I'm ready, but overwhelmed!

[Johmford]

From what I heard from a teacher it's a yearly stipend that comes with our checks in December,  but I'd have to be finished Before September. I looked at the degree plans and i think i can do the work on time, but not sure about the graduation date. I'm calling tesu today. Since they already have my other credits on board it might be the fastest option!

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Step 1: pick a degree. You said fast so go with TESU BALS.
Step 2: apply and send all your transcripts.

Step 3:
Start with CLEP &DSST. If you fail a CLEP or DSST you have to wait a period of time to retake it, so if you do fail you can work on other items in the interim. I did all of my UL classes for the BALS using DSST.

Once you have completed your CLEP & DSST apply for the study.com scholarship and work on Study.com courses to complete what you could not do through CLEP & DSST.

Somewhere in between work on the free sources of credit, these may be pointless after your evaluation determines how many electives you have.

Step 4: Do the capstone
Step 5: Graduate
Step 6: ???????
Step 7: Profit

Which dsst tests did you use for your ul credits?

  UL.png (Size: 27.52 KB / Downloads: 167)

[davewill]

Normally, it would not be possible for you to graduate by Sept at this point because of the capstone. It would have needed to be started in May. However, in your shoes, I would try to catch all of the current (huge) Study.com discounts, apply for graduation in Sept anyway, and try to slip in. Others have pulled that off recently. Worst case, you get bumped to Dec graduation and get your stipend next year. If you're up for it, here's what you do, in order:

1. Pick which degree you're doing. TODAY
2. Sign up for a Study.com account. TODAY
3. Apply to TESU, checking the Study.com affiliate box. TODAY
4. Register for the June Capstone course by June 3, paying the late fee. You will have to call in (which means TODAY) to expedite your application and get registered that fast, but initially apply online so your study.com affiliation just happens automatically.
5. Plan your degree including at least two study.com courses you can do immediately.
6. Start the Capstone.
7. Apply for Sept graduation and pay the residency waiver before July 1.
8. Work the program (and your butt off), hoping you get everything done quickly enough to graduate in Sept.

The savings are substantial enough; $500 off the capstone minus the $150 late fee plus $700 off the residency waiver plus whatever increases happen in July that you avoid. It also costs you for a month of Study.com, but those credits would have cost about that much anyway.

If you can't pull off registering for the June Capstone (and you may not because of the weekend), wait and register for the July or August one. The savings should still happen (without the late fee) so long as you register and pay both big fees in June.

Even if you don't graduate by Sept, you save the money and get done by Dec.

[sony732]

Normally, it would not be possible for you to graduate by Sept at this point because of the capstone. It would have needed to be started in May. However, in your shoes, I would try to catch all of the current (huge) Study.com discounts, apply for graduation in Sept anyway, and try to slip in. Others have pulled that off recently. Worst case, you get bumped to Dec graduation and get your stipend next year. If you're up for it, here's what you do, in order:

1. Pick which degree you're doing. TODAY
2. Sign up for a Study.com account. TODAY
3. Apply to TESU, checking the Study.com affiliate box. TODAY
4. Register for the June Capstone course by June 3, paying the late fee. You will have to call in (which means TODAY) to expedite your application and get registered that fast, but initially apply online so your study.com affiliation just happens automatically.
5. Plan your degree including at least two study.com courses you can do immediately.
6. Start the Capstone.
7. Apply for Sept graduation and pay the residency waiver before July 1.
8. Work the program (and your butt off), hoping you get everything done quickly enough to graduate in Sept.

The savings are substantial enough; $500 off the capstone minus the $150 late fee plus $700 off the residency waiver plus whatever increases happen in July that you avoid. It also costs you for a month of Study.com, but those credits would have cost about that much anyway.

If you can't pull off registering for the June Capstone (and you may not because of the weekend), wait and register for the July or August one. The savings should still happen (without the late fee) so long as you register and pay both big fees in June.

Even if you don't graduate by Sept, you save the money and get done by Dec.

