Alternative Options Weren't Mentioned in High School (now I'm a little mad)

[OakLakeNC]

So yesterday I Googled something like "CLEP exam experiences." And I came across a homeschool blogger who was getting her children ready to take CLEP tests in their junior and senior years. Because she said as homeschool kids they aren't allowed to take AP exams...Well that didn't turn out to be be true. I went to the AP site to check (because I didn’t think that was fair if homeschoolers were excluded). Anyone can take AP tests and no actual AP class required.

As high school students we should have been told. Your school doesn't offer AP Art History? No problem. Take regular Art History (or whatever class), then check out AP study materials from the school's media center, study, then challenge the exam. There about 30 AP exams. So much potential credit that wasn't promoted.

Nothing like CLEP was ever mentioned either. I learned about CLEP from reading my community colleges catalog...one tiny little section telling you to go online to see which CLEP tests/scores are accepted. I start googling and discover this whole world of exams by credit.

Nobody said anything about picking up credits from places like UNC Friday Center. Those credits would transfer anywhere in-state. Motivated students could be picking up credits over the summer. I learned about the Friday center from this site. Course List - The William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education

People might think "you should have done your own research. " But I didn't even what was out there to research. I had no idea until recently you could even earn credit by exam. Alternative and cheaper options just aren't promoted like the traditional path. We have college fairs and college visit days that teach us all about traditional university life. Nobody could spare some time to mention test out options or correspondence courses that are for anyone or the accelerated college options?

[sanantone]

If the students don't know, then the students who become teachers and school counselors aren't going to know. I came across a psychologist, a person with a doctorate, who had never heard of CLEP. Colleges are in a better position to promote CLEP, but they usually just put up some information on their testing center webpage.

[TrailRunr]

It's not that the College Board won't accept homeschool students. The problem is whether or not your local site is going to let you take the exam. They may tell you to go somewhere else instead. It's sort of like a non-dependent civilian trying to take a CLEP on a base, which is not going to happen even though anyone can take a CLEP.

[keepsingin]

People might think "you should have done your own research. " But I didn't even what was out there to research. I had no idea until recently you could even earn credit by exam. Alternative and cheaper options just aren't promoted like the traditional path. We have college fairs and college visit days that teach us all about traditional university life. Nobody could spare some time to mention test out options or correspondence courses that are for anyone or the accelerated college options?

yes, exactly! You'd think that by now alternative credit would be promoted way more, especially to HS students, like you said.

[dfrecore]

You assume that people know about this stuff but aren't telling you. The reality is, they don't know themselves. If everyone knew about it, then it wouldn't be "alternative!"

That being said, you've started researching, found this site, and can do more research and figure out what you want to do and how you want to do it. Good for you. Now, as you find out more info, pass it along to others. BUT, don't be surprised at the number of people who aren't interested...many people are traditionalists, and don't want to hear that there may be a better way.

As for the link, those are expensive courses ($738/3cr course in-state), so I'm not sure why you're including those in your list of alternative courses. We on this forum find things that are free, or cheap ($20/mo for ALEKS credits - $85/mo for Shmoop credit, $99/mo and $50/course for Straighterline courses, $199/mo for 2 Study.com courses, etc.). Average here is probably about $100/course or even less.

But, keep researching, and start taking courses and get your degree!

[OakLakeNC]

The College Board site says for homeschool students to call the AP coordinator. I'm assuming, at least in theory and if the coordinator does their job, they will figure out where the homeschool student can test. It even says they can arrange ap exams for overseas students. I would think it can be done at least most of the time.

I included the UNC Friday center with people I graduated hs with in mind. A bunch of people who were four-year college bound were trying to get a head start at the community college over the summer. But there aren't too many classes offered over the summer and students with seniority get to register first. So it didn't really work out the way they wanted. Some of my classmates would be going to schools where $700/class or more is typical- they may have not minded the price.

I will definitely be trying to get the word out about CLEP when I hear someone is going college!

[TrailRunr]

Even with traditional education, guidance counselors and other related folks like test coordinators are terrible, lack sufficient knowledge, and often give wrong advice. I'm sure the testing coordinator thought the site policy to refuse homeschoolers was AP policy when it's not. I agree they just don't know. I don't believe they're out to sabotage us deliberately. The corollary is that if you want your education plan done right, you probably need to do it yourself and not rely too much on institutional help. Places like forums, Facebook groups, reddit, and the specific verbiage in the college catalog are often better than the counseling office at the college. You still need to contact counselors, but you need to treat counselors like the USSR - "trust, but verify".

[OakLakeNC]

Looking back, I think the guidance counselors really don't deal very much with the majority of students. They help students who are disabled arrange help. They help kids with home problems, students who have drug problems/mental health needs, they mediate arguments, etc... Then they assist the top tier students apply for scholarships. The rest of us just kinda float by. The counselors don't seek us out unless we are referred to them. I don't remember my counselors name. If we knew more about what resources they have maybe we would seek them out more.

[sanantone]

I don't think it matters who is talking to the counselor. Most of them aren't going to know much about alternative sources of credit. They didn't learn about them when they were in high school or college, and it is not part of the curriculum of the degree programs they completed.

[cathgrl]

I don't think it matters who is talking to the counselor. Most of them aren't going to know much about alternative sources of credit. They didn't learn about them when they were in high school or college, and it is not part of the curriculum of the degree programs they completed.

And quite frankly, the school doesn't make as much money if you use alternative sources.