SLCC + ? = Help!

[inkleind]

Hello!
So I just stumbled upon all you lovely people in my quest for a better future. I've been a Sr. Program Director in the YMCA system for a long time until we moved to Salt Lake almost a year ago for my wife's job. I need a degree to not get auto-sorted into the trash bin but I also want one because I was very religiously homeschooled and I missed out on a lot of science and social classes. I'm 31, I never went to college and here's my question.

I want to take classes at my local community college for the experience of taking classes, I also need to be able to get federal loans/grants/scholarships to help pay for my education as the past year has been a bit rough on the job front. The local community college, SLCC, seems to say on their website that I could get 24 credits from CLEP testing and I also want to take a full semester load so I can qualify for financial aid.

Basically the question is this, how do I balance this? How do I qualify for financial aid/grants while testing out? I think once I take a semester of classes I would be good with transferring to TESC and working towards testing out on a BA International Studies degree.

I don't know, I guess I just need my hand held for a minute. I'm nervous. I haven't stepped foot in a traditional classroom since 6th grade and I don't want to spend 6 years in school but I also want the classroom experience, if that makes sense? What's my best course of action here?

Thank you!!

[inkleind]

Oh and on top of all that, I know I remember nothing of math. Can I take straighterline math classes and then transfer everything from SLCC and Straighterline to TESC later? Does it work like that?

[Prloko]

For math, try ALEKs math. It is $20 a month and I used it as a refresher for grad school. Some of the courses also count for college credit and you can knock out a few credits.

Visit the websites I mention here: http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...ttack.html

It basically answers most of your questions.

I like the fact you want to get some school experience. Some home-school parents (we have a lot on this forum, including me) think this isn't important to their kids. To each his own I suppose.

If you are starting at CC, take English composition I and II. Those are courses that I suggest people take and avoid CLEP English Comp, unless they are sure they truly understand college level writing/research. It's the foundation for all your studies. If you want additional "experience" in the classroom settings, try one or two subjects you LOVE. I love Science and History and didn't mind taking those courses. If you can relate them to your major, better, but first get that "appetite" out of the way first so you can get to the business of testing out afterwards.

Good luck!

[inkleind]

Thank you! This is very helpful.

Yeah, homeschooling was great for a lot of reasons but my parents dropped the ball in a lot of ways. I love people and I was super social in high school but I always thought I would have been better off in a classroom setting where someone would have focused me a bit more. I was smarter than both my parents pretty early into the homeschool years and I cheated a lot when it came to math. And then when graduation came around, they printed one off and that was that. I had to make my own way from then on and I've always been terrified of going to college because I felt poorly prepared for it. I'm still terrified but I want to experience it, ya know?

[dfrecore]

I think the best way to start for math is Khan Academy, because it's free. Then, once you've worked through Algebra I, Algebra II, and Probability & Statistics, you can create an ALEKS account and do Intermediate Algebra, College Algebra, and Statistics there for actual college credit. That way, you don't spend a lot of time on ALEKS if money is tight. I personally have needed more than a month to get through College Algebra and Statistics, and I'm glad I'm not paying for it. You can start immediately, and try to get math out of the way before you get into the spring semester.

Community college courses are a great way to jump in and start. There are some classes that are better to take at a college vs. learning online or on your own, it will depend on what you're good at, what you enjoy, what you struggle with.

I would definitely take English Comp I & II at cc, those are worthwhile to actually write those papers and get feedback from a good teacher. If you're struggling with math after trying Khan or ALEKS, that's also good to take at school with someone who can help you. Some teachers can really bring things to life, so if you really want to get into the History of Russia or Global Issues for instance, those might be more interesting at a cc. I also enjoyed taking science courses at cc, because of the labs. I would try to save the CLEP courses for things that are easy to study on your own or things you need to take but aren't in your field of study like Psychology or US History or Art.

Definitely start by planning your degree, both at TESC (or whichever of the Big 3 you choose) and then maybe for your AA at the cc if you plan on getting that. Look to take classes that you can't CLEP out of, there will be plenty in that degree program.

Keep reading this forum, there's lots of good info every day. Good luck!

[inkleind]

Thank you! Very solid info.

I definitely want to take English Comp at CC but I know I'm going to tank the accuplacer on math and would rather not have to take Math 089 or some shit and work my way back up. Doing that on straighterline or ALEKS makes a lot more sense.

