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+--- Thread: Help for my Kids from an OG (/Thread-Help-for-my-Kids-from-an-OG)
Help for my Kids from an OG - bmills072200 - 03-21-2025
Wow - It's been a while! I was one of the OG's on here many moons ago. I got my BS from Excelsior in 2008 and then an MBA from Jacksonville State in 2010. This forum was essential in my degree and I owe so much to a bunch a people on Instacert that led the way.
With that said, I'm now an old man with kids that are in the college exploration phase. I'd like some advice...
I have a 20 year old son that graduated homeschool 2 years ago and has been working for a couple of years debating the value of college. We think there would be some value for an in-person college experience for him. We are looking at Grand Canyon University (GCU) in Phoenix (We live in Colorado Springs). They have a large online presence, but we think he needs some of the in-person college experience to round out some of his social skills. With that said, he would like to complete his degree as quickly as possible.
GCU promotes Sophia, which is new to me, but looks incredible. Any information about Sophia (pros and cons) would be appreciated. Additionally, anyone with specific info on GCU and how to best expedite credits via CLEP/DSST/Sophia/etc would be greatly appreciated. It's been hard finding specific requirements on the GCU website about how many testing credits can be transferred in. He is looking at a Business degree.
My daughter is 17 and graduates in May from home school. She is probably looking at staying home for a year before any sort of in-person college experience. With that said, she has a good acumen for testing and work-at-your-own-pace type classes. Would you recommend Sophia for her? CLEP? I know it depends on the school and what they will accept, but what is the softest way to introduce her to this world?
I'm sorry for the relatively broad questions and I know there are probably discussions on all of these things that I have just not found yet here on the forum, but please humor me.
Thanks in advance!
- Ben
RE: Help for my Kids from an OG - jg_nuy - 03-21-2025
I responded on your other inquiry here with details from the GCU catalog: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-Grand-Canyon-University-Tops-100-000-Online-Students?pid=437467#pid437467
GCU has a ton of majors, but their acceptance of transfer credits from ACE and CLEP is limited. Here is their transfer course search page: https://transfersearch.gcu.edu/SSTP/#/course-search
My son went with Thomas Edison State University based on flexibility for degree combos and maximization of his ACE + dual enrollment credits. He would have liked UMPI, but he was too young at the time (still is). You can see some of his experience in this thread: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-Age-waiver-question-18-year-old