Best path to AA

[wombat777]

My state has free dual enrollment for HS juniors and seniors. Using this as well as CLEP/DSST credits, my son will graduate HS with 52 college credits (just don't want to push for 60, even though it is free - gotta keep things doable for him).

Here's what he has completed already:
CLEP College Mathematics - 6
CLEP US History I - 3
DSST Intro to World Religions - 3
DSST Env. & Humanity - 3

By the time he finishes dual enrollment, I expect he will have taken (from the local B & M):
College Composition - 4
Economics - Personal Finance - 3
Intro to Comm Studies - 3
Anatomy/Kinesiology - 3
A diversity class - 3
A fine arts appreciation class - 3
A stats class - 3
2 chem classes - 6
3 criminal justice-type classes - 9

He is interested in law enforcement as a future career.

What would likely be the easiest/least expensive path for him to take to earn an AA? I am trying to determine if one of the Big Three would be more affordable for him than continuing at the B & M.

I have looked at TESC, but, to be honest, I am confused about the tuition options they offer.

I appreciate any guidance you can offer. Thanks.

[rebel100]

First, congratulations, he's accomplished a lot already. I assume all this is along with his regular high school studies that makes it all the more remarkable.

I can't help but think that with only 8 credits left the CC he is attending is almost sure to be the cheapest option, why not just finish there? Will that be the case, only 8 credits? What are the specific degree requirements?

Is it just electives that he needs? Maybe he could pick up Analyzing and Interpreting Lit for 6 credits and then just about any acceptable exam to round out his 60 for the AA....maybe something for the summers?

I'm also curious if he might qualify for Phi Theta Kappa, they are the national junior college honor society and graduating as a member can really unlock significant scholarship opportunities for him as he goes after his bachelors. https://www.ptk.org/become-a-member/eligibility Through membership in PTK my daughter was offered one full ride at a state school and a partial scholarship at a local private.

Care to share what CC this is?

[wombat777]

Thanks. I will check out the link you provided.

The school is St. Cloud Technical and Community College (SCTCC) with criminal justice classes from St. Cloud State University thrown in (MN schools).
The challenging aspect is that fulfilling SCTCC's AA requirements would mean he couldn't fit in the criminal justice classes at State. He is planning on State for his end-point school, and the criminal justice classes would apply to his intended major. Also, they are prereqs for classes he will need junior and senior years, so it makes sense to get those done.

While he will have 52 credits if all goes according to plan, because of the criminal justice classes thrown in, he would still need 14 credits to fulfill SCTCC's AA requirements. He would need fewer credits if he took the whole ball of wax to State and worked to fulfill their general education requirements. I believe he would only need 8 to 10 credits. However, their credits are approx. $260 each.

If he had a completed AA in hand, he wouldn't have to meet State's general education requirements. My thought process was that if his current classes would get him close to a completed AA at one of the Big Three, maybe it would be better to finish there.

Picking up a few more credits by exam would certainly be the least expensive route, but those credits need to apply in the categories he is lacking. That is the trick.

[cookderosa]

My state has free dual enrollment for HS juniors and seniors. Using this as well as CLEP/DSST credits, my son will graduate HS with 52 college credits (just don't want to push for 60, even though it is free - gotta keep things doable for him).

Here's what he has completed already:
CLEP College Mathematics - 6
CLEP US History I - 3
DSST Intro to World Religions - 3
DSST Env. & Humanity - 3

By the time he finishes dual enrollment, I expect he will have taken (from the local B & M):
College Composition - 4
Economics - Personal Finance - 3
Intro to Comm Studies - 3
Anatomy/Kinesiology - 3
A diversity class - 3
A fine arts appreciation class - 3
A stats class - 3
2 chem classes - 6
3 criminal justice-type classes - 9

He is interested in law enforcement as a future career.

What would likely be the easiest/least expensive path for him to take to earn an AA? I am trying to determine if one of the Big Three would be more affordable for him than continuing at the B & M.

I have looked at TESC, but, to be honest, I am confused about the tuition options they offer.

I appreciate any guidance you can offer. Thanks.

His 2 chem classes will yield 8, not 6, so that's actually closer still! Also, why 4 on English? Isn't he doing ENG101 and ENG102? (or even just ENG101?) that should be a multiple of 3, so 3 or 6 but having 4 is confusing me ... or is that just how your college does it? :confused:

[wombat777]

Both the colleges he will be attending only require one freshman-level composition class. It is worth 4 credits.

The chemistry classes are forensic science classes, not general chem. They are only 3 credits each.

[cookderosa]

Both the colleges he will be attending only require one freshman-level composition class. It is worth 4 credits.

The chemistry classes are forensic science classes, not general chem. They are only 3 credits each.

gotcha I assumed two chems was 1 & 2. My bad lol.

[wombat777]

Cookderosa, thanks for posting about inexpensive courses at Luna CC (posted elsewhere in this forum as well as on FB). That might be the best option for him. They have enough variety that I'm fairly certain he can take classes that will fit where he needs them.

Thanks for a push in the right direction!