Help Please! TESC AA Degree & Tuition Planning

[ISKBizz15]

I've been silently lurking through this site, researching about how to test out of a degree & I'm so inspired by the many that have done it in such a short period of time. I've already researched & gotten in contact with Charter Oak State, Excelsior, & Thomas Edison State & I've decided that I want to get my degree from TESC. I've spoken to several different people in admissions at TESC and they've all given me different info on how to proceed with testing out.

Two people in admissions told me to choose the degree program that I want from off the site and match the courses with the exams that I would need to take, then apply & transfer those credits once they're completed.

Then, three other people told me to apply first, then create my degree plan with the help of an academic advisor, but I've heard from many people on this site that you can only get help with an advisor if you enroll first, I've also read that even if you went through that process they wouldn't be of much help when it comes to advising.

What would be the best option to getting started, creating my own degree plan without applying first or apply first & get an advisors help?

I want to do this in the most inexpensive way that I possibly can, within 3-4 months (I want to go for at least 2 exams a week, if possible) because I need at least 60 college credits completed to apply & get into a teaching program in Asia before the next TESC graduation period in September. I've already earned 3 credits for ENG 101 from a Community College, so I'll be starting almost completely from scratch. I've already checked out the different degree plans on Degree Forum Wikia but I wanted try making one for myself & I don't know how often those plans are updated.

Here's my attempt at creating a degree plan for an Associates of Arts degree using CLEP & DSST exams:



A. Intellectual and Practical Skills

English Composition I (ENC-101)
Already completed from Community College (3 credits)

English Composition II (ENC-102)
CLEP = College Composition (6 credits) (only 3 cred. needed)

College-Level Math Course
CLEP = College Mathematics (6 credits) (only 3 cred. needed)

B. Electives in Intellectual and Practical Skills

DSST = Technical Writing (3 credits)
DSST = Introduction to Computing (3 credits)

C. Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World

Humanities
CLEP = Humanities (6 credits) (only 3 credits needed)

Social Sciences
CLEP = Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)

Natural Sciences
CLEP = Natural Sciences (6 credits) (only 3 credits needed)

D. Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences or Interdisciplinary Electives

CLEP = Natural Sciences (3 credits) (overage from section C)
CLEP = Humanities (3 credits) (overage from section C)
CLEP = Introduction to Educational Psychology (3 credits)

E. Personal and Social Responsibility

Diversity/Global Literacy
DSST = Introduction to World Religions (3 credits)

Responsible Ethical Leadership
DSST = Ethics in America (3 credits)

Ethics or Diversity Elective
DSST = Human/Cultural Geography (3 credits)

F. General Education Electives

DSST = Organizational Behavior (3 credits)
CLEP = Human Growth and Development (3 credits)
DSST = Art of the Western World (3 credits)
DSST = Introduction to the Modern Middle East (3 credits)
CLEP = Information Systems and Computer Applications (3 credits)
DSST = Business Ethics and Society (3 credits)

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Total: 60 credits

Now onto the case of enrolling into the college without having to pay the annual enrollment fee in order to graduate. I've heard that I can enroll by testing out of some of the TECEP exams for the Per-Credit tuition plan, is that true? (I have no problem swapping out some of the Electives for a few TECEP exams) Can someone clarify that for me?

Your feedback would be greatly appreciated.