Just Joined - Introduction and Question About Instantcert

[LaceyLady]

Hello Everyone,

I just joined! Finally. I came across this helpful forum a few months ago but have not had to join (or had the time to) until now, because I have been taking courses back-to-back. I wish I had come across this forum much earlier. When I started out with my degree, it would have been great to be able to ask questions and find answers on this forum. That would have made it much easier! I have been working on my degree entirely alone, doing all the research and getting all the information myself. I knew about CLEPs and DSSTs and the Big Three from a book I read, but I did not know about all these other options that I am reading about on this forum. If I had known, I might have taken advantage of Aleks, Straighterline, etc. At this point, I am already more than halfway through my degree, though I still have plenty of questions and have been finding this forum very helpful.

A little background information about myself:
I graduated from high school in May 2009 after being homeschooled. I have never gone to school. Since graduating, I have been taking CLEP and DSST exams. By November 2009, I had 42 credits. I am not the kind of person that can do 90 credits in 6 months or something like that, but still, that amounts to 2 exams per month! I found out that I tend to not choose the easiest exams either! And, off course, I have to study each exam well - I could not think of taking an exam cold! In December 2009, I enrolled in TESC. I began taking courses with TESC in February 2010 and have been working hard on them ever since. I managed to take a few exams while doing courses but not as many as I would have liked. I find courses take a lot of time for me. I am currently finishing up two courses, then I want to get back to taking exams. Which is why I just joined.

Enough talk about me (you are probably tired of my story by now), on to my question: Since I have joined, can I just pay and use instantcert? And can I just cancel when I am finished using it without affecting my membership in this forum? How does it work? Also, I am not sure whether I want to use Instantcert or not. The specific exam feedback sounds great but I am not sure about the flashcards (or the $20 per month). How helpful are they, especially for someone who learns well by reading books? So far I have almost entirely used books. I used the internet to supplement books for my last DSST but that was it. I prefer books to the internet or lectures. My study resources have been CLEP and AP study guides from the library and old, used college textbooks bought for $1 - $5 each at my local thrift store, in addition to the official CLEP and DSST study guides which I bought. As you can guess, I had sticker shock when I had to buy textbooks for my courses (why is it the thrift stores never carry the book that I need?)! But that is a different subject.

I would appreciate any input on Instantcert.

Thank you,
LaceyLady

[PonyGirl93]

Ello! I didn't actually join IC for any of my exams. I found free online stuff, REA study guides, free peterson's exams, Free Clep Prep.com, feedback from members, and other textbooks sufficient. Some people on here love IC cards, though

What are you looking to get, degree-wise? How many credits do you have now?

Lovely to meet you (I'm Julie, by the way, better known as: Pony :p )

[burbuja0512]

Hi and welcome! I am pretty loyal to the IC subscription, but only partly because of the cards. First of all, I do the cards for every exam, but accompany it with the specific forum feedback. There are a lot of other free resources that people will list and study guides. I have had tests where the IC cards weren't enough to get a high score, but I haven't had exams yet where there weren't questions that seemed to come straight out of the cards. But.. your mileage may vary and in the end, you need to find out what works best for you.

I do pay for books on some of the more difficult exams, but try my best to get used stuff on Amazon or eBay. Don't forget about youtube! I have found some great lectures totally for free. Even some of the more obscure topics seem to have a lecture out there. I love using that when there is a concept that I just can't teach myself.

Lastly, don't ever feel bad about the pace you take. Yes, there are many amazing people that can test out of everything in just a few months, but most of us here have taken our time. It's going to take me about a year to finish my degree, but keep in mind that many of the subjects that I've CLEPped out of are topics that I've already learned in my career. I've been in the business world for almost 15 years now, so hopefully that's helped me go a little faster on some of the tests. Take your time, learn, and have fun! You're already WAY ahead of most people your age.

