On another thread Giancarlo in Brazil raises a new problem presented by the computer based CLEP testing: "The only 'little' problem for me is that there is no CLEP test center in Brazil and, because all CLEP tests are now computer based, ETS doesn’t allow anymore any provisional arrangement for taking the test, which was quite common in the previous era of the pencil based tests… " The closest present CLEP test location to Brazil is San Jose, Costa Rica. The only obvious "solution" would be to prep for a choice battery of tests with high yield--such as Spanish for 12 credits, Analysis and Interp of lit, etc. for 6, or biology for the same, and go there. In other words, make the effort worthwhile by getting the right payouts. Another approach would be to take advantage of the US' overweening military prescence and go through the a U.S. military base' educational office; they're just computers set up in proctorable environments. I believe CLEP might help you with this--anyone else know about this? At least I know they do make make DANTES testing available at bases where there's already CLEP testing being done! Perhaps there is somewhere else that you already travel to with some regularity that this could work? Perhaps even Excelsior could advise you, or else help you contact Excelsior students already in the military who would know what could be worked out for civilians? --Orson
Good Morning, Camden County College (NJ) offers end of semester testing. I believe there may be a opportunity to test at other sites. I would contact the head of the department in reference to this. Hille
Dear Orson, Thank you very much – once again - for your interest. About your suggestions: Brazil is (luckily) one of the few countries in the hemisphere with a very limited presence of the US military. In other words, no bases where to take DANTES and CLEP tests. What is more strange is that the local US high-schools (there are at least two in Sao Paulo and one each in Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia) don’t have any testing center. I called all of them, and I actually had to explain what CLEP tests are… My next move will be trying to convince a Sao Paulo bi-national center, recognized by the US consulate, to become a CLEP testing center. Since they already work with ETS administrating TOEFL and GRE tests, I suppose it’s viable. I just hope it won’t be too expensive—anyway, should be cheaper than taking a plane to Costa Rica or the US. Another option would be to ask to some friend at the US embassy in Brasilia. In any case, it’s a giant pain in the neck. My point is: the difficulties for a non-US resident to pursue a degree through DL have been consistently increasing in the last few years. Not long ago – say, 1999 – Regents College (now Excelsior) still allowed to take all its exams abroad, and CLEP people didn’t make a fuss about test locations. What’s going on? Bests, Giancarlo PS. Hille, if you have any news please let me know
Have you checked here: Please note that colleges and universities that both administer tests and accept scores are identified with an asterisk (*). *8485 VERA BRADFORD ACADEMIC SUPERINTENDENT ESTHER STEARNS D'UTRA E. SLIVA SUPERVISOR ACADEMIC DEPT INSTITUTO BRASIL - ESTADOS UNIDOS AV. N.S. DE COPACABANA 690 - 6 ANDAR RIO DE JANEIRO, RJ BRAZIL CEP 22050-000 21-3826-9400 http://www.getcollegecredit.com/Individual_States/overseas_institutions.htm
Possible, but... Charles idea is worth a check; after all, they not only administer DANTES, but accept them, too. BUT Giancarlo is more likely on to what will work. Why? Computers. He writes: "My next move will be trying to convince a Sao Paulo bi-national center, recognized by the US consulate, to become a CLEP testing center. Since they already work with ETS administrating TOEFL and GRE tests, I suppose it’s viable." DANTES testing needs no computer, while GRE and TOEFL already use them! The sunk capital costs are there--thus, there is little additional expense in expanding their own menu of tests. And for the CLEP people to send software and manuals is a small cost to them. The only additional problem that Giancarlo might address is the initial installation exspense at the testing center. It takes time to install. There may well be a language barrier (I doubt the instructions and manuals are in Portuguese), too. Perhaps you could offer to make a donation to defray these intial expenses? (I'm sure stronger language is not uncommon in these matters in Brazil. The softest term in English is "emolument.") Another option maybe simply knowing a friend or a wife of a colleague who could volunteer time (an afternoon or two, I might guess), to translate the instructions....? It's always about going through the right hoops!--isn't it? --Orson PS Thanks for your kind words, Giancarlo.
Charles, yes, at this center is possible to take all the DANTES tests. I contacted them some months ago, and they were very friendly and efficient. However, they don’t administer CLEP tests, nor they have any intention to. I’ll go there any day to take a couple of DANTES tests, and it will be no sacrifice at all—I’m completely in love with Rio de Janeiro, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. For the CLEP, I’ll go after that bi-national center I was talking about; its name is Alumni. Orson, thank you for your suggestion: I could translate the installation instructions myself, or have a friend doing it. Normally Alumni charges a fee for about everything, so I suppose I will have to pay some bucks anyway. I will keep the group posted: if it works for me here, it could also work somewhere else. Bests, Giancarlo
