Please suggest options for my daughter

My daughter is 19 now, and for various reasons (including my frequent movements across countries and states withinUSA), she's stuck in high school at PennFoster. She's getting bored, depressed and want to go to college. So, here are her requirements:

* Online Associate or Bachelor - she's undecided about Major, so general studies would be better.
* Homeschool friendly.
* Does not insist on a highschool diploma.
* Does not insist on SAT or other placement tests (she fears them).
* Preferably RA - she want to do further studies.
* Cost - due to my work visa status, she'll be considered International student by most schools, doesn't qualify for financial aid, hence I have to dish out everything out of my pocket.

BTW, We are (currently) based in Houston, TX. I request all of you to suggest her some good options.

 

I can't think of one school worth attending that won't require either a HS diploma or its equivolancy (GED). Good luck with finding one that doesn't.

 

Athabasca University in Canada does not require a high school diploma for entry and offers a Bachelor of General Studies degree ... however it is a 3-year degree not a 4-year degree, and Athabasca is not cheap:

Bachelor of General Studies (3-Year) : Undergraduate Degree Programs: Athabasca University

 

Sure, leave it to those pesky Canadians to prove me wrong .

 

PennFoster college won't insist on a HS Diploma or GED, but I am not considering it for now, as it is NA only.

 

I'm going to join Emmzee and recommend Athabasca's BGS. She can transfer in 100% of the credits, and end up paying AU only $180 - $100 for a transcript evaluation and $80 graduation fee. If she's used to a homeschool format, University of Wyoming, LSU and BYU's correspondence classes should prove to a be an excellent credit source for her, and hopefully keep costs down to a few hundred bucks a class. Not sure what AU thinks of CLEP/DSST or other exams, but if they take those, even better.

Best of luck to your daughter!

 

She might want to consider online courses that offer dual enrollment credit. Liberty University has several of these as well as Troy University and The University of Missouri.

 

I can't name any off the top of my head, but I know I've seen many reputable colleges that will accept students without a HS diploma on a "trial" basis.
They enroll as non-degree students and after passing 12 credits they can then have their status changed to "degree seeking freshman" and have those 12 credits transfer in.

As for other options ...
I'd start her with an Associates.
Its great to complete that and have a feeling of accomplishment.
Its great to finish 60 credits and have a diploma to show for it instead of thinking, "still have 60 more to go"
You can usually take the Associates and the 60 credits and transfer that to a 4 year degree, online or brick and mortar.

I'd start off with either an Associates from Charter Oak or Excelsior.

Charter Oak - Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree in General Studies

Completing Your Degree - Degree Completion: Bachelors and Associates at Charter Oak State College

to apply you only need 9 credits, no HS diploma
you can get those 9 credits from CLEP, DANTES or Excelsior exams

once you're accepted you can keep doing exams or take COSC's online classes
pdf of online classes - http://www.charteroak.edu/bb/course_schedule/Fall_2010_Online_Course_Schedule.pdf


I'm currently enrolled for a degree at Excelsior.
I'm completing the degree with CLEP exams, DANTES exams, Excelsior exams and also online courses taken as a non-degree student from BYU, Berkely, Empire State, and a number of SUNY schools.

Neither Excelsior nor any of those colleges have ever asked to see a GED or HS diploma or transcript.


You could also do an Associates completely online from SUNY (State University of New York), but this might be more expensive because she'd have to pay non-resident tuition
SUNY list of online 2 year degrees
Online Associate Degree Programs at SUNY Campuses

SUNY list of campuses
SUNY: Complete Campus List


list of DANTES exams
DSST - GetCollegeCredit.com

list of CLEP exams
CLEP: Exam Descriptions

 

I'm going to go against the grain here and suggest that your daughter should get her HS diploma or GED first and then go from there. She's really limiting herself by not completing high school. Once she's done she'll have more options and things will get much less "boring".

 

james_lankford
Your post is very helpful. I'll explore COSC for more details. Thanks for the great tips.

thomas_jefferson
I am more inline with your opinion, personally. I asked her to complete the HS first - but her thoughts are different. And I dont really want to hurt a teenager's feelings.

