Enrolled at TESC without a plan... Woops...

[rebel100]

Unfortunately that $5000 doesn't cover any testing nor does it cover things like SL/ALEKS. I understand there is going to be some out-of-pocket by me through CLEP, TECEP, SL/ALEKS while doing my degree if I want to finish in a reasonable amount of time. I think that list is a good one that you gave and should help me find something to start...

There is no way I can take 15-18 credit hours per semester with 2 kids and a full-time job. It's just not feasible. I wanted ultimate flexibility in getting my degree, and the fact that my work partners with TESC, made it seem like a no-brainer...

I get it....you might shoot ryoder a pm I believe he knows your route pretty well. Just be sure he see's this post.

Good Luck,
Reb

[Publius]

Unfortunately that $5000 doesn't cover any testing nor does it cover things like SL/ALEKS. I understand there is going to be some out-of-pocket by me through CLEP, TECEP, SL/ALEKS while doing my degree if I want to finish in a reasonable amount of time. I think that list is a good one that you gave and should help me find something to start...

There is no way I can take 15-18 credit hours per semester with 2 kids and a full-time job. It's just not feasible. I wanted ultimate flexibility in getting my degree, and the fact that my work partners with TESC, made it seem like a no-brainer...

Okay, things are clearing up... Take advantage of the courses you can take and work on a CLEP, DSST, or ALEKs on the side. I wouldn't suggest going the SL route because none of their options are going to work for you well.
The $99 per month + $39 could pressure you since you'd already be working on a course, job, kids, etc. at the same time. SL's other options are just expensive.
ALEKs is $20 a month. That's it... while I haven't used ALEKs, I've heard their pretty good (someone else can elaborate more on that).
A CLEP or DSST on the side is going to work rather well from you IMO. You get to study at your own pace, and take it when you feel you're ready. If you don't have the time to put anything into it for a week, you don't need to because there are no deadlines. If you get into a rhythm and are taking one every other week, it's still around your schedule. That's the beauty of it!

So work on a TESC course (make sure the prereq is met) and do either a CLEP, DSST, or ALEKs on the side. That's my $0.02.

[SKMDC]

Hi Brad, I get a lot of what you are saying and I think you and I have a lot in common with our current situations so I'd like to give you an overview of what I am doing.

Until 8 months ago I had not taken a single class in 17 years. I had zero college credits, had never stepped foot on a campus and had never enrolled anywhere. I had hit a ceiling in my career (spent 8 years as a consultant at Microsoft with no growth or movement and recently started a new job but needed to be in school to show I was serious) because I did not have the degree to back up my work experience and knowledge.

My employer told me about WGU and I called them and talked to them, they told me I would need at least a few credits and I was pointed to Straighterline. I took 3 classes with Straighterline, finished each one in about 3 weeks for each class. My complaints with Straighterline is really that it is pricey, it wasn't reimbursable by my company and the text books can be pricey.

While looking up information on Straighterline and WGU I found a link to DegreeForum and lurked for weeks. I found out about CLEP/DSST exams, FEMA credits, and the "Big 3" schools. I decided WGU wasn't for me and that I wanted to speed up my degree so I applied to TESC to take advantage of the easy transfer of FEMA credits. Over the next few weeks I racked up 12 FEMA credits. But I still didn't know what I was doing and had no plan.

I searched all over the forum for degree plans. It helped a lot. It made me decide to CLEP/DSST out of almost everything. I decided to pay out of pocket for exams and take a handful of classes one at a time with TESC. I took my first DSST (Intro to Computing) two weeks ago. I passed it in 14 minutes. I couldn't believe I got 3 credits in 14 minutes, I was hooked. I have two exams scheduled tomorrow and another on Tuesday. Instead of taking classes now I am just studying on my own with InstantCert and the Peterson practice tests for about 45mins to an hour a night.

If I pass all my exams tomorrow and Tuesday I will have 39 credits. I will be starting my TESC math class in a month or so, I could start it sooner if I needed to but my employer isn't pushing too hard right now. TESC confirmed that I have 6 months from the time of my acceptance to enroll, so I'm banking as many credits as possible with exams in that 6 months.

