I hate you ALEKS!!!

[P00057870]

GRE = Graduate Record Examinations.

Watch out, because there is a "general" one for masters/graduate level entry and then there are some "subject" exams, one of which is psychology.

Cost now is $140. Next text is April 2010 but again in Oct. and Nov.

Home page: GRE: Graduate Record Examinations

Psych GRE: GRE Subject Tests: Psychology

Toward the bottom of this page are other links for you.


Other subjects: GRE Subject Tests: Prepare for the Test

I'm researching this now for April. Turns out the general test may be taken via computer at a Prometrics testing center that is about 10 or 15 minutes from my house but they don't do the subject tests. Subject tests are "paper-based" and I have to drive up to Boca to a very large home campus of Florida Atlantic University, meaning about a half hour to 45 minute drive on the greatest parking lot in Florida known as I-95, then find the testing center and parking. Guess I will have to go up ahead of time to check out all locations, parking options and expenses (if any), and timing in a perfect world

Hope this helps.


I've read other posts here where some people have gotten English majors this way, too. There are other posts from prior forum members who have gotten their psych majors this way.

Judy

[rickyjo]

Try it in an apartment! As I also scream at my computer I'm a little afraid the neighbors will call the cops to save my cat/wife from a crazed maniac (myself) but really all they will save is a computer I picked up for $20. Or my monitor. Or they could be too late (the desk's keyboard tray is already lost).

[cookderosa]

Oh no, I was under the impression that I could get 25 credits towards an associates. As always, this depends on your major- I calculated for a generic BA from TESC
This is a bummer and my plans are veering back towards Red Rocks where they will take about 30 FEMA credits towards an associates; however, the silver lining of the AP class being worth six is huge.
Also, remember that an AAS or AOS do not provide much gen ed credit, meaning, it really isn't skipped- you have to get it when you get your bachelor's degree. The down side to this path is always that you end up with a mountain of credit that exceeds the elective category.

Basically I need to make sure I get something on the way, in case there are delays, I'm skeptical of my own resolve, finances, and time.

My AP class was LIT (I never took the class but got a 4 on the test because I was poor and it was free!). Can I still take AP tests because I took the AP Language class and missed the test (that was very upsetting!), I think I could still get a 4.
Awesome, so that's a humanities credit. Caution- I have no idea which specific lit credits TESC awards, be sure they don't duplicate the Analyzing and Interpreting or even the American/British lit classes. Not sure if they publish this info....I'll see if I can find it. Which AP language test did you take? English? If it was not English, and you have the skills to earn a 4, you can actually get more credit using a different exam- even CLEP which would give you 12. TESC awards 6 credits point blank- no bonus for scoring a 4 or 5.

BTW: I have not completed ALEKS yet. That's still an IF. I have done the beginning and intermediate courses only so far.

As some of you know my goal is to complete an associates degree without attending college, for under $1000 and as few CLEPs as possible (I fear spending money on a unsure thing); however, I will likely take one or two tech related CLEPs that I should be able to pass without much fear of failing.
You can get really close. I got a Pell Grant and student loan, which I won't go into much in this thread- but I was able to pull out $ for CLEPs but had to be enrolled. Anyway, the enrollment fee at TESC is more than $1000, however, I think you could do the credits for that and then use a grant to pay your enrollment - if you take 6 credits- forget this now, my head hurtshilarious

All that said, Red Rocks may have a residency requirement, I'm uncertain. Also I need to see what they will take from ALEKS.[/QUOTE]

[rickyjo]

Thanks for all the data on the GRE, I'd never heard of it before! I'll have to look into that one. There is a prometric by my home as well, a mile down the road, I have walked there before and it's where I got my IT certs!


As for Cookderosa's comment, that was a mouthful! Lots of information and questions, please feel free to re-ask anything if my response is insufficient. I'll try my best.

My AP TEST was American Literature. My AP classes that I never took the tests for were a full year of AP Language (English) and one semester of the two semester class AP Government (I graduated early and subsequently did not complete it, but that semester I did get the highest final exam grade in the class by 6 points, the only A, so maybe I could pass anyway? It's one of my interests).

When you say "The down side to this path is always that you end up with a mountain of credit that exceeds the elective category." are you saying that some of my elective credit would not be able to be put towards my bachelors degree? I kind of figured that there would be enough elective credit in a 4 year program to absorb anything I could put towards my two year program.

I hope it's OK that this thread is moving away from the original topic, if it's not somebody should let me know and I'll start a new one or PM some people
Thanks!

[cookderosa]

When you say "The down side to this path is always that you end up with a mountain of credit that exceeds the elective category." are you saying that some of my elective credit would not be able to be put towards my bachelors degree? I kind of figured that there would be enough elective credit in a 4 year program to absorb anything I could put towards my two year program.

