07-23-2014, 06:14 PM
:roflol::hurray::willynilly:
So, I'm happy to say that I am done. I have received confirmation from Thomas Edison State College that I have completed the requirements for a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration! I almost have to pinch myself.
I have been aware of this forum for several years and read Brad Voller's book on credit by exams around 15 years ago. I even had a few faltering attempts. I ordered a humanities study guide that Voller recommended and felt incredibly overwhelmed. About 10 years later I then started studying chemistry and biology through an online study resources (not realizing that they were some of the hardest credits by exam) and after about 2/3 completion, I once again gave up without attempting an exam. It wasn't until December 2012 that I thought I'd try my hand at this again and I felt so successful after my first exam that I immediately took two more during a 3 week Christmas break utilizing this forum, instantcert.com and free-clep-prep.com.
I was extremely pleased with the process, and I even outlined several degree plan options using the wonderful degree plans on this forum. However I realized that my health and work demands were not conducive to continuing at that point. I had lost a lot of weight for no reason, would frequently require a nap daily and I had to cut back my physical demands as much as possible, which was hard as my sole source of income was from owning a Taekwondo studio. My health continued to deteriorate into Winter 2013 when I was finally diagnosed with Lymes disease. I was living alone in the mountains, maintaining a house and property, cutting 8 cords of firewood per year, shoveling snow and trying to run an extremely physically demanding business all in ill health. Looking back I realize, I was extremely upset with myself for not being able to "do it all".
By February of 2014 I was starting to feel better although still warned to "back off" and keep my load light. After researching the updated degree plans and reading posts by Sanatone, Bricabrac, Soliloquy, Cookderosa, Rebel100, I figured I needed 60 credits to fulfill the requirements for a BSBA. My goal was to possibly finish my degree by the end of the year. I figured if I could complete one exam/course every 2 weeks I could accomplish this. My spirits soared as I began studying. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed learning and I was so happy that I could study 6 hours a day and not feel exhausted afterwards. Finally, here was something I could do! I started averaging an exam per week and some weeks two exams.
I then realized that perhaps I could finish these courses by the end of August. The forum was invaluable as it informed me how to go to Straighterline, PennFoster and Saylor. Early on I met up with Saharapost as I shared my strategy for completing the communications course at Saylor. Saharapost and a few other forum members were extremely helpful in telling me what to expect with SL and PF courses. I would literally start the day reading the forum and end the day reading the forum. I found the forum posts to be the ongoing inspiration and motivation I needed to complete this goal. I then realized that if I could finish my courses by the TESC July 1st deadline, I could receive my degree in September instead of December of this year, so I put the petal to the metal so to speak and hammered out the last few credits. My study buddy Saharapost was on his own mission to finish prior to July 1st as well and we would message almost daily as to our stresses, our hopes, our accomplishments and the waiting. The waiting. . . for the papers and exams to be graded, for the transcripts to be sent, and finally for TESC to update our student records. Sometimes the waiting was the hardest!
I reactivated my account with Instant cert on February 25th and I finished my required exams and courses on June 7th. In a little under 15 weeks I had completed 21 courses or 63 credits, which if I had attended a traditional B&M college would have taken me 2 years or more. Based upon some suggestions on the forum, I also chose to take the PLA 100 during the month of June so I could receive a grade on my transcript. I didn't need this course to finish my degree, but I am glad that I took it anyway. Without the ongoing support of the forum, I would have not been able to complete these courses in such a short time. It saves so much time when someone can tell you where to go, what course to take and how it will (most likely) be transcribed by TESC.
I hope to use my new degree to cause transitions in my life. I would like to live in a warmer climate, own a home that requires minimal upkeep and transition to an office type of job that will be less physically demanding. And hey, while I'm at it a boyfriend would be nice too :-) The key to these transitions is the new job. I have updated my resume with my new degree and I hope to start applying in a couple of weeks, just as soon as I figure out how to write a cover letter. I haven't had a "regular" job in over 10 years, so I'm feeling a little daunted as to where to start. My friends assure me that my background in running my own business for 10 years will show well on my resume. We shall see.
My thank you to the forum not only includes appreciation for the inspirational stories and detailed information, but it also includes a phenomenal amount of appreciation for being a shining light of hope and opportunity during a time that I was struggling to find positive aspects in my life.
On a lighter note, Saharapost and I have been waiting to find out when he was going to officially receive his confirmation from TESC before posting our "I'm done" posts :-) I have read his beautiful post and I am super happy for him! It couldn't have happened to a more wonderful, warm, smart and kindhearted person! In a message to him I told him that I was sure my post was not going to be anywhere as beautiful or as long . . . .LOL! Well, maybe I was 50 percent right.
So, I'm happy to say that I am done. I have received confirmation from Thomas Edison State College that I have completed the requirements for a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration! I almost have to pinch myself.
I have been aware of this forum for several years and read Brad Voller's book on credit by exams around 15 years ago. I even had a few faltering attempts. I ordered a humanities study guide that Voller recommended and felt incredibly overwhelmed. About 10 years later I then started studying chemistry and biology through an online study resources (not realizing that they were some of the hardest credits by exam) and after about 2/3 completion, I once again gave up without attempting an exam. It wasn't until December 2012 that I thought I'd try my hand at this again and I felt so successful after my first exam that I immediately took two more during a 3 week Christmas break utilizing this forum, instantcert.com and free-clep-prep.com.
I was extremely pleased with the process, and I even outlined several degree plan options using the wonderful degree plans on this forum. However I realized that my health and work demands were not conducive to continuing at that point. I had lost a lot of weight for no reason, would frequently require a nap daily and I had to cut back my physical demands as much as possible, which was hard as my sole source of income was from owning a Taekwondo studio. My health continued to deteriorate into Winter 2013 when I was finally diagnosed with Lymes disease. I was living alone in the mountains, maintaining a house and property, cutting 8 cords of firewood per year, shoveling snow and trying to run an extremely physically demanding business all in ill health. Looking back I realize, I was extremely upset with myself for not being able to "do it all".
