Bad news, Everybody!

[WeAintGotNoBadges]

I haven't even completed the application process, but I would hope that I can do something like this.

If not, I might need to get the associate's degree and go elsewhere.

Ah. Then be aware that it takes a few weeks (4 to 6) to get an initial--unofficial--evaluation and that you can't select a major prior to or during that process. Then after you officially enroll you can select a major, if that's the road that you want to take. From then on it takes about 2 weeks to get the official evaluation that will be based on your major and transfered credits etc...

W.

[Maniac Craniac]

My original plan was to get a B.A. from Excelsior in Psych/Soc, choosing them because I could save a ton of money through GRE credit. Thankfully, I eventually decided against that and am now following the plan I have in my signature. If I didn't change my mind, I would be freaking out right now. BTW- there would be a strong possibility that those enrolled before the policy change would be allowed to finish their original degree plan. Excelsior has made changes like this in the past and did not leave their current students in the cold.

Anyway, I know it would be a missed opportunity for many, but I see this as a good thing. No, the GRE isn't easy, but is this REALLY how a person should get a degree? Studying for 3-4 months and taking a single multiple choice test? That's why I changed my mind about it to begin.

I would, however, think that it would still be possible to get at least some credits from GRE through the portfolio process. Although, it would be more expensive AND the credit-granting would no longer be according to an established scale.

[alissaroot]

Anyway, I know it would be a missed opportunity for many, but I see this as a good thing. No, the GRE isn't easy, but is this REALLY how a person should get a degree? Studying for 3-4 months and taking a single multiple choice test? That's why I changed my mind about it to begin.

The same argument could be made against CLEPs and DSSTs. It's still a multiple choice examination that evaluates independent learning no matter the time spent leading up to the exam, just like the other tests we take. I know I passed many CLEPs with no study at all, or at most a few weeks. Of course it's not for everyone, as you saw it wasn't for you, but for some of us, it has been the best possible route to a degree we could afford in a timely manner.

Thank you for pointing out that EC has honored degree plans in the past based on those grandfathered in by the current policy. If we can get any idea of when this change will be happening, it might be an idea to go ahead and apply now if you wanted to use a GRE.

[MomOfMany]

Well crap. I've been studying my heart out for the English lit GRE bc we need to save every dime we can.

I'm starting to feel a lot of pressure here.

Like hurry up and get credits/degree asap before yet another major change happens making it harder.

As to why?

Bottom line is probably money.

[Maniac Craniac]

The same argument could be made against CLEPs and DSSTs.

Indeed. After taking a few CLEPs and now an ECE, I realized that I am missing out on the best part of college, though I am still very grateful for the time and money saving factor (and what well-informed adult wants to sit through 100-level courses? *yawn*). When I get my BA, it will be from 60 exam credits and 60 course credits, a ratio that I will be happy with. This is, of course, not to slight anyone who is completely testing out of a degree. I applaud anyone for taking advantage for opportunities that are available and affordable. Until just a couple months ago my plan was to do the same (in fact, I originally envisioned myself using portfolio credits to get half of my degree, but decided against that in favor of exams), but even from then I have turned an almost 180 in my outlook. To each his own.

I did, however, want to add my .02 that, if those who have been planning on using GRE do get their opportunity, this isn't necessarily a bad thing for the future of Excelsior.

[alissaroot]

MomofMany, I suspect you are correct, this change probably has to do with money. What a shame to lose a route to a degree that saves thousands.

[Kaz]

This sucks to the nth degree. I guess I too have to hurry up and enroll in order to "lock myself in to a grandfathered situation". I want a math degree. I have almost three years done through B&M classes. Yet I'm not even close to graduating by any measure: time, money, whatever.

I looked at all my options and realized that I could clear my major (math) and all remaining "buffer" credits to get up to 120 by just using the GRE subjects for math and something else. I decided to not just take it easy for the "something else", so I've taken the psych GRE twice now. I got 27 credits awarded on the first try and expect to get the full 30 when my scores come in on the second. But I still have to take the math GRE, which was what I want to graduate with. Am I now going to end up with a bachelor's in psych alone? That has nothing to do with my job history or future.

Online majors are not created equal. Business administration and comp sci/I.T. are a dime a dozen. Pure math? Almost non-existent. I don't have the same situation I did six, seven, eight years ago. I live 45 miles from their campus. They have NEVER offered ANYTHING I could use for my major online. It'll cost me at least another $9000 to take classes, basically one at a time for two years, in order to finish. All the other close, private colleges are more expensive. Like a lot of people here I have real-life stuff that trumps this stuff: way underemployed to what I used to be, a mortgage on a house that's underwater, etc. The subject GREs were a godsend. This could be the nail in the coffin.

Hopefully NAP has the right idea. This is brand new, and almost all schools are lenient on students with respect to graduating under the rules that were in place when they became students. Maybe I can get enrolled in the next couple of weeks and they'll still let me take the math GRE this fall. (crosses fingers)

[Maniac Craniac]

this change probably has to do with money.

Or accreditation.

[Maniac Craniac]

This sucks to the nth degree.

I understand your fear, but Excelsior hasn't made an announcement yet. If they do make an announcement, I doubt they would do it in such a way that would turn away current students. I expect that they would let students know at what date in the future they would stop accepting GRE for credit, that is, unless this is an accreditation issue- which could potentially make the decision sudden. However, if that was the case, it would surprise me that we haven't seen them say anything about it yet.

There are other options for getting math credit, many of them inexpensive, have you looked into any?

[Kaz]

There are other options for getting math credit, many of them inexpensive, have you looked into any?

Such as? I've been working towards a bachelor's in math. There is no CLEP, DSST, TECEP, ECE or Ohio University Exam for me to take. It has been a while since I looked into what upper-level math courses are available out there, but even if they are there I'm going to spend thousands more dollars that I don't have compared to my less than two hundred for the GRE test.

Sorry, I don't mean to get cranky. You are trying to help. Thank you! This is just a very scary thing. My life might get jerked around bad for, like, the fourth time in two years.