AF Commission with TESU Degree

[TESUAF]

After using this forum for well over a decade to help with my CCAF and later Bachelor's, I figured I could possibly inspire other hopeful officers who are considering big-3/alternative credit degrees with my story.

I'm a recent graduate of USAF OTS and used my TESU BSBA to qualify with very minimal time/cost.  I used this forum when I first enlisted to study for CLEPs/DSSTs and always considered the possibility of commissioning.  I was still put off though by the time commitment of taking a multitude of traditional/online classes.  Degree plans at the time were not as well mapped out and Straighterline had just started with only a few course offerings.  I put it off, but always kept it in the back of my mind as a goal.  

I periodically checked the OTS application requirements and some time in 2015 they began to accept only the GPA on the conferred degree transcript.  This was key and exactly what I needed!  Previously I would have to retake courses from my old CC to bring my GPA up.  Knowing this, I quickly mapped out a degree and found that the TESU BSBA was still a 100% test out degree.  This was soon to change though as they were discontinuing the Strategic Management TECEP, so I enrolled right then to lock in the current years degree requirements/catalog.

From there I was on a war path knocking out CLEPs and DSSTs at the education center nearly every week for months straight.  I jumped on ALEKS and straighterline to satisfy anything else that could not be satisfied via test.  During that process I realized a flaw, I was going to graduate with no GPA on the transcript!  I had to take a course so I settled on what I figured to be the easiest A, the 1 credit PLA-100.  Turns out I was correct and received an A for the course and a 4.00 GPA on my transcript.  I was hot to finish my degree so I opted to forgo the TESU residency requirement and pay the residency waiver fee.  A small price to pay for not having to worry about any more TECEPs.

To hopefuls out there, this path is still viable!  Only now instead of taking a 1 credit PLA course, you'll have to take the capstone.  A small price to pay though compared to finishing a normal or even online degree.  I finished all of the degree requirements in under a year for only a few thousand dollars, only because I chose not complete the residency.  This degree can still be completed in much less time, for nearly free if you use TA, and qualify you for a commission via USAF OTS with a high GPA.  

Anyways, I'm happy to answer any questions on commissioning, OTS, etc.  I've yet to encounter another big-3 grad that has commissioned, most are traditional colleges or the standard military online colleges: AMU, Ashford, etc.  I still pinch myself that I actually knocked out my degree and am a LT now.  Hopefully this inspires some you to go this route!

[MrBossmanJr]

Congrats! I called a Navy recruiting station and told them I had a BA-LS degree with a 4.0 GPA from TESU. They stated that I would be competitive should I apply for OCS. So, people can easily commission with a degree from one of the Big 3. The wait times to start OCS seem to be long though.

[Supermind]

Tell me this: Only the Capstone GPA matters? Are you not asked what the grades of the other courses were? And what the cumulative GPA might be? I have a 4 GPA from TESU too. But if I calculated all my study.com grades etc, it comes down to 3.6.

[MNomadic]

Tell me this: Only the Capstone GPA matters? Are you not asked what the grades of the other courses were? And what the cumulative GPA might be? I have a 4 GPA from TESU too. But if I calculated all my study.com grades etc, it comes down to 3.6.

Study.com grades don't matter(except for personal satisfaction of course). As far as I know, all ACE/NCCRS credits transfer to TESU as Pass/Fail(though failed CLEPS/ACE/NCCRS courses don't transfer at all). The question of a lack of graded credits could certainly come up during the interview process so you'd need to know how you will respond in order to leverage your situation.

[Supermind]

Yes. I know study.com grades don’t feature on the transcript. Which is why I am preparing an excel sheet with my course grades, and calculating the cumulative GPA. Study.com has sent me a transcript with all my percentage grades. So, like you say, I can present this, if the question arises during an interview. However, my question here is in response to the other posts, which only talk about TESU GPA. Did they not face questions about the GPA from other courses?

[dfrecore]

Just an FYI, at TESU and COSC, you have to take the cornerstone and capstone; at EC you have to take the capstone, but they look to be adding a cornerstone in Jan 2020.

