I received my "Official Evaluation" from COSC today, which I paid $125 for. My evaluation of their evaluation: 1) My stated concentration (as confirmed with COSC a week ago) was "Liberal Studies." They did my "Official Evaluation" as "Individualized Studies." 2) They gave me 1 credit for 4 years in the Marine Corps. My SMART transcript from the Marines has a over a dozen credits evaluated by ACE. 3) They listed my CLEP English Comp. w/Essay as DANTES and then did not give me ANY credit for it (I scored a 63). 4) They left off 30 - 45 credits of CLEP exams that I know they received on a transcript (I received a copy). My lowest CLEP score was a 63, so I know I passed them. Also, they are not duplicative since they left off ALL my science, literature, psychology, etc. (nothing to duplicate when zero credit is given for an entire subject). 5) On the concentration sheet (which is also the wrong concentration) they suggest I use 12 "B" (lower) level credits for my concentration. This is odd since the same sheet of paper (as well as their catalog) states that I can only use 9 "B" level credits towards my concentration. This sheet also has two paragraphs of hand written notes on it that are unreadable. Conclusion: I'm still trying to figure out what I spent $125 on. Is this atypical of COSC? I'll be calling them on Monday, but I was anticipating an informative evaluation, not the incoherent mess I received.
Were you an airwinger? Did you give them your MATMEP (Marine Aviation Training ... uhhh yeah..)? ACE matches credits with the level of proficiency you have documented on your matmep. Because of this, if they don't receive your MATMEP, they sometimes assume you do not rate that credit. I had this problem with Excelsior. I had 12 credits for my MOS and they didn't initially give it to me because I didn't have my MATMEP (they didn't ask for it either..). Anyways, I bitched and complained on how I was level III, but haved since been out and was one of the idiots that didn't listen to their shop NCOIC and actually keep my MATMEP after discharge. Anyways, after I emailed my complaint. They emailed back and to my suprise they said, "OK Mr. Ready, you are right. We are granting you full credit for your MOS at level III." I couldn't believe it was that easy. I think the MOS credit granting from ACE (atleast for Marines) is very shady and alot of the evaluators don't know what to do. So, tell them you rate that credit and explain why; maybe they will give it to you. Best Regards and Semper Fi, Cmt Bill
Nope, a grunt . What is ironic is that they gave me 1 credit for boot camp (some cheesy outdoorsman credit) and zero credit for my MOS of 0311 (Rifleman), 0331 (Machine Gunner), 8530 (now 8531 Marksmanship Instructor), and 8541 (Scout Sniper). Did I do more "outdoorsman" activities while in downtown San Diego (boot camp) than I did at SERE, Sniper School, MWTC, JWTC, etc.? On a positive note, they did give me 3 credits for my dive cert. at the intermediate level. I could send COSC some copies of my certificates, but I don't know how that would be better than my SMART transcript. I could always see where raising hell gets me .
Have you called them to find out why? When I applied to COSC, I had to call to get some questions answered about my military creits. I was told that they only offer credits for military training not credit for job titles. Does that make sense? When I got a copy of the eval, I called to let them know that they were going to get more transcripts and they would have to make ajustments. Did you speak to them and make sure they got everything? Call them and get some answers.
Re: Re: Atypical of COSC? Not yet. I received it in the mail on Saturday, so I will be calling to follow up on an email I sent yesterday.
I applied to The Master's College at one point and they gave me 9 credits for my MOS's alone. They said that I would probably get an additional 9 for various courses and schools attended while in the Marines. I figured I was conservative in my estimate that COSC would give me 9 total, so I was planning on that. But ONE credit from a school that purports to be liberal with ACE evaluation? Here's a few of my SMART credits from schools (not MOS's): Marksmanship - 2L Orienteering/Outdoor Skills - 1L Physical Fitness And Conditioning - 1L Small Arms/Gunsmithing - 1L Mathematics 3V (vocational credit) Supervisory Management - 3L
cmt wrote: > I received my "Official Evaluation" from COSC today, which I > paid $125 for. [...] I'm still trying to figure out what I > spent $125 on. Isn't the purpose of such a credit review to decide if you should enrol? And isn't what you got a strong hint that you shouldn't? Don't give up quite yet, though. After doing what you can to appeal the evaluation, talk to their Portfolio Advisor, Dr Maryanne LeGrow, about which of the remaining ungranted credits you can pick up through portfolios. I found her to be very helpful. > They gave me 1 credit for 4 years in the Marine Corps. My > SMART transcript from the Marines has a over a dozen credits > evaluated by ACE. Might the ACE Transcript Service http://www.acenet.edu/calec/corporate/transcript.cfm help you get the ACE credits?
