Will getting a degree by testing out allow me to get an entry level job?

[dejesus]

I was wondering what the forum thinks about getting a degree from TESC by testing and job opportunities. Do you think employers will hesitate to hire me for a related business position if they see a TESC BSBA in general management? Do you think my current employer would hire me for a higher administrative position?(I currently just do the grunt work)

[AlbaTiVo]

The number of us getting a degree from TESC, or any of the other Big Three, by the "unconventional" means we talk about on this forum is a tiny percentage. To every employer you are just getting a degree from a regionally accredited college like any other. Apply for the job you want and go get it!

[EI2HCB]

I was wondering what the forum thinks about getting a degree from TESC by testing and job opportunities. Do you think employers will hesitate to hire me for a related business position if they see a TESC BSBA in general management? Do you think my current employer would hire me for a higher administrative position?(I currently just do the grunt work)

There are around 38,000 students at Excelsior, no-one in the four of my classes there had ever heard of testing out. I'm sure the same is true with TESC. In the end you will have a degree from an accredited institution, you'll still have to create value in your company in order to be recognized and seek promotion.

[rebel100]

Yeah no one I my classes atCOSC knew what a CLEP was.people will relate your degree to their own experience. Very few would ever think twice about it.

[KayV]

To some extent, other people will hold your degree in the same esteem in which you do. If you proclaim to all and sundry that you "only got an online degree," no one will value it. However, if you say, "I earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Thomas Edison State College," others will not look askance at it. Earning a degree from regionally accredited school is an achievement no matter the delivery system in which classes are completed.

[ronaldemail1]

A degree is a degree, you do not need to label it. The exams are as rigorous as any brick and mortar. You will be no different from any other person with a degree.

[pegasus]

I don't think anyone in the world needs to know (or likely cares) that you tested out of basic classes such as social sciences and philosophy. I also think the online stigma is rapidly fading, although you still need to be wary of known degree mills that advertise broadly. As has been pointed out, regional accreditation is the highest for a given college or university. From there you need to look at your individual program. For example, many degree programs are essentially worthless sans ABET accreditation of the specific degree itself (so not like regional accreditation of the school, which is a prerequisite for ABET program-level accreditation).

[Christopher]

It depends on who your employer is. I don’t want to give off bad/wrong advice, but yes, some will look at testing out. For example the Cal State University system only allows five classes (something like that - in that range) to be "tested out" on the lower unit classes and that's it. If they see a transcript filled with 90 units of classes all tested out they won't accept you into the University or graduate you. Some employees might think you "homed schooled" your way through the class and didnt take anything from it by testing out. On the other hand...testing out and getting a BA from the University if they allow it, is still college credit and it might not even show you tested out only as a "P/NP" or "C/NC" grade. I guess I would say test out only on the classes you have too. Some employees don't ask for transcripts some do. Just proof you graduated. So showing you have an BA/BS is good enough. Some do require transcripts and look at everything. To become a credential teacher in California and too apply to the CTC for permits requires full blown official transcripts sent in and evaluated for approval. They might even contact the college to make sure the classes are legit taken. So it depends on your employer.

The main thing. And I say MAIN thing is accreditation. They probably won’t care what the college is whether it’s Yale University, Cal State Northridge or Thomas Edison State College (which I hear might change their name to Thomas Edison University in 2015 if they get approval which makes it look even nicer on your resume). What matters is if that they are REGIONALLY accredited by one of the six regionally accredited bodies. Since TESC is regionally accredited by the MSA you’re good. Not a topic for this post, but there’s reasons why regionally accredited is a must and to stay away from national accredited or distant learning (only) accredited colleges. It’s okay if they’re regionally accredited along with being nationally/distant but always must be regionally accredited. One example would be this: California Commission on Teacher Credentialing

Good luck!

[lkm370]

Truthfully, a college degree is a supplement to previous work experience these days for most jobs. Just BS your resume, add a BA on there and your in.

[Prloko]

It depends on the job and company. I know this is the typical cop out answer, but its the truth. If the company is recruiting "recent graduates", they usually have schools in mind they are recruiting from. If you are applying for a position for a generic company with a Bachelors as a requirement, then it will at least put you in the running. If you are applying to the US government like GS positions, they could care less what school as long as you have the matching experiences. If you are looking to get into Bain Capital, fat chance, if you are looking to get into a generic admin position at LMNOP inc., you're good.

This forum has TESC/Excelsior/COSC graduates who are entry level, senior, management, executive, self employed and unemployed, just like the general population. My degree checks a box, but I am also the first in my family to get a college degree (somehow beating out my nieces and nephews) and am very proud of my degree and it has been well regarded during my job searches.