Associates degree suggestions - confused about Pierpont/TESU, CLEP polices, etc

[allvia]

You can get the CLEP exams for Free through Modern States - https://modernstates.org/

[davewill]

If you want to use the CLEP credits at a 4 year school, you have to find out whether the 4 year school will take them. Generally speaking, the fact they were accepted for your associate's won't figure into that equation, although there are situations where it might.

If you are able to get an AA or AS at your local school, that may be better than an AAS Pierpont offers, for transfer purposes, especially if you want to attend a local university.

My recommendation is that you plan your courses around your 4 year degree THEN tweek the plan to also fulfill the requirements for the 2 year degree. Too many students have done it the other way, only to find that a bunch of their courses don't transfer into their chosen bachelor's program.

[dfrecore]

Every school's CLEP policy is different, and there is no "transferring" of a policy between schools. So, if your local CC takes CLEP exams, and you send them your CLEP scores, they will grant credit at their school for the exams they give credit for. If you also want to see what Pierpont does, you can send your CLEP scores to them as well, and they will give credit how they want. Neither school "talks" to each other or looks at what was given; they just give credit based on their own policies.

If you go to a 4yr school later, they will also give credit for CLEP exams based on their own policies. Unless you transfer from a state 2yr CC to the same state 4yr school and they have a "block transfer" articulation agreement saying that they will accept the AA/AS degree in whole no matter where you got the credit (a unicorn), then you don't just get to bring in the CLEP exams how your 2yr CC brought them in - the 4yr school looks at all of your credit on a case-by-case, course-by-course method.

[um2023]

Thanks for clarifying this

[um2023]

If you local CC takes CLEP and can combine that with your prior credits to give you an associates. I'd do that over an associates at Peirpont. Local CCs give you the local recognition and it would be an AA would would be arguably better than an AAS. Plus you'd have the transcript.

Take it from someone only took 15 credits at CC and teandfer the rest in it is possible to do. You might have to take a single course at CC in order to get the associates but still not bad. If you only want an associate your best bet might be the local CC. Just check their credit bye exam policy. For ex one CC near me only allows 30cr exam counted toward a degree (clep, dsst, etc) but the other CC has no limit as long as 15cr is taken with them the rest can be CBE (and I know cause I did just that).

Does Pierpont not provide transcripts?

Also, could one theoretically get an AAS at Pierpont and  then get an AA or AS at their local CC later?

[davewill]

Does Pierpont not provide transcripts?

Also, could one theoretically get an AAS at Pierpont and  then get an AA or AS at their local CC later?

Theoretically, yes. In actuality, it depends on the rules at the local CC. It's very common for public institutions to not offer second degrees, or if they do, the second one almost always has to be in a different subject area. Nor is there any particular benefit to it. Any extra effort would be better spent on a bachelor's.

[NoStudentNoCry]

Does Pierpont not provide transcripts?

Pierpont provides transcripts. You do not need to take any classes at Pierpont in order to get a transcript.

[PLEX]

Does Pierpont not provide transcripts?

Pierpont provides transcripts. You do not need to take any classes at Pierpont in order to get a transcript.

Just to add: at least in the unofficial transcripts in my Pierpont portal, they do show the term/year and the original school/source of transfer credits. Sophia is listed as, "Acclaim/Credly (formerly ACE)," for example. So, if anyone looks closely, they won't think you recently completed an old class, nor that you completed a class at Pierpont vs. CLEP, etc. Some schools (I've seen WGU mentioned) may more-readily accept credits if they are part of any legit associate's degree - but same-state institutions are most likely. 

Personally, I'm happy to have my old classes consolidated - and especially to have my alternative credits on the Pierpont transcript for things like prospective employers. I am also grateful that they are quickly transcribing extra classes, well beyond my grad audit. So as not to waste the time Pierpont is giving me for free, I add a note in the Credly form to indicate what class is new vs. already transcribed, and that it is not needed for my already-completed grad audit. I generally see each new class in Pierpont's portal within a few days and am now at 70 credits and climbing while I await Mid-May degree awarding. 

It is just amazing to me what Pierpont is offering. After 30 years of drop-out shame, it took me only three days after stumbling upon this forum to finish 12 credits I needed for an AAS with my chosen area of emphasis, and a few weeks more to add extra resume-enhancing classes. It has also penciled out to cheaper-than-free, for me: ($80 Sophia + $12 Parchment for old transcripts) - ($115+ in "student discounts" I've saved on existing expenses). Thanks to this forum and Pierpont, I'll soon get to work on a real bachelor's plan.

[bjcheung77]

@PLEX, great job, you rock! Cheaper than free is awesome! It's great to have 'student discounts' that would offset the Sophia/Parchment fees...