I have also taken some of the degree plans I found by searching the forums and tweaked them to work for me. My plan has me on target to have 90 credits by the end of 2012 and have my degree completed by June of 2013. I wish you all the luck and hope that it all works out for you!

[mrs.b]

Comprehensive tuition allows for 36 credits (in course from TESC...you can earn all you want above that through other institutions and transfer in at no cost) during the course of the year. If you take more TESC credits than that, you'll have to pay the additional funds out of pocket. To avoid that, aim for 9 credits per semester through TESC (usually 3 courses), and try to select those courses so they are similar in material to save yourself a bit of sanity; TESC runs four terms a year, so you'll get full advantage of the tuition without driving yourself batty with too heavy a work load. Depending on the courses, it can be heavy and require serious time management, but it is manageable with family and full-time work commitments, with a bit of time here and there to squeeze in some CLEP/DSST/other credit study time...so your overall total by the end of the term is in the neighborhood of 15-18 credits (9 in courses, 6-9 from tests or other). All 15-18 in courses would be sanity-crushing with work and family, but CLEP/DSST/other methods are extremely flexible, which is why they're so popular here. With 3 courses at a time, there will be a little time - maybe not daily or even weekly, but some - to steal an hour or so of study time for CLEPs.

With 36 credits in courses slated, you've still got a lot of room in a 120-credit hour Bachelors program to test out of things. For now, pick three courses to enroll, and while you wait for those to start, take advantage of your course-free time and get your feet wet with a CLEP or two? As for which courses, I would suggest a couple Gen Eds to begin. You will need to take them at some point, and while you will want to CLEP most of those and use most of your 36-credit course bank for major-related courses, Gen Ed classes tend to be easier and it would be a good ice breaker to get your head back in school mode after these years.

And above all, remember you're not alone in this little journey. Everyone here is doing what you're doing. I promise you'll hit hurdles that will make you want to swear the whole thing off, but hang in there, gripe to your family, and post for support here. Before you know it, you'll be posting an "I'm done!" thread. Best of luck! You'll do great.

[NAP]

Another good resource for you are posts by Geezer:

View Profile: Geezer - CLEP Forum - CLEP Study - CLEP Testing - Study Guide and Strategies

One of his sons has completed the degree you are planning.

[LaterBloomer]

Also, do you have certificates? While what I know about computers and computer training is non-existent, you might want to search this forum and see if TESC doesn't give credit for ACE-approved certificates. (If any terms/acronyms need explaining, search for Dcan in this forum. He'll have a link to a wiki site he divised which is VERY helpful.) I think what I just wrote makes sense, but, as I tend to skip postings about computer credit, I might be writing gibberish.

Also, I second the suggestion to contact Ryoder. (He's all over computer degrees.) Personally, he makes me ill. I think he went from zero credits to working on his doctorate in three minutes - AND that's with taking potty breaks. I haven't seen a post from him in the last few days. He may have gotten his doctorate, and is now working on world domination. Wouldn't put it past him.

[cooperalex2004]

If you have any Microsoft certifications then TESC takes them, scroll down toward the bottom of Thomas Edison State College: Licenses & Certifications

Also if you haven't done so you should go take two exams, Intro to Computing DSST OR Info Systems CLEP (TESC only will take one of these), and then take Management Information Systems DSST. Even if you decide on a major that doesn't have room for these in the area of study they show up in Nat Sci/Math, General Ed Electives, or Free Electives depending on what is open so they work for any degree.

[beargins]

Hey BradF1979 I sent you a PM. ryoder, geezer, jam937, and I have similar experiences with computer science degrees from TESC. Search some of the previous discussions, also be sure to use google to search other forums on this topic. Theres not much information out there, BUT theres enough to get you on the right track. With TESC planning is very important.

