New follower saying Hello

[RagnaRok]

Hi Everyone,

Just wanting to say hello. Trying to get orientated although somewhat confused with how this all works. So any pointers would be great.
So embarrassed to say but i have NO tests completed. And well I just stumbled upon this avenue today. Im reading your wikia page right now! Thank you.

Brief background minus hardships I dont want to bore you with. I've been studying Java programming from home for a few weeks now.
I was recently eligible for workforce innovation training which has only specific local schools allowed. And in the process they asked I apply for fafsa...and that came back as eligible now too. And the fafsa doesn't have any limitations to where it can be applied to. So I brushed up on my math and let go of Java programming to be eligible for the WIA schools only to find out Fafsa is approved now...then the school with an associates degree for computer programming doesnt accept my Tabe scores and wanted a different placement test done...so I started preparing for that placement test when I found information about Testing out and TESC which led me here and your fine posts! And well now I havent studied Java in a full week..I am happy with my scores and refreshing in general studies but am thoroughly confused and at wits end with all my changes in directions not to mention cramming. Because with the state and government stuff timing is everything so I rush to try to get enrollment in.

I have now stopped from prepping for a PERT test at a local college(the associates one I was going to do). Because truth be told employers want to see Bachelors deg and Ive met quite a few HR nazis in my day so your avenue of testing out is definitely under high consideration. My fear is that I am back to square one now though since my financial aid can't be applied it seems to attain a degree via this course. So if you have any ideas of how it could be or a sureshot time saving NO it cant be done...you'd be saving me time and I'll just likely bite the bullet and pay out of pocket. Im no youngster and time is whats important to me right now. I wish I could be getting more Java into my brain right now to get a job. But if I have to ill go this route to be successful and save time in the long run. I called TESC and it seems I could maybe blend, meaning take some actual courses using my financial aid and then pay TCEP tests at my own expense when I want. Im just trying to formulate whats the most ideal method for time and money savings.

Is their anyway or plan you see where I can still use my fafsa this year and not let it go to waste? I am definitely on a budget. So yes testing out is def more attractive to me right now than just settling for an associates. I cant afford to go into debt so avoiding a 50K+ debt is most ideal. Sorry just a little bit info overloaded. Theres not many folks I can talk to about this who won't turn around and tell me im crazy (which i am feeling haha) and just go to regular college or get a certificate. So I value your opinions since you value this avenue instead. Sometimes there's nothing crazy about the unconventional paths at all. They are actually a lot more sane than people give credit even if a bit rough to start on.

Thank you and Hello.

[ladylearner]

Hi Everyone,

Just wanting to say hello. Trying to get orientated although somewhat confused with how this all works. So any pointers would be great.
So embarrassed to say but i have NO tests completed. And well I just stumbled upon this avenue today. Im reading your wikia page right now! Thank you.

Brief background minus hardships I dont want to bore you with. I've been studying Java programming from home for a few weeks now.
I was recently eligible for workforce innovation training which has only specific local schools allowed. And in the process they asked I apply for fafsa...and that came back as eligible now too. And the fafsa doesn't have any limitations to where it can be applied to. So I brushed up on my math and let go of Java programming to be eligible for the WIA schools only to find out Fafsa is approved now...then the school with an associates degree for computer programming doesnt accept my Tabe scores and wanted a different placement test done...so I started preparing for that placement test when I found information about Testing out and TESC which led me here and your fine posts! And well now I havent studied Java in a full week..I am happy with my scores and refreshing in general studies but am thoroughly confused and at wits end with all my changes in directions not to mention cramming. Because with the state and government stuff timing is everything so I rush to try to get enrollment in.

