Fail or Epic Fail?

[burbuja0512]

Ok so I have been studying and doing my Straighterline accounting courses and I finally got around to taking a couple of the SL tests. First of all - my disclaimer: I LOVE SL so far. The format is enjoyable and seems to match my learning style pretty well, and you can't beat the price. The problem is that I have discovered that I hate accounting. HATE HATE HATE accounting. Even with SL's very enjoyable format, I got a 102/150 on my first test and a 108/150 on the second. *yikes* Exactly a 70% average!!

I just changed my major to business, so there's no getting out of this. What will I do if I fail SL's accounting? Accounting is a pre-req to the master's program that I really think sounds exciting, so if I can't do this, my very awesome bilingual MBA is totally out of the question.

Maybe I'll learn enough at SL to be able to CLEP out of financial accounting... but then I'll still need managerial accounting for the MBA program.

Should I change my major to something that suits my interests more? Is there another test option for managerial accounting? Any other thoughts?
Thanks as always

[ryoder]

I am probably going to be in the same boat as you.
I want to do an MBA and first need a BSBA to get there and accounting is the one thing I really don't like.
I actually dropped a B&M accounting class back in the day as it killed me to sit through it.

I have been reading accounting demystified recently and have the CLEP book. I plan on doing SL all the way or CLEP then SL so we will see.

The Masters in Business Administration is not a Masters in Accounting so I don't think accounting is the number one focus so just get through this and worry about all those other things later.

Thats what I am going to be telling myself too.

[burbuja0512]

Thanks so much for the response. I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one that feels this way about accounting.

I think that I have a solution. I HOPE that I end up passing SL, but there is an option if I fail the first time. This may be good info for anyone worried about failing a SL class. From their website:

Can I take a course again if I fail it?
Students may retake a for-credit course as many times as they choose. Final grades for retakes will be averaged with the student's previous scores in the course. $399 students will need to repurchase the course. $99/month students will need to notify their Course Advisor and pay a new $39 fee. Developmental courses may be taken as many times as needed without averaging final scores.

Does a failing grade affect my college transcripts?
This is a great aspect of StraighterLine-because StraighterLine is not a college, your work is not a part of your academic record until the information is transferred to a partner college or a college awarding credit for American Council of Education (ACE) approved courses. Because failing grades will not earn you credit at a Partner College, StraighterLine recommends retaking the course until you pass and then transferring your successfully completed distance learning coursework.



Since I'm on the $99/month plan, it would end up costing me an extra 40 bucks to take it again. I don't even care about the money as much as I don't want to spend any more time on accounting, but at least there is a hope for me in case I just can't learn it on the first go-around.

[MISin08]

Managerial is a bit more interesting, because it's tied to decision-making and results.

There's a lot more to business than Accounting. I wouldn't change your major just because Acct 1 isn't your cup of tea.

Phillip

Who got a 62 on the Accounting CLEP, despite having managed an accounting function.

[Popcorn]

Here is a great study helper for accounting basics. Very informative with quizzes and templates.

Bean Counter So, you want to learn Bookkeeping- Introduction

Popcorn

[Popcorn]

I am currently signed in with Str8erline for Accounting 1 class. Best advice = Be prepared.

My current experience, is that this accounting class is very difficult, and not as easy as some may have indicated in the past for their experiences here, or - maybe I need some of the vitamins they are taking...

I am lurker, member, lurker, member, with desire to achieve the degree being constant. All assistance appreciated and welcome.

Popcorn = what my brain looks like when associated with accounting, physics, & inspiration.

[burbuja0512]

I am currently signed in with Str8erline for Accounting 1 class. Best advice = Be prepared.

My current experience, is that this accounting class is very difficult, and not as easy as some may have indicated in the past for their experiences here, or - maybe I need some of the vitamins they are taking...

I am lurker, member, lurker, member, with desire to achieve the degree being constant. All assistance appreciated and welcome.

Popcorn = what my brain looks like when associated with accounting, physics, & inspiration.

Thanks for the posts. Yes, SL tests are HARD. I do have good news. I took my mid-term today and scored an A. I studied a ton, but in part, I believe that I am getting more accustomed to their testing format.

What I've noticed so far about some of the questions is that they can be very tricky. With CLEP and DSST, usually I don't over-think the question. They're more straight-forward and usually trying to make sure that you have good general knowledge, rather than trying to ensure that you know and totally understand (forward and backward) every detail.

Here is an example of a CLEP test question versus SL... totally made up, of course.

CLEP: What color is the sky?

a) orange
b) red
c) blue
d) green

The answer here is C, blue. Yes you can sit there and think about how sometimes the sky can be orangish or even reddish, but CLEP won't usually trick you. If I'm ever not sure on a CLEP, I'll pick a common-sense answer over the more complicated one.

Straighterline would do the same question like this:

The sky is blue
True
False

In the SL example question, the obvious "true" answer may or may not be correct. You would have to remember that on page 373, the text specifically says that the sky is not blue, it only appears to be, so therefore the answer is false.


I don't know if this makes any sense, but I hope it helps anyone who happens to read this that hasn't taken a SL test yet. I kind of wonder if they're trying to be really difficult to prove that their classes are worthy of the ACE accreditation they have, or if maybe I'm just really bad at accounting lol. Either way, it's ok.. I literally sweat buckets during these tests, but not everything good has to be easy

[bricabrac]

burbuja0512,

:iagree: You perfectly described my experience with SL. I think the trick questions are due to open book exams. At least they've cut down the number of exams. I think the clep would have been much easier. But when you are juggling courses with exams, combining those with a SL and\or PF course just makes sense. To me anyway.

Good luck to all!

[Maniac Craniac]

Failure is not a result, it is a step in the process.

[Maniac Craniac]

...duplicate...