Please Advise: Can't Finish Degree at TESC using only Exams??

[alexanderdwyer]

Ok, so I spoke with an academic advisor at Thomas Edison for the first time this morning. She seemed quite knowledgeable and helpful, but she told me that I could not graduate from TESC without establishing my GPA first. She said that the only for me to establish a GPA was by taking TESC classes. They wouldn't transfer my 4.0 from my 27 community college credit.

While I know that she is an advisor and must know what she's talking about, I've NEVER heard this before. And I've been reading several books, numerous online forums, and have scoured TESC's website for this kind of policy. Is this a change in policy?

Obviously, if I have to complete my degree this way it's a whole lot more expensive and time-consuming. But, again, I'm assuming that the advisors are the first to know about these kind of policies. I'm just wondering if anybody knows anything about this.

At this point, I'm trying not to let this complete change of plan bother me, but it's a bit disturbing when you set a plan and it becomes derailed. So, please, if anyone has any info. let me know.

[creative]

There are people on this forum that are far more knowledgeable about this than I am--- so hopefully they will confirm this. I am under the impression that TESC does not give a GPA in the same way that other schools do. There was a teenage girl on this forum -- rmroberts ( you can search her posts)-- who this past year completely tested out of her entire Psych degree through TESC. She said that TESC will give a GPA based on any courses that you take through "their" school--- so she took ONE course through them and got an A to get a "GPA" of 4.0. This is really strange but that is how they seem to operate. I guess because clep and dsst is pass/fail they find it tricky to create a GPA from a transcript like that. This is the one glitch with TESC-- if you are going to grad school the GPA is not a normal procedure as with other schools. Even if you take the one course to get an A and 4.0 GPA-- your grad school will look at your transcript and notice how you did that and probably question you. So you need to take that into consideration . For many students at TESC it is not an issue--they just want the bachelors and not worried about grad school or GPA. Just be forewarned and make your decision accordingly. I would suggest doing some research on this forum about TESC / GPA. There are a lot of threads about this glitch and it is definitely something to think about.

Edit- I just read your post again and I have not heard that you can't graduate until they establish a GPA. I always thought the problem was that if you want a GPA you have to take a course(s) through them. If you don't care about getting a GPA you can still graduate through them with B&M credits and tests but you just won't get an official final GPA on your transcript. I hope this makes sense. I am on my way to call them right now because I about ready to enroll and want to make sure this is correct

[creative]

ok, I just got off the phone with TESC. What I said above is correct. The person I talked to said that you can still graduate from TESC if you never take a course though them-- but you will not have an "official graduating GPA" from TESC because you did not take courses with them. So if TESC is the institution that compiles your credits (credits that are coming from outside the school like clep and B&M) into a degree and that is ALL they do-- then they can not give you a graduating GPA. If you actually take courses with them then you would be an actual enrolled student and so they can give you a graduating GPA because you actually took courses with them. If you go on to graduate school without this GPA -- you can manually calculate a GPA with the courses/exams you have. This can be discussed with the grad school admissions office wherever you apply. I hope this makes sense.

[sirjake]

Ok, so I spoke with an academic advisor at Thomas Edison for the first time this morning. She seemed quite knowledgeable and helpful, but she told me that I could not graduate from TESC without establishing my GPA first. She said that the only for me to establish a GPA was by taking TESC classes. They wouldn't transfer my 4.0 from my 27 community college credit.

While I know that she is an advisor and must know what she's talking about, I've NEVER heard this before. And I've been reading several books, numerous online forums, and have scoured TESC's website for this kind of policy. Is this a change in policy?

Obviously, if I have to complete my degree this way it's a whole lot more expensive and time-consuming. But, again, I'm assuming that the advisors are the first to know about these kind of policies. I'm just wondering if anybody knows anything about this.

At this point, I'm trying not to let this complete change of plan bother me, but it's a bit disturbing when you set a plan and it becomes derailed. So, please, if anyone has any info. let me know.

I'm pretty sure she's in error. See the bottom of this page: Thomas Edison State College/ New GPA Policy Announced

To quote, "If the student has no Thomas Edison State College graded course work on which to calculate the GPA, it will show as N/A." (Under the bolded heading of "Undergraduate students.")

I would call back and ask for verification of this requirement and for where you can verify it in the documentation. They can't just make a requirement and not give documentation of it.

[marianne202]

I believe the real issue lies in the fact that the CLEP exams don't award a letter grade although some schools will award a letter grade for some DSST exams. I'm not sure why they don't want to assign value to grade received in transfer from another school. If they are willing to give you credit for them, they should accept the grade and corresponding GPA ranking they provide. I know at Excelsior they show two GPA's on your transcript, you Excelsior GPA and a combined GPA which includes all transferred credits, exams etc. Just make sure TESC will suit your needs before you continue as it is costly to change your mind in the middle. I'm glad you are finding this out and investigating it before you move forward. I have also heard that students have tested out and do graduate just without a GPA. Good luck!

[cookderosa]

Ok, so I spoke with an academic advisor at Thomas Edison for the first time this morning. She seemed quite knowledgeable and helpful, (I find this highly unusual and not the general experience of hundreds of others here. TESC's advisors generally won't speak to you unless you are enrolled.) but she told me that I could not graduate from TESC without establishing my GPA first. (Completely incorrect) She said that the only for me to establish a GPA was by taking TESC classes. (Yes, true for TESC and any college for that matter) They wouldn't transfer my 4.0 from my 27 community college credit. (Again, true, and true for all colleges)

While I know that she is an advisor and must know what she's talking about,(no. Wrong. Advisors learn as they go. They are not hired on and *bam* they all of a sudden know everything about TESC. I can tell you there are many members here who have spent YEARS learning TESC policy. Advisors frequently make mistakes in their conversations, which of course, hurts no one except the student. "but he told me....." means nothing. YOU are responsible for meeting your degree requirements. I'd suggest really learning what is contained in the college catalog/publications. Coming here was a good idea, if for no reason other than to direct you back to the catalog. Trust what is written, not what is spoken) I've NEVER heard this before. And I've been reading several books, numerous online forums, and have scoured TESC's website for this kind of policy. Is this a change in policy? (you misunderstood what she was telling you, or she mixed things up.)

Obviously, if I have to complete my degree this way it's a whole lot more expensive and time-consuming. But, again, I'm assuming that the advisors are the first to know about these kind of policies. (please, don't) I'm just wondering if anybody knows anything about this.

At this point, I'm trying not to let this complete change of plan bother me, but it's a bit disturbing when you set a plan and it becomes derailed. So, please, if anyone has any info. let me know. (You received a lot of great help in the previous replies, and fwiw, don't ever completely change your plans without double and triple checking. There is no reason to change any of your plans. Good luck to you.) [/QUOTE]

[Lindagerr]

I have 43 cc credits and TESC took them all, but does not mention that GPA anywhere on my transcript which works out well for me because there is a D so if you include all my graded courses my GPA is only around 3.1. I took 2 courses from TESC one 3 credit which I earned an A- in and one 6 credit which I earned an A in. on my official transcript it says my GPA is 3.9 and that is all the state of NJ cared about so it looks like I earned my whole degree with a 3.9

[alexanderdwyer]

Thanks so much for the help guys! I knew that this didn't sound right, but I guess that in my experience with advisors, they've been the ones "in the know." It seems a bit pointless to have advisors who offer bad advise. But in the future I'll rely no the info and literature from TESC rather than what I'm told.