Has anyone taken any of these classes?

[Insert Name]

By itself, you're right, it won't be used for financial aid purposes, but if you're using the flat rate tuition, you're golden!  You just need 12 credits to be full time, you're going to do 16 credits maximum for the flat rate tuition, so 3 credits through e-packs would not be counted, technically, anything over 9 credits won't be counted so you can use two e-packs... basically, to keep things simple, 1 epack, 4 courses, PLA 100 or another 1 credit course would be your perfect option!

Interesting. We may need to look into e-packs. E-packs are basically a bunch of quizzes? Did I read that right? Are they open book? Timed? Proctored?

[bjcheung77]

Quizzes don't count towards anything, it's like an assessment tool to see where you stand in the subject matter knowledge. It's one final proctored examination that determines a pass or fail. The main draw or is that it's RA and grants you residency credits, the main con however is the higher chance of failure if you're not proficient with that subject matter knowledge. Review what they have and the E-Pack course information on their website, see if it's for your SO or not...

[Insert Name]

Quizzes don't count towards anything, it's like an assessment tool to see where you stand in the subject matter knowledge.  It's one final proctored examination that determines a pass or fail.  The main draw or is that it's RA and grants you residency credits, the main con however is the higher chance of failure if you're not proficient with that subject matter knowledge.  Review what they have and the E-Pack course information on their website, see if it's for your SO or not...

And grade is pass/fail, not graded?

[bjcheung77]

Yeah, they're just pass/fail if I recall correctly, I've not taken one yet... Basically, it's like an overpriced TECEP, the only reason people will take it is for the credit and residency requirement. Otherwise, I don't even recommend them at all. Here's the info page: https://www.tesu.edu/academics/e-pack-courses

[Insert Name]

Now I’m wondering “what’s the worse case scenario,” right? If she does 2 of the 4 I listed in the beginning, the cornerstone, the capstone, and a couple of e-packs, it’s basically a free shot at the e-packs, as long as she passes the other 4. Would a failed e-pack affect gpa or anything? Or would it just be “looks like you’re taking these two classes next semester instead of the cornerstone and capstone”?

[bjcheung77]

Here's a wrench to that plan, SO can be the guinea pig! Confirm with TESU that the edx course can be transferred into your degree plan as the Info Lit course. Take the cornerstone at edx, it should come in as the Info Lit course as per their webpage and forum post (no confirmation yet). You can then take 4 courses for financial aid to get 12 credits, any 3 you want + capstone, take the Epack of your choice and the PLA100.

[Insert Name]

Here's a wrench to that plan, SO can be the guinea pig!  Confirm with TESU that the edx course can be transferred into your degree plan as the Info Lit course.  Take the cornerstone at edx, it should come in as the Info Lit course as per their webpage and forum post (no confirmation yet).  You can then take 4 courses for financial aid to get 12 credits, any 3 you want + capstone, take the Epack of your choice and the PLA100.

It’s funny. I was thinking that same thing the other day. Is the extra time to knock out the cornerstone worth the cost of the Edx class, and if so would it work? If she powered through it by itself, I’m wondering how long it would take her, because if the answer to the other questions is yes, then it’s just all about when to start that course and when to start the semester.

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Here's a wrench to that plan, SO can be the guinea pig!  Confirm with TESU that the edx course can be transferred into your degree plan as the Info Lit course.  Take the cornerstone at edx, it should come in as the Info Lit course as per their webpage and forum post (no confirmation yet).  You can then take 4 courses for financial aid to get 12 credits, any 3 you want + capstone, take the Epack of your choice and the PLA100.

Although, she was looking at the epacks, and didn’t find any she was 100% comfortable with that were 200+ Liberal studies, so she’d also have to throw in something from Study. So, let’s say 1 round on Study plus the Edx, and delay the semester to January just to be safe, I’m thinking the net gain would be 2 months with a cost of $700-800 more (ballpark info off my memory of the subscription costs.