I have now stopped from prepping for a PERT test at a local college(the associates one I was going to do). Because truth be told employers want to see Bachelors deg and Ive met quite a few HR nazis in my day so your avenue of testing out is definitely under high consideration. My fear is that I am back to square one now though since my financial aid can't be applied it seems to attain a degree via this course. So if you have any ideas of how it could be or a sureshot time saving NO it cant be done...you'd be saving me time and I'll just likely bite the bullet and pay out of pocket. Im no youngster and time is whats important to me right now. I wish I could be getting more Java into my brain right now to get a job. But if I have to ill go this route to be successful and save time in the long run. I called TESC and it seems I could maybe blend, meaning take some actual courses using my financial aid and then pay TCEP tests at my own expense when I want. Im just trying to formulate whats the most ideal method for time and money savings.

Is their anyway or plan you see where I can still use my fafsa this year and not let it go to waste? I am definitely on a budget. So yes testing out is def more attractive to me right now than just settling for an associates. I cant afford to go into debt so avoiding a 50K+ debt is most ideal. Sorry just a little bit info overloaded. Theres not many folks I can talk to about this who won't turn around and tell me im crazy (which i am feeling haha) and just go to regular college or get a certificate. So I value your opinions since you value this avenue instead. Sometimes there's nothing crazy about the unconventional paths at all. They are actually a lot more sane than people give credit even if a bit rough to start on.

Thank you and Hello.

Hello and welcome. Please don't be embarrassed that you haven't completed any exams. Everyone has to start from somewhere. Here you will find inspiring stories, encouragement, and advice. It's good that you are reading the wikia. Straighterline might be a good place for you to start so I would check that out in addition to looking into exams.

By the way, I discuss very little of what I do in terms of education with people at work, family, etc. outside of this forum. It's not something people understand. I do pass along information when I can, though even some of the people I've referred here prefer going into debt than doing something self-directed. I know it's not for everyone so that's why I don't try to make people understand.

[cookderosa]

Hi Everyone,

Just wanting to say hello. Trying to get orientated although somewhat confused with how this all works. So any pointers would be great.
So embarrassed to say but i have NO tests completed. And well I just stumbled upon this avenue today. Im reading your wikia page right now! Thank you. Welcome! There is much in the archives to discover! I came here without any tests completed.

Brief background minus hardships I dont want to bore you with. I've been studying Java programming from home for a few weeks now.
I was recently eligible for workforce innovation training which has only specific local schools allowed. And in the process they asked I apply for fafsa...and that came back as eligible now too. And the fafsa doesn't have any limitations to where it can be applied to. So I brushed up on my math and let go of Java programming to be eligible for the WIA schools only to find out Fafsa is approved now...then the school with an associates degree for computer programming doesnt accept my Tabe scores and wanted a different placement test done...so I started preparing for that placement test when I found information about Testing out and TESC which led me here and your fine posts! And well now I havent studied Java in a full week..I am happy with my scores and refreshing in general studies but am thoroughly confused and at wits end with all my changes in directions not to mention cramming. Because with the state and government stuff timing is everything so I rush to try to get enrollment in. For sure there are computer folks here who can help you map out a plan to consider

I have now stopped from prepping for a PERT test at a local college(the associates one I was going to do). Because truth be told employers want to see Bachelors deg and Ive met quite a few HR nazis in my day so your avenue of testing out is definitely under high consideration. It's possible that some classes may be required for any of the degrees you're considering. But, even if they are, they can be done online through the college of your choice and transferred back into TESC. TESC is a prize because you can price-shop, test-shop, etc. and create a "patchwork quilt" of credits as long as they fit the degree you're pursuing.


My fear is that I am back to square one now though since my financial aid can't be applied it seems to attain a degree via this course. You can use aid for any classes, just not exams. If you have to choose between paying cash and loans, always pay cash - an entire exam/course will only cost about $100 and you can cash flow these as you go. If you have a grant, you can use that for the classes portion and any overage can be used for books or exams.