 

Speaking of Liberty University I would encourage you (her) to take a serious look at Liberty Home Bible Institute: Liberty Home Bible Institute|LHBI|Biblical Studies Diploma|Biblical Studies Diploma At Home

She can earn up to 42 credits at Liberty University for $950 if paid in full or $1250 on the monthly payment plan (this according to the website). In my opinion, this is going to be one of the best no-high-school-diploma bargains you're going to find. Of course, she will still need a high school diploma or GED to gain full admittance into Liberty upon completion of the LHBI program. The cost comes out to just over $22 per credit hour which is incredible.

 

Clovis Community College is your answer

Simple - Clovis Community College is your answer.

1. You live in Texas. Texas is a "homeschool friendly" state. You have the authority to issue a diploma and transcripts/portfolio as long as you "use a written curriculum consisting of reading, spelling, grammar, math and a course in good citizenship; no other requirements apply."

See HSLDA's analysis of Texas homeschool law at http://www.hslda.org/laws/analysis/Texas.pdf

2. Clovis is an open admissions community college (no SAT) and is regionally accredited by HLC.

3. Has an AA is Liberal Arts
Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts

4. Is very affordable:

6 credits cost $234 ($39/credit hour)

15 credits cost $1170 ($78 credit hour)

Good luck!

Shawn

 

Shawn
Your adivce is very helpful. I saw this on Clovis website:

Any idea(s) on how to verify the highschool status? is it through a diploma/transcripts issued by me?

 

I've not checked requirements but maybe your daughter could start taking CLEP and DSST exams. That way she can be on her way to obtaining an associates degree at one of the big three schools (EC, COSC, or TESC). I believe (but could be wrong) that a HSD/GED is not required for students over a certain age.
Studying and passing these exams could alsp prepare her to pass the GED exam.

 

There are community colleges that will let you take courses without being matriculated. With some good planning she could take the right courses that would satisfy her high school requirements and then later those same courses could be applied to her AA. We've heard stories of kids who earn their H.S. diploma and their AA in the same Spring.

Here's an old thread on a related topic:

http://www.degreeinfo.com/distance-learning-discussions/31836-high-school-student-full-time-college-student.html

 

You might be able to do it using the 24 Credit hour program https://www.hvcc.edu/catalog/admissions/24hrprogram.html
Since they accept CLEP & DSST exams (which she could begin taking immediately), I would call and explain that your daughter has or will have earned 24 hours via CLEP and DSST exams and see if that qualifies for the 24 credit hours required for the New York State High School Equivalency Diploma. Once she obtained that she could transfer anywhere.

 

Absolutely correct. You need to issue a transcript or portfolio, note that she is a homeschool graduate by fulfilling the requirements of Texas law - and done.

The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) has more info here:

HSLDA | Homeschooling Thru High School : Frequently Asked Questions

BTW - if you are a homeschooling family, I highly recommend investing the $95 or $115 a year for a HSLDA membership. If your daughter has any issues with her homeschool diploma, HSLDA will go to bat for you. In addition, HSLDA will mout a vigorous defense when local officals overstep their bounds:

HSLDA | Family Turned in to Both Social Worker and School District

Good luck!

Shawn

 

Looks like a great deal!

 

lawrenceq
Yes...this is definately a great deal....but not suitable for my daughter's situation on religious grounds. Not that we have anything against christianity - I just belong to another religion called Hinduism.

Shawn
Thanks a lot for the info. My daughter liked this. So, her options now are CCC, COSC and ay other college that might take straighterline courses.
BTW - I found an old thread on another degree forum with your name(I dont know if it is you) and an attachment with a sample transcript for a homeschooled student. This is very helpful. If you are the same person, thanks again

 

Clovis will take her on a limited bases as a Homeschool student. I believe 6 credits is $125 plus $50 internet fee for a total of $225. New Mexico Junior College has similiar fee's and they also offer classes in both 16 and 8 week semester options.

I would start by checking your local CC I think Texas has free CC for residents