BA done by examinations (CLEP, etc.)

Hi Bill,

I'd like to incorporate other people's experiences in a section of "BA in 4 Weeks", some data and some anecdotes. Some info also on their backgrounds would be useful too, if I can get it. I have other thoughts of documenting the utility of these degrees COSC, Excelsior, TESC. Particularly (but not exclusively), the utility of degrees earned entirely or primarily by examination.

1)
Utility as measured by acceptance of the degree for purposes of entry into accredited graduate programs, in the United States, and through out the the rest of the World.

("accredited" = regionally accredited, or the foreign equivalent thereof)


2)
Utility as measured by acceptance by employers for the purposes of employment, in the United States, and elsewhere in the world.

Excellent!

What is your goal vis-a-vis degree? How far along are you? Which exams, and how did you find the tests? If asked, what advice would you give others planning a similar venture?

Lawrie
[email protected]

 

Hi Lawrie,

thanks for the explanations.

I was wondering if you were planning to create your own homepage listing all the info you provide about "BA in 4 weeks" ?

 

Yes, I think I am going to have to do that. There will be individual coverage of the Liberal Arts degrees, Business degrees, second bachelor's degree, and Computer Information Systems degree.

There will be a common introduction, generic delineation of process, FAQs, a database related to specific exams and degrees, followed by the segmented treatments of the individual degrees.

 

Reprinting the scale from BA in 4 Weeks by Lawrie Miller:
INDIVIDUAL EXAMINATION DIFFICULTY INDEX ("How hard is xyz examination?)

Likely relative difficulty an average motivated adult learner would experience scoring at least a "B" in selected proficiency exams

1 = No study required
2 = Light revision required
3 = A reasonable effort required
4 = Some real study required
5 = No messing around a good score requires significant effort.

For a simple "pass", reduce difficulty index by 1 in each case.
--------------------------------------------
CLEP:

Analyzing & Interpreting Literature 1
Information Systems & Computer Apps 1
History of U.S. I 3
Human Growth & Development 2
English Literature 1
Humanities 2

Dantes:

Management Info. Systems 1
Foundations of Education 2
Introduction to World Religions 2

Five of these I sat "cold" - no preparation. For the other four I spent about six hours total perusing the appropriate Cliff Quick Review (or similar) book on the subject, except for Foundations of Education where I found a web site that was adequate.

The two tests that could not be easily prepared for are English Literature and the Humanities general exam, which is roughly 50% literature. A person who hasn't read anything but the sports page in the past twenty-five years might easily rate either of those tests as a four or five.

The cost for these credits averaged about $12.25 per, which in itself is a pretty good argument in favor of including as much test credit in your plan as possible.


------------------
Bill Gossett

 

Thanks, Bill. Your difficulty rating matches pretty nearly where your chosen exams overlap with those in BA in 4 Weeks. Your general experience vis-a-vis average no-study/minimum study requirements also seems within the norms detailed in that guide.

I agree with the point on the difficulty of quick formal learning for the general exams, and as the guide states, success in these seems to me to be a matter of accumulated general knowledge. It is very likely those who have been less curious about the world, would experience particular difficulty there.

If it is not a sensitive area, which college and which degree?

 

Probably COSC, Lawrie, with a concentration in philosophy if I don't change my mind again.

------------------
Bill Gossett

 

How would you rate CLEP exam for College Algebra? I have to take at least 2 credits in math to fulfill Excelsior's BA requirment, and I am a little bit worried that I will need to study a lot for that.

Thanks.

 

Thank you for the feedback.

Whatever you eventually decide Bill, best of luck.