So if you have any ideas of how it could be or a sureshot time saving NO it cant be done...you'd be saving me time and I'll just likely bite the bullet and pay out of pocket. Im no youngster and time is whats important to me right now. I wish I could be getting more Java into my brain right now to get a job. But if I have to ill go this route to be successful and save time in the long run. I called TESC and it seems I could maybe blend, meaning take some actual courses using my financial aid and then pay TCEP tests at my own expense when I want. Im just trying to formulate whats the most ideal method for time and money savings. Marinate in the information here for a few days. There are affordable and fast options for almost every class you need for almost every degree. At this point, just knowing the game and figuring out the rules will be the most important time saver for you. Missteps, repeats, classes that don't count, over-paying, etc can all be avoided once you know a bit more about how it all works. For every week that you obsessively unravel how to make this work - you shave a year off your degree. (my unofficial opinion lol)

Is their anyway or plan you see where I can still use my fafsa this year and not let it go to waste? I am definitely on a budget. So yes testing out is def more attractive to me right now than just settling for an associates. I cant afford to go into debt so avoiding a 50K+ debt is most ideal. A resourceful person can complete a degree at TESC for around $10,000 or less.

Sorry just a little bit info overloaded. Theres not many folks I can talk to about this who won't turn around and tell me im crazy (which i am feeling haha) and just go to regular college or get a certificate. When someone else hasn't found a workaround for a problem, they really can't help you get there. This forum will help you, everyone here started from zero. So I value your opinions since you value this avenue instead. Sometimes there's nothing crazy about the unconventional paths at all. They are actually a lot more sane than people give credit even if a bit rough to start on.

[COLOR="#0000FF"]Though TESC is a great school (2 degrees from them myself) you don't have to use them. You can apply almost everything you learn here to any school in the country. I wouldn't be surprised if your community college accepts 15-45 CLEP credits. The reason people choose TESC (or Excelsior or COSC) is because they accept all regionally accredited transfer credit and all ACE evaluated credit. Most schools have limits/caps. They don't- so if it fits, you can use it. Puts you in the driver's seat. So, this forum attracts DIY types. TESC's phone people will only be marginally helpful (unless they give you wrong information, which happens frequently, and brings me back to my early phrase about avoiding "missteps, repeats, classes that don't count, over-paying, etc." ) so you need to get a good handle on how to work a degree plan without your advisor. Welcome!
[/COLOR]
Thank you and Hello.

[Lindagerr]

I can't be much help about your type of degree or Fafsa, but I just wanted to say welcome.

Everyone here will try to help you, you are trying to find answers yourself which is always a good place to start. Most if not all of us here started out not knowing much about testing out or the Big 3. I myself had picked TESC because I lived in NJ so it was cheaper and I had heard about it since I was a teen (a LONG time ago). Finding this site made my dreams and more a reality.

So again welcome and feel fee to pick our minds.

[RagnaRok]

Thank you both. I'm trying...and definitely see that some courses will have to be taken and thats not a problem because I actually want to take them because I need their content as thoroughly as possible. So as you explained I can take some of these courses from other places and then bring them to TESC later maybe take them at a cheaper college online as well?
So I would ultimately be going to TESC i guess my final year to do their capstone course as well as to have them process and convert my exams to credits?

Where i am still confused is they have this pay per course set at $491, then enrolled tuition $3154 w $235 per course, and then Comprehensive which is $8647 w I guess no cost per course up to 36 courses? Then also explained something about needing to have 24 credits with them in order to get your diploma? So then I imagine I would have to calculate which plan to take....as well as plan on taking 24 credits w them? As well as plan on going to them for my FINAL year..because they explained that your account can go inactive w them if you stop actually going to them...to shoot off and take exams for a year.

My other question is do the exams ever expire? I take it I can just take them while not being enrolled anywhere? Or do i have to take them and then immediately get them converted to credits at a school? meaning I need to be enrolled somewhere?