By February of 2014 I was starting to feel better although still warned to "back off" and keep my load light. After researching the updated degree plans and reading posts by Sanatone, Bricabrac, Soliloquy, Cookderosa, Rebel100, I figured I needed 60 credits to fulfill the requirements for a BSBA. My goal was to possibly finish my degree by the end of the year. I figured if I could complete one exam/course every 2 weeks I could accomplish this. My spirits soared as I began studying. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed learning and I was so happy that I could study 6 hours a day and not feel exhausted afterwards. Finally, here was something I could do! I started averaging an exam per week and some weeks two exams.
I then realized that perhaps I could finish these courses by the end of August. The forum was invaluable as it informed me how to go to Straighterline, PennFoster and Saylor. Early on I met up with Saharapost as I shared my strategy for completing the communications course at Saylor. Saharapost and a few other forum members were extremely helpful in telling me what to expect with SL and PF courses. I would literally start the day reading the forum and end the day reading the forum. I found the forum posts to be the ongoing inspiration and motivation I needed to complete this goal. I then realized that if I could finish my courses by the TESC July 1st deadline, I could receive my degree in September instead of December of this year, so I put the petal to the metal so to speak and hammered out the last few credits. My study buddy Saharapost was on his own mission to finish prior to July 1st as well and we would message almost daily as to our stresses, our hopes, our accomplishments and the waiting. The waiting. . . for the papers and exams to be graded, for the transcripts to be sent, and finally for TESC to update our student records. Sometimes the waiting was the hardest!
I reactivated my account with Instant cert on February 25th and I finished my required exams and courses on June 7th. In a little under 15 weeks I had completed 21 courses or 63 credits, which if I had attended a traditional B&M college would have taken me 2 years or more. Based upon some suggestions on the forum, I also chose to take the PLA 100 during the month of June so I could receive a grade on my transcript. I didn't need this course to finish my degree, but I am glad that I took it anyway. Without the ongoing support of the forum, I would have not been able to complete these courses in such a short time. It saves so much time when someone can tell you where to go, what course to take and how it will (most likely) be transcribed by TESC.
I hope to use my new degree to cause transitions in my life. I would like to live in a warmer climate, own a home that requires minimal upkeep and transition to an office type of job that will be less physically demanding. And hey, while I'm at it a boyfriend would be nice too :-) The key to these transitions is the new job. I have updated my resume with my new degree and I hope to start applying in a couple of weeks, just as soon as I figure out how to write a cover letter. I haven't had a "regular" job in over 10 years, so I'm feeling a little daunted as to where to start. My friends assure me that my background in running my own business for 10 years will show well on my resume. We shall see.
My thank you to the forum not only includes appreciation for the inspirational stories and detailed information, but it also includes a phenomenal amount of appreciation for being a shining light of hope and opportunity during a time that I was struggling to find positive aspects in my life.
On a lighter note, Saharapost and I have been waiting to find out when he was going to officially receive his confirmation from TESC before posting our "I'm done" posts :-) I have read his beautiful post and I am super happy for him! It couldn't have happened to a more wonderful, warm, smart and kindhearted person! In a message to him I told him that I was sure my post was not going to be anywhere as beautiful or as long . . . .LOL! Well, maybe I was 50 percent right.
BSU -ABA Certificate Program --In Progress
BSBA from TESC Sept 2014
I completed 63 credits in 15 weeks using this forum!
AAS -Web Design 2003
82.5 BM credits over 10 years old
DSST: 2012 -Geology 58; 2014 -Money and Banking 64, Ethics in America 465, Intro to Computing 474, Business Ethics & Society 453, Human Resource Management 64, Organizational Behavior 68, Management Information Systems 461
CLEP: 2013 -Sociology 58, US History I 65; 2014 Macroeconomics 71, Microeconomics 66, Principles of Management 72, Business Law 67
SAYLOR: 2014 -Principles of Marketing 80%, -Corporate Communication 74%
ALEKS: Introduction to Statistics 76% (23 hours study time over 5 days)
Empire State College PLA of Saylor Small Bus. Man. 4 Upper Level Credits Awarded
Straighterline: ACC I 90.1%, ACC II 82.2%
PennFoster -Strategic Management 93%, Financial Management 97%, Consumer Behavior 94%, Advertising 93%
TECEP using IC flashcards: Public Relations Thought and Practice 78%
TESC PLA 100
BSBA from TESC Sept 2014
I completed 63 credits in 15 weeks using this forum!
AAS -Web Design 2003
82.5 BM credits over 10 years old
DSST: 2012 -Geology 58; 2014 -Money and Banking 64, Ethics in America 465, Intro to Computing 474, Business Ethics & Society 453, Human Resource Management 64, Organizational Behavior 68, Management Information Systems 461
CLEP: 2013 -Sociology 58, US History I 65; 2014 Macroeconomics 71, Microeconomics 66, Principles of Management 72, Business Law 67
SAYLOR: 2014 -Principles of Marketing 80%, -Corporate Communication 74%
ALEKS: Introduction to Statistics 76% (23 hours study time over 5 days)
Empire State College PLA of Saylor Small Bus. Man. 4 Upper Level Credits Awarded
Straighterline: ACC I 90.1%, ACC II 82.2%
PennFoster -Strategic Management 93%, Financial Management 97%, Consumer Behavior 94%, Advertising 93%
TECEP using IC flashcards: Public Relations Thought and Practice 78%
TESC PLA 100
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!
