TESU Credit Eval Question/Costs

[AwardTour]

This is a question I should already know the answer to but I don't. So apologies in advance.

So I can make the June 2019 Graduation I will need to take the Cornerstone TESU-100. I already know this can be knocked out quickly. I plan on doing this in February with about 40 of 60 Credits Completed. I know most people wait until they have 99.9% of their requirements completed before transferring and getting their academic eval. 

Because of some upcoming possible personal circumstances I have decided to get things started and begin the transfer process next January or February. I will be doing so with about 40 credits with about 20 left to go. 

My question is this, how much more expensive doing it this way will it make it for me? Will I have to pay for a new eval every time? The remaining credits at that point will come from Straighterline. New ACE transcript fees every time? Maybe I should not submit anything to TESU until the final 20 credits are done. Really my question boils down to this, how much extra money will it cost me to transfer into TESU without being 100% done on my degree plan????? Thanks.

[zzzz24]

You can have as many academic evaluations completed as you want once you are actually enrolled, so registering for the cornerstone fulfills that. They do not cost anything, but if you are not enrolled they will only do 2 for you.

If you take classes through SL or SDC, sending transcripts to TESU are free. Anything else will require an ACE transcript, but it's only $15 for any additional transcripts sent, the first one is included with registering for ACE.

[davewill]

Actually, most people DON'T wait until they are 99% done, nor is it a very good idea to do so. It leaves you too vulnerable to changes in policy. If the transcript fees are a serious impediment, you can wait to send each one in until you're done with that provider, but that leaves you open to unpleasant surprises or a delay in graduating if things don't go according to plan. I always recommend that people apply as soon as they are ready to commit to the process and enroll not too long after. I also always recommend that people send in transcripts as often as needed to keep peace of mind and motivation (it can be very motivating to see that academic eval fill in).

In your shoes, I would apply now, if you haven't already, and plan on sending all of your current transcripts in according to your plan (Jan/40 credits). They can do the first eval before you actually enroll. After you enroll (Feb), you can send in transcripts as often as you want or need to.

[AwardTour]

You can get have as many academic evaluations completed as you want once you are actually enrolled, so registering for the cornerstone fulfills that. They do not cost anything, but if you are not enrolled they will only do 2 for you.

If you take classes through SL or SDC, sending transcripts to TESU are free. Anything else will require an ACE transcript, but it's only $15 for any additional transcripts sent, the first one is included with registering for ACE.

Thanks, do you happen to know the average turn around times with SL and ACE in getting transcripts to TESU? I might have them sent from SL to TESU as I finish them. I would only do one addition transcript from ACE not because of the cost but because I don't want anyone at TESU to get confused. 

It seems like everyone here gets totally different responses/actions every time they interact with TESU. It almost seems random. I don't want them to be confused so I am also going to offer up my own "transfer map/credit request" document to show where I want my credits mapped. It will hopefully be a straightforward and hassle free process when having transcripts sent to TESU from SL. The mapping is already laid out on SL's website so I don't see how that could be left to interpretation by TESU, but I don't want to make any assumptions. 

Thanks again for the reply.

[MNomadic]

Also, once you become enrolled you can speak with an advisor to preplan/pre-approve your courses from many different sources, especially some of the common providers (SL, SDC, etc). That way there shouldn't be any surprises with transfer equivalencies. Also, as stated SL and SDC will send your transcripts directly to TESU for free as much as you want so you can send it in after each course is completed.

[AwardTour]

Actually, most people DON'T wait until they are 99% done, nor is it a very good idea to do so, it leaves you too vulnerable to changes in policy. If the transcript fees are a serious impediment, you can wait to send each one in until you're done with that provider, but that leaves you open to unpleasant surprises or a delay in graduating if things don't go according to plan. I always recommend that people apply as soon as they are ready to commit to the process and enroll not too long after. I also always recommend that people send in transcripts as often as needed to keep peace of mind and motivation (it can be very motivating to see that academic eval fill in).

In your shoes, I would apply now, if you haven't already, and plan on sending all of your current transcripts in according to your plan (Jan/40 credits). They can do the first eval before you actually enroll. After you enroll (Feb), you can send in transcripts as often as you want or need to.

Thanks for the insights davewill, I appreciate it. I was mistakenly under the impression that TESU has a "per-semester enrollment fee" that was not a trivial amount (more than $300). I thought in-order to avoid those fees you would transfer in right when you are almost done. I must have gotten those fees mixed up from another school. Maybe it was Excelsior or Charter Oak??? I am clearly wrong and this does not apply to TESU.

[zzzz24]

You can get have as many academic evaluations completed as you want once you are actually enrolled, so registering for the cornerstone fulfills that. They do not cost anything, but if you are not enrolled they will only do 2 for you.

If you take classes through SL or SDC, sending transcripts to TESU are free. Anything else will require an ACE transcript, but it's only $15 for any additional transcripts sent, the first one is included with registering for ACE.

Thanks, do you happen to know the average turn around times with SL and ACE in getting transcripts to TESU? I might have them sent from SL to TESU as I finish them. I would only do one addition transcript from ACE not because of the cost but because I don't want anyone at TESU to get confused. 

It seems like everyone here gets totally different responses/actions every time they interact with TESU. It almost seems random. I don't want them to be confused so I am also going to offer up my own "transfer map/credit request" document to show where I want my credits mapped. It will hopefully be a straightforward and hassle free process when having transcripts sent to TESU from SL. The mapping is already laid out on SL's website so I don't see how that could be left to interpretation by TESU, but I don't want to make any assumptions. 

Thanks again for the reply.

They normally send them within a few business days, but TESU will still take a few weeks to update them to your evaluation once they receive them. 

I would just apply to TESU at this point and register for the cornerstone so that you have full access to academic advising.

[dfrecore]

TESU does not have any per-term fees, like COSC does (and EC has an annual fee).  This is why it's better to enroll early at TESU.

They will not get confused if you send them multiple transcripts.  They mark the date the first transcript was processed and then only add new courses.  That is the ONE thing they don't seem to have an issue with.

Sending them your own map, while innovative, will most likely not work.  But I commend you for thinking outside the box, as well as for your optimism! 

[mysonx3]

@dfrecore TESU's website does recommend sending in a degree map. I probably won't do it personally because it seems like TESU won't have the slightest clue what's going on, but it's not a totally off-the-wall idea

[dfrecore]

@dfrecore TESU's website does recommend sending in a degree map. I probably won't do it personally because it seems like TESU won't have the slightest clue what's going on, but it's not a totally off-the-wall idea

Like I said, it's a good idea - I'm just not sure they'll pay any attention to it!  But honestly, I would give it a shot, it certainly can't hurt.