06-14-2017, 01:26 PM
I appreciate all the helpful remarks, and would like to remind everyone that the request is for feedback and ideas. We haven't developed a plan, and are in the idea stage. So to say we are charging people for something free is not only inaccurate, but misunderstands the whole model. So please allow me to clarify.
1. Yes, you can google anything. There is no disputing that. However, most people don't know what to look for or where to look and a lot of sites charge for information we want to compile for free. Even this forum, which holds a lot of information, has zero organization to it. That search can take hours, which many people don't have.
2. The Foundation has a goal of making college more affordable for people who can't afford it. So the primary purpose is to give away vouchers for exams and provide study materials. It's not a business or money-making enterprise.
3. Obviously, I did not need grants or charity to do my studying, and there are others like me. People who like the savings, in time and money, of testing out of college. For those people, it would be nice if they 'gave back' to the cause too. If you can afford to pay your own way, you can probably afford to donate to the cause which helps others who are unable to pay their own way. That's why we want feedback on a 'donate' button or 'pay model' for tests, content, etc. We are gathering ideas.
4. We are in no way looking to compete with this site or InstantCert. In fact, one of our ideas is to provide a grant for the monthly fee for people, so they can access the study materials. Heck, even this forum requires a paid membership to access the individual test information. So our idea SHOULD mean more revenue for InstantCert, as it is a phenomenal resources.
Finally, if all you have to do is post negative comments or laugh, you are really missing the point. It's our belief that 'where much is given, much is required'. It's important to give back, and this community has helped a great deal. We are trying to give back, and ridicule of someone trying to help reflects poorly on you. I would hope you change your tone and provide honest feedback, which you think may help someone. Not everyone is in your shoes. So yes, you may be a Google genius, but not everyone has easy, ready access to Google. Yes, you may have unlimited funds, but not everyone can afford $100 CLEP tests, or $150 Straighterline courses, or even more expensive options.
We aren't asking you to donate to our Foundation. We are asking for ideas on how to fulfill our mission better. You may not believe we can keep school information up to date, and we will have to rely on our volunteers for a lot of that. But that's no different from this forum too. Please, take a minute and give some ideas. Point out what obstacles we will encounter, and how you think we can best overcome them. Tell us what you would like to see. What information have you struggled to find when doing your tests? What has been hard for you?
No solution is perfect. But not everyone knows about DegreeForum or InstantCert. So while you may rely on this free resource, not everyone has that ability. So tell us what you love about it and what we would need to include to make our site useful (aside from giving away money for tests). I appreciate any honest, helpful feedback you have to share!
1. Yes, you can google anything. There is no disputing that. However, most people don't know what to look for or where to look and a lot of sites charge for information we want to compile for free. Even this forum, which holds a lot of information, has zero organization to it. That search can take hours, which many people don't have.
2. The Foundation has a goal of making college more affordable for people who can't afford it. So the primary purpose is to give away vouchers for exams and provide study materials. It's not a business or money-making enterprise.
3. Obviously, I did not need grants or charity to do my studying, and there are others like me. People who like the savings, in time and money, of testing out of college. For those people, it would be nice if they 'gave back' to the cause too. If you can afford to pay your own way, you can probably afford to donate to the cause which helps others who are unable to pay their own way. That's why we want feedback on a 'donate' button or 'pay model' for tests, content, etc. We are gathering ideas.
4. We are in no way looking to compete with this site or InstantCert. In fact, one of our ideas is to provide a grant for the monthly fee for people, so they can access the study materials. Heck, even this forum requires a paid membership to access the individual test information. So our idea SHOULD mean more revenue for InstantCert, as it is a phenomenal resources.
Finally, if all you have to do is post negative comments or laugh, you are really missing the point. It's our belief that 'where much is given, much is required'. It's important to give back, and this community has helped a great deal. We are trying to give back, and ridicule of someone trying to help reflects poorly on you. I would hope you change your tone and provide honest feedback, which you think may help someone. Not everyone is in your shoes. So yes, you may be a Google genius, but not everyone has easy, ready access to Google. Yes, you may have unlimited funds, but not everyone can afford $100 CLEP tests, or $150 Straighterline courses, or even more expensive options.
We aren't asking you to donate to our Foundation. We are asking for ideas on how to fulfill our mission better. You may not believe we can keep school information up to date, and we will have to rely on our volunteers for a lot of that. But that's no different from this forum too. Please, take a minute and give some ideas. Point out what obstacles we will encounter, and how you think we can best overcome them. Tell us what you would like to see. What information have you struggled to find when doing your tests? What has been hard for you?
No solution is perfect. But not everyone knows about DegreeForum or InstantCert. So while you may rely on this free resource, not everyone has that ability. So tell us what you love about it and what we would need to include to make our site useful (aside from giving away money for tests). I appreciate any honest, helpful feedback you have to share!
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