Thinking of switching from TESC to PennFoster

[Kat0616]

Anyone ever graduate from PennFoster, and have any issues with their degrees? I am currently trying to get a BSBA from TESC though "Clep ing" but I think I am going to possible change to Penn Foster. I am wanting to end with a Bachelors degree in HR, but am struggling with just doing Cleps for my associates degree. Anyone have any feelings out there on going though Penn Foster?? I am hoping to do Penn Foster full time, so try and graduate ASAP.....

[cookderosa]

Anyone ever graduate from PennFoster, and have any issues with their degrees? I am currently trying to get a BSBA from TESC though "Clep ing" but I think I am going to possible change to Penn Foster. I am wanting to end with a Bachelors degree in HR, but am struggling with just doing Cleps for my associates degree. Anyone have any feelings out there on going though Penn Foster?? I am hoping to do Penn Foster full time, so try and graduate ASAP.....

Why do you have to only use CLEPs for your degree? TESC doesn't require that, they just allow it. How you earn your credits is up to you. I took courses at TESC and my local CC in addition to CLEP.

[sanantone]

Like Cookderosa, I didn't only use CLEPs either. Most of my degree included courses previously taken at a couple of universities and I took some more at a community college district. Are the CLEPs difficult for you, are you having trouble finding testing centers, or are you having trouble completing your whole degree with just CLEPs? There are ECEs, DSSTs, Straighterline (self-paced courses), Uexcel, TECEPs, Ohio University Exams, Saylor (self-paced courses), and ALEKS (self-paced courses). TESC also accepts Penn Foster courses that are ACE-approved. TESC's comprehensive tuition plan is not bad, but you can possibly find a dirt cheap community college that offers online courses.

Since Penn Foster does not offer a bachelor's degree in HR, you'd have to transfer to another university. And since PF is not regionally accredited, you'll be limited to other nationally accredited schools and a handful of RA schools.

[brucet3]

Penn Foster is a great way to get a couple of credits here and there, but there is no way I would ever recommend anyone get a degree from that place (IMHO).

I used Aleks, Penn Foster, TEEX, Straighterline, CLEP, DSST, local Community College and FEMA to get my credits for my soon to be degrees and I am very satisfied with my results. Don't worry too much man and don't let yourself be down for longer than a day or two. If your current plan isn't working, get back up and try to create a more realistic plan instead of only using Clep's. There are other ways, and I'd be willing to help you find alternatives if you needed any help.

Bruce

[IrishJohn]

Anyone ever graduate from PennFoster, and have any issues with their degrees? I am currently trying to get a BSBA from TESC though "Clep ing" but I think I am going to possible change to Penn Foster. I am wanting to end with a Bachelors degree in HR, but am struggling with just doing Cleps for my associates degree. Anyone have any feelings out there on going though Penn Foster?? I am hoping to do Penn Foster full time, so try and graduate ASAP.....

Like others have expressed here, I'd urge you to stay with TESC or one of the other Big 3 instead of switching to Penn Foster. Your degree from TESC will take you further than one from Penn Foster IMO. If you like Penn Foster's format you can always take ACE-approved courses through them and transfer them to TESC later. You can also utilize Straighterline, Saylor, TEEX, FEMA, ALEKS, your local CC and a number of other options instead of just CLEP or DSST exams. Don't worry about needing a more structured program, if testing out doesn't work for you than go with what does. The most important thing is to finish your degree - not competing with or comparing your method of doing so with others here!!!

Check out the list of options here: Sources of Credit - Degree Forum Wiki

[Yanji]

Please, please, do not go to Penn Foster for a degree. A RA degree will get you much further than a partially-recognised degree from a career college. You can take online courses from TESC or transfer credits from other schools instead of testing out if you have not been having too much success with tests. Tuition at TESC is pretty good if you pay comprehensive tuition. (works out to ~$153/cr for NJ residents, ~225/cr for non-NJ) If you live in NY State, Empire State College only has a 30 credit residency requirement and offers a HR degree you can earn through evening courses instead of online if you prefer. National Labor College also offers an affordable online general BBA with a strong HR/IR flavour because of their AFL-CIO affiliation. Other than Cornell ILR and a few other schools, NLC is one of the most recognised names in the I/LR field.

[Kat0616]

Well my option's are few, my husbands military and we are stationed in England. I am trying to get my degree within the next year or less, but I am finding it difficult to get it though CLEPs. SO I am trying to decide how I should go forward now....

[frankiebleyes]

First of all don't give up it really is possible to earn your degree in a year with determination. Try to get your general education requirements out of the way first. Test out, take PF if you desire but make sure they are ACE approved to be accepted by TESC. Hold off on enrolling at TESC until you have exhausted all of your other cheap options and then take your final courses on line with them. My son and I have been through quite a struggle, but we both officially turned in our graduation form and fees at TESC just today. He is finished with his requirements and my last two classes are done next week. We will not receive our degrees until June, but its over and I'm glad that I stuck with it. I used community colleges, including a local one and two in Arizona online, Straighterline, Penn Foster, and my local university. I have strictly taken courses through TESC for the last year and finally finished this month. Being in the military is it possible that you might take some DANTE's exams through your husband's post? Many of those will apply to your degree, especially the general education requirements. Best of luck in your education.

[IrishJohn]

Well my option's are few, my husbands military and we are stationed in England. I am trying to get my degree within the next year or less, but I am finding it difficult to get it though CLEPs. SO I am trying to decide how I should go forward now....

Have you tried Straighterline? Many of the courses you need for HR degree at TESC can be completed through them. You could also take many of the equivalent courses via other sources, like Penn Foster, and then transfer them to TESC.

Tell you what. Why don't you provide us a list of what courses you have and what you have remaining to take and we can make suggestions for alternatives to CLEP and DSST exams?

[rebel100]

Don't opt for a nationally accredited school better known for home study gunsmithing and high school completion over a regionally accredited degree....we can explain the difference...it's a bad idea.

You can use pf to complete at TESC or we can guide you to other alternatives....heck if testing out isn't your thing try WGU or CSU-PUEBLO (THOUGH CSU isn't business) you have plenty of RA options. Please don't jump to pf, you'll regret it.