Do you really absorb and retain CLEP test material or just cram and pass?

[CaseyW]

I am trying to get into Northwestern California Law and I need to take the composition CLEP, and 12 more hours worth. I would really like to take all the business classes, however, if I'm not going to retain much from them, I might be better suited taking the History and Social Science clep because it's 6hrs for one test?

What are your guys opinons, if you think you really retain the information I will probably opt for the larger number of tests on the subjects I like?

[semmy916]

i've retained some of the information, but i only studied for the a maximum of 12 hours a test at the moost. if you want to actually learn id recommend actually attending the courses

[CaseyW]

Thanks, I really don't have the time or money to take the live courses, but after thinking about it today, I think either way I'm going to opt for all 4 of the business classes. I use that stuff every day in my own business currently so I think I will naturally retain it better than say 19th century russian studies or something else I'm not that interested in.

Getting my IC kit tomorrow.

[jt003806]

I am trying to get into Northwestern California Law and I need to take the composition CLEP, and 12 more hours worth. I would really like to take all the business classes, however, if I'm not going to retain much from them, I might be better suited taking the History and Social Science clep because it's 6hrs for one test?

What are your guys opinons, if you think you really retain the information I will probably opt for the larger number of tests on the subjects I like?

As you know, this is not an ABA-approved Law School so your undergraduate degree is very important if you want to be eligible to sit for the CA Bar, the only state where one can take the exam w/out having graduated from an ABA law school.
CA requires a certain GPA on 60 credits or specific scores on certain CLEP exams (not DSST).
If you are testing out, you may not have a choice as to what exams you take. I have a friend whose daughter, even after graduating from a tier one ABA law school, had her bar exam delayed by CA over some misunderstanding with her undergraduate transcript. Be careful!

[IgnazSemmelweis]

I retain about as much as I do from actually sitting in class.

[ryoder]

I have retained a LOT on the courses that really mattered to me.
Some things are important to one's career and future education. So for me, that was business law, economics, management, marketing and the basics of accounting and stats. For these, I studied about 30 hours per test and it paid dividends in my MBA. I truly believe that a student can learn everything he/she needs in undergraduate study. The best undergrad in business knows more than the average MBA IMHO.

[cookderosa]

I am trying to get into Northwestern California Law and I need to take the composition CLEP, and 12 more hours worth. I would really like to take all the business classes, however, if I'm not going to retain much from them, I might be better suited taking the History and Social Science clep because it's 6hrs for one test?

What are your guys opinons, if you think you really retain the information I will probably opt for the larger number of tests on the subjects I like?

Seriously?
I think you'll need all the brain space you can spare at law school. Good luck!

[CaseyW]

As you know, this is not an ABA-approved Law School so your undergraduate degree is very important if you want to be eligible to sit for the CA Bar, the only state where one can take the exam w/out having graduated from an ABA law school.
CA requires a certain GPA on 60 credits or specific scores on certain CLEP exams (not DSST).
If you are testing out, you may not have a choice as to what exams you take. I have a friend whose daughter, even after graduating from a tier one ABA law school, had her bar exam delayed by CA over some misunderstanding with her undergraduate transcript. Be careful!

Here is the direct information I got from the CA Bar. Someone on here has already corrected me about my initial interpretation so I believe I have it correct now, but if my 4 buiz classes + comp doesn't look like it would work for some reason or I missed something please let me know

Thanks again!

State Bar's policy on CLEP Exams
http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/LinkClic...tabid=2264

Available Clep Tests
http://www.collegeboard.com/prod_downloa...scores.pdf

[Bibby]

I retain most of the material I study - my forgetting curve has been roughly the same for my CLEP tests as my conventional classes. While many of the courses (like A & I Literature and College Composition) covered concepts I was already very familiar with, I find I still remember most of the new information I studied while preparing for the tests.

[dcan]

I'm going the BSBA track on an 18 month schedule of tests and classes. My approach and schedule is to spend up to 30 days on each core business requirement, studying multiple sources. For example, when I tested out of Marketing in January I had studied for nearly a month (not rigorously for hours a day, just over the course of a month) using textbooks, REA, and online resources. It paid off, because I'm confident I could pass the test cold now two months later. It also helps that I can see how the concepts apply where I work (supply chain management is a big deal in the military). Besides, what good is getting a business degree if you don't really learn about business?

Once I finish my core I will start on gen eds. For those I'm willing to churn through them as quickly as possible, especially since failing one isn't going to set me really far behind because I can replace it with several others. So for non-core I'm not as focused on retention.

Bottom line: If you study to learn you will retain much more than if you study flashcards to learn just enough to get a 50 and move on. I want to learn the core (the purpose of my degree), and pass the rest (the other crap that gets in the way).

BTW if you are going to take classes at TESC before going into law school I highly recommend taking the Business Law course. My instructor is a lawyer, and the textbook is one of the highest-rated (by students) textbooks I've ever seen. It is remarkably clear and easy to read, and I have both gained a deep understanding and appreciation for the law and how it works as well as learned a ton about the nuances of things like negligence, contracts (especially enforcement of verbals, statute of frauds, and equitable exceptions to the statute of frauds), agency, etc. Essays are written in IRAC form using APA style. Your goal in an essay is to review the facts and draw conclusions regarding how you believe a court would decide, i.e. as if you are advising the company on what to expect regarding the case.