New here (first CLEP ?)

[cookderosa]

Let's see, a couple of things. I will check out the description of the Sociology test and see if that looks pretty doable. I hadn't thought of that one. Also, we have the CLEP guide book, but I will look into the Princeton Review one. I picked up Kaplan's CLEP book for $2 the other day and bought a couple REA books on U.S. History I and II. I'm sure it's only the beginning....

As for the AP, I have looked into that too, but hadn't considered that these would be better for gaining a Master's degree. Are you saying that graduate schools will look at the types of tests he took to get his Bachelor's? Do you think we could mix in just a few APs and concentrate on the easier CLEP/DSST route? Would grad schools be more inclined to accept him then? I know there's no way to know this for sure, but any comments would be helpful. I don't want to make the wrong decision.

Margo

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Hi Margo! I am a homeschool mom too. Oh are you going to have fun with this!! It's quite addictive to be sure (I came here for my homeschool kids, and 18 months later I am graduating with my BA degree!) A few things-
AP isn't free. AP is offered through local high schools- you have to convince them to let your child take them, and they are only offered once (if at all) each year. If your son is applying to big name schools for his bachelor degree, he will want AP instead of CLEP. If this applies to you, I can help you get AP info.

Second, on the master's stuff... the CLEP testing won't have anything to do with his master's degree. He needs to concentrate on his bachelor degree requirements, and how to meet them. Also, let me assure you- and everyone else here will too- that there are MORE THAN ENOUGH colleges out there who would love for you bachelor-degree-holding son to enroll in their master's program. Many programs are open enrollment (you just enroll- there isn't competitive admission) That's years away, and when the time comes if he has good grades he won't have any trouble getting in grad school. If your son has his sights set on a specific master's degree college for one reason or another, then quite simply you must work backward. What do they require in an undergrad (bachelor) degree, and go from there.....but since most people adjust their goals from year to year- I probably wouldn't worry about the master's degree thing just yet.

For your CLEP, the books you bought are good. REA is excellent, and I highly suggest them- they never let me down. I even use REA to build curriculum for all of my children, it's really very focused (which I like). My personal opinion is that I like REA better than Cracking the CLEP, but people here use both.
Don't have him take US History 1 and 2 on the same day. If he just worked through US History 2, take that now and then go back and do 1. You should have the REA in hand- specifically, REA was the only source I used for both of those exams. He doesn't need to score 70% on the practice exams- try the first as a "pre test" then study a bit more, take the second, then about the day before try the third. I averaged 50-60% on the REA exams and passed both CLEPs easily. (I had very little knowledge of US history before buying the REA books- not sure what I spent my previous 37 years learning!)

Analyzing lit- excellent choice. don't waste the $ on the REA, it's really a comprehension exam. Google literary terms and spend about an hour learning them. If you do want him to take 2 exams in one day, this is the exam to pair with one of the history tests. (allow a break in between)

Sociology- ummmm....ok, it's an easy enough exam, but since he is in 11th grade, I would vote no. Only reason is because he needs his 3 R's to be in top form, and to spend time getting ready for the SAT. I would hit the vocab hard, get him rock solid on algebra and geometry. These will be on the SAT, and he wants a good score. His ACT is good, but be sure not to let him miss out on taking the SAT. Homeschoolers should take advantage of EVERYTHING that validates his education- especially if he CAN score well. Sociology is an elective, so it's a little "fluffy" but if he could pass AP biology or CLEP trig- that's more meaty. If he has studied foreign language (even using power glide or rosetta stone) he can attempt the foreign language CLEP. Those are BIG credits!

Finally, my favorite book was written by a homeschooler- Accelerated Distance Learning by Brad Voeller. EXCELLENT information!!
WELCOME to the board!!