Hi everyone,
It's been a long road, but I am finally done! What a week for IC completions!
Oh, man. Every time I read someone's "I'm done" post, I'd get excited and think about what I'd write in mine when my turn came. Well, the day has finally come, and I hardly have words- go figure! I think I'm in shock.
I want to thank each and every one of you for inspiring me and guiding me through this crazy journey. Without your support, I would not have made it through. 20 months ago I set out to earn my degree and stumbled upon InstantCert by accident. Turns out it was one of the best things that could have happened to me.
My advice to others is this: pursue exactly what you want and nothing less. You are capable, and will surprise yourself when you just go for it. You really can do anything if you believe in yourself!
[SIZE="4"][COLOR="Purple"]
THANK YOU ALL!!! IC ROCKS!![/COLOR][/SIZE]
Woohoo!
P. S. When I can wrap my head around all this I will write up and post a more detailed account...
Edit:
My Degree Journey
Starting with zero credits, it took me roughly 20 months to complete a bachelor of science in biology while working full-time. Out of 122 credits, 24 were earned through online classes, and 98 were earned through exams (I've included a copy of my degree plan at the bottom). I stuck to mostly DSST and CLEP, and took two ECEs. I'm not listing exam feedback here, but please feel free to PM me if you have questions about them. My advice for exams is to invest in an InstantCert membership, use the flashcards, and study the tips in the "Specific Exam Feedback" section. It was absolutely the best money I spent on exam preparation. Below is an account of my experience with Excelsior College, and the biology major requirements. Some of the policies below may have changed, so please be sure to check with EC for updates.
General Experience with Excelsior College
I began by taking CLEP exams for general education credits while I decided which school to attend. Out of the "big three" schools mentioned on this forum, Excelsior was the most appealing to me for several reasons: 1) price, 2) choice of major, 3) reputation for good service, 4) variety of courses offered, and 5) frequency of degree conferral (every month). I enrolled with EC when I reached 60 credits, hoping to finish within a year’s time. My experience with them couldn't have been more positive. My advisor was excellent and answered every email within 48 hours. The financial aid process worked seamlessly.
I chose to enroll in 2 Excelsior courses per semester (6 credits) in order to be eligible for financial aid. I qualified for both subsidized and unsubsidized loans. This was a good option for me since paying out of pocket for classes was not possible at the time. For those of you who wish to do this, you should enroll in the Excelsior Course Option, which will substantially reduce your enrollment fee by about $500 if you agree to complete 12 credits (for bachelor's candidates) through coursework with the college. Additionally, you will receive a $15 discount on your graduation fee for every credit earned through EC classes. One thing that I wish I had done at the beginning of each semester was write to the financial aid office and request to be considered for scholarship awards. Officially, students are "automatically reviewed", but as ShotoJuku pointed out in another thread, special consideration will be given to those who request it.
Make sure you check the graduation submission deadlines because it can take a couple months for processing prior to degree conferral. Know that you will have 30 days from your original enrollment date to complete your requirements before you will be charged the annual student service fee (SSF), which buys you 13 months from your original enrollment date to complete and submit your credits. Also, if you acquire 60 graded credits (bachelor's candidates) you will be eligible for Latin honors. This was a goal of mine from the start, and I ended up graduating magna cum laude with a GPA of 3.80.
Major in Biology
The major requires 30 credit hours with 15 at the upper level. EC does not require ancillary coursework for biology, such as chemistry, physics, and statistics or calculus, but I would recommend taking these in addition to meeting your biology requirements if you can. Especially chemistry, since it is central to understanding biological processes. I didn't take any form of chemistry prior to my biology classes, which made some of the material very difficult to understand at first. Another reason for taking these courses is that many graduate programs and prospective employers will require that you have a strong background in physical science.
Within the major, the following was required: coursework in general biology, ecology, genetics, plant or animal systems, molecular or cell biology, developmental biology, biodiversity, bioethics, and lab requirements- 1 upper level lab, and 1 lower level lab. I took most classes through EC, a couple from the local university and community college, and was allowed to apply the biology CLEP and Environment & Humanity DSST as well. For anyone curious about EC courses, here's a breakdown of what my 15-week sessions entailed:
Per week:
[INDENT]25-50 pages of reading from the text(s).
