Could use some advice on how to proceeded

[gmagerr]

Again you can with start with O credits and finish a degree from TESC, Excelsior or Charter Oak for anywhere from 4K-9K. Two things are holding you back. 1) The idea that the ITT credits have to be used in your Bachelors and 2) You aren't concentrating on the most important ? which is which degree will fit my present job circumstance?

Will a BSBS Computer Information Systems or BSBA MIS work for your career? Yes. If you are going to manage an IT department this is the degree for you.

TESC won't take your ITT credits, so you would be starting from scratch, Excelsior might. But either degree can be done for under $8-9K.

As previously suggested, check with Excelsior about the ITT credits. Either way you can develop a plan and begin testing out. Both of those can nearly be tested out of with supplementing self-paced Straighterline and/or Penn Foster courses.

You're correct, I'm trying to get as many ITT credits over as possible. I REALLY like TESC, but non of my credits transferred so I didn't apply. TSEC has a course I want to take, BS in Organizational Leadership, I'd prefer to get my degree there to be honest. I'm a bit confused on how to do this, so maybe a little help clarifying how I go about testing out would be helpful. I applied at APU, and one of the next steps is to begin taking classes. How do I just test out? How do I put together a plan, I've no idea? Do I need to put that plan together with the adviser? I don't want to have a list of classes I'm supposed to start and not start them. Remember I'm very new to this, so I think I'll need the process of putting together a plan, and testing out explained in detail if someone would be so kind, I'd really appreciate it

[dew125]

Why don't you post your APU evaluation so you can get help putting together a plan?

[gmagerr]

Why don't you post your APU evaluation so you can get help putting together a plan?

Here's what I got back from APU

Degree Program: BA in Management with a Concentration in Leadership

General Education: 12

Core: 0

Major/Concentration: 0

Electives: 30

Total Estimate of Possible Transfer Credit: 48

Based on the unofficial documentation submitted for the PTCR, it is highly recommended that you avoid registering for the following courses; MATH125, ENGL101, ENGL102, ECON101, ISSC323, ITCC121, ITMG321, any Humanities, and Electives.

[skyfall123]

You're correct, I'm trying to get as many ITT credits over as possible. I REALLY like TESC, but non of my credits transferred so I didn't apply. TSEC has a course I want to take, BS in Organizational Leadership, I'd prefer to get my degree there to be honest. I'm a bit confused on how to do this, so maybe a little help clarifying how I go about testing out would be helpful. I applied at APU, and one of the next steps is to begin taking classes. How do I just test out? How do I put together a plan, I've no idea? Do I need to put that plan together with the adviser? I don't want to have a list of classes I'm supposed to start and not start them. Remember I'm very new to this, so I think I'll need the process of putting together a plan, and testing out explained in detail if someone would be so kind, I'd really appreciate it

OK so the requirements for the TESC BS in Organizational Leadership degree are here Thomas Edison State College | Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership Credit Distribution
That degree allows 15 Free Electives. One of the great things about TESC is that you can complete 15 FEMA credits for FREE in a weekend to fill those up. So for starters you will already have a semester knocked off for FREE.

If you are going to mostly "test out" of your TESC, Excelsior or Charter Oak degree then conventional wisdom recommends NOT enrolling until you have at least 90 credits completed. This is because TESC and Excelsior have substantial enrollment fees that cover one year. The good is that they accept more "non-traditional" credit than practically any other school, the bad news is the enrollment fees. It's a trade off. So put together a plan of the General Education courses which ALL colleges require then put together a separate plan for your major area of study. Knock off the GenEd first.