I hope it's OK that this thread is moving away from the original topic, if it's not somebody should let me know and I'll start a new one or PM some people
Thanks!

Ohhhhh...ha ha....my favorite rant. I'll try not to. I'll even try to use an example that isn't culinary arts

Let's say you earned an AAS/AOS degree in Hopscotch. *lol hang with me

Typical AAS/AOS degree is 60-63 credits. Roughly 45-48 in the subject, roughly 12-15 in general education requirements/electives. (each school may vary +/- but it'll be close)

So, how does that transfer?

If you go into a generic bachelor's degree, you'll need 120 credits which look something like this:
60 general education
33 +/- in major
27 +/- electives

So, in the example above, you'd have 45 hopscotch credits. Well, they can't be used in general education since they are not math, science, humanities, or social science. If your major is NOT hopscotch, they can't be used in major- which would leave the elective category. So, even though the credits are regionally accredited, totally legitimate- the fact remains that there are only 27 slots. So, fill er up.

Now, in the above example, lets say you have 15 general education credits. Fill er up.

So, what does an AAS/AOS transfer in as? 27+15 = 42 transfer

In the business degree it would be worse, since you need a core in addition to gen eds and your major. So only 18+15= 33 transfer

This is a lot of credits and money to loose, and you have 45 credits of the gen eds to complete. Coming in with an AAS/AOS is not the same as coming in with an AS/AA. In an AS/AA, all 60-63 of your credits will be general education and or in-major. These degrees are called "transfer degrees" for that reason. Typically an AAS/AOS is called a "terminal degree" as it is the last degree you can earn in that field.
[INDENT][/INDENT](*sometimes transfer degrees are tweaked by the college and turned into terminal degrees- always watch out for this!!!!! A community college can take a perfectly transferable subject like business and make it terminal by offering classes through a AAS/AOS department instead of the AS department. It's cheaper, but now the student's credits won't transfer)

I have always had a major MAJOR issue with this concept- and having taught in an AAS program for 17 years, I always felt like we were suckering students. I would say that it is one of the primary reasons I am changing careers...not too much of a rant, but this is one of my hot buttons lol.

[rickyjo]

The silliness never ends. This is why I'm completely against the educational system as it stands and cannot help but believe this whole thing is a sick joke. I would be better using my time reading wikipedia, that's how I learned computers and I'm pretty good at that.

I'm sick and tired of all the stupid, arbitrary, useless rules, rules, rules. This is why I cannot bring myself to just sign up for a program (even one like Penn Foster I could conceivably afford) because this crap makes me sick. This is why I'm self employed, this is why I graduated from high school early, this is why I moved out of my parents house at fifteen. I've devoted my life to avoiding this kind of nonsense. My understanding is that in Europe the educational system is often focused on a vocation and I would like to know what's so awful about that. Seems like having the choice to go either way would do nothing but good. Maybe I want a general degree, maybe a specific one. Why can we not make that the student's call?

That said, your information is invaluable as always.

[TMW2010]

Once again, reread the first quote in your sig, and decide which type of person you are.

You may think the rules are stupid, but most are in place for their own reason. When you've got thousands of people working towards degrees, as much as they may individualize them as far as specific classes taken, you still need a firm structure for the degree experience, as well as having a tangible measurement of the degree quality.

You can't always have your way, and wanting to demand your way and stamp your feet against education as institution that's been in place for hundreds of years isn't going to get you squat. You'll always find something that you're unhappy about in any aspect of life, but what matters is how you handle it. Do you piss and moan and wail at the world for not conforming to your desires, or do you take things in stride, meet the challenge head on, and work through it?

If you want a vocational degree, there's plenty of vo-techs out there like DeVry & ITT...

Personally, I've never liked the theory behind applied science degrees, and the fact that schools don't tell you the full story on them sucks. I luckily learned early about this, and have avoided them since.

[rickyjo]

I PM'd you TMW. I don't want to argue in this thread.

[IrishJohn]

Try it in an apartment! As I also scream at my computer I'm a little afraid the neighbors will call the cops to save my cat/wife from a crazed maniac (myself) but really all they will save is a computer I picked up for $20. Or my monitor. Or they could be too late (the desk's keyboard tray is already lost).

I figure that the computer has it coming. Yes, I blame the computer too. After all, it's displaying this crap from ALEKS so obviously must be in league with the Dark Lord!

Traitorous piece of electronic... *sigh*...

[IrishJohn]

There is no escape but death
Your life is just an ALEKS train a-comin'

hilarious

Yeah though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of ALEKS...

After a lot of pain over the past couple of days (plus invoking only a few of George Carlin's Seven Dirty Words) I'm now up to 65%! Whoo-hoo! Almost there!

ALEKS will of course do something drastic to take me down a peg.

I wager I get a 69% on the next assessment. Why? Because ALEKS is evil and wants to hold me back!!!