Help/Recommendations needed (studying abroad)

[Saharapost]

Thanks for sharing Saharapost! In round figures how much do you think that this pathway will have cost you, not including the Education in NG.

Starting with Straighterline, I paid $49 per course and $100 per monthly subscription. So, for SL it goes like this:

$46 × 15 courses = $690
$200 for monthly subscription twice
TOTAL credits for SL: $890

ALEKS CREDITS--subscription for all credits =$20

TEEX CREDITS= $Free

SAYLOR.ORG-- Free Principles of Marketing/ exam proctoring fee with ProctorU = $25

TESC-- Enrolment= $75
TECEPS-- $36 × 24 Credits = $864
Total: for TESC = $939

Penn Foster-Financial Management Fin 101 course

$235 + $55 for DHL= $290

Penn Foster College-first semester program in Computer Information Systems= $1190.00

Total: 690 + 20 + 25 + 75 + 864 + 290 + 1190 = 3154

Future Expenses

Graduation Fee= $290
Degree Apostille Certifications $35??

RESULTS ANTICIPATED = AA General Studies
BSBA General Management
AND MAYBE Fletcher Award

[GMT]

Not sure how up to date this link is, but it's for the CLEP test centre in Qatar which will likely be on a US military establishment
UMUC Europe - Al Udeid | CLEP

Being a US military spouse with experience of military bases outside of the US, I can say that getting onto a US military base, when you have the correct paperwork, is not impossible. So CLEPs/DSSTs may be an option on your doorstep, but obviously I'm not sure. The number is, I presume, for the head office in Germany, who won't know the local set up for Qatar, but worth contacting. You may be able to email them via the main UMUC website, if the call is going to be expensive.

I see the NSA has a test place in Bahrain, though my guess would be that this would be harder to access, but you never know till you ask UMUC Europe - Bahrain NSA | CLEP

Failing that, I see there are 3 open test centres in UAE .... NICE! CLEP Test Center Search to find nearest location and contact information | CLEP next time I go shopping in Dubai, I'll remember to book some CLEP tests

Obviously the guys on here will steer you right with online stuff, you've definitely landed in the right forum

And can anyone on here actually confirm that TESC, for example, really wanted to see a copy of your high school diploma?? When I registered with AMU, I was surprised I only had to click the box to say I had one (or an equivalent), and didn't have to send it in. This would be helpful information I think

[EI2HCB]

Not sure how up to date this link is, but it's for the CLEP test centre in Qatar which will likely be on a US military establishment
UMUC Europe - Al Udeid | CLEP

Being a US military spouse with experience of military bases outside of the US, I can say that getting onto a US military base, when you have the correct paperwork, is not impossible. So CLEPs/DSSTs may be an option on your doorstep, but obviously I'm not sure. The number is, I presume, for the head office in Germany, who won't know the local set up for Qatar, but worth contacting. You may be able to email them via the main UMUC website, if the call is going to be expensive.

I see the NSA has a test place in Bahrain, though my guess would be that this would be harder to access, but you never know till you ask UMUC Europe - Bahrain NSA | CLEP

Failing that, I see there are 3 open test centres in UAE .... NICE! CLEP Test Center Search to find nearest location and contact information | CLEP next time I go shopping in Dubai, I'll remember to book some CLEP tests

Obviously the guys on here will steer you right with online stuff, you've definitely landed in the right forum

And can anyone on here actually confirm that TESC, for example, really wanted to see a copy of your high school diploma?? When I registered with AMU, I was surprised I only had to click the box to say I had one (or an equivalent), and didn't have to send it in. This would be helpful information I think

GMT, thanks for this, I didn't have time to research it but I'm sure they'll be helpful leads.

[Saharapost]

...

And can anyone on here actually confirm that TESC, for example, really wanted to see a copy of your high school diploma?? When I registered with AMU, I was surprised I only had to click the box to say I had one (or an equivalent), and didn't have to send it in. This would be helpful information I think

When I applied to TESC, no one asked for my high school diploma. All I did was tick a box while applying. What they asked me was a TOEFL result. I scaled through that by throwing back at them what I found on TESC website that students whose country of origin speaks English do not need a TOEFL or similar proof of English and that was the end.

[LaterBloomer]

Saharapost has a good point. It's always good to read the catalog - or the website. Good luck with your education.

[zenurez]

I would just like to add that some of the Straighterline more advanced accounting classes seemed really hard to me while Saharapost breezed right through them. So you may find different topics harder or easier depending on your background. I found the more you study the better you get at figuring out the different course styles etc. But you might not want to plan on taking more than a couple courses in a month to start with. I know I originally tried to take two per month and I felt pretty overloaded just with that. Once you get the hang of things, you could probably speed up :-)

Starting with Straighterline, I paid $49 per course and $100 per monthly subscription. So, for SL it goes like this:

$46 × 15 courses = $690
$200 for monthly subscription twice
TOTAL credits for SL: $890

ALEKS CREDITS--subscription for all credits =$20

TEEX CREDITS= $Free

SAYLOR.ORG-- Free Principles of Marketing/ exam proctoring fee with ProctorU = $25

TESC-- Enrolment= $75
TECEPS-- $36 × 24 Credits = $864
Total: for TESC = $939

Penn Foster-Financial Management Fin 101 course

$235 + $55 for DHL= $290

Penn Foster College-first semester program in Computer Information Systems= $1190.00

Total: 690 + 20 + 25 + 75 + 864 + 290 + 1190 = 3154

Future Expenses

Graduation Fee= $290
Degree Apostille Certifications $35??

