CLEPing

Hi Misty, 

We’ve been on the CLEP journey for the past year or so. My oldest ds has taken and passed 3 CLEP exams so far – 15 college credits (one 3 credit exam and two 6 credit exams). He’s currently working on five more exams this year, while doing dual enrollment. It really does depend on the college your dc will be aquiring a degree from, whether or not they will accept CLEPS and if so, how many. There are only a few colleges in the US that accept an unlimited number of CLEPS. Have you read the book College Without Compromise? There are two editions in print now, but I highly recommend reading the this one first and then the 2nd edition. Also, there is a very helpful website with lots of info http://clepprep.tripod.com/cleplessonplans/ Trish also has a yahoo group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ClepForHomeschool/ . Then there is http://www.collegeplus.org , you can look around their site and read the endorsements (very encouraging). Although, be prepared if you contact them, they might hound you for awhile. I think they have an excellent thing going on there for those who need help designing a degree plan. ( If I remember right, Dougs son from SCM went through College Plus) There are a variety of resources to learn from, but I highly recommend starting with the book College Without Compromise and reading it front to back ;). There are also other Credit By Examinations out there like DSST, but again it depends on what the college accepts. Let me know if you have any other questions. 

Blessings,

Heather

Heather, 

Do you think the 2nd College wo Compromise has enough additional information to make it worth the purchase? I have the first one.

Pinkchopsticks, If you are serious about your dc pursuing an independant study degree, then I highly recommend both books. There is lots of updated information – more nuts and bolts in the new addition -including info on ALEKS and Straighterline courses. The reason I still think the original addition is a must read is because of the way the Wightmans get to the heart of the matter, laying out all the options to alternative higher education.

My daughter has completed two CLEP tests and is working on the third.

She used InstantCert online to prepare for all of them.

Also if your children MIGHT be interested in graduate school in an area, I would NOT CLEP out of any major-field-related subjects.  For example, I would strongly recommend AGAINST Clepping out of biology for a possible medical school student.  Even if your college accepts the credits, we’ve found that graduate schools do NOT think highly of them–in a competitive graduate admissions process, these could be a real albatross around one’s neck.  They are kind of considered “cheap, easy credit” in some academic circles.  This may or may not  matter to your child–but better to think about it NOW rather than suddenly discover this when student is trying to get into Harvard Med.  🙂

Misty, it’s excellent that your son has an idea of what direction he might like to go. You made a good point about cleps “showing work ethic if all else”. They really do teach dc how to set a goal and discipline themselves to reach it. You ds could focus on those general education credits and bank them with the college board. Most colleges involving mechanics or culinary arts, would accept at least some of those. Do you happen to have a career technical center for highschoolers near you? That might be a great option for him to get training in the area of either of his career choices. Also most centers have an articulation agreement with local colleges where he could earn college credit, while also earning highschool credit. Just another thought .