I'm just so glad I found this site this morning. I saw a reference to CLEPS on the cc website and being the inquisitive bunny that I am, I googled it and found you guys. Before deciding on CC, I was looking at WGU. This seems like a great mix of the two worlds.

Very glad for the help!

Now about financial aid? How do I get it and keep getting it if I'm just testing out?

[Devanna]

Thank you! Very solid info.

I definitely want to take English Comp at CC but I know I'm going to tank the accuplacer on math and would rather not have to take Math 089 or some shit and work my way back up. Doing that on straighterline or ALEKS makes a lot more sense.

I'm just so glad I found this site this morning. I saw a reference to CLEPS on the cc website and being the inquisitive bunny that I am, I googled it and found you guys. Before deciding on CC, I was looking at WGU. This seems like a great mix of the two worlds.

Very glad for the help!

Now about financial aid? How do I get it and keep getting it if I'm just testing out?

You will need to fill out the FAFSA and be enrolled at a college that receives federal aid (like your community college, I'm assuming). How much aid you get will depend on your financial situation and also how many credits you take. As far as I know, CLEPs do not count towards the credit requirements for receiving federal aid so you'll have to actually enroll in some classes.

[cookderosa]

Hello!
So I just stumbled upon all you lovely people in my quest for a better future. I've been a Sr. Program Director in the YMCA system for a long time until we moved to Salt Lake almost a year ago for my wife's job. I need a degree to not get auto-sorted into the trash bin but I also want one because I was very religiously homeschooled and I missed out on a lot of science and social classes. I'm 31, I never went to college and here's my question.

I want to take classes at my local community college for the experience of taking classes, I also need to be able to get federal loans/grants/scholarships to help pay for my education as the past year has been a bit rough on the job front. The local community college, SLCC, seems to say on their website that I could get 24 credits from CLEP testing and I also want to take a full semester load so I can qualify for financial aid.

Basically the question is this, how do I balance this? How do I qualify for financial aid/grants while testing out? I think once I take a semester of classes I would be good with transferring to TESC and working towards testing out on a BA International Studies degree.

I don't know, I guess I just need my hand held for a minute. I'm nervous. I haven't stepped foot in a traditional classroom since 6th grade and I don't want to spend 6 years in school but I also want the classroom experience, if that makes sense? What's my best course of action here?

Thank you!!

There is a lot I could say, but I think what I will say instead is to step back- don't sign up for anything yet, and take a few weeks to just absorb what is going on here. Even if you enroll for spring start at your community college, registration is at least a month away, so you have time. In my opinion, investing a few weeks learning before jumping will save you a lot of steps and even more money. You may not need a loan, but you may still qualify for a grant. Welcome!

[hightecrebel]

I'll second pretty much everything said up to this point. Taking a bit of time to read and research before jumping in, and also using Khan Academy and ALEKS to help rebuild your foundational math skills are all things I did, and they helped me immensely. English Comp I/II in a CC are good courses to take in person when able to help get into the college paper writing mindset. I skipped them by knocking out the CLEP and spent the next couple classes stumbling through the required papers until I finally set down and read a college writing guide AND a number of college papers to understand where I'd gone wrong.

With all that said, welcome to the board. Everyone here is EXTREMELY helpful and knowledgeable. Especially Prioko, sanantone, and cookderosa.

[UptonSinclair]

Everyone has had good advice so I have little new to offer, but I would like to add a few thoughts on math. I prefer Aleks to Khan Academy. I find the structure very helpful. Just be careful about moving through too fast. I covered everything from Elementary Algebra through Calculus I in two years and regret the pace. I retained very little of the information because I moved though too quick. Also, once you begin math in college don't stop taking math courses until you have reached your end goal. Taking a semester off between required math courses is a huge mistake in my opinion. Besides, once math is out of the way you will be less stressed.

If you are interested in reading about my struggles through the various math options, check out the thread below. It details my journey.
http://www.degreeforum.net/general-educa...post187303

Regarding testing out....
I have recently returned to school after completing a BSBA through TESC. After completing my degree I looked back and decided I wanted something a little more conventional. Most colleges limit exam credits to 30 credits or less. I decided to follow that limit with my second degree. In many instances, it doesn't matter. But, I have run into a couple of situations where the lack of traditional credits has been a concern. One of which was getting into the online graduate program of my choice. You are still young, if you qualify for the Pell Grant, I would suggest using it as long as possible to take traditional courses at the local CC. During the process, don't get too far ahead of yourself. Take the time to enjoy your classes and the learning experience. It is very frustrating to look back and wish you had done things differently.