RESULTS ANTICIPATED = AA General Studies
BSBA General Management
AND MAYBE Fletcher Award

[Saharapost]

I would just like to add that some of the Straighterline more advanced accounting classes seemed really hard to me while Saharapost breezed right through them. So you may find different topics harder or easier depending on your background. I found the more you study the better you get at figuring out the different course styles etc. But you might not want to plan on taking more than a couple courses in a month to start with. I know I originally tried to take two per month and I felt pretty overloaded just with that. Once you get the hang of things, you could probably speed up :-)

I found some Straighterline courses tough too. Managerial Accounting was a tough one which I had to retake after failing at first attempt. I also found Business Ethics and Business Law a little bit challenging. The problem for me was not in the textbook or the "teacher" but my style of studying chapter summaries and then attempting open book exams with what I learned from chapter summaries and by relying on textbook indexes.

[Beate]

And can anyone on here actually confirm that TESC, for example, really wanted to see a copy of your high school diploma?? When I registered with AMU, I was surprised I only had to click the box to say I had one (or an equivalent), and didn't have to send it in. This would be helpful information I think

Same experience here as Sarahapost had with TESC. I only checked the box when I applied and did not have to send proof of high school graduation (I HAVE the equivalent of a high school degree from Germany and also took and passed the GED a few years ago, so it wouldn't have been a problem anyway).

As I live in the U.K. they did not ask me for TOEFL results, even though I truthfully put my country of citizenship as Germany - this is contrary to what TESC told me previously (long before applying), when they said it could not be waived.

As you (Jon-Jon) have graduated high school and are from an English speaking country, I would think none of this will be an issue (at least with TESC).

It IS do-able to complete a US degree while living overseas, but finding a testing site for CLEPs and DSSTs can sometimes be a challenge. My experiences varied from no reply to e-mails with several places in Europe to finding a very good testing center (but with high fees). In the end I took all but 2 exams on various trips to the States and found that test were easy to arrange over there (and with cheaper or even no proctering fees).

If you're not set on getting a degree from the U.S. there's also the Open University here in the U.K., but I'm not sure about the cost.

[GMT]

Same experience here as Sarahapost had with TESC. I only checked the box when I applied and did not have to send proof of high school graduation (I HAVE the equivalent of a high school degree from Germany and also took and passed the GED a few years ago, so it wouldn't have been a problem anyway).

As I live in the U.K. they did not ask me for TOEFL results, even though I truthfully put my country of citizenship as Germany - this is contrary to what TESC told me previously (long before applying), when they said it could not be waived.

As you (Jon-Jon) have graduated high school and are from an English speaking country, I would think none of this will be an issue (at least with TESC).

It IS do-able to complete a US degree while living overseas, but finding a testing site for CLEPs and DSSTs can sometimes be a challenge. My experiences varied from no reply to e-mails with several places in Europe to finding a very good testing center (but with high fees). In the end I took all but 2 exams on various trips to the States and found that test were easy to arrange over there (and with cheaper or even no proctering fees).

If you're not set on getting a degree from the U.S. there's also the Open University here in the U.K., but I'm not sure about the cost.

Hello Beate, I'm also in England ... did you try the place in London (Regents Park) which does CLEPs??
The UK seriously needs more places which does CLEPs etc .... I've often considered opening an establishment which helps Brits get American degrees

I'm sorry to say, but I wouldn't waste a minute looking at the Open University .... First there's the silly length of time it would take to get a degree from there, and then the outrageous cost when comparing it to a school which accepts extensive alternative credit ... some of which can be FREE.

The UK has priced itself out of the market in my eyes as far as a Bachelors is concerned, and the work is really hard for what you get.
Surely it's better to burn through an online degree out of the USA, from a regionally accredited school, at a fraction of the cost ... and certainly a fraction of the time?
Beate, you know I'm right, or you'd be slogging your way through three years of expensive suffering at UWE Bristol or somewhere lol
Unless it's got Oxford or Cambridge stamped on the top, don't bother .... of course there's always Buckingham University where a lot of the "connected" international rich kids go, but that's a whole other world

If you like accredited, fast, cheap, accessible (and multiple choice exams) ... then it's USA all the way! :patriot:
You can always chase that up with a fancy Masters from somewhere else that takes pain and moolah to get

I think the world can hear, I'm not shaking my pom poms for the British education system lol ... but I'm sure there are lots of people who think all that hard work is wonderful

[Beate]

Hello Beate, I'm also in England ... did you try the place in London (Regents Park) which does CLEPs??

Hi, where abouts are you?
Yes, they were one of the few I received a reply from, unlike some other place in London and centers in Slovakia, Italy, Switzerland...
Back in 2010 TrainE were charging 50 Pounds per test proctoring fee and were testing "Tues after 2, Thurs after 1:30 and Friday am". Rather than taking time off work and traveling to London and back several times (and paying those fees) I preferred combining testing with sightseeing and shopping in the States! And yes, I know that was more expensive in the end, but I also got to visit some lovely places. :coolgleam:

I have not looked into getting a degree in Britain as I had already started taking CLEPs etc before I moved here. I took my first CLEP in 2003, so it's been a long journey - mainly due to lack of funds (and indecision about which degree to pursue where).

Surely it's better to burn through an online degree out of the USA, from a regionally accredited school, at a fraction of the cost ... and certainly a fraction of the time?
Beate, you know I'm right, or you'd be slogging your way through three years of expensive suffering at UWE Bristol or somewhere lol

LOL, I'm 45 with bills to pay, so studying full time would be out of the question anyway. One of my friends did just get her Masters from UWE though!