CLEP: Difficulty in testing in Europe

I used to be able to take Clep exams here in Madrid, Spain, at $75 a piece. But now Clep changed their policy and there is only one testing center in Europe, in London(UK). So, taking into account travelling expenses and a one night stay to take two cleps, now it's going to cost me around $450, that is $225 per test (not taking into account the psychological stress of having to travel to another country, etc.).

This is a great problem and don´t think I’ll be able to afford it, which for me seems to shut the door on my plans to complete an Associate's Business Degree in Excelsior College.

I have investigated the alternative of , instead of Cleps, doing some equivalent correspondence courses in several American universities, but they all seem to cost around $400 each (for 3 credits).

Before I give up, I’d like to ask if anybody has any ideas or tips of how I could get over this hurdle.

Thanks in advance, W.

 

SOME ideas, W....

On another thread, the present difficulty of CLEPing on another continent was discussed.

Briefly, (1) perhaps DANTES or GRE/GMAT testing centers can be approached; (2) American military bases, where such testing is already going on, can be approached.

Beyond these ideas, you might be SOL...

And, finally, you can contact Excelsior directly for help--including using their contact/student lists (available on their student per network). There may be other students in your country or continent with whom you may be able to address these problems with, or otherwise "pool resources," or even lobby recalcitrant authorities together!

http://www.degreeinfo.com/forums/show
thread.php?s=440785a6f82522f

http://www.getcollegecredit.com/directory.htm

--Orson

 

Thanks for your help.
I really think it´s going to be difficult for me to arrange CLEPs in Spain.
There are several American Universities here in Madrid; maybe someday someone will move things but for now I think I am screwed.
Sometimes I wonder, would it be worth it all the effort and expenses for me to pursue my degree at 44?

 

WILL: most of us here are 40ish...

Yes--you may be....
It sounds like cost it a genuine obstacle for you; have you looked into scholarships for distance learners (which, I know, are few and far between)?

Most of the men here seem to be 40ish (if not 40-something), and all of us have these doubts, time and time again. SO--you're not alone here.

But anyone of reasonable intelligence ought to be able to pass a few CLEP general exams, plus the subject exam in Interp and Anal. of Lit or General Biology in London over two days--and thus be about one year closer to your goal!

All that's certain is that if you putoff what you can do for another year, you'll be one year older and no closer to your goal.

For many of us, this (degree completion) is a chance to begin a career change, or jumpstart an irresolute career, or redeem a half a life-time spent doing something one didn't choose to do!

Is it worth it? You bet. Even if it doesn't mean more money, it means a lot in self-respect.

--Orson
BA, Excelsior (completion pending summer 2003)

 

take a look at germanwings.com , hlx.de or ryanair.com - you might get a flight to london for around 29 € (no kidding!)

greetings,
master

 

I'm now based in Alicante, Spain, where EasyJet fly's out to London (Stansted or Gatwick) very cheaply. Thistle Hotels (in central London, near Victoria/Westminster tubes) have cheap rates (like around 40 quid a night)

Otherwise, I always thought that CLEP will allow you to take the tests in Spain, under an approved proctor or something like that?

Best of luck to you....

Ranjit

 

Hello Will,

I'm pretty familiar with your situation. I'm an Excelsior College student myself and live in Germany. We had a testing center in Munich here but it does no longer offer testing due to software problems. So I'm considering the CLEP tests in London too.
As others already mentioned, you can fly with a cheap airline for a pretty low price. The cheapest flight offer from Germany to London I saw was €19. Also, there are two hotels in London of the cheap ETAP hotel chain. You pay ca. €50 for a night there.

Dennis

 

I doubt if the military will test you because the agreement with the CLEP and DANTES DSST folks precludes civilians being tested. Overseas, at least the Navy tests family members, but in the United States family members must test at National Testing Centers or through their university or college, if offered.

 

Thanks all for the information on flights, hotels, etc.
Also the encouragement for us 40ish people who struggle to attain a degree.

CLEP CENTER in LONDON:
I have been trying to coordinate going there to get tested for two examinations in the same day but I want to warn you guys that I am finding it very difficult. There´s a communicationg problem with them. I was trying to go next week but it hasn´t been possible to straighten things out with them.
My advise is that if you contact them give them a proposal of 2 or more days with precise hours of testing (whether you want morning or afternoon). In other words, send them clear precise messages because if not you will end up quite frustrated as I have. Just finished studying two subjects and wanted to test them to get them out of the way and not have to continue reviewing them, but it´s just not happening.
They charge $50 per CLEP, which is the standard CLEP testing center fee PLUS 20 British Pounds per test admin. fee.

