Currently have 31 Credits, need 60 ASAP!, best route?

Discussion in 'CLEP, DANTES, and Other Exams for Credit' started by Lostcase, Jan 22, 2011.

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  1. Lostcase

    Lostcase New Member

    Hello all,

    I currently have 31 credits from my local community college. I currently work in IT, and have about 7 years of experience. However, I've decided to switch it up a bit and would like to apply for the NYPD. They require 60 credits. I've been doing a bit of research and I've found a few options.
    1. FEMA credits
    2. CLEP
    3. Find a school that would evaluate work\life experience. (The local community college offers this, but its pretty steep and could take 2-3 months as per the Dean)

    I've read that FEMA credits can be transfered to TESC. The whole process can take up to 4-6 weeks.

    If I go the CLEP route, I am thinking about the following exams:
    1) Spanish (I am Latino, and speak/write almost fluently, however I have not taken a class in Spanish since High School)
    2) Information Systems & Computer Applications ( Like I stated earlier, I work in IT, but I know I would have to brush up on some things just in case)
    3) Something in History or Social Sciences ( I love History and I am very good at remembering dates, also, I just completed Western Civ I. Since it is still fresh in my mind, I may want to look into Western Civ II).

    What do you guys think?

    Any help would be greatly appreciated.
     
  2. Lostcase

    Lostcase New Member

    Even though I already have the required credits for College English I and II, can I still take the clep Analyzing and Interpreting Literature ?

    That leads me to my next question. My credits are towards the Engineering Sciences major. They did not accept some credits toward that associates degree. For the NYPD, do you guys think they require 60 credits towards a degree or just 60 in total?
     
  3. emmzee

    emmzee New Member

    I don't have much experience in this area (CLEP and so on) but here are two recommendations ...

    Check this thread for lists of the "easiest" CLEP/Dantes tests if you haven't already:
    http://www.degreeinfo.com/clep-dantes-other-exams-credit/29692-easiest-hardest-clep-dsst-exams-thread.html

    Re "For the NYPD, do you guys think they require 60 credits towards a degree or just 60 in total?" The NYPD hiring FAQ:
    NYPD | APPLY NOW | FAQ
    "on or before the date of hire, a candidate must have successfully completed 60 college credits with a 2.0 G.P.A. from an accredited college or university"
    It doesn't say "towards a degree" it just says "60 college credits" but it'd be best to verify with them. But it really doesn't matter what we think or speculate, check with the NYPD to be sure.
     
  4. TEKMAN

    TEKMAN Semper Fi!

    Well, you best route is getting many credits from FEMA, CLEP, DANTES, and IT Certification. Thomas Edison State College gives those credits... I am not sure about Engineering Sciences major. I don't think it matter with your degree to do with NYPD, only if you're going for Criminal Justice once you're working for NYPD.

    Good Luck!
     
  5. james_lankford

    james_lankford New Member

    NYPD | APPLY NOW | EXAM AND EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

    "Sixty (60) college credits with a 2.0 G.P.A. from an accredited college or university"

    seems like it could just be random credits, but I have no idea if they will accept CLEP.
    You may have to enroll in Home - excelsior.edu and have them take all the credits and write up in a nice college transcript.
    You may not even have to enroll. I think you can just use excelsior as a credit bank: pay them a fee and deposit your credits and they will make a transcript for you.

    I think you should take DANTES tests and CLEP tests. Then when you have 60 credits, have excelsior do the transcript it. But get all the credits first. Its cheaper that way.

    yes, you could take the Analyzing and Interpreting Literature even if you have English.

    here is a list of DANTES exams
    DSST - GetCollegeCredit.com
    scroll down and click on the various links : Math | Social Sciences | Humanities | Business | Physical Science | Technology

    of particular interest should be "Criminal Justice" and "Introduction to Law Enforcement"
    both easily passable with "Criminal Justice (Cliffs Quick Review)" Amazon.com: Criminal Justice (Cliffs Quick Review) (0785555024397): Dennis Hoffman: Books

    and here are the CLEP exam descriptions
    CLEP: Exam Descriptions

    you can take the DANTES exams here

    CAMBRIDGE BUSINESS INSTITUTE
    545 8TH AVENUE
    #1210
    NEW YORK, NY 10018
    212-868-5990
    Cambridge Business Institute - Home page


    I always take my CLEP exams here
    Testing and Tutoring Coordinator
    Nyack College/ATS
    361 Broadway
    6th Floor, Room 620
    New York City, Manhattan, NY 10013
    646-378-6141
     
  6. Lostcase

    Lostcase New Member

    wow, awesome awesome advice guys, thanks a lot. I will definitely look into that credit bank service. The exam is this Monday and I want to see if I even have a shot.

    emmzee, yep, I was reading through that thread, that's where I got the idea to maybe do the Analyzing and Interpreting Literature CLEP.

    james_lankford, how long would it take to get my transcripts transfered to excelsior?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 22, 2011
  7. Lostcase

    Lostcase New Member

    nevermind, found the info:
    "Excelsior College will prepare a personal copy of your Credit Bank transcript within 5 to 10 business days after receipt of all your official documents."
     
  8. Lostcase

    Lostcase New Member

    My local community college offers CLEP testing. Would be better for me to go through them or still through TESC or Excelsior?
    Hudson County Community College
     
  9. Lostcase

    Lostcase New Member

    A few people on the NYPD forum say that I can knock out 27 FEMA credits in one weekend. Hopefully I can make this work quickly.
     
