Maybe someone can help me with an ACE transcript question. My son will be taking an ACE evaluated course this fall, and so we will open a transcript for him at that time- they will log his credit. No problem. But, after poking around on the ACE website, I am not 100% certain that I understand the scope of their transcript services. To be honest, the more I read, the more confused I became. I understand the process for the class he will be taking- and I understand that his transcript will reflect that. What I don't really understand is if and how other credits earned should be placed on his ACE transcript. Since he isn't a college student, would I send a CLEP score to ACE? What about an AP exam score? If so, is there an advantage to doing so? Would that circumvent needing to supply various transcripts when he applies to college down the road? If so, that makes sense, but if not, then what's the point? Finally, if I should have his CLEP/DSST/AP exams sent to ACE, would he identify ACE as the receiving institution when he takes the exam? This is not pressing right now, but I want to understand the role ACE will play. (I have to prepare high school transcripts, so this may be very helpful)
Jennifer, What I have decided to do for my daughter (7 credits from Clovis Community College + 6 credits CLEP at the conclusion of the sophomore year) is wait until her senior year of high school, and then pay the $250 fee to open the credit bank at TESC. We will send CLEP scores to TESC to consolidate them on one college transcript, and then apply for various scholarships, etc. She has a good idea of where she wants to go to college, but once the final college decision is made we will also send CLEP scores there. For the preparation of the high school transcript, we have decided for CLEP to award the grade of "P" on the transcript, with an explanation that awarding of credit is IAW ACE guidelines. If ACE recommends college credit for a certain score, then high school is a no brainer. This isn't cast in stone, so if anyone has better ideas on how to do this, I'm open for suggestions. Shawn
Shawn, Thanks for your ideas. Now, my question is, once your daughter applies to the school of her choice, wouldn't they want her Clovis transcripts anyway? This is the part I don't understand. In my own experience, I just had University of Illinois pick apart all of my undergrad credits and request individual transcripts- if they will do this for your daughter (and my son) then what is the point of banking? P.S. I have to open the ACE transcript service to receive the course he is doing, so that account will be just sitting there- I'm not sure how I will use it. I hadn't considered using P/F on my son's transcripts. Not that I have this all figured out, but I intended to use the CLEP exam as the "final exam" and still issue grades. My reasoning, is that he still has done the homework, he still has done the reading, he still has put in clock hours. So, the CLEP is not the course, at a maximum, it would be like the "final exam." Did that make sense? Once upon a time, I read a blurb about not double dipping on high school to college credits. I know this would depend on the college- but I don't want the CLEP exam to be "the" class, in fear that it would (potentially) be viewed as double dipping as opposed to credit for existing knowledge. I am probably splitting hairs!
Hi Jennifer, Thanks for the questions - let me see if I can answer them... 1. You are correct about Clovis, and any school will want transcrpts from Clovis. 2. We plan to credit bank all the CLEP at TESC - that way we have all the CLEP consolidated on one transcript. 3. I see your point on using CLEP as a final exam, and issuing gades based on it. The issue is, how do you translate the CLEP score to a grade? With the "P" we don't have that issue. 4. As far as double dipping, traditional high school students who enroll in AP courses double dip, so I don't have an issue with CLEP in the home school environment. Hope that helps. Shawn
Thanks for discussing this with me, its nice to discuss these topics with other parents!! Not that it isn't lovely here anyway
Jennifer, Thanks for the conversation - I thought I would elaborate on why I am planning to open the credit bank for the CLEP exams at TESC. As you are aware, the College Board does not award college credit - only colleges award credit. By banking the CLEP at TESC during the senior year, my daughter will have actual college credit for the CLEP. When applying for scholarships, we can send the Clovis and TESC transcripts and statet that she has earned X credits at the following colleges. I'm willing to pay $250 for do that, as many private scholarships may have no idea what CLEP is, but a college transcript "more concrete." Shawn
>> Shawn, Ok- that's exactly the kind of info I was looking for. I couldn't understand the advantages before, that makes perfect sense. Thanks!!