Yes, I was planning to travel using EASYJET from Madrid, but it still costs around 120 Euros (120 bucks). If you add bus transport from Lutton Airport to London, One night hotel at around 55 Pounds and a few othert expenses, in the end you can see it amounts to quite a lot.

I will give you my report once I go, if ever I manage to coordinate things with MST college...

 

If it costs minimally $400 inclusive, that's $35 to $70 per credit (depending on whether the two CLEPs are 6 sem credits or 3 each).

Therefore taking Ohio University exams ($200 for 4 qtr credits), or TECEP exams ($100/sem cr), are indeed marginally attractive alternatives even when you're looking at 6 credit CLEPs exclusively, especially since they lack all the hassle, planning, and travel. Of course, if were talking 3 sem CLEPs, you can do decidedly better with the initially pricier competition.

--Orson

 

Re: SOME ideas, W....

You can forget doing testing at American military bases in Europe; they´ve become fortresses - at least those in Germany. You won´t even get in with a US passport unless someone with a US military ID signs you in.

In Germany, while most of the Univ. Maryland´s offices are on base, I believe that their large Munich campus isn´t. Then there is Pepperdine U. in Heidelberg but I don´t know whether they offer CLEP testing.

 

Hello Will,

I've contacted the MST College several months ago and they told me that they were about to restructure their educational program and cancel to offer CLEP exams. It seems they've changed their mind on that. One issue of concern to me is that the MST College is a school for orthodox Jews women, so I thought that maybe it would be difficult being a male to get access to the testing site. But I don't know, that are just my thoughts.

Dennis Siemens

 

RE: MST College
Well, I didn't know what kind of institution it was. All I do know is that it's the only CLEP testing center in all of Europe. Also noticed on the DANTES web page that MST college is also a testing center for them.
Don't think the problems in testing me is that I am a non jewish male (I hope!).
They just set up the place a a testing center recently; perhaps that explains my perception that they are not really making an effort to help me save costs by being able to take two tests in the morning of the same day.
The tests I am taking are only 3 credit (Microeconomics and Intro Psychology). They are the beginning of a still long list of tests I will need to take with Clep so as to advance towards my business Associate´s Degree.

 

Ranjit,

Checked THISTLE Victoria hotel prices in London and they are over 100 Pounds per night!

There are plenty of other hotels for around 50 pounds.

 

When I was curriculum development officer at a private college in London last year I began the work of setting up a CLEP testing centre. It wasn't at all difficult but the college principal abandoned the idea. He preferred the college to be an unrecognised but lucrative "visa factory" offering low cost EFL courses for foreign students who wanted to earn money.

I'll post a message if I can convince another college to establish a CLEP centre.

ABE exams still remain a cheap way of getting Business Studies credits.

 

Hi,

Yes, I am starting to consider contacting some local american college extension here in Madrid to inquire about setting up a center.
Also i am sending an email to Clep`to ask them about this.

Regarding ABE, I am investigating it at the moment. It´s still not clear taht it will be a right option for what I want. If only it was complete SURE that Excelsior was going to give me credits for some of their exams...

On the other hand, sincerely, the exam type of ABE seem more difficult (not multiple choice).

 

This is an email I had recently from ABE concerning acceptance of ABE for credits towards Charter Oak, Thomas Edison and Excelsior

"No news about Charter Oak or the others. To be honest, it is not a
priority
as we are looking at accreditation from a large number of USA
universities
affiliated to an organisation called Presnet."

 

With the price of the Dollar falling, maybe, it would pay to travel to the US and take a whole bunch of exams in a week or so. Seriously, I'm beginning to consider this option. I need to still take for my Excelsior bachelor in business around 20 CLEP/DANTES/ECE exams. So I think it could well be done in two trips.

Dennis Siemens

 

Dennis,
Yes, I have thought of travelling to North America to take my CLEPS. But I see several problems:

1) Jet lag adjustment: It would take a few days to adjust and be in top shape so as to have the best chances at taking the exams.

2) To make it worth it one would have to prepare for many exams. This requires a lot of extra memorizing and reviewing of material, which realñly makes things even more difficult.

Yes, it´s possible, but in the end the extra cost and effort puts us europeans at quite a disadvantage.

I wish you good luck.

 

I'm planning to take a trip to South Florida in about a month to take 6 CLEP/DANTES/ECE exams. It's a 2 and half hour flight for me and I have friends who are willing to take me in while I'm there. Like Will said, it's a lot of work preparing for a number of different subjects at once but since they are all business related they all have at least a little something in common. Among the 6 exams, I am going to be taking ECE Human Resources, Dantes Organizational Behavior, Dantes Principles of Supervision, and CLEP Principles of Management which all contain very similar subject matter. Just make sure you give yourself enough time to prepare and it shouldn't be much of a problem. Good luck!