Thank you for your help...it is encouraging to see others who have gone this route because I am limited in time and savings to try to do the most with. It gets complicated because I need the most help I can from financial aid. While paying my bills. So going full time for the most help would be most ideal not just for the aid but because I want to go as fast as possible. Im just not sure what my efc will be since last year I did work and they are looking at that. Plus all the local schools are so greedy some even have all these hoops to hop just to enroll like ACT scores or an existing AA. Theres a lot to find out...then a lot to digest and fall semester is around the corner....so im trying to rush to get myself enrolled as efficiently as possible. Seems like I need a masters to get past the enrollment process....I see nothing has changed since the last time I went to college physically...absolutely nothing...if anything it might be more complicated. :willynilly: Some dont even want to answer questions without you being enrolled. Much less tell you how your financial aid will be applied. Its all tricky trix and we're all to be silly rabbits.

Thank you Linda.

[swalke321]

I was in a similar situation. I knew I wanted to apply to TESC and take courses through TESC but wanted to take some tests first before enrolling. I had some transfer credit so I wanted to apply to find out what would transfer in. Once you apply you have up to 6 months to enroll (1 year for the Corporate Choice Program) or your application gets tossed and you have to resubmit it. I was trying to time it so that I could apply and then enroll in the comprehensive tuition plan within the 6 months. I applied in Feb. Then I found out about TECEPs, TESC's credit by exam program. I signed up for the TECEP for the April semester and ten days after the April semester began I became an enrolled student, it was a bit of a surprise. If you complete any credits through TESC which includes TECEP you become an enrolled student through the per credit tuition plan. I hadn't planned on enrolling yet but for me it worked out okay. I can continue to take tests or classes outside of TESC and have the transcripts or score reports sent to TESC. TESC will update my academic evaluation since I am an enrolled student. I have until next April to enroll in another class in order to keep my enrollment active. I am also locked into my degree plan so if TESC makes any changes to my degree I don't have to worry about it. I would continue to use my current plan as long as I remain an active student. It's my understanding that to be an active enrolled student you only have to complete 3 residency credits through TESC (TECEP or TESC course) every 12 months. I have no idea what happens if I want to change enrollment plan from per credit to the comprehensive tuition, sounds like it shouldn't be a problem, hopefully.
TESC has three options to enroll. The per credit tuition plan which requires 24 hour residency credits (TESC courses or TECEPs). The courses are $491 per credit but the TECEPs are cheaper, $37 per credit hour for non NJ residents. The second is the enrolled options. You pay an enrollment fee but then you can take as many or as little classes as you want through TESC, no residency requirement for the $236 per credit for courses, $37 for TECEPS. The third is the comprehensive tuition plan. One fee for up to 36 credit hours (both classes and TECEPs), no residency requirements. You have to figure out how many courses you want to take through TESC and then do the math to find out what the best tuition plan would be.
If you take tests (DSST, CLEP) but don't send the scores to a school, you will later have to request a transcript and have the scores sent to the school. If you give the school code when taking the tests the test report is automatically sent to the school, no extra fee but I think that might requires that you either be an applicant or enrolled student. There is a small fee for sending transcripts. I sent my old AP scores to TESC. I filled out a transcript request form, sent a check and the scores were sent to TESC. I took my AP tests about 12 years ago.
In order to apply for graduation TESC requires that you be an active enrolled student.

[rebel100]

Welcome to the forum.

Relax a little, takes time to get your head wrapped around the way we do things.

[Lindagerr]

TESC will take and hold onto CLEP or DSST results for 6 months before you even apply. Once you apply you then have another 6 months to enroll and they will still keep your scores. Also TESC does not have regular semesters they have rolling enrollment in classes usually new classes start every month, maybe not every class but lots of them.

It is a lot to take in like rebel said relax. Get things straight in your head before you take steps that may add to your cost or time. I started in Oct. 2006 with a very relaxed pace. I started out with 43 credits and some were over 30 years old. I had my AA in less then 2 years and my BA in another 2. I took my time did test, ALEKs and 2 TESC courses, I changed my focus and my goals along the way. I was an NJ resident but I was still able to do the whole thing including exams and study material for under $10,000. You can do this.

