  I've now got all three evaluations.

It's sort of an apples-and-oranges comparison as it stands, because:

-- Excelsior evaluated for Social Sciences (which turned out to need a lot of coursework), so I asked for a new one with Liberal Studies. Both attached.
-- COSC evaluated for Liberal Studies /Applied Behavioral Sciences-Psych
-- TESU evaluated for Liberal Studies

In addition to what is listed in the attached evaluations (except Excelsior, who received the CLEP ones), I have already completed the following:
CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Lit
CLEP College Comp w/essay
CSMLearn

I'm about to take the exams for:
CLEP American Government
UExcel Research Methods (will be needed for grad school)
Study.com Library Science 101 (if I need the credit)
Study.com Communications 120 Presentation Skills (for Public Speaking)
Study.com History 308: Vietnam War (if I need the credit)

I'm considering some Coopersmith and maybe Olivet Nazarine coursework for some UL credits.

I'm trying to avoid taking any more math if I can get away with it, though I will probably eventually need stats for grad school (MSW)


Here's what I'm seeing:

COSC will accept my 30 massage therapy credits, but nothing from my ancient community college credits, nor my theater credits. Nor will they accept CSMLearn as a math credit. They want a bunch of upper level credits, plus a ton of specific courses for core requirements.  They also don't take Coopersmith, which I was planning to do for UL credits.
They do not look like a good option, unless others are seeing something I am not.  

Excelsior will accept at least some of my ancient community college credits, *probably* will accept CSMLearn (long story... I took it before they signed their articulation agreement), and my theater credits, but won't accept my massage therapy credits. And apparently they don't take CLEP English Composition with essay for English??!! They have fewer core specifics than COSC, but I think would still require a bunch more stuff. I have not asked if they will take Coopersmith.
They could be a more cost effective option, but I'm afraid it will take a bunch longer.

TESU will accept my ancient community college credits, my theater credits, and (apparently) CSMLearn for my math requirement, but not my massage credits. However, the way they apply their general ed requirements, it looks like I would be the closest to done at any of the three. They also indicated that my ethics class may meet their standard, and they were willing to evaluate the transcripts for some of my human services classes to see if they meet requirements for upper level credit.

So I am leaning toward TESU, even though the out-of-state tuition would make it spendy.  Does anyone know if pell grant/finaicial aid will cover the out-of-state fees?

I did not have TESU evaluate for their Human Services bachelors degree, because looking at their requirements, it seemed to require a lot of UL Human Services courses, which I don't have. I have not made a final decision as to a concentration for the LS degree, I'm thinking psychology is pretty close to my existing credits, but I'm open for suggestions.


I've attached the four evaluations (two for Excelsior). I'm interested in whether there's anything I'm missing in the way I have them ranked the three.  I'd really appreciate any advice/suggestions anyone can offer up. 

Thanks so much for everyone's help, suggestions, input! I'm eager to make a decision and move forward!

RE: OK... transcript evals from each of big 3. Help w/decision, please?! :) - rachel83az - 05-11-2021

Pell Grants absolutely do cover out-of-state schools! Financial aid from work (tuition reimbursement) depends on the workplace. Some will reimburse you for a given dollar amount while others only cover the costs at a specific school. The residency waiver at TESU is generally not covered by financial aid.

COSC and Excelsior - both have 29 credits remaining. How did you send your CSM Learn credits to EC? Was it via Credly or did you share your completion certificate? You need a Credly account if you don't already have one. https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/CSM_Learn_Credly_Process

TESU: 37 credits. It's not that many more. They will definitely take CSM Learn but it'll need to be on an ACE transcript via Credly. For UL classes:
  • You could do Death Investigation at TEEX for $75: https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/TEEX but Research Methods is an UL credit so you don't need to do this.
  • I would also suggest a quick UL class from Study.com instead of Olivet. (History 308 works fine for this) You don't need more RA classes. This would allow you to take Presentation Skills in the Workplace instead of Sophia's Public Speaking - the Study.com course is MUCH quicker and easier. 
  • You don't need Library Science. A month of Sophia costs just a little bit more than an extra SDC exam and you can do multiple classes during that month. 
  • American Government can be taken through InstantCert for $45 total. The CLEP also works, assuming you pass that exam. 
  • English Comp II TECEP for $150 - maybe; this assumes TESU doesn't accept the CLEP for some reason. The CLEP should be fine.
  • The remainder of your degree, except the capstone/cornerstone, could be fulfilled at Sophia. Greek Philosophy, Ethics, Environmental Science, Human Biology, and Intro to Information IT can all be taken relatively quickly and easily. 
How soon do you need a degree? If you qualify for max financial aid, you could get a TESU degree for MUCH cheaper by taking 18 credits at TESU instead of only taking the required 6 credits. See this post: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-TESU-Residency-Waiver-vs-Taking-Courses

RE: OK... transcript evals from each of big 3. Help w/decision, please?! :) - ctcarl - 05-11-2021

For whatever it may be worth, Sophia's English Comp I satisfied the WER for my Excelsior BSLA.

I was also able to take Davar Academy's Information Literacy for my ILR, but I believe they closed that loophole in 2019 and now require you to take IL from them.

Most of my UL credits came from Davar and Coopersmith...and it could easily have been all of them.

RE: OK... transcript evals from each of big 3. Help w/decision, please?! :) - studyingfortests - 05-13-2021

Thanks so much for this detailed response. It seems like there's really no sensible option *other* than TESU.

I'm going to post a separate thread just on the TESU issue to ask for some clarification.

RE: OK... transcript evals from each of big 3. Help w/decision, please?! :) - bjcheung77 - 05-13-2021

(05-13-2021, 01:19 PM)studyingfortests Wrote: Thanks so much for this detailed response. It seems like there's really no sensible option *other* than TESU.

I'm going to post a separate thread just on the TESU issue to ask for some clarification.

Hey, just wondering - Do you have an associates or a diploma, maybe a certificate already?