[cookderosa]

First and foremost, CLEP exams and StraighterLine will not fall under TESC tuition. So my suggestion is to create a plan that starts by enrolling in everything you HAVE to take at TESC. Since I'm not a computer person, I don't know what courses in major can't be tested out of- but someone here will. Enroll in those first.

So- you need to cap out your 5 grand for 2 years and calculate what remains to build a CLEP plan. In my opinion, it is better to take 2 years at TESC for FREE than 1 year at TESC and pay out of pocket. Seriously, this can be FREE for you.

1st year
Enrollment & misc crap: $3000
balance: $2000 ( divided by $212 per credit) 9 credits (3 classes- 1 per quarter for 3 quarters)
out of pocket required to keep enrollment continual: 1 class $636

2nd year
Enrollment & misc crap: $2500
balance: $2500 (divided by $212 per credit) 12 credits or 4 classes, 1 per quarter

----

so, you should also consider applying for a Pell Grant, that provides an additional $5600 per year that you don't have to pay back. You may not qualify, but it's worth trying.

Also, using my math, you need to take 8 classes to max your TESC tuition. As long as you don't take ANYTHING that is also available for a fraction of that cost via Straighterline, ALEKS,and CLEP, you will be ok.

-----
Dang. I'm not even sure I like the suggestions I made. I'm not loving the idea of you paying 10 grand to TESC for 8 classes and thus taking 32 CLASSES (not credits) elsewhere.....let me think on this. This can't be the best plan. You're going to eat up your $ and still not have a degree- hell, at that pace it'll take you all 5 years and your lifetime cap. I hate that. I'd like you to have some of that for a grad degree. My whole TESC degree was under $10k but you can't do it only using 1 payee (TESC). I need more details.

Will your employer pay for more than 1 school at a time? In other words, could you enroll at a community college for the upcoming semester? Are you able to get a full or partial TESC refund? Can you get your boss to fund CLEP exams or a SL course? I just think there are about 5 other ways to do this that would be SO much cheaper.....

[rebel100]

First and foremost, CLEP exams and StraighterLine will not fall under TESC tuition. So my suggestion is to create a plan that starts by enrolling in everything you HAVE to take at TESC. Since I'm not a computer person, I don't know what courses in major can't be tested out of- but someone here will. Enroll in those first.

So- you need to cap out your 5 grand for 2 years and calculate what remains to build a CLEP plan. In my opinion, it is better to take 2 years at TESC for FREE than 1 year at TESC and pay out of pocket. Seriously, this can be FREE for you.

1st year
Enrollment & misc crap: $3000
balance: $2000 ( divided by $212 per credit) 9 credits (3 classes- 1 per quarter for 3 quarters)
out of pocket required to keep enrollment continual: 1 class $636

2nd year
Enrollment & misc crap: $2500
balance: $2500 (divided by $212 per credit) 12 credits or 4 classes, 1 per quarter

----

so, you should also consider applying for a Pell Grant, that provides an additional $5600 per year that you don't have to pay back. You may not qualify, but it's worth trying.

Also, using my math, you need to take 8 classes to max your TESC tuition. As long as you don't take ANYTHING that is also available for a fraction of that cost via Straighterline, ALEKS,and CLEP, you will be ok.

-----
Dang. I'm not even sure I like the suggestions I made. I'm not loving the idea of you paying 10 grand to TESC for 8 classes and thus taking 32 CLASSES (not credits) elsewhere.....let me think on this. This can't be the best plan. You're going to eat up your $ and still not have a degree- hell, at that pace it'll take you all 5 years and your lifetime cap. I hate that. I'd like you to have some of that for a grad degree. My whole TESC degree was under $10k but you can't do it only using 1 payee (TESC). I need more details.

Will your employer pay for more than 1 school at a time? In other words, could you enroll at a community college for the upcoming semester? Are you able to get a full or partial TESC refund? Can you get your boss to fund CLEP exams or a SL course? I just think there are about 5 other ways to do this that would be SO much cheaper.....

You always say it better than I do! A 25K pool of cash can esiliy become a Masters degree....Don't waste this opportunity.