Do you feel like you're sacrificing something?

[rmroberts]

It makes me sad to see friends who for each year they're in school borrow in the neighborhood of $20,000 (not including credit card debt). I keep telling them about CLEP, etc., but the line I always hear is, "Oh, I could never do that." I think they think the tests are way harder than they really are.

I hear the exact same thing ALL THE TIME. The converstion usually goes something like this:

Me: You should really look into testing out of atleast part of your college credits. It would save you a ton of time and money.
Friend: Oh, I couldn't do that.
Me: Sure you can. Almost anybody can do it.
Friend: You're just really smart. Most people couldn't do it like you do.
Me:Why do you think I'm really smart?
Friend: Because you're getting college credit at 16.

Circular reasoning all the way. I think fear of the unknown is a little bit of it too. Everyone (almost everyone atleast) just assumes you have to go to a B&M college to get a good education. You rarely hear anything different.

[hoagland]

My brother and I get the same comments all the time too from not only future-students but parents as well. Some parents won't even consider it for their kids because somehow by doing it faster and cheaper means that you're over-achievingly smart which is something they don't believe could apply to them or their kids. Even so, sometimes I do feel like I'm a walking advertisement or encyclopedia of the out-of-the-box way of college.

[Maniac Craniac]

I believe I may be the first person to answer this way, but YES, I do believe that I am missing out. Mind you, education isn't something I believe can be received, it is somethin earned- and can be earned in a variety of ways.

I am maximizing my future school's acceptance limit of CLEP/AP/ECE for many reasons, time and cost being the biggest. I have concluded that for intro. courses and Gen Eds, CLEP is the absolute best way to go. However, for my ECE's (upper level) I really wish there was more to it than reading, memorizing and filling in bubbles. I am not just trying to get a degree, I am trying to understand how what I am learning actually relates to the real world, to remember the concepts/principles/methods and be able to apply them. Having papers, asignments and multiple exams for each subject is a much better way of doing this. I want to receive grades for essays, do real research projects, read feedback from professors and make improvements on my next assignments. THAT is school. Not taking a single test and "getting out" of this or that.

One of Excelsior's motto's is "It's what you know, not where or how you learned it that counts." Sorry, I can't agree. I do think its unfair that people with extensive knowledge and skills get held back for lack of degree, but school isn't supposed to be about knowledge that you gain one week and forget the next. It's about the WORK you put into it, and the rewarding outcome of personal improvement along their way.

Testing out is, imho, in every way a respectable, legitimate way to get your big-3 degree, but for the reasons above, I have personally decided that Excelsior is perfect for my AA but not at all what I want for my BA.

After 3 more clep and 2 more ece, I will start taking LSU independent study courses, clovis online courses and then tansfer as a senior to my school of choice- a traditional college whose online classes follow the same instructional model as their on-campus courses. It will take me more time to finish my BA, but I will be in no rush after I get my Excelsior AA in a couple of months, and will be much happier with that degree on my wall.

[MissCLEP]

I am maximizing my future school's acceptance limit of CLEP/AP/ECE for many reasons, time and cost being the biggest. I have concluded that for intro. courses and Gen Eds, CLEP is the absolute best way to go. However, for my ECE's (upper level) I really wish there was more to it than reading, memorizing and filling in bubbles. I am not just trying to get a degree, I am trying to understand how what I am learning actually relates to the real world, to remember the concepts/principles/methods and be able to apply them. Having papers, asignments and multiple exams for each subject is a much better way of doing this. I want to receive grades for essays, do real research projects, read feedback from professors and make improvements on my next assignments.

I have to agree with some of what Maniac Craniac said. I too am maxing out my school's CLEP limit, but I have chosen to get the rest of my degree via online courses plus a few on campus courses that I'm transferring in. I believe that CLEP is an excellent, if not the best way to earn general education credits. I LOVE CLEP!!! However, I also want the challenge of having to write essays, defend my position in discussion postings, receive grades and feedback from real professors, etc. Also, I feel that I learn better if I have other assignments for a subject besides studying for a test. For me, I need a little human interaction (even if it is only online), and thus a combination of testing and regular courses is perfect. Although the things that I sometimes feel like I'm missing out on by going the online route (socialization, etc.) can be made up to a point in my home community, I would definitely feel like I am missing out on a whole lot more if I only tested out, and these things I couldn't really make up.

However, this is only what is best for me personally. CLEP requires a lot of work and time, and depending on the person, can actually turn out to be more of a learning experience than writing essays could ever be. I heartily applaud those who completely test out of their degrees, and have nothing but respect for them. The bottom line to the testing vs. taking courses (be they on campus or online) debate is that everyone is different, and therefore different methods of earning credit are required in order to fulfill everybody's unique needs. As long as you're getting your degree in the way that is best for you, go for it!!!

[Maniac Craniac]

CLEP requires a lot of work and time, and depending on the person, can actually turn out to be more of a learning experience than writing essays could ever be.

However, it does not help your writing skills, ability to do research, or use advanced criticism techniques to actually challenge and disagree with the text. I think you and I are the same in that neither of us NEED this, but WANT this. Otherwise, I can read and memorize plenty using nothing more than a Library card or an internet connection. I do this anyway, and will for the rest of my life. I want school to be different. I want school to be SCHOOL, even if I am unable to attend a physical campus.

I heartily applaud those who completely test out of their degrees, and have nothing but respect for them.

Me too! These tests prevent people from being held back by life factors and bring capable people closer to meeting their goals without having to start again at step one. Plenty of people who have never gone to college are already ready for graduate studies. Others simply have no use in their lives for the college experience. Proficiency exams bring these people closer to the "meat" of their goals, rather than the obligatory fluff that precedes it.

The bottom line to the testing vs. taking courses (be they on campus or online) debate is that everyone is different, and therefore different methods of earning credit are required in order to fulfill everybody's unique needs. As long as you're getting your degree in the way that is best for you, go for it!!!

BOO YAH!!!!