Starting out

[rachel83az]

CSM Learn is only about $40. It's a very practical math course that can be very worthwhile to complete, even if it doesn't transfer to the school your daughter ultimately attends. I've seen more expensive homeschooling books.

[Lunita]

seconding dfrecore's suggestions about the alternative credit wait.

Homeschooling: I'd like to suggest looking at Dual Credit at Home's free video course to introduce a lot of the terms and how to's when still in high school. https://dualcreditathome.com/college-degree-roadmap/   that group also has its own path for studying for cleps etc.  Our family didn't use that part.  just the free stuff.
and/or check out a website called homeschooling for college credit in their section called "parents start here" https://homeschoolingforcollegecredit.com/

Both of those will help to learn the ropes before figuring out classes and exams and such for the approaches that impact designing high school and college.  Then more of this forum will make sense.

Yes, I am beginning to understand that this will be a loong trip. Thanks, I actually started at homeschooling for college credit but had not come across the other group.

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CSM Learn is only about $40. It's a very practical math course that can be very worthwhile to complete, even if it doesn't transfer to the school your daughter ultimately attends. I've seen more expensive homeschooling books.

Right, even without the credit, would you say it is useful? She just started with the College Math CLEP book and it seems to be going swimmingly. $40 is inexpensive, I'm just not sure what it is they are teaching.

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My advice, if your daughter doesn't yet know what she wants to do, is take actual courses (online or in-person) from schools that are free or cheap.  Really basic things like English Comp I, Intro to Psych, Intro to Bio w/Lab, College Algebra, etc, will transfer to almost any college out there.

RA is your best bet.  I would not do CLEP if you're not yet sure that you want to go to a school that will take them, as the college-level course will be a better bet for you at this point in time.

If you start to get to the point where you decide that TESU is the way you want to go (in-state, and they have an English degree), THEN start to incorporate ACE, NCCRS, etc.  Until then, there's not a huge rush to collect alternative college credit.

Where can we access RA courses that are free or cheap? And if they are free, how can they be transferable for credit? 
Thanks for your advice.

[rachel83az]

I think it's useful. It's practical stuff like how to read an invoice, how to convert measurements, figuring out how long a bus trip will take based on timetables. I'm not sure what's covered in the College Math CLEP, but I think CSM Learn is completely different.

[bjcheung77]

@Lunita, you can try starting with dual enrollment IF you can find a college in the area that will allow students in grade 8 to take them, the bulk will take anyone in Junior/Senior grades. As I mentioned in my first post, if your student is in grade 8, to take courses that are of interest to them.

When you reach a higher grade, try getting into dual enrollment for courses that aren't available by test out, something like a science with lab, a course that isn't alternative credit friendly (drama/theatre), or a language course where it provides her more interaction with students/teacher. Starting off with dual enrollment is great, IF you can get in...

I would start with anything be it ACE/CLEP, etc, just to get started, essentially using these methods, you'll get the Freshman and Sophomore years incredibly cheap or very close to free, if you "resourcefully plan ahead" you can get Junior year the same way, it's usually the final year where you finish the Bachelors, is where it'll "cost" you as you really need to "finish" it at the school of choice.

[rachel83az]

I agree with bjcheung77 that almost any credit right now is good credit. Even if your daughter decides to go to a school that doesn't accept CLEP exams, how much easier will it be for her to pass (for instance) US History after she's already taken the CLEPs? Use ModernStates to get the CLEP exams for FREE and there is almost no downside to this approach!

One thing to be aware of is that the "optional" essays are only kept on file by College Board for 18 months, so avoid the ones that have them (at least for now): https://examgremlin.com/do-clep-credits-...d-to-know/ So avoid American Literature, English Literature, Analyzing and Interpreting Literature, College Composition Modular. When she's older, she can either take these exams or a corresponding college class instead.

[dfrecore]

CSM Learn is only about $40. It's a very practical math course that can be very worthwhile to complete, even if it doesn't transfer to the school your daughter ultimately attends. I've seen more expensive homeschooling books.

Right, even without the credit, would you say it is useful? She just started with the College Math CLEP book and it seems to be going swimmingly. $40 is inexpensive, I'm just not sure what it is they are teaching.

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My advice, if your daughter doesn't yet know what she wants to do, is take actual courses (online or in-person) from schools that are free or cheap.  Really basic things like English Comp I, Intro to Psych, Intro to Bio w/Lab, College Algebra, etc, will transfer to almost any college out there.

RA is your best bet.  I would not do CLEP if you're not yet sure that you want to go to a school that will take them, as the college-level course will be a better bet for you at this point in time.

If you start to get to the point where you decide that TESU is the way you want to go (in-state, and they have an English degree), THEN start to incorporate ACE, NCCRS, etc.  Until then, there's not a huge rush to collect alternative college credit.

Where can we access RA courses that are free or cheap? And if they are free, how can they be transferable for credit? 
Thanks for your advice.

If you're already taking the College Math CLEP stuff, then I'd skip CSMLearn, as it's not going to be a ton of use.  I tend to think of it as being for someone who is very math-phobic, or who needs to brush up on skills they haven't used in many years.  Your daughter is not in either of those boats.

Free RA - some states have free DE (CA is one, NC is another); then Husson University (they allow up to 2 free courses per semester).  Many have stuff for under $50/cr.  The list on Homeschooling for College Credit that is linked shows the pricing for many.