11-16-2016, 04:40 PM
Hello All,
Itâs been many, many months since my last post, as I vowed not to return to the forum until I reached what seemed to be The Impossible Dream â finally completing my Bachelorâs Degree at EC. Wellâ¦cue up the âMan of La Manchaâ theme song, because I can now definitively say, âIâve done it!â I successfully completed the much feared Capstone in October, and just received my official congratulatory graduation letter from EC - with my degree conferral set for December
.
Five+ years ago, IC members took time out of their busy lives to evaluate my hodgepodge of college credits, answer my questions, and guide me toward a plethora of study resources and testing opportunities I never knew existed. The kind and generous folks here played an invaluable role in helping me move one step closer toward finally being able to check off a life-long goal â earning my Bachelorâs Degree. I want to thank Jennifer (cookderosa), rebel100, and every hero here at IC who offered me their unending knowledge and advice - words alone can never express my gratitude â without YOU I would not be posting this message today.
My 30-year educational odyssey began in the mid-1980s with a late night infomercial advertising John Bearâs Guide to Non-Traditional College Degrees. It changed my life. I was facing a host of family and health crises, had dropped in and out of CC four times, and saw no chance of completing a degree through the traditional B & M pathway. Bearâs book led me to USNY Regents, and in 1991 after a credit evaluation and two additional CC classes, I finally received my AA degree. Door closed/Job done.
However, 20 years later, I was still educationally unfulfilled, unhappy, and unsatisfied â not having a BA/BS degree constantly gnawed at me. Everyone in my immediate family/friend circle has multiple degrees, and I wanted the piece of paper â the proof that I too was âworthyâ of a scholarly title. New Yearâs Eve 2010 I found the golden ticketâ¦an online forum called InstantCert dedicated to adult students seeking non-traditional degrees.
After posting here on IC, I could not wait to begin studying. As a perfectionist with a horrible fear of failure, I studied over 4 months in preparation for my first CLEP test â Intro to Psychology. Success led to success, and while my pace was incredibly slow, I continued to study, overcome obstacles, and test, test, testâ¦A one-year detour into SLâs Comp I & II writing âboot campâ (courses I actually did not need but consider the best preparatory training for the EC Capstone), then back to testing. Testing completed in 2015, I then moved on to my biggest terror â the EC Capstone.
I worked for months on the LA 498 syllabus â I taught myself APA style, how to set up an APA paper on my computer, how to create a formal APA outline, and how to post notes to a Discussion board; then spent one month teaching myself PowerPoint via a fantastic âteacherâ on YouTube. I preplanned ideas as set forth in the syllabus, and then when I thought I was ready, signed up.
Eight weeks and many 2:00AM nights later, success - an âAâ for the Capstone course, and GRADUATION!!!! A true miracle!
Unfortunately, I have discovered one downside - I think I am addicted to studying! The second I was through with the Capstone I was in shock â no more studying??? I actually felt more lost than relievedâ¦so weâll see what the future holds as far as possibly continuing onâ¦
On a final note - to those out there intimidated by the speed in which many here test and complete courses â do not be disheartened; you CAN achieve your dream! Like me, your pace may be slower, your journey may take years, not months, but with perseverance, it CAN HAPPEN!
December 16, 2016 - BSLA Magna Cum Laude - Excelsior College
eeya:
Suzanne
Itâs been many, many months since my last post, as I vowed not to return to the forum until I reached what seemed to be The Impossible Dream â finally completing my Bachelorâs Degree at EC. Wellâ¦cue up the âMan of La Manchaâ theme song, because I can now definitively say, âIâve done it!â I successfully completed the much feared Capstone in October, and just received my official congratulatory graduation letter from EC - with my degree conferral set for December
.Five+ years ago, IC members took time out of their busy lives to evaluate my hodgepodge of college credits, answer my questions, and guide me toward a plethora of study resources and testing opportunities I never knew existed. The kind and generous folks here played an invaluable role in helping me move one step closer toward finally being able to check off a life-long goal â earning my Bachelorâs Degree. I want to thank Jennifer (cookderosa), rebel100, and every hero here at IC who offered me their unending knowledge and advice - words alone can never express my gratitude â without YOU I would not be posting this message today.
