General question about cleps

[Weldy]

I notice on this forum some people have taken a lot of clep tests(which is awesome) while others take just a few.Are the people who took more clep tests just taking them to get more credits or are they working towards a particular degree.I am enrolled in a community college and am working towards my a.a. in business ad. and I hope to transfer to a university to complete my b.a.I am just wondering how much I can take by clep.Plus, the university that I'm looking to transfer to says it takes a minimum of two years to complete my b.a. after getting my .a.a. Does anybody have any suggestion on how to get it done faster, without having to go through a papermill type college.
thanks in advance for any advice.
-Mark
p.s. been on board with IC for about a week and a half and have my first clep on tuesday.:o

[operalady]

We are working towards a communications degree from TESC specifically. We plan to take any credits possible using CLEP or DSST.
It depends on the College or University's policy on CLEP.

[peace123]

I am just wondering how much I can take by clep. Plus, the university that I'm looking to transfer to says it takes a minimum of two years to complete my b.a. after getting my .a.a. Does anybody have any suggestion on how to get it done faster, without having to go through a papermill type college.
thanks in advance for any advice.
-Mark

HI Mark,

What is a papermill type college ?

In regards to how many clep credits on can transfer, you need to look at the specific college you want to attend and see what they allow. Each college sets their own rules in regards to credits by examination.


Peace123

[Namivie]

I'll answer your question based on my own experiences. First, I recommend that you consult the college that you want to attend. Find out how many lower level hours you can take & transfer into their school. Around my area, that's pretty varied. You really need to know the school's policy so that you can make informed decisions.

I went and talked with an advisor at the program I was considering before I applied for admission. This influenced my decision to apply for admission before I had previously considered it, because the school I'm attending allowed me to take hours concurrently at the junior college. What that ended up meaning for me was that I took the bulk of my senior level courses over the fall/spring when the university offered payment plans (I'm getting my degree without any student loans or financial aid). I then take hours at the junior college over the summer because it's so much cheaper.

I took advantage of several express classes that my jr college offered to help boost my transfer elective hours. For example, I took 2 extra speech classes last semester. Because they were express classes, I attended Friday night, Saturday and Sunday afternoon for 3 weekends and was done. 3 weekends each, 3 hours credit each. It was an easy 6 hours.

After I was admitted, I considered clep tests. I looked up clep exams to show my teenager something and was floored by the number of exams offered. I called my school's admission office, which was very helpful, and learned that I could take up to 30 hours of clep tests. I explained that I was a transfer student, and asked if that would affect the number of hours I could transfer, and the answer was no - it has no impact on it at all. The admissions person said that it was up to each department rather they counted the hours towards their degree plan (the English department is apparently very picky). The admissions person told me where to look on the website for the information on clep tests. My university actually lists which exams they take, the score you need, how many hours credit you get, and how it will be listed on your transcript. Since I'm NOT in the english department, I called my program advisor, and she confirmed that my department has no objection to cleps, and will count all of them up to the 30 hours.

Here's what this meant for me. My degree requires a 120 hours. I transferred in 66 hours from the junior college. I have a 30 hour residency requirement at the college. (66+30=96 hours. 120 hours - 96 = 24 hours I can clep). My degree requires 36 upper level hours, but 3 of the clep tests counted as upper level credit at my school (the business classes) and counted directly towards my degree plan. That will give me an elective slot to take this summer. Traditionally, I take about 6 hours a semester because I work full time and have a family. However, because of the 2 express classes I mentioned, last semester I took 12 hours. I also took & passed 4 clep tests. So last semester I earned 24 hours of credit. This semester I'm taking 9 hours, plus hopefully taking and passing 4 more clep tests. I have 2 classes in the summer and I'll be done. Because I'm taking the clep tests while I'm at the university, every clep test I take saves me $1000. I'll be able to finish my degree a full 2 years ahead of when I anticipated. The only downside is that I won't have taken the 45 hour minimum to get an honors degree from my school, even though my gpa is high enough. However, given that I'll be saving thousands an estimated 12k on my degree and coming out of school with no debt, I can live with that.

So my advice is find out what your college policies are (how things transfer from the jr college & how many hours they will transfer), how many clep hours they allow, and then you can figure out a plan of attack.

Please let me know if you I can answer any more questions, or be helpful. Feel free to pm.

Let us know how things work out for you! We're glad to have you on the forum.

[Sowak777]

College Search - Thomas Edison State College - SATÂ, APÂ, CLEPÂ

Search for the college you are interested in at the above website, and then view their CLEP policies.

[Weldy]

I'll answer your question based on my own experiences. First, I recommend that you consult the college that you want to attend. Find out how many lower level hours you can take & transfer into their school. Around my area, that's pretty varied. You really need to know the school's policy so that you can make informed decisions.

I went and talked with an advisor at the program I was considering before I applied for admission. This influenced my decision to apply for admission before I had previously considered it, because the school I'm attending allowed me to take hours concurrently at the junior college. What that ended up meaning for me was that I took the bulk of my senior level courses over the fall/spring when the university offered payment plans (I'm getting my degree without any student loans or financial aid). I then take hours at the junior college over the summer because it's so much cheaper.

I took advantage of several express classes that my jr college offered to help boost my transfer elective hours. For example, I took 2 extra speech classes last semester. Because they were express classes, I attended Friday night, Saturday and Sunday afternoon for 3 weekends and was done. 3 weekends each, 3 hours credit each. It was an easy 6 hours.