[cookderosa]

Thank you both. I'm trying...and definitely see that some courses will have to be taken and thats not a problem because I actually want to take them because I need their content as thoroughly as possible. So as you explained I can take some of these courses from other places and then bring them to TESC later maybe take them at a cheaper college online as well? Yes, you can do that.
So I would ultimately be going to TESC i guess my final year to do their capstone course as well as to have them process and convert my exams to credits? The capstone class will be 12 weeks, converting your exams to credits can happen at that time too. It all starts when you apply. You'll get an unofficial evaluation, at which time you'll send in your testing transcripts and any others you've done in the meantime. They'll evaluate them all and plug them into a degree plan. People do this at all stages of enrollment, but know that you don't have to enroll to start. You can craft a plan and start testing anytime you feel ready.

Where i am still confused is they have this pay per course set at $491, then enrolled tuition $3154 w $235 per course, and then Comprehensive which is $8647 w I guess no cost per course up to 36 courses? Then also explained something about needing to have 24 credits with them in order to get your diploma? So then I imagine I would have to calculate which plan to take....as well as plan on taking 24 credits w them? I think that's only for military, there is no residency requirement, just the capstone. The cost plans have changed since I attended, but it all boils down to how you plan on earning your credit. If you're in the least bit type-A, you can play with the numbers in an excel spreadsheet. As well as plan on going to them for my FINAL year semester..because they explained that your account can go inactive w them if you stop actually going to them...to shoot off and take exams for a year. it's simultaneous. The entire process testing & classes will take you about a year, two tops.

My other question is do the exams ever expire? 20 years I take it I can just take them while not being enrolled anywhere? yep! Or do i have to take them and then immediately get them converted to credits at a school? meaning I need to be enrolled somewhere? Nope. They'll be held by the exam company, and when you're ready to enroll, you pay $20 and have the transcript sent to TESC.

Thank you for your help...it is encouraging to see others who have gone this route because I am limited in time and savings to try to do the most with. It gets complicated because I need the most help I can from financial aid. While paying my bills. So going full time for the most help would be most ideal not just for the aid but because I want to go as fast as possible. Im just not sure what my efc will be since last year I did work and they are looking at that. Seriously consider whether or not you need a loan. Probably 95% of the people here are able to cash flow a degree this way. You're looking at about $100 every time you test, maybe 2-3 times a month if you're fast. 1-2 if you're slower. Plus all the local schools are so greedy some even have all these hoops to hop just to enroll like ACT scores or an existing AA. Theres a lot to find out...then a lot to digest and fall semester is around the corner TESC doesn't really work that way. You test on your own schedule. You can start tomorrow if you want.....so im trying to rush to get myself enrolled as efficiently as possible. Be patient or you'll waste steps. You don't know what you don't know lol. Seems like I need a masters to get past the enrollment process....I see nothing has changed since the last time I went to college physically...absolutely nothing...if anything it might be more complicated. :willynilly: Some dont even want to answer questions without you being enrolled. Much less tell you how your financial aid will be applied. Its all tricky trix and we're all to be silly rabbits.

Thank you Linda.[/QUOTE]

[EI2HCB]

Welcome to the forum, It seems you've been ping ponging from course to course based on what you have been told previously, first step is to assess the situation.
You qualify for FAFSA this is a great asset, you can use it anywhere you want for whatever courses you want as long as they are regionally accredited and you take them in batches of six or twelve credits. You can enroll in your local community college and sign up for 12 credits and get the maximum amount of financial aid available. Usually close to $5000 which can buy you a lot of credits at a community college as opposed to one of "the big three" we talk about here.

What is your objective an inexpensive degree, or a degree really quickly? while qualifying for FAFSA allows you to get free money since it never needs to be repaid, since it is a grant for the first section and they offer you loans if you need them. Loans do need to be repaid so you want to avoid them. if you are willing to take a little time to complete your courses in six or twelve credit batches you can have little out of pocket expense while accumulating credits.
Testing out is great but isn't always a shortcut, some CLEP and DSST will require as much study as a class in the community college although you can achieve it in your own time.