Study.com (SDC) WARNING - new credit/exam policy change

[jsd]

Then it's admitting someone is only smart enough to take X number of proctored exams each month otherwise it becomes suspicious. This rationale makes no sense. 

an example, I can go take 10 CLEP exams in two weeks, and there wouldn't be an issue of possible suspicious activity, so why would there be an issue from another provider like SDC?

Rational or not, these are the changes that SDC concluded were necessary to stay on their partner colleges' good sides. Those colleges have a more uneven say in the matter than you or I do. Your option now is to figure out what your path is now that you're aware of the policy, or get so frustrated that you give up.

You sound like a determined person, so my guess is giving up is not an option you're considering. So take some time to let this frustrating situation pass, and start tackling your next moves.

[Merlin]

Personally, I'd rather see SDC implement a 5 exam per month policy if the alternative is that colleges stop accepting their credits. This actually happened to Shmoop last year because someone completed a ton of courses in a short period of time and submitted them to TESU. TESU flagged this as suspicious activity and then stopped accepting all credits from Shmoop. They still don't accept any Shmoop credits and likely never will.

If I understand the Shmoop situation correctly, someone took non-proctored exams at Shmoop and transferred them to TESU. This caused the issue. 

SDC - all exams are proctored. If I am taking the exams while being proctored, why does it make a difference how many I can take each day/week/month?

Then it's admitting someone is only smart enough to take X number of proctored exams each month otherwise it becomes suspicious. This rationale makes no sense. 

an example, I can go take 10 CLEP exams in two weeks, and there wouldn't be an issue of possible suspicious activity, so why would there be an issue from another provider like SDC?

It has nothing to do with proctoring. Shmoop added proctoring and TESU still refused to accept their credits. It's about too many courses appearing on a transcript in a short period of time. From the perspective of accreditation, this calls into question the academic integrity of the school and how rigorous their academic programs are.

You don't know that completing 10 CLEP exams in 2 weeks isn't considered questionable behavior. Others have done it, but we don't know how intense the level of scrutiny is on these accelerated degree programs.

My suspicion is that the schools are just trying to be cautious since alternative education like ACE and CLEP is nontraditional and if it looks too easy to get, that could cause problems if some boundaries aren't put in place.

[natshar]

I think any more than 5 exams a month is a lot of work and dedication, so good job for that. Plus if any of them are UL those require a lot of work the assignments to get all those done in the month too. I totally understand why this change was enacted. Plus you are earning 60 credits in 4 months and that is still pretty fast considering most people full-time would earn that in 2 years and you are doing it at 90% of the cost. It's not that big of deal if you look at the big picture and realize how much quicker you are getting your degree even with these limits in place.

While you are waiting make sure to do the assignments. Don't be like me, I've got like ten study.com courses done with quizzes and final exams I just haven't done the assignments yet.

[cookderosa]

I get it- you can use Studycom's lower cost subscription to do the work, and then when you're done, upgrading your account to go back and tick off the exams. I think that for sure is the most cost effective way, but if the cap is 5, it's 5. I'm guessing it's because SCD doesn't want 2 exams for the first $299 and 18 @ $70. This allows them to pace you at 4 months instead of 1. It's possibly a money thing.

[Old Guy]

If I understand the Shmoop situation correctly, someone took non-proctored exams at Shmoop and transferred them to TESU. This caused the issue.

Then Shmoop required proctoring and TESU still didn't recognize the courses.

Everyone seems worried about overachievers.  The greater truth that is told by someone able to succeed at a year of university in a month or two is how undemanding undergraduate degrees are.  Back in the days of butts in seats school, I consumed copious amounts of beer, prepared every paper the night before, missed most of my classes, barely studied and got my degree with only an extra 6 week summer session.  If one is literate, undergrad school is brain-dead simple.  My grades wouldn't have got me into medical school but I sure could tick a box.

[quigongene]

Back in the days of butts in seats school, I consumed copious amounts of beer, prepared every paper the night before, missed most of my classes, barely studied and got my degree with only an extra 6 week summer session. 

Name checks out :-)

[davewill]

...
You don't know that completing 10 CLEP exams in 2 weeks isn't considered questionable behavior. Others have done it, but we don't know how intense the level of scrutiny is on these accelerated degree programs.
...

CollegeBoard is a very prominent provider (it seems like most schools take at least a few CLEP exams), so TESU (or others) aren't likely to be concerned even if some people were to speed through a lot of exams.

[Merlin]

...
You don't know that completing 10 CLEP exams in 2 weeks isn't considered questionable behavior. Others have done it, but we don't know how intense the level of scrutiny is on these accelerated degree programs.
...

CollegeBoard is a very prominent provider (it seems like most schools take at least a few CLEP exams), so TESU (or others) aren't likely to be concerned even if some people were to speed through a lot of exams.

Agreed. They have an established reputation and are well known for the scrutiny under which they administer their exams. However, the point is that we don't know how an accreditor or college looks at degrees where students manage to complete a ton of credits in a very short period of time. Even if some of those credits are earned from CLEP, I have to imagine that too many credits in too short of time is looked at with some level of skepticism.

Personally, it doesn't matter that much to me since 5-6 courses in a month has been my natural limit anyway. But I also appreciate being able to earn an accelerated degree, so I'd rather see limits put in place for how/where/how many credits can be earned in a given time period to make sure that colleges continue to allow alt. ed. credits to be used in degrees.

[sanantone]

Community college courses are easy, and I couldn't imagine completing 20 in one month. I have to work 40 hours per week.

[natshar]

Community college courses are easy, and I couldn't imagine completing 20 in one month. I have to work 40 hours per week.

Yeah. I don't think that many users on this forum complete more that 5 sdc courses in one month anyways. From what I've seen from this fourm, it doesn't seem like this change will affect too many people. 20 courses is a lot in one month and remember OP didn't complete all the courses in one month they started them earlier. To actually complete from scratch 20 sdc courses in one month has got to be difficult.