I'm new and could use some advice and help.

[Attie]

Thanks so much for all of the additional information everyone! So, I have made up a plan for myself—basically what rebel100 suggested, plus a few extra tests to fulfill my general education credits (DSST Principles of Public Speaking, American Government CLEP, and DSST Technical Writing). I think I will look at the specific UL classes that I will need to take after I have completed most or all of the testing credits.

Now I have a few more questions—sorry! It sounds like it would be better for me to start testing on my own before I sign up at COSC, is that right? I was kind of wondering how that works…where would I send the credits when I take the exams? Or do the CLEP, DSST, and ECE people all hold them indefinitely until I request a transcript?

Also, does COSC assign any or all of those exams a letter grade? Does anyone have a suggestion for easiest or best exam to start out with?

Thanks again!

[Attie]

Yes, I did have to fill out a waiver at the beginning of each term for each class, but it was a really simple form. I think if you look at TESC's website and look at the classes you are thinking about taking it tells whether or not you have to have a proctor. The capstone was a bit daunting. It was a paper consisting of 25 pages (but that includes cover page, abstract page, table of contents, body, and references so that cuts down a lot). The other thing with the capstone is that it is actually broke up into chapters were you write one chapter every two weeks, so by the end all you have to do is compile all of the chapters into one document, review, edit, and submit it. It was much easier than I expected.

I can't say if it is the better option as I never looked into other colleges, I transferred from a community college to TESC, it was the easiest option. I read that you want to be a freelance writer- that is my end goal, though I plan on teaching for a while just to get started. I don't mind questions, I wish I had been able to have someone to ask before I began!

Thank you very much for your reply. I think I'm going to go with COSC, but I really appreciate you getting back to me! It is very nice to be able to ask questions and get answers from real people. Thanks again, and good luck to you with your career!

[rebel100]

You can take the bulk of your exams/fema/sl/aleks prior to enrolling. DSST and CLEP will keep for 20 years and you can just request they send a single transcript when your ready. ALEKS/SL should be transferred to an ACE transcript when you complete them(though SL will send a completed transcript after you take all your classes...I still like having it on ACE as a backup)

Remember you have 2 classes in residence at COSC that are usually taken over two semesters...If you are at 90-100 credits I would go ahead and enroll, COSC just charges you a fee of about $225 per enrolled semester....it's not like that giant $3000 fee at TESC.

COSC gives a letter grade for the older DSST exams (the two digit ones I think). SL gets a letter grade as well.

[Jonathan Whatley]

Thanks so much for all of the additional information everyone! So, I have made up a plan for myself—basically what rebel100 suggested, plus a few extra tests to fulfill my general education credits (DSST Principles of Public Speaking, American Government CLEP, and DSST Technical Writing). I think I will look at the specific UL classes that I will need to take after I have completed most or all of the testing credits.

Now I have a few more questions—sorry! It sounds like it would be better for me to start testing on my own before I sign up at COSC, is that right? I was kind of wondering how that works…where would I send the credits when I take the exams? Or do the CLEP, DSST, and ECE people all hold them indefinitely until I request a transcript?

The advantage of delaying enrollment would be that you'd save the College Fee of $228 per semester ($171 for CT residents).

CLEP saves scores for 20 years. DSST I believe saves scores indefinitely – there's a form on their website to request military transcripts from before a record system change in 1974. Your ECE and UExcel scores will be saved on an Excelsior College transcript, and TECEP pass results on a Thomas Edison State College transcript, and like college courses on transcripts these should be retained indefinitely.

Also, does COSC assign any or all of those exams a letter grade?

COSC doesn't assign letter grades to CLEPs, TECEPs, and DSSTs with three-digit scores (including the new form of Principles of Public Speaking – double-check with your testing center or DSST if you want to know specifically which form your testing center offers).

COSC does assign letter grades to DSSTs with two-digit scores (including Technical Writing), and all ECEs and UExcels.

[Attie]

You can take the bulk of your exams/fema/sl/aleks prior to enrolling. DSST and CLEP will keep for 20 years and you can just request they send a single transcript when your ready. ALEKS/SL should be transferred to an ACE transcript when you complete them(though SL will send a completed transcript after you take all your classes...I still like having it on ACE as a backup)

Remember you have 2 classes in residence at COSC that are usually taken over two semesters...If you are at 90-100 credits I would go ahead and enroll, COSC just charges you a fee of about $225 per enrolled semester....it's not like that giant $3000 fee at TESC.

COSC gives a letter grade for the older DSST exams (the two digit ones I think). SL gets a letter grade as well.

Thank you!

[Attie]

The advantage of delaying enrollment would be that you'd save the College Fee of $228 per semester ($171 for CT residents).

CLEP saves scores for 20 years. DSST I believe saves scores indefinitely – there's a form on their website to request military transcripts from before a record system change in 1974. Your ECE and UExcel scores will be saved on an Excelsior College transcript, and TECEP pass results on a Thomas Edison State College transcript, and like college courses on transcripts these should be retained indefinitely.



COSC doesn't assign letter grades to CLEPs, TECEPs, and DSSTs with three-digit scores (including the new form of Principles of Public Speaking – double-check with your testing center or DSST if you want to know specifically which form your testing center offers).

COSC does assign letter grades to DSSTs with two-digit scores (including Technical Writing), and all ECEs and UExcels.

Thank you very much! I have a really good GPA at the moment, so I will have to be sure to spend some extra study time on the exams that will be given a letter grade. Do you have any idea what scores equate to which grades?

[fm101]

[Oops, mistaken post.]

[Jonathan Whatley]

Do you have any idea what scores equate to which grades?

Download the Attached File, DANTES ltr grades 2003.xls, in this older thread: DSST grading at Charter Oak for GPA. This was as of a few years ago, and of course all policies are subject to change. But I'm only saying this as a standard disclaimer, not out of any reason to believe that they have changed.

Excelsior College also gives grades for two-digit DSSTs, but they use different cut scores. IIRC, Excelsior College is a little more generous in grades. Excelsior cut scores should be in the Student Guide to Credit By Examination at Excelsior College.

[rebel100]

Thank you very much! I have a really good GPA at the moment, so I will have to be sure to spend some extra study time on the exams that will be given a letter grade. Do you have any idea what scores equate to which grades?

It varies based on the specific exam I'm afraid. I used to have a chart....but can't put my finger on it. The Technical Writing score in my sig line equated to an "A", as did the Civil War exam.

[Attie]

Thank you both!