I am a newbie and i am looking for a roadmap to finish in the fastest way possible

[Lindagerr]

If you are really worried about math ALEKS might really be a good idea. I found if I stuck to it and copied every explanation I could get through. I can teach middle school math and have no real problem understanding Algebra or even Trigonometry, but Statistics threw me ALEKS took a while but I did get through it.

As for the degree you are seeking at what level do you want to coach Middle school, high school, college? I don't know what subject your former credits are in but they will fit into any degree in either general or free electives so don't let them be a deciding factor. You will need 120 credits total for a BA or BS so where the credits you have now go is not going to that.

Never let what you have not done earlier impede what you are doing now. I was in my 50's when i started back to school i only wanted my AA just so I could say I had a degree. Now I have an AA & a BA and am working on a second of each, I have a new career and my horizons are limitless. I was told about CLEP years before I started back I don't know if I would have stuck with it(and never failed a test) without the help and support of this forum.

[burbuja0512]

One quick question though, if I decide to go with TESC is it not "remotely possible" to move onto my masters if so chosen. Once again, thank you very much.

Most Big 3 graduates haven't had any issues moving forward with a masters degree and I believe that there even a couple former forum members that have gone on to law school. No, you won't be able to go to medical school with a transcript full of tests, but if you're not trying to get into a highly competitive graduate program, I can't imagine you will have issues.

I was very worried about acceptance in my MBA program because it's a very unusual program and I didn't see any others that appealed to me as much. I thought that if I didn't get accepted, I would not be able to find another one that was as interesting. So, when I knew that graduation was in sight, I contacted my school of choice. I checked on their CLEP and DSST policy and spoke to both the admissions counselor and eventually the head of the program. I didn't tell them that the majority of my credits would end up coming from testing, I just found out that they didn't have issues with seeing CLEP/DSST credits on my transcript.

When I applied, I had to write two 750-word essays and go through several interviews. I was very nervous because I was fully anticipating the "why do you have so much non-traditional credit on your transcript?" question, but it never came up. I spent a lot of time to make sure that my essays were my best work and when I prepared for my interviews, I did a TON of work to make sure that I was able to demonstrate my ability to be successful in this program. Overall, they seemed to be much more focused on my ability to keep up with the coursework and the contributions that I could make to the classroom environment than my undergrad transcript. Of course you will want to do your best to keep at least a 3.0 GPA, which seems to be an arbitrary cut-off for admissions. If you have a 3.0, even if you got it through the one or two classes you'll end up taking, then you meet their requirements.

[cookderosa]

No, you won't be able to go to medical school with a transcript full of tests.

I'm not totally sure of that.....

[ShotoJuku]

I'm not totally sure of that.....

I agree. In fact, in today's E-learning / distance learning driven education world, the "new" traditional way for many (of us) to learn and earn a degree is perhaps fast becoming the norm and thus more acceptable (even by default) in many graduate and post-graduate degree schools including medical schools.

[cookderosa]

I agree. In fact, in today's E-learning / distance learning driven education world, the "new" traditional way for many (of us) to learn and earn a degree is perhaps fast becoming the norm and thus more acceptable (even by default) in many graduate and post-graduate degree schools including medical schools.

You can't clep labs, but you can clep anything else. When I sent out med school feelers, I specifically asked about online labs and was given the thumbs up by the programs I asked. That said, there are too many variables for med school admission that go into the 5-15%% acceptance rate to say anything yes or no. Maybe what I'll say is this- an otherwise excellent applicant can likely gain admission to "a" MD or DO school in the USA (though many specific schools may forbid online or otherwise). Otherwise excellent of course includes a rockin MCAT, rockin letters, rockin GPA, rockin essay, a rockin "story" to tell, etc. I think you have to be as strong or stronger than the average traditional student, and I also think you have to apply everywhere. BUT that being said, I believe it can be done.

[rebel100]

This is shaping into a greatest hits thread! I will just add a bit to what Lindagerr said. ALEKS is awesome, even perfect for some people. I am not one of those people. Straighterline however offers another option....along with many other gen-ed and science courses and it is a quick and viable method of obtaining credit to apply to any of the Big 3. Online College Courses - Take College Courses Through Our Distance Learning Courses - StraighterLine

Many folks have used it to complete several courses in just a few weeks....there is no minimal time limit for most courses. There are also courses with labs available.

You can do this, we can help!


Burbuja....I am really happy to see you back and posting, missed ya!

[IrishJohn]

NO classwork, can be achieved only through testing - Liberal Arts, Business Administration, and Psych at TESC. (I think History too and perhaps Natural Sciences/Math??)
One Class: Liberal Arts, Business Admin through EC. I don't know a lot about EC, but their coursework seems to mirror TESC.

For History majors at TESC I don't believe it is possible to completely test out anymore. There are only 4, possibly 5, CLEP/DSST exams that I'm aware of which will satisfy this requirement:

A minimum of 18 credits equating to 300 or 400 are required.

