I'm not sure what to do

[Lanouki]

I'm 17 and unschooled and I'm trying to figure out how and what to do to get a degree. 
I want to get in business maybe IT related. I have credits from information systems CLEP, management CLEP, and I am currently studying for marketing CLEP. I don't have a plan, I'm just doing random CLEPs and studying about a week each. I probably have a credit for some business class when I was still doing public school.
So, after looking around a bit, I think that I want to enroll in Excelsior, but I'm very unsure. My parents insist on paying for my schooling, but they will not help me figure out anything, so it's been pretty overwhelming, confusing and terrifying to be honest. I don't want to mess up my education so yeah I'd really appreciate a pointer in the right direction

[bjcheung77]

Excelsior is a great choice, we need more details though. Where are you located (Hawaii?), do you know another language (Polynesian?)? Are you thinking of doing school full time or part time? Do you have any other commitments such as volunteering, do you work? When you say unschooled, I guess you're no longer in a public/private institution, does that mean you're "home schooling" or nothing at all, do you have HS graduation or a GED?

I assume you're close to a CLEP testing center right? My suggestion is to take a few more CLEPs (not Composition as they don't take that) anything you find interesting or want to take, you may also want to take a look at Sophia.org (also take English I & II) for lower level courses. You will need only 7 credits at Excelsior, you need UL and that will come from Coopersmith, Davar, Saylor, Study.com - If you have more information to add, (learning style, do you like homework or exams?) please do...

[rachel83az]

How about a BSBA in Computer Information Systems from TESU? IIRC, Excelsior isn't great when it comes to business degrees.

https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...ts_Roadmap
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan

[Lanouki]

Excelsior is a great choice, we need more details though.  Where are you located (Hawaii?), do you know another language (Polynesian?)?  Are you thinking of doing school full time or part time?  Do you have any other commitments such as volunteering, do you work?  When you say unschooled, I guess you're no longer in a public/private institution, does that mean you're "home schooling" or nothing at all, do you have HS graduation or a GED?  

I assume you're close to a CLEP testing center right?  My suggestion is to take a few more CLEPs (not Composition as they don't take that) anything you find interesting or want to take, you may also want to take a look at Sophia.org (also take English I & II) for lower level courses.  You will need only 7 credits at Excelsior, you need UL and that will come from Coopersmith, Davar, Saylor, Study.com - If you have more information to add, (learning style, do you like homework or exams?) please do...

I'm located in Texas and I can speak but not write Chinese. I'm basically left to my own devices all day so I don't know if that counts as home schooling, but I do study the same amount as public school students. I am not allowed to work, cannot drive, and basically have no obligations. I don't have a HS graduation or GED, but I can get a homeschool diploma whenever I decide to nag my father about it 


I've been doing CLEP at home via online proctoring, so testing centers is not an issue. I haven't looked into those other resources yet, but I'll check them out. I don't really know much about my learning style, but I'm pretty motivated and willing to take whatever is necessary. Thanks for your reply

---

How about a BSBA in Computer Information Systems from TESU? IIRC, Excelsior isn't great when it comes to business degrees.

https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...ts_Roadmap
https://degreeforum.miraheze.org/wiki/Sa...egree_Plan

Thanks, do you know what the difference between them is regarding business degrees?

[rachel83az]

IIRC, a member here wanted to get a business degree from Excelsior and there were a number of requirements that had to be filled with Excelsior courses and not alternate credits. Theoretically, that's not bad. But it does increase the total price of the degree and can potentially make it cost more than a degree from TESU.

[dfrecore]

I think a BSBA in CIS from TESU is a good option; EC is also a decent option, and less expensive than TESU, but it would just be a business degree; although they also have a BSPS degree, which is similar to a business degree but has more space for free electives than the BSB does (9cr of Free Electives for the BSB vs. 33cr of free electives for the BPS - so you can take a lot of IT courses to put there). COSC also has a business degree, as well as an option to do a BSLA degree where you can do half business, half something else as the concentration (Psych?) and then there's tons of space for IT electives.

Your best bet right now, is to go to all 3 schools and do some research about the different options at each, and then come back, ask some questions, and start putting a plan together. The good thing to know is that you can't really screw this up at this early hour! You have plenty of time to figure it out. Keep taking CLEP exams, you can use them at any of the Big 3 (except EC won't take the College Comp exam, but who cares at this point).

