What is DSST?

[BeeMarie]

I finally got a clue (sort of) and tried to figure out what DSST is. According to the web site, both my lower level and upper level colleges accept these tests, but neither of them administers them. I don't know how I'm going to find out information on whether I can use any of the DSST tests toward my degree.

Oh, and I was wondering, is DSST the same thing as Dantes?

Any clues appreciated!

~Bee

[BeeMarie]

Here's the only thing I could find about it on my college web site. It sounds like I have to be in the military to take these tests? Is this correct?

Thanks for the info!

~Bee

DANTES: Unique continuing education opportunities are offered to active military personnel through the IS Office. OSU is a regionally accredited institution offering collegiate home-study courses through Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES). Several categories of military assistance are available under DANTES. Each branch of the service maintains its own payment policy. Contact your education officer or nearest Military Education Center concerning individual veteran or tuition-supported enrollments. Course and registration listings can be found in the DANTES Independent Study Catalog.

[BeeMarie]

Thanks for the info! OSU is Oklahoma State University where I am going after I finish my AS at the community college. There was a bunch of info after what I posted above about showing proof of military service. I am going to call both schools today and get more info, because both the cc and OSU are on the list at the DSST web site.

I am registered to take a 'survey of the new testament' course in spring as a humanities requirement because the community college doesn't accept the humanities CLEP, and also they are making me take a nutrition class as part of my science requirement (why couldn't I take "Here's to your health" and "World religions" DSST instead?. I would so much rather test out of equivalent classes which have nothing to do with my major. Additionally, OSU is very expensive, so if they take the DSST I might be able to reduce my costs with some DSST tests if they will take them!

I am crossing my fingers! I'll post back what I found out later!

~Bee

[BeeMarie]

Wow what a nightmare it has been trying to get info from my lower and upper level colleges on the DSST exam credit. I talked to two different counseling and testing centers, one independent study department, one registrar personnel, one rep for the upper division at the community collge, and I even called DSST directly.

Nobody at the schools knows anything (one lady swore she hasn't heard of it since 1999!) and the DSST guy put me on hold while he called both schools. One said they don't accept them (even though they're on the list), the other said they do.

But that was to him (the DSST guy). I can't get anyone at the schools to tell me anything. They kept getting mad at me for saying that I just want to test out of courses that are required but haven't got anything to do with my major.

One lady even had most ridiculous logic I ever heard...she said testing would be too expensive, and that I probably wouldn't be able to pass the tests anyway unless I had years of experience and on and on she went. And this is a person that administers CLEP tests...I just don't know what I said that set her off!

Anyway, I'm calling the registrar lady back tomorrow...she left a message saying she found out something and if I would just call and tell her what tests I was trying to get credit for then she could help me out. I'm AFRAID...very afraid!!!!

Why can't someone just give me a list of the exams they accept for credit and what they transfer as???? Nobody could seem to understand that this is all I was asking for!

Sorry for the rant...it was most Frustrating! (Yes with a capital F!) :mad:

~BEE

[BeeMarie]

Cinderly,

Thanks that info is very helpful. It's more than I could come up with. Their website is difficult to navigate.

OSU-Tulsa is only a junior/senior college, so I have to complete my prereq requirements at the community college first. I'm starting out with already having an assoc of applied sci, and am missing several gen ed courses plus prereq courses. I have to have 15 hours residency at the community college, and I can test out of anything else that I can find a test for. CLEP either doesn't offer and/or the college doesn't accept courses for humanities, statistics, or nutrition, and these are three courses I feel are a waste of time and wanted to find an alternative for.

There may still be hope with the registrar lady!

~Bee

[never2late]

Cinderly,

Thanks that info is very helpful. It's more than I could come up with. Their website is difficult to navigate.

OSU-Tulsa is only a junior/senior college, so I have to complete my prereq requirements at the community college first. I'm starting out with already having an assoc of applied sci, and am missing several gen ed courses plus prereq courses. I have to have 15 hours residency at the community college, and I can test out of anything else that I can find a test for. CLEP either doesn't offer and/or the college doesn't accept courses for humanities, statistics, or nutrition, and these are three courses I feel are a waste of time and wanted to find an alternative for.

There may still be hope with the registrar lady!

~Bee

Bee -
Which community college are you going to? - If it is TCC, they will only accept CLEP and not DSST unless you are in the military. Also if you go to the north campus testing center, they have a list of cleps that TCC gives credit for. I understand your frustration.

If you find out anything different, please post. I have sent you a PM.

[BeeMarie]

I've been having trouble loggin in to this board b/c every time I click on a link I get logged out!

Thanks for the kind replies.

In answer to your question, I am only taking my 1st 3 credits right now at TCC with College Algebra, because after 2 wks of studying for the equivalent CLEP I knew it was never going to work hilarious

Anyway, I have it worked out that these classes will give me the 15 hours required residency: College Alg, Calc for Bus, Elem Stast, Managerial Acctg, Java (all of those are required and there's no equivalent exam for them.) If I took no other classes but these, I'd be done in time to start at OSU in the fall.

That leaves CLEP for : CIS (tested out), Macro (passed), Micro (studying), Biology (next), Fin Acctg (after that!).

So, that kind of explains the reason I was looking for equiv exams for humanities (CLEP not accepted) and for the Nutrition class. Taking these 2 other courses puts me at TCC for an entire extra semester.

I did look into the internet courses you mentioned Never2Late. I found only 16 wk courses but no 8 wk ones. I'll try to look into it more when I can get on a computer that isn't acting so goofy.

~Bee