When to send transcripts from Sophia or SDC to TESU

[rpmranger]

IMO, if you know you are going to stick with TESU, just register and take SOS-110 to get active status. It's now a required course to graduate anyway for anyone not locked into an old catalog and there is no alternative to get out of it. May as well get it out of the way since it takes a few months to complete. It has useful information that will apply to any further writing/research intensive courses you may take in the future.

Taking it as my second to last course kind of defeated the purpose of it for me. I could have used some of that information earlier, (like getting research database access through NJ library) etc..

[allvia]

IMO, if you know you are going to stick with TESU, just register and take SOS-110 to get active status. It's now a required course to graduate anyway for anyone not locked into an old catalog and there is no alternative to get out of it. May as well get it out of the way since it takes a few months to complete. It has useful information that will apply to any further writing/research intensive courses you may take in the future.

Taking it as my second to last course kind of defeated the purpose of it for me. I could have used some of that information earlier, (like getting research database access through NJ library) etc..

rpmranger has an excellent point - the TECEP is the cheapest way to become active, but just taking the SOS-110 and getting it out of the way is the most practical (being a requirement no matter which TESU degree you choose)

[tallpilot]

IMO, if you know you are going to stick with TESU, just register and take SOS-110 to get active status. It's now a required course to graduate anyway for anyone not locked into an old catalog and there is no alternative to get out of it. May as well get it out of the way since it takes a few months to complete. It has useful information that will apply to any further writing/research intensive courses you may take in the future.

Taking it as my second to last course kind of defeated the purpose of it for me. I could have used some of that information earlier, (like getting research database access through NJ library) etc..

That's the advice I've been giving.  It isn't difficult, the information is useful and it gets one enrolled while simultaneously checking a box that needs to be checked.

At some point in this processes one must pick a school and commit to it.  Once that decision is made there is no reason not to complete the cornerstone.

From a human nature standpoint it may also encourage people to be more serious now that they have sunk real money into the endeavor instead of just ~$100 for an application and the first monthly fee at Sophia.

[AZDan]

IMO, if you know you are going to stick with TESU, just register and take SOS-110 to get active status. It's now a required course to graduate anyway for anyone not locked into an old catalog and there is no alternative to get out of it. May as well get it out of the way since it takes a few months to complete. It has useful information that will apply to any further writing/research intensive courses you may take in the future.

Taking it as my second to last course kind of defeated the purpose of it for me. I could have used some of that information earlier, (like getting research database access through NJ library) etc..

That's the advice I've been giving.  It isn't difficult, the information is useful and it gets one enrolled while simultaneously checking a box that needs to be checked.

At some point in this processes one must pick a school and commit to it.  Once that decision is made there is no reason not to complete the cornerstone.

From a human nature standpoint it may also encourage people to be more serious now that they have sunk real money into the endeavor instead of just ~$100 for an application and the first monthly fee at Sophia.

Your point is valid and it is good advice. However, for those of us that are paying out of pocket, and need to manage their expenses, paying for a 1 credit course now ($50), to become active, makes a lot of sense as well.

[ARhead]

The only reason not to take the cornerstone early is that there is always a chance that TESU may pull a Charter Oak and make some new demand on students that make the school unpalatable to some 114'ers. In that case, a student would be sunk the cost of that expensive course, and have to find a more attractive school.
That being said, now that I'm almost at the point that it wouldn't harm me anymore, I sure wish I took it earlier.

[ashkir]

You are in application status, which restricts you to 2 transcript evaluations.

I can't seem to find where you're limited to two transcript evaluations. They don't seem to have the limit posted anywhere on their site. Where did you find this? I emailed about it.

I'm going through Sophia right now. I have about 7 courses done, I'm thinking of sending them over via Parchment or Ace to get them over to TESU (since I'm accepted). When I knock a few more out I want to do the same. This would obviously be more then 2 transcripts being sent to them to be evaluated for placement.

I wanted to do it this way, a few at a time, because there's no telling when TESU will change their mind about other credit providers. For all we know they can suddenly decide to restrict the amount from a single source again down to say like 30 like some providers did.

