I'm Done! I'm Done! I'm Done!

[Anastasia]

I love this quote: "I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.' Thomas Jefferson

[marianne202]

Congrats! cheersmate Great job! I knew you were going to make it in time for July graduation! It does feel great when you are finished. You should be very proud of yourself and all your accomplishments. I agree that this forum is a great network of support and friends. I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors. Keep us updated on progress. Maybe we can meet up at graduation if I get to go.

Marianne

[Anastasia]

Thanks Marianne!

I finished early because I just got the BS in Liberal Studies with an area of focus in Psychology instead of the Psych degree. I did this as it didn't make any difference for the grad school I plan on going to.

I began another thread called something like Excelsior Graduation July 2010. Maybe you want to sign your name up there if it ends up that you can make it. That way, we'll all have our names in one place and it will be easier to contact everyone at once. I really hope we both can make it -- we deserve to celebrate this!

[Katterina]

I finished early because I just got the BS in Liberal Studies with an area of focus in Psychology instead of the Psych degree. I did this as it didn't make any difference for the grad school I plan on going to.

I ended up doing the same thing. I figured it would also look more well-rounded on a resume (and less redundant!)

[CLEP101]

Sorry for the late response, I've been sleeping in the woods in a training exercise. Trying to get internet from the trees out there doesn't work.

Congratulations on finishing your degree. 91 credits in 6 months, WOW very impressive. There's no way I could have done that. it takes me a month to study for two tests depending on how difficult the subject is.

Again, Congratulations and have a cheersmate on me.

[Anastasia]

I would say that it's pretty impressive that you're going through this process from the woods of Korea! Where do you take your tests?

[bluelotus]

Hi! I know you have received many congrats but I just wanted to add one more. I envy so much. I wish I had your motivation.

[Anastasia]

I appreciate all of the well wishes so much! It really means a lot to me, so thank you for adding your voice.

Motivation is great, but 'my sort' of motivation comes a bit from desperation and I wouldn't wish that on you.

I worked as a massage therapist but then had a hernia operation from lifting that heavy table, and was in a bad car accident. Thus ended my 20 year way of earning a living. I lost my life savings through the time I was unable to work - and on medical/physical therapy bills (even the the accident was not my fault). I'm not in my 40's and need to rebuild my next egg, retirement, etc. so decided I needed to acquiese to this 'credentialed' society.

BTW, the very nature of my work is based on helping people create new behavior patterns, so if I can help with any motiviation tips, let me know!!!

[enmajors1]

First of all, congrats to everyone who has earned college credits by testing out of expensive classes! I have 9 UL electives to take and I recently learned I can take all of them through CLEP and DSST tests. I start next monday with Management Information Systems and plan on taking a test a week.

So, any tips on passing these tests? Are the practice questions on instacert and the materieals online comaparable to the actual test questions? How many hours should I study for each test?

Can't wait to post my own graduation success story!!

E

[Anastasia]

Hi enmajors1.

I just cut and pasted this from an answser I gave on another thread because I don't feel like rewriting it. For most of my tests I used a combination of the flashcards, the forum, and wiki/internet searches.

First I go through the thread on the forum that corresponds to the particular course. I cut and paste onto a word doc. everything that anyone mentions they remember from the test. Then I cut out the duplicates and arrange and then print that document. I keep it next to me as I read the flashcards for the first time, taking notes next to the items I am supposed to know.

I usually read the flashcards for at least a second time, sometimes more, while taking notes on anything else I need to know. All along the way, I do internet searches on things I need to understand more in depth.

I review my notes the notes before or morning of the test. Make sure I get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy, balanced breakfast, and somehow I've done pretty well on all my tests so far. I do study hard though.

Hope that helps!