B.S. in MIS Roadmap

[NoCredits]

Hi

I've been lurking on this forum for almost a month now and decided to join. I've read through the bain4weeks website as well as 123collegedegree.com. I'm excited about the possibility of testing out of almost an entire 4-year degree, but I had a some questions. I've searched this forum but was unable to find the answers on my own.

First off, I'm interested in Excelsior's B.S. in MIS. Can anyone point me to an old thread that has a road-map to completing this degree? I've looked, but this is the closest thread I could find: http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...ology.html

I have no previous college credit, no IT certs, and only a HS diploma. Excelsior requires 12 credits for admission into their school. I have none. Does this mean that I have to take some of the DANTES or CLEP exams before I apply for admission? Or should I apply first? I was also considering using straighterline.com to get the first 12 credits out of the way, but Excelsior isn't one of their partner colleges yet. I'd have to utilize Charter Oak to get those credits and then transfer them to Excelsior, which seems like kind of a hassle.

What IT certificates does Excelsior grant credit for? How many credits do they typically give you for a certificate? Looking at Excelsior's Business Catalog, it looks like at least 87 of the 120 credits can be completed through examination. My goal is to complete this degree in 2 years or less, and then go onto Drexel for an M.S. in Software Engineering (IT Track).

Any advice would be appreciated.

[NoCredits]

Just one more thing.

Does Excelsior give you a grade for the exams? Some of older threads I've read stated that they're pass/fail. I've also heard some posters say that they now give you a grade.

Is it calculated into your GPA or left out? I just don't want it to hurt my chances of getting into a grad school.

Thanks

[zefrench]

Best Thread:
http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...lated.html

Most people recommend doing most of the CLEP and other general Exmas first before enrolling, to save the cost of keeping enrollment year after year.

[NoCredits]

Best Thread:
http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...lated.html

Most people recommend doing most of the CLEP and other general Exmas first before enrolling, to save the cost of keeping enrollment year after year.

BTW, how many credits by examination do most universities allow students to take? I know the Big 3 allow you to test out of 120 credits, but it looks like most schools only allow for 30?

Does that sound correct?

[zefrench]

Indeed that is correct thus why I went to Excelsior

[perrik]

BTW, how many credits by examination do most universities allow students to take? I know the Big 3 allow you to test out of 120 credits, but it looks like most schools only allow for 30?

Does that sound correct?

Yes, although some schools will allow more test credits (UMUC allows up to 60).

Straighterline's partner schools have strict rules about granting the credits - except for Fort Hays State University, a regionally-accredited state university. Enroll at FHSU for a mere $30, then send your Straighterline results to them. The Straighterline courses will appear on your FHSU transcript as graded FHSU credits. Spend $2 to send the FHSU transcript to the college of your choice.

Graded exam credit: Excelsior gives letter grades for Excelsior College Exams and Dantes exams which use a 2-digit scoring system. All Dantes that use the 3-digit system are credited as Pass, as are all CLEPs.

As zefrench pointed out, it's more cost-effective to accumulate exam scores first and then apply to one of the Big 3 when you're at the point where you can finish the requirements in a year or less. You don't have to designate a recipient school when you take a CLEP or Dantes. Whenever you're ready to enroll, you can order the CLEP or Dantes transcript to be sent to your chosen school. For each program, you pay a flat $20 fee per transcript. If you took one CLEP, you'll spend $20 to send one score. If you took 15 CLEPs, that $20 will send them all!

As you have a specific graduate program in mind, make sure that the degree roadmap you create is one they'll consider competitive for admissions. Ask now, while you're still in the planning stages! Having no certs is fine, but do you already have a solid background in software development?