Also, TESU has raised their prices multiple times, so they are the most expensive of the Big 3, but they are probably the cheapest for active-duty military ($5,800 max, but that includes 34 courses at $100 each, and many of those can be gotten for free through CLEP & DSST, and cheaper through OD, Saylor, TEEX, etc.).

[TESUAF]

Congrats! I called a Navy recruiting station and told them I had a BA-LS degree with a 4.0 GPA from TESU. They stated that I would be competitive should I apply for OCS. So, people can easily commission with a degree from one of the Big 3. The wait times to start OCS seem to be long though.

Thank you!  And yes, it's similar for the AF.  They're recruiting officers heavily so there's now a backlog after acceptance to attend OTS, about one year.

Yes. I know study.com grades don’t feature on the transcript. Which is why I am preparing an excel sheet with my course grades, and calculating the cumulative GPA. Study.com has sent me a transcript with all my percentage grades. So, like you say, I can present this, if the question arises during an interview. However, my question here is in response to the other posts, which only talk about TESU GPA. Did they not face questions about the GPA from other courses?

GPA/lack of graded credit was never questioned during the process.  It is simply verified by personnel specialists on the transcript once your application is submitted.  I am prior enlisted and my Commander already knew me so there was no formal interview.  I'd say this is largely the same for many prior enlisted.  Coming in as a civilian, however, it could come up.  I would doubt it though, but have an explanation ready.  There's no written requirement for a certain amount of graded credit.  Are you considering applying?  I'd talk to a recruiter if so.

Just an FYI, at TESU and COSC, you have to take the cornerstone and capstone; at EC you have to take the capstone, but they look to be adding a cornerstone in Jan 2020.

Also, TESU has raised their prices multiple times, so they are the most expensive of the Big 3, but they are probably the cheapest for active-duty military ($5,800 max, but that includes 34 courses at $100 each, and many of those can be gotten for free through CLEP & DSST, and cheaper through OD, Saylor, TEEX, etc.).

So cornerstone and capstone now.  That's unfortunate, were does it end?  Using military tuition assistance you can still come out nearly free, only paying the graduation fee and for any non-CLEP/DSST alternative credits.

[Sagan]

I knew 5 people who all did the Regents College external degree program (now Excelsior College) while stationed together. They all went to OTS, became officers, and retired between the grades of Captain through Lt Colonel. One of them was an education specialist in the base education center; he was the ringleader, helping the others learn about the program and to complete their bachelor's degrees. He also helped a Colonel without a degree complete his before he came up for Brigadier General. He completed the degree, but didn't make the promotion.

[kittenbiscuit]

Hello, this thread is just what I've been searching for! I would be so grateful if anyone could throw in their two cents on my situation. Trying to navigate this myself has been tough. Here's the quick rundown: I will be 27 in a few weeks. I am interested in joining AFROTC at an out-of-state university and pursuing one of the "highly desired" language majors for scholarship. I currently have, to my knowledge, ZERO college credits. I am aware of the requirement to be 31 or under upon commissioning to receive scholarship. Basically, I'm thinking my best option is to test out of freshman year in six months or less, if possible. I am more than determined enough to do this, I just need a good gameplan. What would be the CLEP tests I would want to take to fully test out of my first year? Currently, I am studying for the College Composition test with Modern States and should be ready to schedule my exam in less than a week.

[mysonx3]

Hello, this thread is just what I've been searching for! I would be so grateful if anyone could throw in their two cents on my situation. Trying to navigate this myself has been tough. Here's the quick rundown: I will be 27 in a few weeks. I am interested in joining AFROTC at an out-of-state university and pursuing one of the "highly desired" language majors for scholarship. I currently have, to my knowledge, ZERO college credits. I am aware of the requirement to be 31 or under upon commissioning to receive scholarship. Basically, I'm thinking my best option is to test out of freshman year in six months or less, if possible. I am more than determined enough to do this, I just need a good gameplan. What would be the CLEP tests I would want to take to fully test out of my first year? Currently, I am studying for the College Composition test with Modern States and should be ready to schedule my exam in less than a week.

Nobody will be able to answer this question without knowing what school you're going to. Different schools A. Have different first-year requirements, and B. Have different policies regarding CLEP.