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+--- Thread: Help! I don't know where to start! (/Thread-Help-I-don-t-know-where-to-start)
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Help! I don't know where to start! - iothom - 08-05-2021
I've been reading through this forum, and there's so much information (which I'm grateful for), but a lot of it doesn't apply to my situation and I'm not sure how to make it work. It's seems like everyone already has some credits going in.
Here's my story: My kid is starting high school and I'd like for her to take CLEP classes for college at the same time. Basically, I'd like for her to graduate from college at near the same time as she graduates from high school. I understand that a lot of those classes are redundant, like English and college math. She's not particular about her degree. She'd like to do something along the lines of computer science/ game programming, but I don't know if that's too complicated to do.
I just need help with a basic plan. I've heard of modern states, study, etc, but I don't know how to put them together. Thanks in advance!
RE: Help! I don't know where to start! - rachel83az - 08-05-2021
COSC and Excelsior allow enrollment by underage teens. TESU does not. You must be at least 18 to enroll at TESU. But TESU is the one that has the Comp Sci degree. A school and a degree does need to be chosen before a plan can be fleshed out because the requirements at the Big 3 are pretty different.
For instance, COSC requires a science with a lab while TESU and Excelsior do not.
RE: Help! I don't know where to start! - ss20ts - 08-05-2021
Is she taking AP classes in high school? Completing high school and a 4 year college degree at the same time is a lot of work and time. CLEP won't be able to be used for most classes for a degree. Before getting into CLEP, select a school and a degree program. Then follow the paths previous students have taken which often includes Sophia and Study.com not CLEP.
RE: Help! I don't know where to start! - Cmglaser08 - 08-05-2021
If excelsior allows teens to enroll I would do that. They can get a lot of credits by taking coopersmith courses (much cheaper then excelsior)
RE: Help! I don't know where to start! - dfrecore - 08-06-2021
You can join Homeschooling for College Credit which fits your needs, even if you're not homeschooling. Between AP, CLEP, and Dual Enrollment you can have her do a lot. Many homeschoolers use Sophia and/or Study.com as well. Lots of good info on how to finish a degree with high schoolers.
RE: Help! I don't know where to start! - iothom - 08-06-2021
Thank you so much for your responses, everyone! I really appreciate the direction, and I'm eager to research more.
To answer the above question, she isn't involved in AP yet because I wasn't sure whether to do AP or CLEP. I heard that AP is more challenging than CLEP because of the testing schedule.
RE: Help! I don't know where to start! - rachel83az - 08-06-2021
AP is often "more valuable" for the top-tier schools. But if a degree from the Big 3 will meet her needs then CLEP will do just fine.
Note: I'm not saying that CLEP are somehow "bad" but passing AP exams is something that could potentially boost your chances of getting into a particular university. CLEP is "just" college credit.
Also, CLEP exams can be free through ModernStates.
RE: Help! I don't know where to start! - Alpha - 08-06-2021
Every now and then there's a story in the newspaper of some kid who has done what you're imagining and so it's clear that it can be done. My memory is telling me that there's typically some type of cooperation agreement with a local community college to get started.
RE: Help! I don't know where to start! - P226mem - 08-07-2021
(08-06-2021, 07:32 PM)Alpha Wrote: Every now and then there's a story in the newspaper of some kid who has done what you're imagining and so it's clear that it can be done. My memory is telling me that there's typically some type of cooperation agreement with a local community college to get started.
and one of those popped up in my news today.... https://www.wbrc.com/2021/08/06/15-year-old-graduates-high-school-community-college-same-day/
That's one way to do get associates at same time as finishing high school and then onto brick and mortar university to finish bachelors. That seemed to involve all brick and mortar schools. And the key thing was that this scholar knew her goals. Not all ninth graders do and that's ok.
I'm also seconding the idea of learning some strategies from the website "homeschooling for college credit" hs4cc. Plenty of information there that helps with the unique part of high school in the mix. you might like to use this link from the "start here" section of that website https://homeschoolingforcollegecredit.com/2019/08/25/degree-planning-101/
Another resource out there is a free video course called The College Degree Roadmap, offered by dual credit at home (DCAH). https://dualcreditathome.com/college-degree-roadmap/
While that video course is currently free, DCAH is geared for homeschooling and the paid side of their stuff is lesson plans for getting high school diploma through legal homeschooling and then heavy on testing options to get degree from Charter Oak. I think it's expensive with their lesson plans and not always needed. but the free video course is helpful for degree planning information.
RE: Help! I don't know where to start! - Alpha - 08-07-2021
(08-07-2021, 07:42 AM)P226mem Wrote:Great post(08-06-2021, 07:32 PM)Alpha Wrote: Every now and then there's a story in the newspaper of some kid who has done what you're imagining and so it's clear that it can be done. My memory is telling me that there's typically some type of cooperation agreement with a local community college to get started.
and one of those popped up in my news today.... https://www.wbrc.com/2021/08/06/15-year-old-graduates-high-school-community-college-same-day/
That's one way to do get associates at same time as finishing high school and then onto brick and mortar university to finish bachelors. That seemed to involve all brick and mortar schools. And the key thing was that this scholar knew her goals. Not all ninth graders do and that's ok.
I'm also seconding the idea of learning some strategies from the website "homeschooling for college credit" hs4cc. Plenty of information there that helps with the unique part of high school in the mix. you might like to use this link from the "start here" section of that website https://homeschoolingforcollegecredit.com/2019/08/25/degree-planning-101/
Another resource out there is a free video course called The College Degree Roadmap, offered by dual credit at home (DCAH). https://dualcreditathome.com/college-degree-roadmap/
While that video course is currently free, DCAH is geared for homeschooling and the paid side of their stuff is lesson plans for getting high school diploma through legal homeschooling and then heavy on testing options to get degree from Charter Oak. I think it's expensive with their lesson plans and not always needed. but the free video course is helpful for degree planning information.