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+--- Thread: Several Questions - And a Hello! (/Thread-Several-Questions-And-a-Hello)
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Several Questions - And a Hello! - Gypsy - 12-09-2008
Hi, all. I imagine that I'll be haunting this forum an awful lot in the coming months... I'm getting all my ducks in a row to get an AS and hopefully thereafter a bachelor's at EC. My job wants me to work in Illinois, and in order to make the move I need to have at least my associate's for licensing purposes. Less commute + more money = super motivated to get this DONE.
So, in no particular order, here are the questions that are making my head spin:
- For CLEP tests and such, I'll still complete the test at a testing location, correct? Is there any difference between taking a test and sending the results to EC for a letter grade and taking a test and transferring it in for credit, which I understand is usually pass/fail?
- The guides I've seen for a roadmap are all at least two years old. I don't expect anyone to lay out a full roadmap for me... are there any significant changes that would affect the existing roadmaps from the last year or so? As a followup, I've seen advice to let the EC adviser complete a roadmap: in general, how good are they about putting together the most expedient and cost-effective method?
- Because I'm a terribly competitive person, I'm setting a goal to complete my AS with Honors, preferably High Honors. What benchmarks have you found helpful to gauge your preparation for a test, and increase your likelihood of not just passing, but passing with an A?
- What have you found most helpful for studying? I intend to order the Cracking the CLEP books shortly, and I've accepted as a given using the InstantCert system... anything else you've found a "must-have"?
- Last one, I promise: I've read that EC takes a subject-specific GRE for 30 credits... I assume that is both upper and lower class credit, so would that not help me in completing my associate's?
Sorry to show up with so many questions, but the last week of whirlwind research has left my head spinning.
And thanks to everyone for providing such a wonderful resource! I wish I'd found this a few years ago, so I'd already be done and paid for. 
Several Questions - And a Hello! - cookderosa - 12-09-2008
Hello! I'm in Illinois too! I'm in the Quad Cities. Welcome to the board!
- For CLEP tests and such, I'll still complete the test at a testing location, correct?
yes.
Is there any difference between taking a test and sending the results to EC for a letter grade and taking a test and transferring it in for credit, which I understand is usually pass/fail?
When you sit down to take your exam (CLEP or DSST) they will ask for a school code of where (or if) you'd like your grade report sent to. (do this, you have nothing to lose) Select EC's code from the pull down list. CLEP is always pass/fail, and EC awards grades for DSST exams. These may or may not be available at the same test center, in my case, I had to use 2 centers to take my tests.
I'll let an EC student answer those specific road map, GRE, and GPA questions.
- What have you found most helpful for studying? I intend to order the Cracking the CLEP books shortly, and I've accepted as a given using the InstantCert system... anything else you've found a "must-have"?
I wouldn't consider Cracking to be a must have, I bought very little- maybe a few second hand text books and an occasional REA guide...but you will NEED a newer (last 2 years or so) Official CLEP study guide. The rest I'd say you can get here by creating an outline using the "specific exam feedback" folder and wikipedia. (in addition, people here always post helpful links to other online resources in the specific exam feedback section) I only used (paid) for IC once and it wasn't my thing. I think that this board, however, is THE best resource on the internet hands down.
Several Questions - And a Hello! - alissaroot - 12-09-2008
What degree program are you interested in doing?
I have found that if I can answer at least half the questions on the DSST fact sheet at getcollegecredit.com, then I pass the DSST with an 'A'. I only knew three of the ones for the DSST Geology, and I still got a 'B' on that one.
Instantcert is really good for reinforcement, there are some exams where I have used it and wikipedia exclusively. The exam specific threads are a must read. I usually skim a text on what ever subject, but your local library is free, or unload some of your old books and trade for new ones at a site like paperbackswap.com . Books are not always necessary, but there are some exams where I felt like that the book was a very valuable resource, DSST Substance Abuse for example. The recommended texts are listed on the fact sheets, and they are a good resource.
The GRE would help you finish your degree. If you scored above 80th percentile, it would get you 30 credits, eighteen at upper level. You would need to plan 2-4 months of study and it would appear on your transcript as pass/fail credit. On mine it is separated in two sections for lower and upper level, both pass/fail.
To get latin honors at Excelsior, you need 60 graded credits for your Bachelor's. I am not sure how many for Associate's. So that means a combination of DSSTs, ECEs, and/or actual classes that add up to 60 credits. I am not sure of the cut off GPAs, maybe someone will chime in on that. I hope this helps a little!
Several Questions - And a Hello! - Joel - 12-09-2008
alissaroot Wrote:To get latin honors at Excelsior, you need 60 graded credits for your Bachelor's. I am not sure how many for Associate's. So that means a combination of DSSTs, ECEs, and/or actual classes that add up to 60 credits. I am not sure of the cut off GPAs, maybe someone will chime in on that. I hope this helps a little!
It's 40 hours for Associate's. The cutoffs are 3.5-3.74 for cum laude, 3.75-3.89 for magna cum laude and 3.9-4.0 for summa cum laude.
Several Questions - And a Hello! - Gypsy - 12-10-2008
Thanks for the superfast feedback, guys! So it sounds like for High Honors, I need to make sure I have 40 graded credit hours with a 3.75 or better GPA. Which would indicate to me the best course of action would be saving the CLEP and other pass/fail credits for those subjects I feel weakest in, no?
Several Questions - And a Hello! - cookderosa - 12-10-2008
Gypsy Wrote:Thanks for the superfast feedback, guys! So it sounds like for High Honors, I need to make sure I have 40 graded credit hours with a 3.75 or better GPA. Which would indicate to me the best course of action would be saving the CLEP and other pass/fail credits for those subjects I feel weakest in, no?>>
I think that's a good plan (assuming you can pass! LOL) Remember DSST exams are graded too.