BTW, are you using ModernStates.org to study for the exams, and get free vouchers to take them? If not, you should!

---

IIRC, a member here wanted to get a business degree from Excelsior and there were a number of requirements that had to be filled with Excelsior courses and not alternate credits. Theoretically, that's not bad. But it does increase the total price of the degree and can potentially make it cost more than a degree from TESU.

I work with EC degrees all the time, and I've not heard that this is the case.  Can you tell me where someone said that?  I've always known (from EC) that you can do a business degree with 113cr transferred in from alt-credit.

---

Op, also look at the ACTFL exams: the OPI (speaking) exam has Cantonese and Mandarin, not sure which one you speak. But you can earn up to 12cr from that exam.

Here's where you sign up to take the exams: https://www.languagetesting.com/certific...nformation

Here's the ACE guide showing which languages are available for this exam: https://www.acenet.edu/National-Guide/Pa...0d3a33232a

[Lanouki]

I think a BSBA in CIS from TESU is a good option; EC is also a decent option, and less expensive than TESU, but it would just be a business degree; although they also have a BSPS degree, which is similar to a business degree but has more space for free electives than the BSB does (9cr of Free Electives for the BSB vs. 33cr of free electives for the BPS - so you can take a lot of IT courses to put there).  COSC also has a business degree, as well as an option to do a BSLA degree where you can do half business, half something else as the concentration (Psych?) and then there's tons of space for IT electives.

Your best bet right now, is to go to all 3 schools and do some research about the different options at each, and then come back, ask some questions, and start putting a plan together.  The good thing to know is that you can't really screw this up at this early hour!  You have plenty of time to figure it out.  Keep taking CLEP exams, you can use them at any of the Big 3 (except EC won't take the College Comp exam, but who cares at this point).

BTW, are you using ModernStates.org to study for the exams, and get free vouchers to take them?  If not, you should!

---

IIRC, a member here wanted to get a business degree from Excelsior and there were a number of requirements that had to be filled with Excelsior courses and not alternate credits. Theoretically, that's not bad. But it does increase the total price of the degree and can potentially make it cost more than a degree from TESU.

I work with EC degrees all the time, and I've not heard that this is the case.  Can you tell me where someone said that?  I've always known (from EC) that you can do a business degree with 113cr transferred in from alt-credit.

---

Op, also look at the ACTFL exams: the OPI (speaking) exam has Cantonese and Mandarin, not sure which one you speak.  But you can earn up to 12cr from that exam.

Here's where you sign up to take the exams: https://www.languagetesting.com/certific...nformation

Here's the ACE guide showing which languages are available for this exam: https://www.acenet.edu/National-Guide/Pa...0d3a33232a

Thanks! I've currently got like 8 or 9 vouchers for Modern states but I made some bad decisions in the past and so I haven't taken those tests yet. I've never heard of ACTFL but thats seems like a good idea (I speak Mandarin at home but am illiterate). I don't really want to go into detail about this, but I got a few family problems and want to get a degree and leave as soon as I can, so that's why I'm kind of in a rush.

[dfrecore]

I think a BSBA in CIS from TESU is a good option; EC is also a decent option, and less expensive than TESU, but it would just be a business degree; although they also have a BSPS degree, which is similar to a business degree but has more space for free electives than the BSB does (9cr of Free Electives for the BSB vs. 33cr of free electives for the BPS - so you can take a lot of IT courses to put there).  COSC also has a business degree, as well as an option to do a BSLA degree where you can do half business, half something else as the concentration (Psych?) and then there's tons of space for IT electives.

Your best bet right now, is to go to all 3 schools and do some research about the different options at each, and then come back, ask some questions, and start putting a plan together.  The good thing to know is that you can't really screw this up at this early hour!  You have plenty of time to figure it out.  Keep taking CLEP exams, you can use them at any of the Big 3 (except EC won't take the College Comp exam, but who cares at this point).

BTW, are you using ModernStates.org to study for the exams, and get free vouchers to take them?  If not, you should!

