I have questions about TESC & Political Science Degree. Could someone please help me?

[soliloquy]

Those tests I think are in-house. They never charged me for the test scores I transferred in to them. Then again, things have changed the last few months since I've had to transfer in credits.

Oh! I didn't even think about that. I assumed those were expenses for transferring in the credits. I will redo the calculation.

[soliloquy]

Does the Capstone course have to complete the degree have to be through TESC or can some type of equivalent be taken elsewhere?Thanks!

[Westerner]

Also, can someone tell me if these expenses are barred from being covered by financial aid. I know FA doesn't pay for CLEP, DSST, etc. itself but does it pay for what TESC would cost you to transfer the credit into their college. TESC apparently charge $36.00 for every test that transfers in. Also, does that mean I have to pay this amount just to have my evaluation done? Or, does that mean if I actually enroll after applying then I'd have to pay for this? I'm still trying to figure out how all this works...

ETA: I just realized if I plan on testing out of almost all of these classes, there's no financial aid to be allocated to me and I'd be paying that amount out of pocket. hmmmm

I got Financial Aid through the Pell Grant and used it for classes with TESC. It's for a year and you have to take at least 6 credits per semester to qualify. I'm doing that and so basically all my courses for a year are free. I did pay the $3000 enrollment fee out of pocket. CLEP & DSST testing and books was out of pocket as well, but compared to what you're saving by going this route, it's not a big deal. Do it a little at a time and slowly but surely, you'll achieve your goal.

And...this info is from when I got in in spring of this year, before the recent changes to tuition and Gen Ed reqs and all, so if anything has changed, someone please say so!

[Westerner]

Those tests I think are in-house. They never charged me for the test scores I transferred in to them. Then again, things have changed the last few months since I've had to transfer in credits.

Oh! I didn't even think about that. I assumed those were expenses for transferring in the credits. I will redo the calculation.

You order transcripts from CLEP & DSST and pay once for all your test scores to be sent to TESC ($20 for CLEP, $30 for DSST). Also keep in mind that you get 6 months from the time of your application to enroll, and 1 year from the time of your enrollment to finish your degree. So you can keep testing during that time and as long as you put in TESC's school code, the tests will get sent to them free.

Again...this info is from earlier this year, so if anything's different, please say so!

[soliloquy]

Thank you all for the information. If anyone knows what has changed, please let me know!

[soliloquy]

You order transcripts from CLEP & DSST and pay once for all your test scores to be sent to TESC ($20 for CLEP, $30 for DSST). Also keep in mind that you get 6 months from the time of your application to enroll, and 1 year from the time of your enrollment to finish your degree. So you can keep testing during that time and as long as you put in TESC's school code, the tests will get sent to them free.

Again...this info is from earlier this year, so if anything's different, please say so!

So...you really only have one year to finish your degree? Where does it state that on the website? I don't doubt you but just curious what else I didn't read.

Also, after I enroll...does that mean I have to be actively taking a class?

Is the process, apply, enroll, transfer credits...and then I have one year to earn the rest of the credits...and do the capstone? If I take no classes there at all except the Capstone...how would that work...how am I enrolled if I'm not taking classes there except the capstone which is at the end.

[Westerner]

So...you really only have one year to finish your degree? Where does it state that on the website? I don't doubt you but just curious what else I didn't read.

What I was talking about is the Enrolled Options plan—$3000 enrollment fee, then about $700 per class. That's what I did.

With this approach, as an enrolled student, you are required to pay the Annual Enrollment Tuition and the Technology Services Fee. Payment of this tuition component entitles you to a full year of College services including academic advisement and program planning.
Thomas Edison State College: Enrolled Options Plan

Also, after I enroll...does that mean I have to be actively taking a class?

No. If you pay the enrollment fee, you're enrolled (under the Enrolled Options plan, for a year).

Is the process, apply, enroll, transfer credits...and then I have one year to earn the rest of the credits...and do the capstone? If I take no classes there at all except the Capstone...how would that work...how am I enrolled if I'm not taking classes there except the capstone which is at the end.

Pretty much, yes. I finished most of my testing before I got into TESC. I applied and enrolled, sent transcripts, and took a few more tests while waiting for my test transcripts to get there & be evaluated. Then I started classes. So you could finish most of your testing, apply & enroll, send transcripts, finish testing, and take the Capstone. Or just finish testing, apply & enroll, send transcripts, wait to get your Evaluation done, and take the Capstone.

FYI, a lot of how I scheduled my "getting into TESC" was based on scheduling issues with Financial Aid (how and when they would allocate the money), and because I was waiting till I had enough to pay the enrollment fee.

