DSST testing advice (for beginner)

[audpants]

Hi ya'll!

I am so sorry for the BASIC questions I am about to ask, but I am brand new at this and have been poking around the forum and just can't seem to find the general information I'm looking for.

My daughter is 16 and interested in starting credits toward her Bachelors degree. We are a Navy family and interested in her taking DSST exams. She does not have a high school diploma or GED yet.

From my previous research, I gathered that Excelsior, Thomas Edison or Charter Oaks are the best colleges for this.

(She is interested in Fine Arts- which I'm not even sure is an option at any of these place.?)

However, the main question that I can't seem to get to the bottom of is:

Can we just schedule and start DSST or CLEP testing and later "transfer" them into one of these schoolsl? OR does one have to first be admitted to the school, and then begin the testing and it automatically gets sent there???‍♀️ I'm so sorry, I just don't understand how this works. Like if there is a third party involved, or how to get started.

I would love any advice that anyone could share with us!

Thank you!

[bjcheung77]

At 16 years of age, you should work on your high school diploma and get the Associates completed at the same time (homeschoolers can get dual enrollment). When you've got the associates, you can push onward to a Bachelors from one of the institutions we suggest. So, here's a quick pathway... Pierpont AA through dual enrollment for classes that can't be CLEP/DSST> Bachelors using CLEP/DSST for lower level classes > Finish with residency credits at the institution you intend to graduate from.

There's going to be homework for you, here are posts/threads that I have linked to before with advice and it varies for each student.
First 1) https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...h-Schooler
It will link you here 2) https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...ppreciated
Then will link here 3) https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...d-with-ACE
Lastly, it'll show more links from me <yes, that'll give you the best overview of your options, a run down on what I mentioned briefly>

[davewill]

To answer the question you actually asked, you can certainly take DSST exams now, and use them later at schools that will accept them. Unfortunately, DSST exams are not widely accepted for credit. A lot of schools who claim to take them, only take them from vets when you actually read the fine print.

That said, I agree that dual enrollment makes more sense for someone in your daughter's shoes. The dual enrollment courses can usually replace high school courses, so she isn't having to duplicate as much effort. Dual enrollment courses are regular college credit, with grades, and can be used at almost any school in the country, unlike DSST and other alt credit sources.

As you pointed out, The Big3 and other schools we discuss here don't offer Fine Arts degrees (TESU might, but we don't know any cost effective sources for the required courses). The range of degrees that are available using the "DIY" methods we talk about here are limited. Your daughter may change her mind about what she would like to study, or may simply decide that she would like a more traditional college experience, She could earn scholarships that would make a brick and mortar school more affordable. I would be looking to keep her options as wide as possible at this stage.

Note: AP exams ARE widely accepted, and would be an another way to get college credit as a high school student.