1 written response to the assigned reading, minimum 125 words. 2 or more responses to other classmates' postings.[/INDENT]
Throughout the term:
[INDENT]2 term papers, usually 2,000 words, fully cited using peer-reviewed journal articles.
2-3 quizzes or field projects.
2 exams- midterm and final. These are generally in the form of essay questions, though one of my classes had a multiple-choice section for each.[/INDENT]
If I could change anything about the courses I took, I would have enrolled in actual brick & mortar courses for the lab requirements to gain the experience with analytical techniques. Instead, I chose to take online classes with labs to accommodate my work schedule. Another option would have been to take courses that require an at-home lab kit. Hands-on lab experience is hugely beneficial (and in some cases required) when looking for jobs or continuing on to graduate school.
On a side note: if you are thinking about graduate school, it is never too early to begin identifying possible research interests. Gain as much experience as you can through local courses with labs, internships, or volunteer work. Network- learn about any research being done in your area, which can be found at local universities, nonprofits, or government agencies. Do try to establish a good relationship with your professors and advisors, and find out if they will offer you any extracurricular opportunities for research or special projects. Keep in mind that you will need to ask for letters of recommendation down the line, and those folks are your best sources.
Finally, I want to encourage anyone who is interested to just go for it and start earning your degree. Having no particular aptitude in science, I was intimidated by the biology major at first. I had very little high school exposure to biology or chemistry, and had a difficult time with math. Never in a million years would I have imagined I could earn a degree in biology, or any other science. What I found was that there is nothing that you can't learn if you have a genuine interest. This forum is a great resource, both for supplemental study materials and support from peers. Likewise, my experience with professors has been that they are more than willing to spend extra time with students if they need additional assistance.
Please feel free to PM with any questions you have. The members of this forum have been an invaluable source of support, so I hope to pay it forward as much as I can.
It's been a long road, but I am finally done! What a week for IC completions!
Oh, man. Every time I read someone's "I'm done" post, I'd get excited and think about what I'd write in mine when my turn came. Well, the day has finally come, and I hardly have words- go figure! I think I'm in shock.
I want to thank each and every one of you for inspiring me and guiding me through this crazy journey. Without your support, I would not have made it through. 20 months ago I set out to earn my degree and stumbled upon InstantCert by accident. Turns out it was one of the best things that could have happened to me.
My advice to others is this: pursue exactly what you want and nothing less. You are capable, and will surprise yourself when you just go for it. You really can do anything if you believe in yourself!
[SIZE="4"][COLOR="Purple"]
THANK YOU ALL!!! IC ROCKS!![/COLOR][/SIZE]
Woohoo!
P. S. When I can wrap my head around all this I will write up and post a more detailed account...
Edit:
My Degree Journey
Starting with zero credits, it took me roughly 20 months to complete a bachelor of science in biology while working full-time. Out of 122 credits, 24 were earned through online classes, and 98 were earned through exams (I've included a copy of my degree plan at the bottom). I stuck to mostly DSST and CLEP, and took two ECEs. I'm not listing exam feedback here, but please feel free to PM me if you have questions about them. My advice for exams is to invest in an InstantCert membership, use the flashcards, and study the tips in the "Specific Exam Feedback" section. It was absolutely the best money I spent on exam preparation. Below is an account of my experience with Excelsior College, and the biology major requirements. Some of the policies below may have changed, so please be sure to check with EC for updates.
General Experience with Excelsior College
I began by taking CLEP exams for general education credits while I decided which school to attend. Out of the "big three" schools mentioned on this forum, Excelsior was the most appealing to me for several reasons: 1) price, 2) choice of major, 3) reputation for good service, 4) variety of courses offered, and 5) frequency of degree conferral (every month). I enrolled with EC when I reached 60 credits, hoping to finish within a year’s time. My experience with them couldn't have been more positive. My advisor was excellent and answered every email within 48 hours. The financial aid process worked seamlessly.