My 30-year educational odyssey began in the mid-1980s with a late night infomercial advertising John Bearâs Guide to Non-Traditional College Degrees. It changed my life. I was facing a host of family and health crises, had dropped in and out of CC four times, and saw no chance of completing a degree through the traditional B & M pathway. Bearâs book led me to USNY Regents, and in 1991 after a credit evaluation and two additional CC classes, I finally received my AA degree. Door closed/Job done.
However, 20 years later, I was still educationally unfulfilled, unhappy, and unsatisfied â not having a BA/BS degree constantly gnawed at me. Everyone in my immediate family/friend circle has multiple degrees, and I wanted the piece of paper â the proof that I too was âworthyâ of a scholarly title. New Yearâs Eve 2010 I found the golden ticketâ¦an online forum called InstantCert dedicated to adult students seeking non-traditional degrees.
After posting here on IC, I could not wait to begin studying. As a perfectionist with a horrible fear of failure, I studied over 4 months in preparation for my first CLEP test â Intro to Psychology. Success led to success, and while my pace was incredibly slow, I continued to study, overcome obstacles, and test, test, testâ¦A one-year detour into SLâs Comp I & II writing âboot campâ (courses I actually did not need but consider the best preparatory training for the EC Capstone), then back to testing. Testing completed in 2015, I then moved on to my biggest terror â the EC Capstone.
I worked for months on the LA 498 syllabus â I taught myself APA style, how to set up an APA paper on my computer, how to create a formal APA outline, and how to post notes to a Discussion board; then spent one month teaching myself PowerPoint via a fantastic âteacherâ on YouTube. I preplanned ideas as set forth in the syllabus, and then when I thought I was ready, signed up.
Eight weeks and many 2:00AM nights later, success - an âAâ for the Capstone course, and GRADUATION!!!! A true miracle!
Unfortunately, I have discovered one downside - I think I am addicted to studying! The second I was through with the Capstone I was in shock â no more studying??? I actually felt more lost than relievedâ¦so weâll see what the future holds as far as possibly continuing onâ¦
On a final note - to those out there intimidated by the speed in which many here test and complete courses â do not be disheartened; you CAN achieve your dream! Like me, your pace may be slower, your journey may take years, not months, but with perseverance, it CAN HAPPEN!
December 16, 2016 - BSLA Magna Cum Laude - Excelsior College
eeya:Suzanne
"I dwell in Possibility." Emily Dickinson
2011-12 CLEP Int Psych - 75 / H G & D - 69 / Ed Psych - 72 / Am Lit - 80 / A & I Lit - 75 / Eng Lit - 73 2012-13 SL Eng Comp I - 95.3% P / Eng Comp II - 97.5% P 2014 EC/UEXCEL Ab Psych - A / Soc Psych - A / Psych A & A - A / Gerontology - A / Info Lit - P 2015 BYU Sport Psych - A / DSST Sub Abuse - 470 / Int World Rel - 481 / H T Y H - 465 / Tor College HIS 301 - 81% P 2016 EC LA498 Capstone - A
1991 AA Liberal Arts USNY Regents College
2016 BSLA Magna Cum Laude Excelsior College - A 5 year journey COMPLETED!
2017-2019 Study.com Certs. - Am Lit/Brit Lit/Shakespeare/Poetry Review Shmoop - Shakespeare's Plays/Shakespeare in Context/Women's Lit
2011-12 CLEP Int Psych - 75 / H G & D - 69 / Ed Psych - 72 / Am Lit - 80 / A & I Lit - 75 / Eng Lit - 73 2012-13 SL Eng Comp I - 95.3% P / Eng Comp II - 97.5% P 2014 EC/UEXCEL Ab Psych - A / Soc Psych - A / Psych A & A - A / Gerontology - A / Info Lit - P 2015 BYU Sport Psych - A / DSST Sub Abuse - 470 / Int World Rel - 481 / H T Y H - 465 / Tor College HIS 301 - 81% P 2016 EC LA498 Capstone - A
1991 AA Liberal Arts USNY Regents College
2016 BSLA Magna Cum Laude Excelsior College - A 5 year journey COMPLETED!
2017-2019 Study.com Certs. - Am Lit/Brit Lit/Shakespeare/Poetry Review Shmoop - Shakespeare's Plays/Shakespeare in Context/Women's Lit
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