CLEP and DSST course equivalents can be found on Pages 193-194 here http://www.tesc.edu/files/Catalog2011.12.pdf

TECEP's can be found here Thomas Edison State College/ All TECEP&reg Tests

SandraNC also posted this link for TESC course equivelencies http://degreeplanners.com/media/TESC_Equivalencies.pdf

So reviewing those you can see that all GenEd credits and many of the business courses can be tested out of. You can fill in with Straighterline and Penn Foster self-paced courses. The BS OL cannot be completely tested out of like the BSBA Gen Mgmt or BSBA CIS, but there are others on this board that have tested out of most of that degree. Adams State college offers many business courses that could help with the BS OL requirements here Business Courses - Distance Learning - Extended Studies - Adams State College

The first thing I would do is go out and buy the Official 2012 CLEP Guide (around $20) which has practice tests for all their exams. You will get a good gauge for where you stand on each CLEP subject. You may find that with your life experience and education, that some subject courses like the 6 credit Social Sciences and History can be passed simply by showing up and taking the exam. Same goes for Analyzing & Interpreting Literature and possibly Humanities.

[dew125]

Here's what I got back from APU

Degree Program: BA in Management with a Concentration in Leadership

General Education: 12

Core: 0

Major/Concentration: 0

Electives: 30

Total Estimate of Possible Transfer Credit: 48

Based on the unofficial documentation submitted for the PTCR, it is highly recommended that you avoid registering for the following courses; MATH125, ENGL101, ENGL102, ECON101, ISSC323, ITCC121, ITMG321, any Humanities, and Electives.

I did a quick search and found this degree plan posted by another member: http://www.degreeforum.net/general-educa...-done.html It looks like you can test out of all courses except five for your ideal degree at TESC Organizational Leadership.

From the unofficial eval at APU it looks like most of your credits just went to your free electives. You can get 24 or 25 free electives FREE through FEMA. You would be in almost the same position, cost wise, at either school!

A quick break down:

15 credits at TESC x $212 = $3180
other standard costs at TESC: $75 appl fee, $2858 enrollment, $113 technology fee = $3046 + grad fee

Take 4 courses through ALEKs for $20/month to fill 12cr of your gen ed requirements--go as fast as you can

Test out of approx 69 credits (20-23 courses) cost will be about $2000 for testing fees

Total cost will be about $8226

It would be ideal if you could use financial aid. If you meet the federal requirements, you just need to take a min of 6 credits for each semester you get aid (2 semesters). It would be perfect for you.

Now, how to test to meet the requirements you need...just go to this page: Undergraduate Ways to Earn Credit - Thomas Edison State College - acalog ACMSâ„¢ and fill in test with the requirements you need in your degree.

There is so much info on this forum, just google your question and chances are something will come up. Think outside the box! Good luck with whatever you decide!

edit: I was wrong about the #'s of FEMA credits you could use, and it looks like Geezer gave you lots of information.

[gmagerr]

Thanks everyone, great advice

[skyfall123]

There is so much info on this forum, just google your question and chances are something will come up. Think outside the box! Good luck with whatever you decide!

Well put and great advice dew125 about ALEKS and the cost...Think outside the box is what I originally was trying to say. You have to think differently to be able to see all the options. I went through this when I earned my degree, then advised two sons who earned their degrees. I stopped my youngest son midway through his degree and asked him to consider switching from a BSBA CIS to a BA Computer Science because of the challenge and the scholarship/grant money available that could pay for his Masters. That move cost me another $2000, and my son half a year, but my son is now in a Masters program that is fully funded. Was it worth it adapting and changing? Hell yes. Did we waste his business credits? No Nothing is wasted including your ITT credits, but you need to concentrate on what degree will benefit you now.....not how to make old credits fit just for the sake of fitting.

[dcan]

You can use this to help plan your test-out strategy. It was developed by someone else here a while back, based largely on this forum and the TESC website. It lists all the CLEPs, DSSTs, TECEPs, Straighterlines, FEMAs, and ALEKS courses, with what classes they cover and whether they are considered upper or lower level.

http://degreeplanners.com/media/TESC_Equ...Course.pdf

Also, ALEKS Beginning Algebra and Geometry are not worth any credit at TESC, so go straight to Intermediate Algebra which is. Unless you're like me and wanted to spend a couple days refreshing geometry anyway.

[gmagerr]

Thanks Dcan.

What is FEMA? How much do these tests usually cost?

[gmagerr]

I searched the board, and couldn't find and APUS degree plans for BSBA. Anyone come across APUS degree plans on the board?

Thanks