I chose to enroll in 2 Excelsior courses per semester (6 credits) in order to be eligible for financial aid. I qualified for both subsidized and unsubsidized loans. This was a good option for me since paying out of pocket for classes was not possible at the time. For those of you who wish to do this, you should enroll in the Excelsior Course Option, which will substantially reduce your enrollment fee by about $500 if you agree to complete 12 credits (for bachelor's candidates) through coursework with the college. Additionally, you will receive a $15 discount on your graduation fee for every credit earned through EC classes. One thing that I wish I had done at the beginning of each semester was write to the financial aid office and request to be considered for scholarship awards. Officially, students are "automatically reviewed", but as ShotoJuku pointed out in another thread, special consideration will be given to those who request it.
Make sure you check the graduation submission deadlines because it can take a couple months for processing prior to degree conferral. Know that you will have 30 days from your original enrollment date to complete your requirements before you will be charged the annual student service fee (SSF), which buys you 13 months from your original enrollment date to complete and submit your credits. Also, if you acquire 60 graded credits (bachelor's candidates) you will be eligible for Latin honors. This was a goal of mine from the start, and I ended up graduating magna cum laude with a GPA of 3.80.
Major in Biology
The major requires 30 credit hours with 15 at the upper level. EC does not require ancillary coursework for biology, such as chemistry, physics, and statistics or calculus, but I would recommend taking these in addition to meeting your biology requirements if you can. Especially chemistry, since it is central to understanding biological processes. I didn't take any form of chemistry prior to my biology classes, which made some of the material very difficult to understand at first. Another reason for taking these courses is that many graduate programs and prospective employers will require that you have a strong background in physical science.
Within the major, the following was required: coursework in general biology, ecology, genetics, plant or animal systems, molecular or cell biology, developmental biology, biodiversity, bioethics, and lab requirements- 1 upper level lab, and 1 lower level lab. I took most classes through EC, a couple from the local university and community college, and was allowed to apply the biology CLEP and Environment & Humanity DSST as well. For anyone curious about EC courses, here's a breakdown of what my 15-week sessions entailed:
Per week:
[INDENT]25-50 pages of reading from the text(s).
1 written response to the assigned reading, minimum 125 words. 2 or more responses to other classmates' postings.[/INDENT]
Throughout the term:
[INDENT]2 term papers, usually 2,000 words, fully cited using peer-reviewed journal articles.
2-3 quizzes or field projects.
2 exams- midterm and final. These are generally in the form of essay questions, though one of my classes had a multiple-choice section for each.[/INDENT]
If I could change anything about the courses I took, I would have enrolled in actual brick & mortar courses for the lab requirements to gain the experience with analytical techniques. Instead, I chose to take online classes with labs to accommodate my work schedule. Another option would have been to take courses that require an at-home lab kit. Hands-on lab experience is hugely beneficial (and in some cases required) when looking for jobs or continuing on to graduate school.
On a side note: if you are thinking about graduate school, it is never too early to begin identifying possible research interests. Gain as much experience as you can through local courses with labs, internships, or volunteer work. Network- learn about any research being done in your area, which can be found at local universities, nonprofits, or government agencies. Do try to establish a good relationship with your professors and advisors, and find out if they will offer you any extracurricular opportunities for research or special projects. Keep in mind that you will need to ask for letters of recommendation down the line, and those folks are your best sources.
Finally, I want to encourage anyone who is interested to just go for it and start earning your degree. Having no particular aptitude in science, I was intimidated by the biology major at first. I had very little high school exposure to biology or chemistry, and had a difficult time with math. Never in a million years would I have imagined I could earn a degree in biology, or any other science. What I found was that there is nothing that you can't learn if you have a genuine interest. This forum is a great resource, both for supplemental study materials and support from peers. Likewise, my experience with professors has been that they are more than willing to spend extra time with students if they need additional assistance.
Please feel free to PM with any questions you have. The members of this forum have been an invaluable source of support, so I hope to pay it forward as much as I can.
[SIZE="2"][COLOR="DarkBlue"]B.S., Biology, Excelsior College
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