I am printing this out! Thank you! It's not a huge deal if I don't make the cut off, but I'm going to try. I called TESU. They said I have to pay off the balance ($1200) before I can do anything going forward, so it looks like I'll be doing overtime during the process for sure. However, she did "Unofficially off the record" tell me that everything should transfer in, and mentioned that my vocational Diplomas **may** be accepted during a PLA. I never thought of that!

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So here's my game plan:
1. Do massive overtime to pay off the balance asap
2. Start CLEP testing (easiest first, then move on to harder) I opened an instantcert account and I'm downloading the app on my phone right now.
3. Do the DSST exams for upper level
4. Fill in the void with study.com
5. Capstone, graduate, etc as advised

Sound good?

I'm still unsure on the CLEP and what tests might go toward upper level (if any), but here's the ones I wrote down:
College math (someone said it's the best one for math dummies)
Analyzing & interpreting lit.
Biology
Humanities
Spanish

DSST:
General anthropology
Business ethics & society
Ethics in America
Org behavior
Substance abuse
Comp. Sec.
Hum. Resource Mgmnt
Comp info tech

and...that's where I needed a break, but is this good so far?

[davewill]

Awesome! Interesting about the vocational diplomas. However, know that PLA requires taking the PLA course and writing a portfolio. It is likely faster and cheaper to simply earn those credits through alternative means. Usually PLA is only worthwhile for a substantial number of credits that don't have a cheap source. I know because I did quite a bit of PLA. See my signature for a link to the PLA tips thread (but probably not right now!) If you want to know more.

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Unless you already have study.com credit, you should do your study.com courses before CLEP so you are sure to qualify for the study.com affiliation. I take it you are already enrolled at TESU? Also, if you can't clear the fees and get registered by Sunday for the June Capstone, then Sept graduation is impossible, but the timing eases somewhat.

[sony732]

Yes, I'm enrolled already. As soon as she said I have to pay the fees off first, I knew the summer rush idea was out the window. I had 4 surgeries on my eyes in the last 2 months, so I've been skipping overtime and lost a lot of hours at work, too. But at least I know it could've been done! And which plan would you recommend for the study.com account? Do I need the college accelerator plan?

[dfrecore]

Yes, I'm enrolled already. As soon as she said I have to pay the fees off first, I knew the summer rush idea was out the window. I had 4 surgeries on my eyes in the last 2 months, so I've been skipping overtime and lost a lot of hours at work, too. But at least I know it could've been done! And which plan would you recommend for the study.com account? Do I need the college accelerator plan?

You have to do the College Accelerator plan for credit.

There are no UL CLEP exams.

[sony732]

That's what I thought. And i read somewhere that the most a vocational diploma could get is 7 credits. I think you're right about the waste of time. And am I reading this right? You can take all the classes you want with that plan? Like I could do one a week if I wanted to?

[davewill]

Yes, I'm enrolled already. As soon as she said I have to pay the fees off first, I knew the summer rush idea was out the window. I had 4 surgeries on my eyes in the last 2 months, so I've been skipping overtime and lost a lot of hours at work, too. But at least I know it could've been done! And which plan would you recommend for the study.com account? Do I need the college accelerator plan?

The current Study.com discounts still have a June 30 deadline, which would mean a LOT of money by then ($1200 in existing fees plus $1097 capstone tuition plus $332 graduation fee plus $1800 residency waiver). It's possible to do only one of the big fees and get just one discount tied down. Personally, the savings is so substantial that I would borrow if I had to, but that's a very personal decision. Also, don't pay the residency waiver unless you can absolutely commit to graduating by next June as it's only good for a year.

[sony732]

That residency waiver, is that only if we don't live in Jersey basically? Or is that related to credits? I'm I NJ.

[allvia]

That residency waiver, is that only if we don't live in Jersey basically? Or is that related to credits? I'm I  NJ.

It is if you have not taken enough credits directly with TESU (which is most of us here).  I know you said you were already enrolled - how many actual courses have you taken with TESU (or TESC), how many of their graded credits do you have?  How many TECEPs?  And mostly importantly since you're stating your enrollment is still active-  What Degree Are you Enrolled In and for and what catalog year?   If you already have enough TESU credits for the catalog year your locked into - you may not have to pay the residency waiver at all.