Just getting started. Confused on whether to take the tests first or apply to TESC.

[dfrecore]

I applied at TESC before July 1 to lock in the catalog that I wanted, and have 11 courses remaining. 8 of those will be TECEP's to get the per-credit plan residency requirement met. But, once you take a TECEP, you are considered enrolled for 6 months, and the catalog year you are under stays with you for those 6 months. Take another TECEP, and so on...it's a rolling 6-months.

I would wait to enroll anywhere, as you have a long way to go. Once you get a good amount of credits under your belt though, then start to take a look at the colleges again.

Also, I would do a lot of free/cheap stuff first: ALEKS, Saylor, TEEX, Kaplan PLA, etc. It's nice to get some credits under your belt and onto the ACE transcript early on, without having to spend a lot of money.

I would also do "groups" of courses so that studying is easier...if you're going to take a bunch of math courses on ALEKS (Int. Algebra, College Algebra, Precalculus & Statistics for instance), also think about taking the Applied Liberal Arts Math TECEP and the College Math CLEP. If you're going to take the TEEX computer courses, think about taking the Computers DSST or CLEP, the Computer Concepts TECEP, and Management Info Systems DSST. Things like that. There are lots of courses/exams that can be done in groups (Psychology, Business, History, etc.).

Once you get a bunch of credits (maybe 90+), if it's before July 1, go ahead and apply to TESC to see where you stand and lock in the catalog. You would hate to wait, and have them change the plan on you when you start to get close to the finish line.