Several Questions - And a Hello! - gcalvin - 12-10-2008
Just as background, I started with zero credits just over a year ago (11/27/07) and completed my BS in General Business at Excelsior in just over five months, with everything except the capstone Business Strategy course completed in two months. I ended up with a 3.74 GPA, just shy of magna cum laude.
Your first step is to download and study the Excelsior catalog. You'll go back to this many many times, so get used to it.
Next, try to map out your degree path. I would suggest that General Business, Liberal Arts/Psychology and Liberal Arts/History are the best fits for testing out, as other disciplines may not have as many readily available exams.
Try to get your Written English Requirement squared away early. It takes a couple weeks to get your score if you take the ECE English Composition, so if you're in a rush, you'll want to schedule it early. It's graded and six credits, so it's an important part of your GPA -- try to be well-prepared. I ended up with a B.
Try to group your other exams so that you're preparing for several at the same time. A lot of this will depend on the degree path you choose, and the forum members can be helpful here. Whichever path you choose, you'll find that several exams have overlapping content, and you get some synergy benefits by studying for all of them together.
Watch out for the new DSSTs, as I'm not sure I fully understand Excelsior's grading policy. If you can, take the older versions rather than the betas. And talk to your Excelsior advisor, and make sure you get a clear answer about the grading policy.
I recommend enrolling at Excelsior earlier rather than later. If your intention is to complete everything quickly, then you don't need to worry about the annual renewal fee, and being enrolled confers some benefits, such as use of their online library, help from advisors, status reports to track your progress, etc.
Finally, for your CLEP and DSST exams, find a good testing center, even if you have to drive further than you'd like. Mine was about a fifty-minute drive from home, but well worth it, as the guy was super-cool about letting me decide spur-of-the-moment to take another exam, and which one. He also proctored my Penn Foster and TECEP exams for me. This makes an enormous difference when you're taking a lot of exams.
Have fun with it! Once you get started, you'll find that taking and passing these exams is quite a rush. Good luck!
-Gary-
Several Questions - And a Hello! - NAP - 12-10-2008
Thanks for mentioning using the GRE for an associate degree. It looks to me like a GRE would fit well in an Associate in Science degree plan at Excelsior. I hope it works.
Several Questions - And a Hello! - Gypsy - 12-10-2008
gcalvin Wrote:Just as background, I started with zero credits just over a year ago (11/27/07) and completed my BS in General Business at Excelsior in just over five months, with everything except the capstone Business Strategy course completed in two months. I ended up with a 3.74 GPA, just shy of magna cum laude.This is GOLDEN. Thanks for the advice! I'm figuring I'll do a General Business degree, and once I finish my bachelor's try a second major in Psych, then make my decision whether I want to go for an MBA. And thanks to your advice, I'll be filling out my Excelsior registration tonight!
Your first step is to download and study the Excelsior catalog. You'll go back to this many many times, so get used to it.
Next, try to map out your degree path. I would suggest that General Business, Liberal Arts/Psychology and Liberal Arts/History are the best fits for testing out, as other disciplines may not have as many readily available exams.
Try to get your Written English Requirement squared away early. It takes a couple weeks to get your score if you take the ECE English Composition, so if you're in a rush, you'll want to schedule it early. It's graded and six credits, so it's an important part of your GPA -- try to be well-prepared. I ended up with a B.
Try to group your other exams so that you're preparing for several at the same time. A lot of this will depend on the degree path you choose, and the forum members can be helpful here. Whichever path you choose, you'll find that several exams have overlapping content, and you get some synergy benefits by studying for all of them together.
Watch out for the new DSSTs, as I'm not sure I fully understand Excelsior's grading policy. If you can, take the older versions rather than the betas. And talk to your Excelsior advisor, and make sure you get a clear answer about the grading policy.
I recommend enrolling at Excelsior earlier rather than later. If your intention is to complete everything quickly, then you don't need to worry about the annual renewal fee, and being enrolled confers some benefits, such as use of their online library, help from advisors, status reports to track your progress, etc.
Finally, for your CLEP and DSST exams, find a good testing center, even if you have to drive further than you'd like. Mine was about a fifty-minute drive from home, but well worth it, as the guy was super-cool about letting me decide spur-of-the-moment to take another exam, and which one. He also proctored my Penn Foster and TECEP exams for me. This makes an enormous difference when you're taking a lot of exams.
Have fun with it! Once you get started, you'll find that taking and passing these exams is quite a rush. Good luck!
-Gary-
Already ordered my CLEP Study Guide (2009) and Cracking the CLEP. Would it be rude to ask you some questions as I plan my degree path? You seem to have recently completed something very, very similar to what I'm embarking on.Again, everyone, thank you so much for the advice thus far. I hope that when I know a little more, I can repay the kindness.
Several Questions - And a Hello! - gcalvin - 12-10-2008
Gypsy Wrote:This is GOLDEN. Thanks for the advice! I'm figuring I'll do a General Business degree, and once I finish my bachelor's try a second major in Psych, then make my decision whether I want to go for an MBA. And thanks to your advice, I'll be filling out my Excelsior registration tonight!Absolutely ask me anything. Also, search my user ID for older posts and you'll find my full degree path and other things you'll find useful. I would ask that you keep the bulk of the questions in public threads, unless it's really something confidential. I know a lot of people lurk and never post, and keeping everything public is helpful to them.
Again, everyone, thank you so much for the advice thus far. I hope that when I know a little more, I can repay the kindness.
-Gary-