---

IIRC, a member here wanted to get a business degree from Excelsior and there were a number of requirements that had to be filled with Excelsior courses and not alternate credits. Theoretically, that's not bad. But it does increase the total price of the degree and can potentially make it cost more than a degree from TESU.

I work with EC degrees all the time, and I've not heard that this is the case.  Can you tell me where someone said that?  I've always known (from EC) that you can do a business degree with 113cr transferred in from alt-credit.

---

Op, also look at the ACTFL exams: the OPI (speaking) exam has Cantonese and Mandarin, not sure which one you speak.  But you can earn up to 12cr from that exam.

Here's where you sign up to take the exams: https://www.languagetesting.com/certific...nformation

Here's the ACE guide showing which languages are available for this exam: https://www.acenet.edu/National-Guide/Pa...0d3a33232a

Thanks! I've currently got like 8 or 9 vouchers for Modern states but I made some bad decisions in the past and so I haven't taken those tests yet. I've never heard of ACTFL but thats seems like a good idea (I speak Mandarin at home but am illiterate). I don't really want to go into detail about this, but I got a few family problems and want to get a degree and leave as soon as I can, so that's why I'm kind of in a rush.

I'm sorry to hear that.

My advice stands: do a little research, and then come and ask more questions when you've got it narrowed down.

I think you can get a degree in a year if you work hard.  For way less than $10k no matter which direction you choose.

[ss20ts]

I'm located in Texas and I can speak but not write Chinese. I'm basically left to my own devices all day so I don't know if that counts as home schooling, but I do study the same amount as public school students. I am not allowed to work, cannot drive, and basically have no obligations. I don't have a HS graduation or GED, but I can get a homeschool diploma whenever I decide to nag my father about it 

Your first step is completing your GED. You'll need that for many colleges.

[Lanouki]

I think a BSBA in CIS from TESU is a good option; EC is also a decent option, and less expensive than TESU, but it would just be a business degree; although they also have a BSPS degree, which is similar to a business degree but has more space for free electives than the BSB does (9cr of Free Electives for the BSB vs. 33cr of free electives for the BPS - so you can take a lot of IT courses to put there).  COSC also has a business degree, as well as an option to do a BSLA degree where you can do half business, half something else as the concentration (Psych?) and then there's tons of space for IT electives.

Your best bet right now, is to go to all 3 schools and do some research about the different options at each, and then come back, ask some questions, and start putting a plan together.  The good thing to know is that you can't really screw this up at this early hour!  You have plenty of time to figure it out.  Keep taking CLEP exams, you can use them at any of the Big 3 (except EC won't take the College Comp exam, but who cares at this point).

BTW, are you using ModernStates.org to study for the exams, and get free vouchers to take them?  If not, you should!

---

IIRC, a member here wanted to get a business degree from Excelsior and there were a number of requirements that had to be filled with Excelsior courses and not alternate credits. Theoretically, that's not bad. But it does increase the total price of the degree and can potentially make it cost more than a degree from TESU.

I work with EC degrees all the time, and I've not heard that this is the case.  Can you tell me where someone said that?  I've always known (from EC) that you can do a business degree with 113cr transferred in from alt-credit.

---

Op, also look at the ACTFL exams: the OPI (speaking) exam has Cantonese and Mandarin, not sure which one you speak.  But you can earn up to 12cr from that exam.

Here's where you sign up to take the exams: https://www.languagetesting.com/certific...nformation

Here's the ACE guide showing which languages are available for this exam: https://www.acenet.edu/National-Guide/Pa...0d3a33232a

Thanks! I've currently got like 8 or 9 vouchers for Modern states but I made some bad decisions in the past and so I haven't taken those tests yet. I've never heard of ACTFL but thats seems like a good idea (I speak Mandarin at home but am illiterate). I don't really want to go into detail about this, but I got a few family problems and want to get a degree and leave as soon as I can, so that's why I'm kind of in a rush.

I'm sorry to hear that.

My advice stands: do a little research, and then come and ask more questions when you've got it narrowed down.

I think you can get a degree in a year if you work hard.  For way less than $10k no matter which direction you choose.

I'll go do that! thanks so much for you and everyone else that's replied, you don't know how much it means to me. I know that everything will end up fine, but god it's nice to have someone believe in me