Overwhelmed(by all the different services for credit)

[TESUAbroad]

Hey guys,

So to do my bachelors I would have to use all of these resources:

Straigherline, CLEP, TECEP, ALEKS(Ok - I could've done this one elsewhere) , Saylor, CSU Global, Study.com + Capstone/cornerstone TESU

To be completely honest I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. :ack:

My plan originally was to do: ALEKS then CLEP.

I've done two ALEKS courses and am waiting for ACE approval so I can do a third. It's straightforward and I get it.

Next is CLEP. So the only official testing center near me is a Jewish High School for girls... I mean, I will call them but yeah..we'll see if I'm even able to take the test here. I would think not, I am neither jewish nor female :roflol: (This is 1 hour away, the next closest one is 3 hours away).

So i've been looking into all the programs. Per month, per class, per exam, proctored online, not proctored online etc...

So far the best starting option I think is Straighterline, since I can use it for 4 Courses:
Principles of Management
American Goverment
Introduction to communication
Intro. to World religion.

What makes me worried, is all of these will have wildy different studying techniques(Testing Standards) which will make it hard to focus on courses.
E.g. ( Study.com is more video focused and Saylor is lots of reading - how do I prep for the exams? Is there help available such as InstantCert for Clep? Some classes are based on three textbooks...No, I will not be reading three textbooks Saylor... )

What has helped you stay focused on courses?

[Mamasaphire]

It really sounded overwhelming to me too when I first started thinking seriously about alternative credit options, but if you break it down and just focus on whichever one you are immersed in at that moment, it will get better. I think SL, Sophia, and study.com are all good, pretty flexible options. And they aren't so prohibitively costly that if, after you take one class with one of them, you decide to try a different one, that it would severely injure your budget.

My advice is just to jump in. Try SL first, if that's what you have on your plan. I really enjoyed their format. Two suggestions - use an ebook (search function for studying was super helpful) with the courses, ignore the videos that are with the lessons, look for a coupon code before paying, and read semi-recent old threads here about SL for tips on studying, etc. Okay, that was 4 suggestions.

But really, just jump in. My major regrets with SL are that I didn't start sooner, and that I took too long with my first class (not understanding how the course grading worked -- in my mind it was like a CLEP and so much relied on the final grade).

You'll probably do great, just don't over think the options!!

[ajs1976]

I don't have the best track record of staying focused, but I would suggest clustering courses together by overlap of topics and/or provider. For example*, you decide to use SL for your English Comp I and II requirements and it takes you 5 weeks. You have 3 weeks left, so find another offering that you can finish in 3 weeks that fits into your degree plan and immediately register for the Tech Writing TECEP. By the time you second month of SL subscription finishes, the new term should have started at TESU and you can register and take the TECEP. This will allow you to maximize the value of what you paid for SL and to knock out Tech Writing TECEP while the material from Eng Comp I & II is fresh.

You don't have to use the all the different options, and if you find one that doesn't work for you, try a different one.


*(Just a scenario. Not a specific course recommendation. Figure out what works best for your learning style and degree plan)

[cookderosa]

Yes, it is a LOT of info to soak in. Allow yourself time to do that. Spending a month letting this all roll around in your mind will save you YEARS off the time required to earn a degree. You don't *have* to use all of those credit sources, you *can* use them. It's all about options- some people have more time than money, while others have more money than time. It's really just a buffet - you choose what to take.

[dfrecore]

The other thing you asked about is studying for a test. With SL, you're not doing that. You're doing the coursework, and don't really need to study for a particular test - you get graded as you go. I think there's a lot less pressure that way than CLEP or the other tests.