This would mean that you'll need to take 1 course through TESC or another college at the 300/400 level. TESC does offer 4 history courses at that level. There is a good advantage to this though:

1. The TESC course "The Middle East (HIST-310)" covers just about the exact same material as the DSST exam "An Introduction the Modern Middle East". If you do well on the exam you should have no problems with the class. This is the course I took in completing my degree at TESC. You could even take the course first and then the exam because the material will go far in helping you prepare for the exam.

2. You have to take at least 1 course at TESC in order to graduate with a GPA. Yes, you can graduate without a GPA but I personally think it's better to have one especially if you plan to go on to graduate school. It gives you some more options IMO.

[mathewsdad1]

I want everyone to know how grateful and thankful I am that you all have taken time out of your schedules to give me tidbits of advice. Even though I felt that I have been doing my due diligence by reading posts and getting ideas for the last month, I find that there is so much more for me to think about. Does anyone have a copy of classes that I will need if I want to go down the Liberal Arts road. Once I get a list of classes I am going to put together a spreadsheet/timeline and get going. I wanted to post my own thread a month ago, but I finally felt comfortable enough to finally post it now. Once again, thank you to each and every one of you who have given me ideas and invaluable advice.

[burbuja0512]

@Cookderosa & Shotojuku - medical school on testing? YEAH!!! I totally agree... why should a doctor-in-training be forced to sit through 8-15 weeks of humanities? After all, I would rather he/she spend this valuable time learning more about something that will benefit the patient.

@Rebel100 - thank you!! I love "hanging out" here. My computer time is limited, so when the homework starts piling up, and I have to choose between the forum or my classwork, unfortunately, my degreeforum time suffers Just a few days before class starts back up so trying to get as much posting in as possible!

@Matthewsdad - I have been trying to collect degree plans as people post them, but for some reason, I can't find a TESC Liberal Arts plan on my desktop. There are a few options: 1) wait for someone to post one on this thread 2) Do a search and see what you find 3) create your own.

I know that creating your own is daunting at first, but here is how you would do it. First of all, look at the TESC.edu site and see the requirements for liberal studies here: Thomas Edison State College | BA in Liberal Studies Credit Distribution Once you see what you need, in order to figure out which test matches which subject, you will need to use TESC's spreadsheet that lists test/course equivalency. I cannot seem to find the actual link on the TESC site, but luckily I saved it the last time someone here posted it. It's attached to this post and make sure to check the tabs at the bottom of the spreadsheet to look at both CLEP and DSST options. This doesn't include other tests such as the ECE's or TECEPS or other ways to obtain credit such as ALEKS.com or FEMA.

Don't worry if you don't feel capable of putting together a degree plan quite yet. Perhaps other people are good at that, but when I first started, I didn't understand it all. I just trusted that I could do it, focused on one test at a time and then after a few tests, this really does get easy. Trust me

[IrishJohn]

I have been trying to collect degree plans as people post them, but for some reason, I can't find a TESC Liberal Arts plan on my desktop. There are a few options: 1) wait for someone to post one on this thread 2) Do a search and see what you find 3) create your own.

Ask and you shall receive.

Here is a sample BALS plan that one can use to completely test out of a degree at TESC. I chose the exams I thought would be easiest, except for Substance Abuse. You can substitute other exams for what are listed below depending upon your strengths and interests. As with everything when doing this: always, ALWAYS check with TESC advisors!!!

I. General Education Requirements (60)

A. English Composition (6)

• CLEP English Composition with Essay (General) (6)

B. Humanities (6) Must include at least 2 subject areas

• DSST Technical Writing (3)
  DSST Ethics in America (3)

C. Social Sciences (12) Must include at least 2 subject areas

• CLEP Social Sciences and History (General) (6)
  CLEP Introductory Sociology (3)
  CLEP Introductory Psychology (3)

D. Natural Sciences & Mathematics (12) At least 1 college-level math course & 1 computer course required; must include at least 2 subject areas

• ALEKS Beginning Algebra (3)
  ALEKS Intermediate Algebra (3)
  CLEP Information Systems and Computer Applications (3)
  DSST Environment and Humanity: The Race to Save the Planet (3)

E. General Education Electives (18)

• CLEP Analyzing and Interpreting Literature (6)
  CLEP Principles of Management (3)
  CLEP Principles of Marketing (3)
  CLEP Principles of Macroeconomics (3)
  CLEP Principles of Microeconomics (3)

II. Area of Study: Liberal Studies (33) Must include at least 2 different subject areas; minimum of 18 UL credits required.

• CLEP Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 (3)
  CLEP Western Civilization II: 1648 to the Present (3)
  CLEP History of the United States I: Early Colonization to 1877 (3)
  CLEP History of the United States II:1865 to the Present (3)
  CLEP American Government (3)
  DSST An Introduction to the Modern Middle East (3) - UL
  DSST A History of the Vietnam War (3) - UL
  DSST Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union (3) - UL
  DSST Organizational Behavior (3) - UL
  DSST Introduction to World Religions (3) - UL
  DSST Substance Abuse (3) - UL

III. Free Electives (27)

• FEMA courses (27)