[P226mem]

You are in application status, which restricts you to 2 transcript evaluations.

I can't seem to find where you're limited to two transcript evaluations. They don't seem to have the limit posted anywhere on their site. Where did you find this? I emailed about it.

Edit to add: I did find the info on tesu website: go to admissions, Explaining your eval....look for FAQ: When is My File Updated. quote: Please note that prior to enrolling with the University, applicants are granted two evaluations. https://www.tesu.edu/admissions/track-evaluation

I do know that I applied at end of March (2020). Transcripts from 3 sources. (comm. coll, clep, ace) but only had two evaluations. Then on the evaluation itself it told me my two limit was up until I enrolled. So, I did the enroll in a TECEP to be enrolled. After waiting the right number of days after the term started, then I got my next eval done. I would have enrolled in SOS110 right away to be enrolled but I was still working on sophia courses, SDC and Coopersmith. I needed the tecep as an enrollment place holder. Then the fun could begin getting the final courses done and transferred. It is not impossible that the policy has changed since March. But unlikely that it did. Maybe it's on the website somewhere (edited to add that)..... but thanks to conversations on here, I knew about it and how to deal with it. oh, I never actually took that tecep. no grade. no fail. no known penalty other than the extra cost which I just mentally wrapped into the application process. If I hadn't been focused on finishing comm college and sdc, sophia and coopersmith as quickly as possible, I would have just enrolled sos110 to meet that need to be enrolled.

[crotique]

IMO, if you know you are going to stick with TESU, just register and take SOS-110 to get active status. It's now a required course to graduate anyway for anyone not locked into an old catalog and there is no alternative to get out of it. May as well get it out of the way since it takes a few months to complete. It has useful information that will apply to any further writing/research intensive courses you may take in the future.

Taking it as my second to last course kind of defeated the purpose of it for me. I could have used some of that information earlier, (like getting research database access through NJ library) etc..

I picked up on that and was wondering if I should just take it and "get it out of the way". I will go this route instead as I am "deadset" on TESCU. Thank you for posting this.

[tallpilot]

The only reason not to take the cornerstone early is that there is always a chance that TESU may pull a Charter Oak and make some new demand on students that make the school unpalatable to some 114'ers. In that case, a student would be sunk the cost of that expensive course, and have to find a more attractive school.
That being said, now that I'm almost at the point that it wouldn't harm me anymore, I sure wish I took it earlier.

If there is anything you can count on in this world it is that. Once you commit to being a 114er, you should move as quickly as possible and expect the rules to be changed to make it more difficult (read expensive). What confounds me is people who get within a class or two of finishing then throw up their hands when they can’t find alternative credit.

I understand trying to be as economical as possible but actually finishing is more important. If you have to take one or two more ‘real’ classes than planned, you are still thousands to ten of thousands ahead of what any other path would cost.

Very few things are more useless than a not quite finished degree. That I know from experience.

[AZDan]

The only reason not to take the cornerstone early is that there is always a chance that TESU may pull a Charter Oak and make some new demand on students that make the school unpalatable to some 114'ers. In that case, a student would be sunk the cost of that expensive course, and have to find a more attractive school.
That being said, now that I'm almost at the point that it wouldn't harm me anymore, I sure wish I took it earlier.

If there is anything you can count on in this world it is that. Once you commit to being a 114er, you should move as quickly as possible and expect the rules to be changed to make it more difficult (read expensive). What confounds me is people who get within a class or two of finishing then throw up their hands when they can’t find alternative credit.

I understand trying to be as economical as possible but actually finishing is more important. If you have to take one or two more ‘real’ classes than planned, you are still thousands to ten of thousands ahead of what any other path would cost.

Very few things are more useless than a not quite finished degree. That I know from experience.

Still, for those that just don't have the $1,500 yet to take the SOS-110 course early, it is not terrible to sign up for the 1-credit TECEP to get admitted as the first step. If you can write the check, then do it. Just know there is another option to accomplish this objective.

For me, since I am taking three courses at AZ State Univ. right now, I don't have the ability to do the SOS-110 early since I will still be completing ASU. So the 1-credit course made the most sense to become active.