After I was admitted, I considered clep tests. I looked up clep exams to show my teenager something and was floored by the number of exams offered. I called my school's admission office, which was very helpful, and learned that I could take up to 30 hours of clep tests. I explained that I was a transfer student, and asked if that would affect the number of hours I could transfer, and the answer was no - it has no impact on it at all. The admissions person said that it was up to each department rather they counted the hours towards their degree plan (the English department is apparently very picky). The admissions person told me where to look on the website for the information on clep tests. My university actually lists which exams they take, the score you need, how many hours credit you get, and how it will be listed on your transcript. Since I'm NOT in the english department, I called my program advisor, and she confirmed that my department has no objection to cleps, and will count all of them up to the 30 hours.

Here's what this meant for me. My degree requires a 120 hours. I transferred in 66 hours from the junior college. I have a 30 hour residency requirement at the college. (66+30=96 hours. 120 hours - 96 = 24 hours I can clep). My degree requires 36 upper level hours, but 3 of the clep tests counted as upper level credit at my school (the business classes) and counted directly towards my degree plan. That will give me an elective slot to take this summer. Traditionally, I take about 6 hours a semester because I work full time and have a family. However, because of the 2 express classes I mentioned, last semester I took 12 hours. I also took & passed 4 clep tests. So last semester I earned 24 hours of credit. This semester I'm taking 9 hours, plus hopefully taking and passing 4 more clep tests. I have 2 classes in the summer and I'll be done. Because I'm taking the clep tests while I'm at the university, every clep test I take saves me $1000. I'll be able to finish my degree a full 2 years ahead of when I anticipated. The only downside is that I won't have taken the 45 hour minimum to get an honors degree from my school, even though my gpa is high enough. However, given that I'll be saving thousands an estimated 12k on my degree and coming out of school with no debt, I can live with that.

So my advice is find out what your college policies are (how things transfer from the jr college & how many hours they will transfer), how many clep hours they allow, and then you can figure out a plan of attack.

Please let me know if you I can answer any more questions, or be helpful. Feel free to pm.

Let us know how things work out for you! We're glad to have you on the forum.

Thanks for the info.I am still trying to find my way around and I will check with the univ. to see what they will accept.I have gained so much knowledge on this site in the last week and a half,its been a great source. Everybody is so helpful and any question that I post I have gotten great feedback.
-Mark.

[Weldy]

HI Mark,

What is a papermill type college ?

In regards to how many clep credits on can transfer, you need to look at the specific college you want to attend and see what they allow. Each college sets their own rules in regards to credits by examination.


Peace123

They are colleges that offer accelerated degrees on line.They are generally very expensive and are not regionally accredited or even have any accreditation (I took some classes about ten years ago and the comm. college that I just enrolled in would not accept the transfer credits claiming it wasn't properly accredited)
-Mark.

[peace123]

Mark,


Have you considered earning your Bachelors at one of the schools that are called the " big 3" on this board ?: Charter Oaks ( COSC), Excelsior , or Thomas Edison (TESC) .

These three have generous policies on earning credits via exams and all 3 are regionally accredited.

If you looking to complete a degree faster then I think one of the "big 3 " is the way to go as some of majors/programs etc. allow for fully testing out and others allow for some testing out. I have been every happy with my decision to get my Bachelors through Excelsior.


Peace123

[brain122]

I have not been a member here for long, but have been doing a lot of reasearch as I am trying to help my daughter on Clep exams, interested in getting my younger daughter to Clep for college credits (she is 16) and now my hubby has decided that he is interested in clepping as many as possible.

The above posters are definitely correct when they say to check with the school of interest on Clep policy. But, I wanted to add to also check for that particular schools list of approved Cleps. I have discovered that just because they will accept Clep credits, they also have an approved list of which ones they will accept and what the transfer equivalency of those approved Cleps are.

Universities seem to have a more strict policy, accept few particular clep exams, and fewer to none Dantes exams.

Colleges seem to be more accepting of these exams, but it will depend on the particular school.

Good Luck~

There are very many experienced people here on this site that can give you lots of input, but you will still have to research based on your decisions of the school to attend. (I, too, am hoping for help on this research process---this site is pretty amazing.)


CHEERS TO IC!!!

[brain122]

I have not been a member here for long, but have been doing a lot of reasearch as I am trying to help my daughter on Clep exams, interested in getting my younger daughter to Clep for college credits (she is 16) and now my hubby has decided that he is interested in clepping as many as possible.

The above posters are definitely correct when they say to check with the school of interest on Clep policy. But, I wanted to add to also check for that particular schools list of approved Cleps. I have discovered that just because they will accept Clep credits, they also have an approved list of which ones they will accept and what the transfer equivalency of those approved Cleps are.

Universities seem to have a more strict policy, accept few particular clep exams, and fewer to none Dantes exams.

Colleges seem to be more accepting of these exams, but it will depend on the particular school.

Good Luck~

There are very many experienced people here on this site that can give you lots of input, but you will still have to research based on your decisions of the school to attend. (I, too, am hoping for help on this research process---this site is pretty amazing.)


CHEERS TO IC!!!

I forgot to mention..........you should really stay away from papermills............they are worth nothing, you could end up doing a whole lot of work and a piece of paper worth nothing.

That's the reason why my hubby is now looking to take his professional credits and traditional credits and work toward a degree with one of the big 3 possibly.

He went that papermill way originally and even completed coursework online in distant study, but as of date it means absolutely nothing and credits will transfer nowhere except the trashcan~ big waste of time and money.