Posts: 12
Threads: 8
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Aug 2015
Are there any real benefits in taking a CLEP exam vs. Straighterline?
I was planning on taking:
English Comp w/Essay
Analyzing and Interpreting Literature
Principles of Management
Principles of Marketing
Business Law
US History I
Introductory Psychology
and Introductory Sociology
as CLEP exams.
I have significant knowledge in all of these subjects and anticipate scoring well with minimal studying. I could probably, realistically, knock all of those out within a week or two.
That said, each exam is $100 vs. Straighterline $50 and with Straighterline, I can also use an open book on several of those.
Is there a difference in the quality or number of credits I would receive that make CLEP a more attractive option?
•
Posts: 10,912
Threads: 649
Likes Received: 1,831 in 1,131 posts
Likes Given: 427
Joined: Apr 2011
You also have to pay a $100 subscription fee each month for Straighterline. If you can complete multiple courses per month, then it'll be cheaper than taking CLEPs. If you're taking a month for just one course, then it's more expensive than taking a CLEP. The advantage of CLEP is that it's accepted by many more colleges than Straighterline. Straighterline is only accepted by their 80-something partner colleges and colleges that accept non-military ACE credits.
Graduate of Not VUL or ENEB
MS, MSS and Graduate Cert
AAS, AS, BA, and BS
CLEP
Intro Psych 70, US His I 64, Intro Soc 63, Intro Edu Psych 70, A&I Lit 64, Bio 68, Prin Man 69, Prin Mar 68
DSST
Life Dev Psych 62, Fund Coun 68, Intro Comp 469, Intro Astr 56, Env & Hum 70, HTYH 456, MIS 451, Prin Sup 453, HRM 62, Bus Eth 458
ALEKS
Int Alg, Coll Alg
TEEX
4 credits
TECEP
Fed Inc Tax, Sci of Nutr, Micro, Strat Man, Med Term, Pub Relations
CSU
Sys Analysis & Design, Programming, Cyber
SL
Intro to Comm, Microbio, Acc I
Uexcel
A&P
Davar
Macro, Intro to Fin, Man Acc
•
Posts: 585
Threads: 19
Likes Received: 22 in 13 posts
Likes Given: 7
Joined: Oct 2013
CLEPs are more widely accepted. That being said, I'm a huge fan of SL for the convenience and speed of completion. It definitely works best if one can be motivated to finish multiple classes in the month. Also make sure to take advantage of the coupons they issue.
Currently studying for: Still deciding.
Done!
2020 - Harvard Extension School - ALM IT Management
2019 - Harvard Extension School - Graduate Certificate Data Science
2018 - Harvard Extension School - Graduate Certificate Cyber Security
2016 - WGU - MBA Mgmt & Strategy
2015 - Thomas Edison State College - BSBA Marketing & CIS
•
Posts: 12
Threads: 8
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Aug 2015
Thanks! That makes sense.
I plan on transferring the credits to COSC for a BSBA
Once, that is completed, I will probably work on a masters or mba.
If I have the BSBA, can/would a school know whether they were SL or CLEP?
Either way I don't think it makes that much of a difference since I still intend on taking about a dozen other SL courses, so if they will frown on SL courses, I don't think it matters if I have 12 or 20.
•
Posts: 585
Threads: 19
Likes Received: 22 in 13 posts
Likes Given: 7
Joined: Oct 2013
PrincessButtercup Wrote:Thanks! That makes sense.
I plan on transferring the credits to COSC for a BSBA
Once, that is completed, I will probably work on a masters or mba.
If I have the BSBA, can/would a school know whether they were SL or CLEP?
Either way I don't think it makes that much of a difference since I still intend on taking about a dozen other SL courses, so if they will frown on SL courses, I don't think it matters if I have 12 or 20.
It won't matter to COSC. It depends on the masters or mba program. From what I've seen most don't really mind the source, but some prefer grades in specific areas. In this instance CLEP and ACE (Straighterline) credits are in the same boat as being pass/fail.
As you can tell from my credits, I went a similar route as you, with the assumption that if at some point in the future it mattered, I will just retake a class for a grade. If I had used CLEPs or classes, it would have taken me considerably longer because most of my delays involved me scheduling times where I was sure I could be at a testing center. With SL, I just pay $9 and take the test at the moment I know I'm available. Small things like that helped me accelerate my credit gaining.
Currently studying for: Still deciding.
Done!
2020 - Harvard Extension School - ALM IT Management
2019 - Harvard Extension School - Graduate Certificate Data Science
2018 - Harvard Extension School - Graduate Certificate Cyber Security
2016 - WGU - MBA Mgmt & Strategy
2015 - Thomas Edison State College - BSBA Marketing & CIS
•
Posts: 2,403
Threads: 88
Likes Received: 13 in 10 posts
Likes Given: 3
Joined: Mar 2007
If you have enough former knowledge to take these CLEP exams without much study I would think that would be faster and less tedious. I only took 1 SL course but I found it required i read the text and take multiple quizzes. I did fine on the quizzes and was able to get only 65% on the final and still pass with room to spare, but I would rather just study my own way with my own resources and just go take the exam and get it over with. JM2C
Linda
Start by doing what is necessary: then do the possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible St Francis of Assisi
Now a retired substitute Teacher in NY, & SC
AA Liberal Studies TESC '08
BA in Natural Science/Mathematics TESC Sept '10
AAS Environmental safety and Security Technology TESC Dec '12
•
Posts: 52
Threads: 5
Likes Received: 0 in 0 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Jul 2015
Both of the SL economics classes are massive (21 and 26 modules compared to the normal 6). It's great if you're trying to learn it but if you already know it CLEP is a more sane option as each module has a 40 question exam. It's a very bloated course.
•
Posts: 585
Threads: 19
Likes Received: 22 in 13 posts
Likes Given: 7
Joined: Oct 2013
Vaeal Wrote:Both of the SL economics classes are massive (21 and 26 modules compared to the normal 6). It's great if you're trying to learn it but if you already know it CLEP is a more sane option as each module has a 40 question exam. It's a very bloated course.
This is true. I recommend the CLEP for these unless you have a good reason not to take it. I took the SL version because of my work schedule issues. It was a pain in the $%$% because of the number of quizzes.
Currently studying for: Still deciding.
Done!
2020 - Harvard Extension School - ALM IT Management
2019 - Harvard Extension School - Graduate Certificate Data Science
2018 - Harvard Extension School - Graduate Certificate Cyber Security
2016 - WGU - MBA Mgmt & Strategy
2015 - Thomas Edison State College - BSBA Marketing & CIS
•