How does TESC work?

[cookderosa]

No, Jennifer until I found this site I was going to do the 42 credits locally and then the rest through Clep, Dantes, Portfolio, and Fema. I already have 30 credits to start with. This site has now enlightned me. I really like TESC but I need the cost per credit broken down for tuition reimbursement purposes so now I'm leaning a little more toward EC. The only thing is I would like to enroll part time in whatever college that I choose that way I can use loans to pay for cleps and to get tuition reimbursement and I hear EC's online classes are expensive.

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Ok- Got it!

Any chance you qualify for a pell grant? If you fill out the federal financial aid form and TESC's form, they will automatically tell you- but a pell is around $4500 and will pay for all of your year at TESC. This includes enrollment fees and attending 6 credits per semester. If you take out a student loan (there is a subsidized loan for 5,500- you don't need both-resist the temptation! They will try to get you to take both loans, you have to formally decline it) that will come back to you as excess which you can use to pay for books, CLEPs, and local classes. This is exactly what I did. (am still doing).

Now, if you have an employee reimbursement program, simply set that money into a nice savings account or CD and then when you hit that payback time 6 months after graduation, you can send them one lump sum. (this is what my husband is doing)

Since I have no idea how financial aid works at EC, I can't help you there. Back when I started my search, EC didn't participate in financial aid programs, I have no idea what their status is now.

A quick final thought- you mentioned portfolios. I would suggest you really check this out before you decide- it costs as much as a class, is just as much or more work, and not a sure thing. I hear lots of horror stories about portfolios.