Why does it seem to me that EC is all about the money?

[barcotta]

An unofficial evaluation may not be accurate. To get an accurate evaluation, you must enroll for $900. If the eval changes, i.e. upper level credits turn into lower level credits, or certain exams or classes turn out not to cover certain requirements, then I couldn't afford the extra requirements. My degree would be dead in its tracks, and I would be out $900..

The key word in the quote above is MAY. Many bad things MAY happen--but I try to look at things in terms of odds. Are the odds stacked for me or against me.

Based on your test scores, you have one of those minds that operates in overdrive and you habitually analyze things on a much deeper level than those of us who just kind of hum along in second gear. I work with lawyers all day and many of them fit that description as well. I find that certainty and consistency are far more important to them than they are to the rest of us--who just sort of accept that there's not much certainty and consistency to be had out there--even though it SHOULD be that way.

So--here's my shot at allaying your concerns in two areas:

1. Unofficial evaluation. I believe EC has around 25,000 students. That's a lot of evaluations. They accept all kinds of credit from all kinds of institutions. There are thousands of institutions from which they accept credit. They probably have intimate familiarity with hundreds. For the rest, they have to do a little more research. They probably have more than a few people who perform evaluations with varying levels of competence and experience. In order for them to keep their OVERALL cost structure low--they have to be efficient and not put too much time and effort into the "looky-loos". If they were, in fact, all about the money, they could just charge more for everything. No reason they can't raise any of their fees any time they want. So despite the fact that some people have ended up on the short end of the stick, you now know from this thread that MOST people either make out better after their official review or at least about the same. Mine was exactly the same. Don't get hung up on what MAY happen. Sure--you should be aware--and you are. But I can tell you from personal experience that there was NO SIGN of a bait and switch or anything else untoward in my EC experience. A great example of this is my #2.

2. Information Literacy. Soon after I enrolled. I asked them if a certain class at my local community college would satisfy the IL requirement. Here is the response I received the next day:

"I reviewed the courses from College of the Canyons and added them to the Course approval screen. As you will see COUNS 070 does not meet Information Literacy, it would be a developmental course and would not be acceptable for credit. LMTECH 100 Introduction to Research will meet the requirement."

So--instead of just telling me no--or even SUGGESTING I take their $300 class--they, WITHOUT MY EVEN ASKING--found for me a class I could take, mostly on-line, at the institution for which I was inquiring. Guess how much that class cost. $20. It took me a month and I was done. Click on that link in my signature if you want more info.

That to me was the clearest signal that EC acts in the best interest of its students--NOT in the best interests of its bank account.

Right now EC is offering four COMPLETELY FREE exams worth three credits each which you can learn about here in this forum--so if you can take any or all of them, that should more than off-set any unexpected surprises.

Good luck with your decision.