Hello everyone! Say I needed 9 credits. Not in any particular discipline, just 9 accredited college credits. What would be the quickest, easiest, and cheapest way to acquire them? I was thinking independent study, such as FEMA. Not sure on the cost of transferring or evaluating though... I'm currently enrolled at my community college but they're stonewalling me with financial aid and it's gotten on my last nerve. So, I think I'd rather just go out of pocket which means it needs to be on the cheaper side of things... If I could grab 9 of the FEMA courses and have them transferred in at my college, that'd be great... But I don't think that'll happen. So maybe TESC? I have a corporate discount program with them, but along with the FEMA credits I'd also have to have my CC credits transferred so I could get a transcript showing total amount of credits. It's for military enlistment, sometime next year after I finish up a 10-month dental procedure. I was planning on just grabbing another 3 classes this semester and being done. But if I could do it cheaper that'd be great. Right now I'm looking at $90.15 per hour, so $811.35 + textbooks. Figure $1100 minimum. Any suggestions? =) (Thought about CLEP as well, not sure how well I would do... but if you know of some easy ones I'm all for it.)
Would a TESC credit bank work for you ? As a place to have all your FEMA's and other credits listed in one place . Check out this post : http://www.degreeinfo.com/showpost.php?p=318684&postcount=6
Cheap is my middle name! (well, technically it's LeAnn.....) FEMA is free, but the means to get it accepted is not. Assuming your college accepts this credit, you could launder it, however, I think this is the wrong road. I hate credit banking, but that's because I think it is a total waste of money. (yes, there are rare exceptions when banking makes sense....this isn't one) CLEP is an obvious choice. As long as your school accepts CLEP, and the exams don't duplicate your credits (see an advisor at your school) then you can take advantage of this system. Foreign language exams award the highest, upward of 12+ credit or more for a high score! Earning 6 credits for an exam is possible through any of the 5 general exams, or 3 foreign language exams (high scores award 12- but simply passing is still 6). If you want single subjects (imo an easier option) you can knock these off to the tune of 3 credits each. Cost per exam $80 plus possible testing center fee $0-$20 (no books to buy!) ALEKS is worth looking at. For the cost of $20 per month, you can take as many independent study maths/stats as you can work through. From beginning algebra through precal, a score of 70% earns you credit in any course. In theory, someone with high motivation and some rusty math skills could rock out 12 or more credits in one month for $20. Lot's of little "buts" in this kind of program- some schools don't allow you to go back and earn lower level credits, so if you are already holding credit in Calc 2, you should ask. Also, only works if your school accepts ACE evaluated credit. Best part, this is open book, untimed, and in the privacy of your own home! Community colleges, Clovis is a favorite for low $, but also look at your own local school. Clovis is just a click more expensive than a CLEP, so very affordable. With books and tech fees, you're just about $200-$300 per course. Lastly, and not really what you asked....but are you sure you have 9 credits that can be in any subject? Just double check that you are not mixing up free electives and general education electives. EDIT: Your college does not charge a fee to sit a CLEP exam, which is great, but they are a little stingy on issuing credit. I can't find where they accept ACE classes (like ALEKS) but my vote is for CLEP. You can do it!
What area do schools put FEMA credits (gen ed or professional or ????). If the OP has a credit card, bought insurance, paid rent, earned wages, then it should be a quick study to pass this DSST exam: http://www.getcollegecredit.com/downloads/factsheets/Personal%20Finance_20080509.pdf I took the sample exam cold and got a good score.
Just need 15 accredited college credits, doesn't matter what they're in. I have 6, so 9 more. TCC does charge a sitting fee, but it's only $5. You also have to have 12 credits with them or they won't honor CLEP credits. So I'd have to drop another $540+books for them to accept CLEP. Which is why I was thinking it would be better to have TESC evaluate the credits instead.... I'm not really sure how all that works though.
Scratch that above quote, I was looking at the wrong page. Still on narcotics from the dentist! They do however charge $20 per exam if you're not a current student. I see what you meant by stringent requirements on granting credit... Some of the ones I was looking at they don't accept, lol. Ian, I was actually wanting to take that course outright. My dad says I have a very serious budgeting problem, but I have no idea what he's talking about. I could probably pass it fairly easily though.
According to Tulsa's website, they don't take DSST. And if I'm reading KYarb's post correctly, he doesn't want to enroll at TCC next semester because of the $$ involved. If he's not a current student at TCC next semester, getting CLEP on a TCC transcript is unlikely until he reenrolls. So you need nine credits on a transcript? I'd enroll as a degree seeking student at Clovis for Winter Semester 2010, take two classes (6 credits) at Clovis, and one three credit CLEP and have the CLEP sent to Clovis. Note; Clovis does not accept DSST. Cost breakdown: Clovis Tuition & Fees for 6 credits: 225; CLEP 100. Total 325 + books. Shawn
Double check this with TESC but if they allow you to put FEMA on the TESC credit bank I believe the cost would be : $400: for up to 60 credits on the credit bank plus the cost of transcripts sent from your CC. tesc credit bank info can be found here :http://www.tesc.edu/files/NondegreeServiceApp(1).pdf Peace123
LSU offers college courses through its Independent and Distance Learning department; and they are pretty inexpensive. http://www.is.lsu.edu/courselist.asp?Level=CO&Online=0&nid=102
But LSU Independent Study can be painfully slow. My daughter quit taking her Latin course because she was waiting 3 weeks + for feedback. In addition, Clovis is still the better deal financially. In addition, as an Independent Study Student, he won't be able to add CLEP to an LSU transcript, and he needs to add CLEP inexpensively somewhere, since TCC's policies are too restrictive for him. Shawn
Yes it can be slow and their pricing reflects that; its DL format (correspondence). My daughter took a HS Spanish course from LSU at $97.
Heyya neighbor... TCC is actually where I've been taking my CLEPs... They've got a nice group working there, very courteous. I actually considered going to TCC to get an associates before heading off to one of the local schools to finish off a bachelors (some 6-7 years down the road) before finding this site. Even as of late, I looked at signing up for the TCC Info Lit equiv there to have it transfered to Excelsior as well as getting me out of paying the extra $20 fee on each CLEP. One option that I thought of for your situation was to use Straighterline to go through Fort Hayes for the credit. Prior to their addition to the ACE list, use of the Partner Schools was the way to go (at least for people who wanted to knock out a few credits at the Big 3.) Unfortunately they've got a really small list of courses, English I & II, Econ I & II, Accounting I & II, and Algebra (and maybe 1-2 more.) If you can use any of those, it might be the ticket for you. By accounts the classes can easily be completed in a month, it costs $99/month + $39/course. People have knocked out the econs in a week a piece. Apparently the accounting courses are rife with errors though (most notably Acct II, according to several members of the Instantcert forums.) In the past, people have knocked out 2-3 straighterline courses in a month, paid $30ish to Fort Hayes to 'apply' and have the courses added to the transcript, and then another $5 to have a transcript sent out to whatever school they needed. Going through a partner school, you get graded for the class (If you go through ACE, you get a Pass/Fail grade for the course). And FHSU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Good luck to you. -T