My email to Charter Oak was replied to in a timely manner. According to Charter Oak: "There are a few rules about transferring credit from both colleges and the military...Charter Oak does not transfer activity based physical education courses...so only one credit was applicable...ACE recommended military credit labeled as 'vocational' does not transfer." This does not explain everthing, but it does some. The missing CLEP's were apparently not Charter Oak's fault. CLEP has two accounts for me and they only sent one to Charter Oak. CLEP are also unable to combine these two accounts. Another note. Charter Oak's "36 credit concentration" is a "minimum." So, your concentration can be 60 credits with 33 credits at the lower level. I'm waiting on another reply, but I am pleased with Charter Oak's quick response so far. It looks like I might have to fight for those military credits and I doubt I'll get all of them.
My old (1990-1991) CSUDH catalog has the following statement: Credit for Military Service. A total of six (6) semester units of lower division elective credit will be granted for one or more years of active military duty with an honorable discharge. A photostatic copy of military separation, DD 214, should be submitted to the Office of Admissions at the time of application for admission". So I suggest you look up a current CSUDH catalog, together with some from other colleges, write this finding up in a detailed letter and submit to COSC. Another thought is to prepare a portfolio of what you learned during your military service ( find a college course that fits your experience - area might include political science, history, sociology
My old (1990-1991) CSUDH catalog has the following statement: Credit for Military Service. A total of six (6) semester units of lower division elective credit will be granted for one or more years of active military duty with an honorable discharge. A photostatic copy of military separation, DD 214, should be submitted to the Office of Admissions at the time of application for admission". So I suggest you look up a current CSUDH catalog, together with some from other colleges, write this finding up in a detailed letter and submit to COSC. This same CSUSD catalog lists 4 lower division , one unit courses. and 5 upper division, 3 unit courses under military science (ROTC). So if you can satisfy any of these courses you could try the portfolio route. And don't forget other life learning where you could prepare a portfoli ( find a college course that fits your experience - area might include political science, history, sociology. microsoft office, personal finance).
My experience with COSC found them very responsive and fairly flexible once I was able to make my case. My initial credit evaluation also fell short of where we eventually arrived (though to a lesser degree as all my units were academic). I was able to make a case for including a 2-unit physical ed course (Advanced Lifesaving) by getting a copy of the course description explaining that the course covered significant medical/first aid material, as wasn't just a semester of swimming laps and pulling weights off the bottom of a pool. In the end, COSC was able to see my point more times than I initially expected. And as far as the concentration plan, my final plan was vastly different from their suggested one. Best of luck, Dan BA-COSC
I've recently become interested in COSC and I read your post. Did you ever get credit for this? How about these credits? Did you get those?
Make sure to look at any MCI courses you completed also. ACE credits are available for many courses. Semper Fi 1st & 3rd RECON (MOS 8653)
When you made your arguments, how in depth did you go to get them to take some credits they didn't initially want to take. I'm running into only one problem with them accepting my math course to fulfill their core math requirement. I have contacted my math instructor, sent her a copy of COSC's own math class (that magically meets their requirements and reads remarkably similar to my math) and asked her to compare and contrast the contents of both and will include that in my argument, I'm also getting a copy of the syllabus. My advisor said she hasn't seen many requests for reconsideration and didn't know what I should write, or how forcefully I should argue my point.
I argued two and lost one. I just tried to show that there was no logical reason to exclude them, since it met their requirements. Then I asked them something like, "In light of what I've shown you, what is your justification for denying me the credits?" They gave an answer for one, but not the other - so I got credit.
