Biology/Natural Sciences major—transferring into the Big 3

[wow]

I've been reading this forum for a while, but I finally have some questions I can't find the answers for, so here's my first post. Please be gentle.

Yes, it's a little long, so ... I'll put the questions first for people who don't want to read the whole post. You can get more context about the research I've already done if you keep reading after the questions.

Questions:
1. Has anyone here had Excelsior accept (or reject) study.com/straighterline science courses toward a natural sciences major?
2. Has anyone here successfully used PLAs to meet science degree requirements?
3. Does TESU offer any wiggle room on "two semesters of organic chemistry with lab" requirement? For example, could I take org chem without lab, but microbiology with lab? I'm having difficulty finding decent tuition on organic chemistry with lab. (I just moved to a new state, so don't qualify for in-state tuition anywhere.)...

I'm sure there are others that will chime in with way more experience but...I looked into Excelsior awhile back for my boys and found that not that many Study courses transferred in. In fact, no computer classes at all. The list was pretty short which is why we decided against it. 

If TESU lists a specific course: Chemistry 1 with lab and Chemistry 2 with lab you have to take those classes.

I looked into the NSM Bachelors from TESU and couldn't find enough/any UL Science classes but Computer classes count in that category so you could do that. i think there have been others that have pieced together that degree with UL Math courses.

Thanks so much for your reply!

I was getting that feeling about Excelsior. After I posted yesterday, I talked to a staff member at StraighterLine and she said (in more professional/diplomatic language than I'll use) that Excelsior has been weird and inconsistent in what they will accept, even though they're a corporate partner.

For cheapest overall, then, it looks like COSC because I could test in for most of the credits. I could test in for 24 credits with the GRE subject test in biology. However, the degree would be a BS with a major in General Studies with a concentration in Biology ... I have to figure out if that would be adequate for my resume. My spouse has a BA in Biology and doesn't think so, but he's in a different field, so I'll need to talk to folks in mine.

If he's correct, it looks like TESU. Liberal Arts in NSM would have the same issue as General Studies in Biology, so I'd likely need to go for a BA in Biology. The struggle there would be finding an affordable organic chem course (which could just mean waiting for my in-state residency to kick in and using the community college—still pricey, but not *as* pricey as out of state). Then I could try to get as many cheap credits as possible by taking my intro courses at study.com and New Mexico Junior College, which has amazing tuition and a decent selection of natural science courses. Upper levels are going to be harder. Crossing my fingers that they are generous with UExcel.

One thing I'm pondering is doing the Bio GRE, hopefully getting a good score, applying to COSC, getting the credits on my transcript, and then transferring the UL ones to TESU. That would take care of two UL courses for about $600 (the GRE test fee + COSC registration and other fees). Unfortunately, the transcript says only "Upper Level Biology, 8 credits," so I don't know if that would work, or they wouldn't count them because of potential overlap with my other ULs.

Or maybe PLAs or challenge exams taken at other colleges for the Upper Levels? I've already done a couple UL MOOCs that had syllabuses that were the same as their undergrad equivalent.

Lots to think about! Looks like I'll be spending a few hours with a calculator today.