  10. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    I would take the tests locally. I passed over 50 credits in 6 weeks and it is not hard if you are willing to take some chances. I looked at the military passing rate (to use as a gauge) and if the passing rate was over 50-60% and I knew something about the subject I took the test. It worked out well. Funny to see HCCC as your local school, I grew up in Union City and West New York so you must be in the same area.
     
  11. Run, don't walk and take CLEP Spanish. If you can speak/write almost fluently you should get 12 easy credits.

    Take Info Sys/Computer Apps. It's not hard if you work in IT. Also look into the DSST MIS exam.

    Western Civ II is similar to I (just different scope). Also look at Analyzing and Interpreting Literature (6 credits and possibly the easiest CLEP), Principles of Management and Principles of Marketing - some brief study should get you more.

    I think this adds up to 33 credits...good luck!
     
  12. Also forgot the classic DSST "Here's To Your Health", possibly the easiest 3 credits you can get. DSST "Substance Abuse" is also quite doable in short order. If you don't already have the credit, the CLEP "general" exams (Natural Science or Humanities) are also great for 6 credits each. Just be careful for duplicative credit.

    As Randell said, you can amass a lot of credit very quickly if you're prepared to take a few risks and jam in the exams. I took a more methodical approach - 120 credits over the course of a year - but wanted to get a 4.0 GPA. If you just care about a pass so you can apply for the NYPD, then I'd find a couple of CLEP and DSST testing centers (I'm on Long Island, probably too far for you, but used Suffolk Community College and NYIT Central Islip years back when I did my CLEP and DSST exams).

    You can probably take 2 exams in a single sitting. If this is the case, then I'd take CLEP Spanish and Analyzing and Interpreting Literature the first day. Assuming you max out on Spanish and pass both you will walk out with 18 credits and a great feeling!

    Finally, you need a quick and easy source to study with. Again, if you're about speed and utility over mastery of the subject, I would sign up at InstantCert.com - $20 a month. If you schedule, plan and cram, you can get all the credits you need in 30-60 days easily. Since you are looking for relatively few credits you can afford to fail a CLEP or 2 and still reach your goal. I wouldn't bother with other study materials.

    Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with InstantCert, but was a happy customer years back.
     
  13. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    It is a quick and easy way. Some days I would hit 9 credits before lunch!
     
  14. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    Western Civ? HUH? That isn't anywhere near my list of TOP 10 easiest ways to earn credit. Plus, it's unnecessary.


    Existing 30 credits -depends on what they are as to where they apply $0
    Spanish CLEP (12 credits) $100
    both computer exams CLEP/DSST (6 credits) $200
    FEMA credits (27 credits) ****UNLESS**** your existing credits are free electives, then you can't use all these - you'll need to apply and then you'll know for sure $0

    TESC Enrollment fee $2800

    By my estimation, you are about $3000 and 2 weeks away from your 60 credit goal.

    As I see it, you should apply today and then pull up the official guides for these 3 exams. If you worked in IT, I think you'll find the tests to be VERY easy. (I've passed both) Then, brush up on your Spanish- you'll want the FULL 12 credits possible. If you don't score high enough, you'll only get 6 - still nothing to sneeze at- but this is the CHEAPEST 12 humanities credits available anywhere. So, brush up. Test next week on all 3. Then, see if your FEMAS will work. If so, get those done.

    It is faster to enroll in the BA Liberal Arts even without graduating because they'll take all of this. If you apply for the associate degree, your credit will have to fill specific criteria and you can't use as much FEMA. Once you get your 60 credits and are accepted, you can decide about back filling the courses for the associate degree and or moving ahead with a bachelor's degree. (in my case I had about 100 credits but not the associate degree since I still needed a science class- so I ended up earning both degrees within 6 months of each other)
     
  15. Lostcase

    Lostcase New Member

    You guys have been very informative. I'm going to go to HCCC this week and take some CLEP's. I'm a little wary about the TESC route with FEMA credits, but will try. Maybe I won't need to go the FEMA/TESC way if I rack up enough credits with CLEP. I'm going to take the police test this week. As long as I have the 60 credits by the actual start date, I'll be fine. Randell1234, ah, practically neighbors. Yup, I am in JC.
     
  16. Hadashi no Gen

    Hadashi no Gen New Member

    Getting to 60 credits should be VERY easy. 21 credits of my undergrad degree were a combination of CLEP, DSST, and one Excelsior exam.

    This was a few years ago, but I remember DSST (DANTES) having the most options. CLEP had a fair amount, and Excelsior also had many... but Excelsior's were also VERY expensive compared to CLEP and DSST.

    Why more college students to no take advantage of these types of programs is beyond me. Many who people who I have spoken with, students and grads, have never even heard of them. With the rising costs in tuition it only makes sense to do these programs at least for electives and gen-ed requirements.

    They are fairly easy to pass, and it's easy to find resources other than the recommended study material. The test information should have listed what subjects are covered on the test, and recommended areas of study. For at least half of my tests, I was able to take that information and find what I needed on Wikipedia. Others, I passed without studying (not that I recommend it... I was just lazy, and lucky).
     
  17. b4cz28

    b4cz28 Active Member

    Penn Foster is the fastest way to pick up ACE credits.....its at your own pace and exams are open book. You finish classes as fast as you can do them and they are easy as heck. Not all of their courses are online only so ask before you sign up. I finished their online classes in less than a week. No waiting on the mail speeds things up.
     

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