Newb advice: order of operations - Accumulate credits then enroll vs opposite?

[davewill]

For TESU, definitely enroll first. Send in credits as you go.

Thanks Dave. I just wonder why? Asking (not challenging) only because it seems like one could save many thousands on tuition, potentially, by accumulating credits first, then transferring in "bulk", vs trickling them in. No?

TESU doesn't charge you fees or tuition while you're accumulating outside credits. The only fees are a $50 one-time application fee, and a $50 fee for a 1cr TECEP to gain enrolled status. You can repeat the TECEP each year to maintain enrollment if you don't actually start courses within that time, although almost everyone does. The reason to do it this way is to lock in the catalog, and to be able to send in credits and have them evaluated for transfer equivalency.

Now sending in credits may involve fees for transcripts from the institution the credits are coming from, and it would be up to you to decide how to balance between the cost of sending multiple transcripts and the peace of mind of knowing that your completed courses been accepted at TESU as you planned them.

Some other schools do have ongoing fees or don't allow you to send in credits once you start, but not TESU.