TESC Free Electives - FEMA vs. DSST or CLEP

[mrs.b]

If time is the most significant factor, which is a better option to fill 3 last Free Elective credits? For expense, I know FEMA is ideal (can't beat free!), with CLEP and DSST equal after that. My enrollment expires on July 1, and I have TESC courses on my to-do list up until June 23rd; free time to study for exams or anything else is minimal, so I will have approximately one week after my time frees up completely to get these last credits done. How quickly can you go through a FEMA course, how quickly does it get graded, and how quick is the transcript process on their end? (I know TESC will take their sweet time, but I can apply for graduation and just mark that it's on the way.) Paying for an exam and rush fee is still going to be less expensive than a $225 enrollment extension.

If testing is the better choice for speed, correct me if I'm wrong but DSST is best, correct? They can do the rush processing for a fee?

I may have to do one enrollment extension anyway, but I'm trying to avoid it. Just want to be done!

[cooperalex2004]

FEMA is going to not only be free, but also the quickest. They will send them the transcript the next day (I think). Neither DSST nor CLEP seem to mail things out right away, sure you can test quick, but the transcript will take time to go there. With FEMA they send you a copy as well so you'll know when TESC gets it (also noting that they are in MD and TESC is NJ so they have quicker mail than those of us across the country). Fax them the request form and you'll get it pretty quick. Check the approved FEMA course list, then pick one that sounds easy to you and give it a shot. You might find you can pass without study because a lot of it is common sense or overlaps with existing coursework (like Effective Communication). They are graded instantly and require a passing score of 75%. I love CLEP and DSST exams but if you just need free electives then go for FEMA.

[marianne202]

I agree that FEMA is your best bet for speed. I have requested transcripts twice and both times I received my copy within 3-4 days. I would expect TESC to have it within a week. Check to see what classes TESC will accept for your degree and sign up. I did all 7 of the FEMA PDS courses in a weekend. If you are computer savvy or have any EMS training you should be able to finish these up quickly. I would fax your transcript request the same day you finish them up, even on the weekend or at night, so they go out the next business day. CLEP and DSST only mail transcripts a few times a week. They also don't get an automatic download from the test centers and it must be sent manually. At least that is what I'm told, since their computer systems are not compatible with the test center systems. You would need to allow at least two weeks for test scores to be received by the test center and your transcript to get mailed out, then figure mail time and processing time. You know TESC is very slow in the regard! Good luck!

[LaterBloomer]

They are easier than easy. I probably pumped out 20+ credits with less than an hour a course. I printed the class ...summary, or something. It has all of the info from the course. Then went to the test and took it. You get an e-mail almost immediately informing you if you've passed. Some overlap. Some interesting. Some difficult. Overall, I'm glad tha I did it. I got the PDS. You might want to stop there as lots of the courses are really business management courses and you could breeze through them.

[rebel100]

FEMA

In particular I would do Leadership, Communication, and Manageing Volunteers from the PDS http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/pds/PDS%20Brochure.pdf I just had two separate people in my office knock these out over a couple of days even with all the interuptions in my workplace. My (then) 17 year old did the whole PDS in a weekend.

Honestly....you could have these done tonight if you really had to. Transcript be in next week I bet.

[mrs.b]

Thank you, all! That answers my question and helps solve another dilemma (originally asked here). I've run into some health issues, and my time for school has been cut dramatically with doctor appointments trying to figure out what is going on. I had to withdraw from a course - never done that before - to be able to finish the other two. My husband has bugged me to withdraw completely and put off finishing so we can focus on this health biz, but I'm so close. SO close. I am taking 2 of my last 5 courses right now, and with just 3 to finish after that...no way I'm quitting now, but I do need to finish as quickly as possible. If I were to swap to BSBA-Gen Mgmt, my empty course slot slips out of Free Electives and moves to Business Electives, so if FEMAs will fill in on the transcript the fastest, easiest, and cheapest, that solves that; guess I'll stick with BSBA-HROM.

I still need to find a last-minute replacement for the Human Resources area of study elective I dropped if sticking with the BSBA-HROM / FEMA route. I'm thinking of Penn Foster's Labor Relations, but cannot find any information on whether it is all unproctored quizzes, a project, a proctored test, or some mix therein. Their website tends to be inaccurate from what I've noticed on other courses I've taken, and Penn Foster's people (I talked to four in different departments) were not sure...including an instructor. :confused: So last question, I think: has anyone taken Penn Foster's Labor Relations, to share some insight on the format?

[rebel100]

If your interested in it the HRM at CSU-Pueblo was very doable....2-3 page responses to questions from a textbook. It was also upper level, around $500. I had a pretty leisurely run and did it over about 4 weeks. I posted a reveiw of it on this site somewhere.

[marianne202]

EC has an HR management ECE. I got a B on it with minimal study and I'm not an HR person! I believe they have a practice exam for it, pay for it and use it as a lot of the scenarios are on the actual exam. I beleive the practice exam is $25 and the actual exam is $95. I think it awards 3 UL graded credits. You could study for it and test around your other committments. I'm sorry to hear about your health issues, but I know how that goes. I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and had surgery while in the middle of my BSHS and while applying to grad school! If you find you can't finish your courses, look at asking for an incomplete instead of dropping the class. That will give you time to finish the course and you won't lose the money paid for the class. Just a thought. Most schools will give you until the end of the next term to complete the work for the course and get a grade. Good luck!

[mrs.b]

I'm afraid HR Management is filled; I'm enrolled in the TESC course version right now and need to finish it or my financial aid is goofed. Hubby says forget the money, but I'm already past the point where we would get a refund and can't justify that expense for a course I won't get credit for. Did it for the one, but can't lose all three.

The course I had to drop was for the area of study elective section. It was Small Business Management that was somehow determined to be an HR elective (when Payroll Accounting is not, according to the advising group, but that's a different discussion about confusing logic). I had to drop Small Business Mgmt because it was easily twice the workload of the other two combined (bi-weekly "written assignment" that was three to four 600-800 word essays in one document, plus discussions and the rest). To replace that dropped course, I need to find an HR'ish course like Labor Relations, Benefits, Compensation, Training...something like that, to fill the elective slot. I've searched the usual suspects for self-paced options, CSU-Pueblo, BYU, LSU, and a bunch of others. I guess those courses are not so common. I'm definitely open to an RA self-paced solution with something that would fit the bill; I'm holding my ACE transcript in case I have to go with Penn Foster, but as mentioned above, I'm nearing the deadline to need to get things in, and I thought some of y'all have said ACE and TESC combined will be a lengthy transcript wait.

[marianne202]

EC also has a labor relations ECE, just checked! I know you get your score at the test center and EC is good about mailing out transcripts within a day or two of ordering it online. They usually have the score from the test center in a day or two so you should have your transcript on the way or at TESC within a week. I hope this helps.