[LaceyLady]

Hello Julie,

I agree, the feedback and information about resources is very helpful. I have been on xxxxxxx and I have come across the Peterson's practice exams (learnt about them on this site), but I haven't used either, yet. Again, I have only come across these resources since I have been taking courses. Like you, I might not pay for Instantcert, not sure yet. The specific exam feedback seems nice but I would not pay $20/month just for that!

I am planning to get a degree in business. Right now I am enrolled in BSBA in General Management, but I am thinking about doing Accounting. I would like a general business degree that I can test out of and a specialization in accounting, but the college won't let me do both, I have to choose one or the other, it seems. I currently have 75 credits. When I have some time, I'll put my completed exams and courses in my signature.

By the way, you were homeschooled as well, weren't you?

Lovely to meet you, too.

[LaceyLady]

Hi and welcome! I am pretty loyal to the IC subscription, but only partly because of the cards. First of all, I do the cards for every exam, but accompany it with the specific forum feedback. There are a lot of other free resources that people will list and study guides. I have had tests where the IC cards weren't enough to get a high score, but I haven't had exams yet where there weren't questions that seemed to come straight out of the cards. But.. your mileage may vary and in the end, you need to find out what works best for you.

I do pay for books on some of the more difficult exams, but try my best to get used stuff on Amazon or eBay. Don't forget about youtube! I have found some great lectures totally for free. Even some of the more obscure topics seem to have a lecture out there. I love using that when there is a concept that I just can't teach myself.

Lastly, don't ever feel bad about the pace you take. Yes, there are many amazing people that can test out of everything in just a few months, but most of us here have taken our time. It's going to take me about a year to finish my degree, but keep in mind that many of the subjects that I've CLEPped out of are topics that I've already learned in my career. I've been in the business world for almost 15 years now, so hopefully that's helped me go a little faster on some of the tests. Take your time, learn, and have fun! You're already WAY ahead of most people your age.

Thank you for the input. I agree, everyone is different. Each person studies at their own speed and learns a different way. The only thing I don't like about my pace is that I am behind my goal, mostly because of the courses, not the rate of exams I took before enrolling. (But, the goal was a little ambitious, I admit.) Experience would help, I have to study everything from scratch (except for things that overlap what I studied in high school). But I am glad that I am getting a degree while still young, I would not like to need a degree when I have a family to take care of.

LaceyLady

[MA2]

Just study study and study some more and take the exams... start with the easy ones to build your confidence.

I've taken 4 in about 6 weeks and I've got a bunch more to do while I'm still in the Navy and they're still free

Don't worry if you're behind your goal... you can either dwell on it or do something to fix it.

[HorseManiac]

And can I just cancel when I am finished using it without affecting my membership in this forum? How does it work?

I know you said that you didn't know if you wanted to spend the $20/month, but if you do then YES you can cancel your membership and still have access to this forum. You can still post and respond to threads. I think you can even keep the same username when you sign back up again. I canceled mine while I'm not testing!

HTH!
Horsemaniac

[ryoder]

Accounting is going to cost you a little bit I think. You can do straighterline accounting I and II cheap, 39 bucks per class and you only need one book. Plus the 100 dollar straighterline monthly fee and your good to go.
I did acc I,II and biz comm in one month at SL for a cost of $220.

Penn Foster has some accounting classes that are ace approved. You can do these for TESC but they are not cheap. I think its about 300 each, I can't remember exactly. You can search for their classes on ACE | Home Thats the ACE site where you will pull in your ALEKs and PennFoster credits as you get them. ALEKs for stats and college algebra is a great choice.

General management will be cheaper to do since it can be done with more DSSTs I think. I am doing Computer Information Systems and had to pay 900 bucks to Penn Foster for 3 classes. They have a Financial Management class you can take which is easier for some of us than the DSST Finance.

Good luck and ask any questions you like.

[dblhelx]

Does IC cancel your account automatically if you only paid for one month? Or does it continue to charge you every month until you cancel it??

I signed up the beginning of January and here we are mid-February and I can still access the members only area and view the IC cards.

[MA2]

It's going to keep billing you until you cancel it.