How early to start working on college credits?

[AJ_Atlanta]

Maybe things have changed, but back when I went to school the first time the University of Pennsylvania accepted CLEP and my AP tests. I would put them a step above any state school - but I don't suspect my oldest is UPenn material nor do I even want to look up how much that school costs now

[KayV]

I'm struck by how different things are from state to state- rules in California are completely different from Texas, which are completely different from Nebraska, and so on. It just underscores how important it is to do your research and have your kids do their research.

As far as maturing on campus, I sometimes see former students who have to leave their universities far too early for various reasons. $8K for the 6 college credits they passed at Big State U was not worth the on-campus experience in my opinion, even if it's their family heritage to go to a particular school.

[topdog98]

Unfortunately, although this was once true, I think college campuses have ceased being a great place to gain maturity (quite the opposite). In my opinion, young people should spend as little time (and money!) there as possible and then find maturity with real work in the real world as soon as is practical. In fact, a part-time job while still in high school is better for gaining maturity than campus life.

[AJ_Atlanta]

Unfortunately, although this was once true, I think college campuses have ceased being a great place to gain maturity (quite the opposite). In my opinion, young people should spend as little time (and money!) there as possible and then find maturity with real work in the real world as soon as is practical. In fact, a part-time job while still in high school is better for gaining maturity than campus life.

But that is where I learned how to tap a beer keg and practically fail out of school all at the same time.

Seriously I think my child would be better served with travel - but that is something my wife and I will take care of

[rowan555]

Unfortunately, although this was once true, I think college campuses have ceased being a great place to gain maturity (quite the opposite). In my opinion, young people should spend as little time (and money!) there as possible and then find maturity with real work in the real world as soon as is practical. In fact, a part-time job while still in high school is better for gaining maturity than campus life.

I agree very much with this.

[cookderosa]

Although I disagree with cookderosa on AP vs. CLEP, I agree that going to an online school (regardless of trad or nontrad) robs the teen of the opportunity to mature on-campus. I also agree about the dangers of mass CLEPing the courses outside of GEs. Some of the CLEPs are too easy. For example, A&I Lit can be taken cold so it's pretty useless as preparation for a traditional school's English Literature major which requires their own lower level courses which are likely to be much more rigorous.

Let me be picky for a second and emphasize that I didn't say that. I said "I think it's a shame when a parent signs Timmy up for TESU's distance learning degree in business *just because* it's low hanging fruit. It deprives the teen of a big stage in their maturity in my opinion <grin> which is worth exactly what you paid for it."

The helicopter-approach-over-parented-over-planning-degree-just-because the kid has to do what I say since they're homeschooled is what I think denies the teen an opportunity to mature. There is a "muscle" of sorts that atrophies when young people don't get to be undecided, unsure, confused... and then pull together a plan / decision with loving guidance and support from wise parents or mentors. Whether or not that teen goes on campus or online is really a matter of pragmatics. Not all degrees need 4 years face to face, and some degrees need much more.

[TrailRunr]

Let me be picky for a second and emphasize that I didn't say that. I said "I think it's a shame when a parent signs Timmy up for TESU's distance learning degree in business *just because* it's low hanging fruit. It deprives the teen of a big stage in their maturity in my opinion <grin> which is worth exactly what you paid for it."

The helicopter-approach-over-parented-over-planning-degree-just-because the kid has to do what I say since they're homeschooled is what I think denies the teen an opportunity to mature. There is a "muscle" of sorts that atrophies when young people don't get to be undecided, unsure, confused... and then pull together a plan / decision with loving guidance and support from wise parents or mentors. Whether or not that teen goes on campus or online is really a matter of pragmatics. Not all degrees need 4 years face to face, and some degrees need much more.

Then we're going to have to disagree because it goes beyond the helicopter parent not giving up the controls. You don't need all 4 years face to face, but I believe online is an inferior product vs. traditional on-campus. We talked about this a bit in the other thread about lazy professors flocking to online classes. There are lazy professors on campus, but they are way worse in the online world with AWOL professors gone between first day and last day. The social interactions disappear with online. Online class discussion forums don't count as social interactions.

Even "good" TESU professors are lazy. Steve Ryan is often cited as good. But I caught him using boilerplate responses because he used the wrong one on me twice.

[rebel100]

My oldest started at 13, my youngest at 12

[clep3705]

Regarding AP vs. CLEP, better to pass AP than CLEP. The same reasoning applies. Take AP as soon as possible. If your school only administers AP tests to seniors, try to find a way to take the AP tests closer to the end of the course instead of a year or two later. If AP isn't passed, then take CLEP - maybe after some cramming.

[docmarvin]

I remember reading an article about a girl who received her Bachelor's Degree when she was only 14 years old. Despite the hardships, she was able to succeed. The nice thing about it is that she was taking courses same as her mother.