[sanantone]

I want to clarify some things for those looking to go to law school. The most represented majors in law school aren't exactly the best majors to get you into law schools. Law schools don't care about majors at all. They care about LSAT scores, GPAs, and the other things that will go into your application packet. The most represented major in law school is political science. There might be two reasons for this:

1. People who plan early to go to law school mistakenly believe that they need to major in something like political science.
2. Political science majors don't know what else to do when they can't land a job with their degrees.

In other words, there are a lot of political science majors in law schools because they are the ones who apply the most. You might see a lot of history majors in law school too because they also have a hard time with finding jobs. The other majors don't really have trouble getting into law school; they just don't care to go. The average LSAT score for political science majors is actually in the middle of the pack. Science, mathematics, philosophy, and economics (well-represented in law schools) majors score the highest on the LSAT. This could be because these degrees are better at developing analytical thinking skills or that super smart people tend to major in these subjects in the first place.

A lot of people also think that majoring in criminal justice will best prepare them for law school. The truth is that criminal justice majors score the lowest on the LSAT. This could be because criminal justice programs are relatively easy or that CJ programs attract a lot of less intelligent people. Regardless, CJ majors aren't failing to get into law school as often because admissions does not respect those degrees; they are failing to get in because their LSAT scores are so low. If your GPA and LSAT score is high, having a CJ degree won't hurt your chances of getting into law school.

This reminds me of medical school. Most people seem to think that they NEED to major in biology. It will be easier to complete the prerequisites if you major in biology or chemistry, but it's not required or preferred. In some instances, having a biology degree can hurt you. Most of those admitted to medical school just happen to have degrees in biology or chemistry because people with those degrees are much more likely to apply, but medical schools like diversity. Some of them might start trashing a bunch of biology major applications because they've filled their quota and want to save space for other majors.

[soliloquy]

I want to clarify some things for those looking to go to law school. The most represented majors in law school aren't exactly the best majors to get you into law schools. Law schools don't care about majors at all. They care about LSAT scores, GPAs, and the other things that will go into your application packet. The most represented major in law school is political science. There might be two reasons for this...

I don't know if you were directing this at me since you previously asked me if about law school or if you were just giving general advice to someone else in this thread that mentioned law school. I personally do not intend to go to law school. I come from a family of attorneys and other legal backgrounds (mother is an attorney, father is a homicide detective) so I've heard some of what you're saying before and believe me I am regularly pressured by my 'rents to go. I have no reason to deny what you've said so I'll take you at your word.

However, with the criminal justice degree, I think of it differently. Everyone time I've heard a CJ degree mentioned in a legal setting it has not been in a good context. I'm not saying the degree is worthless but it does seem to have a stigma [in my legal community]. I think what you said is accurate but that the CJ degree has caused a type of Pavlovian effect. Because CJ degree has a history of attracting candidates who have historically scored low on the LSAT, the CJ has become a type of conditioned stimulus if you will in the legal community. When an attorney sees a CJ degree it just doesn't carry much weight in the legal community (excluding law enforcement).

When I was considering law school (against my will) I was always told to stay away from CJ and Pre-Law as a precursor to applying for law school.

Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving.

[sanantone]

I don't know if you were directing this at me since you previously asked me if about law school or if you were just giving general advice to someone else in this thread that mentioned law school. I personally do not intend to go to law school. I come from a family of attorneys and other legal backgrounds (mother is an attorney, father is a homicide detective) so I've heard some of what you're saying before and believe me I am regularly pressured by my 'rents to go. I have no reason to deny what you've said so I'll take you at your word.

However, with the criminal justice degree, I think of it differently. Everyone time I've heard a CJ degree mentioned in a legal setting it has not been in a good context. I'm not saying the degree is worthless but it does seem to have a stigma [in my legal community]. I think what you said is accurate but that the CJ degree has caused a type of Pavlovian effect. Because CJ degree has a history of attracting candidates who have historically scored low on the LSAT, the CJ has become a type of conditioned stimulus if you will in the legal community. When an attorney sees a CJ degree it just doesn't carry much weight in the legal community (excluding law enforcement).

When I was considering law school (against my will) I was always told to stay away from CJ and Pre-Law as a precursor to applying for law school.

Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving.

No, it was more because someone mentioned history as being good to get into law school. It's not that it's good to get into law school; history majors just don't know what else to do if they can't get a job in a museum or as a teacher. hilarious

I don't see how a political science degree would better prepare one for civil law, but I get what you're saying about reputation. I still think a degree in legal studies or paralegal studies would be the best at preparing someone for tort, property, and family law.