Feed back, Please

[johnami]

I am in the process of laying out my game plan, and I want thoughts on a couple things. I am planning on TESC when I get that far.

First, what is the major difference in Straighterline and Aleks? Other than the price. It seems that they both have a similar approach.

Second, which is best to take first, micro or macro?

I am starting a BSBA, although I intend to make the first 60 credits applicable to a ASBA in the event it is needed before the BS. Naturally, I want to keep the cost as low as possible. I will use FEMA and CLEP, and DSST if needed. I can just walk in to take CLEP tests locally, but I have to go over an hour to take DSST exams, so I would rather stay away from those if possible. And I can take some classes at my local CC, which will allow me to access some PELL grant funds.

Any thoughts are welcome.

[cooperalex2004]

-If you are approved for PELL grant money you can take courses at TESC. PELL is federal so you can use it at any SINGLE school. If you send it to TESC for approval you can have them approve courses to pay at your CC too (they arrange it to split the money as long as you take something through TESC too). TESC is something like $212 / credit once you pay the enrollment fee so it isn't that much more than my CC was. Since you have to pay enrollment anyway you might consider the courses too since they have a nice 12 week approach to them. Test out of what you can though and ask questions of an adviser and/or the financial aid office.

-Straighterline offers a bunch of different subject areas (Transfer College Credits To Thomas Edison State College (TESC) - StraighterLine) while ALEKS only offers math courses (you'll find ALEKS has other courses but they are not ACE approved and then don't transfer).

-Most take Macro first I think, I've heard both ways (my CC recommends Macro first). The material has some overlap but I'd say you can pick one to start with.

-Even with a drive involved, don't get scared off by DSST, I like them better than CLEP (except for the six credit exams). If you do take a DSST you might try stacking it up and taking something that comes naturally easy to you (like DSST Intro to Computing for me), and then take two exams while you are there. If you take an exam you are familiar with you shouldn't take anywhere close to the two hours DSST gives you. I also like that they are both multiple choice but DSST has only four options (A-D) instead of CLEP having five (A-E).

[johnami]

This is where I am at present, and I am sure that I will change everything several times. The biggest thing I would like to change is getting more upper level credits. I know that I am missing something, probably something big. Any comments welcome. And THANKS!


I. General Education Requirements 30

A. English Composition 6 3/3 ENG-101/102- English Composition 1/2 SL (StraighterLine)

B. Humanities 6

CIV101 Western Civilization (3) SL or CLEP

USHIST101 US History 1 (3) SL

C. Social Sciences 9 Must include at least two subject areas

Macroeconomics or Microeconomics (3) ECON101 Macro SL or CLEP

Other Social Sciences (6)

HIS-101-CE Western Civilization I: Ancient Near East to 1648 (3) CLEP

PSY-101-CE Introductory Psychology (3) SL

D. Natural Sciences and Mathematics 6

Precalculus Mathematics or Quantitative Analysis (3) MAT-129-CE Pre-Calculus (3) ALEKS

Other natural sciences/mathematics (3) NAS-101/102-CE Natural Sciences (General) (6) CLEP

E. General Education Electives 3 *****

II. Management Core 18

A. Principles of Financial Accounting 3 ACC-101-DE Principles of Financial Accounting (3) DSST

B. Principles of Managerial Accounting 3 ACC150 (3) SL

C. Legal Environment for Business 3 ****???

D. Principles of Management 3 MAN-301-CE Principles of Management (3) CLEP

E. Principles of Marketing 3 MAR-301-CE Principles of Marketing (3) CLEP

F. Introduction to Computers/CIS 3 CLEP

III. Business Electives 6 *****

IV. Free Electives 6 FEMA

Total 60

[IrishJohn]

E. General Education Electives 3 *****

You can fill this requirement with another CLEP or DSST in social sciences, science, math, humanities, etc. Just pick something you are strong in and knock it out. Since you're already going to do Pre-Calc with ALEKS, why not Intermediate or College Algebra? Cheap way to get 3 more credits!

C. Legal Environment for Business 3 ****???

CLEP Introductory Business Law fulfills this. So does DSST Business Law II, but I'd suggest the CLEP instead.

III. Business Electives 6 *****

Since you are going for the BSBA later, I'd recommend taking DSST Principles of Supervision (easy if you pass CLEP Management), DSST Introduction to Business (or the SL course like I did), and DSST Organizational Behavior or DSST Human Resource Management. That way these courses will plug into the BSBA easier.

Good luck!

[NAP]

The 2 that you have listed as Humanities are Social Science at TESC. Those could move to Gen Ed electives. Consider A&I Lit CLEP for Humanities instead.

[starlingsgone]

Just a quick comment: Do take Macro before Micro, I did and I found it works really well to go from world economics and that kind of big stuff, to doing Micro, dealing mostly between business markets and the little stuff. Macro sort of acts as a general economics, and Micro, as a specific type.