CollegePlus!

[Kinsa]

I saw this in a magazine, looked it over on the website, and it has me intrigued. Does anyone know anything about this? Or do you have an opinion on it? Thanks for any insights!

http://www.collegeplus.org/

[K-FL]

From what I understand, it's mainly CLEPs w/some on-line courses thrown in. You can use Thomas Edison State College (http://www.tesc.edu/) to "hold" your CLEP scores w/o going through CollegePlus. Also, regarding on-line classes, some people like them others don't. Dd#1 had Macroecon on-line & didn't like it--at all. She finished it, but much prefered to take the rest of her cc classes in person.

[Sandra in NC]

Here's a link to a thread on CollegePlus that might give you more info:
http://www.degreeforum.net/general-education-testing-discussion/2104-college-plus.html?highlight=college

[Gwen in VA]

What an informative thread!

We know many many people who are using CP and we also know two young men who have worked for CP. The thread really summarizes all of the postives and negatives of College Plus -- with one exception.

I do think there is a difference in the educational benefit of CLEPping a class and taking a "real" college course. In a "real" college course, a student does more than just learn the material -- he also (depending on the course) participates in class discussions, does labs, writes lots of papers, and takes written (not exclusively multiple choice) exams. I still want my kids to go to "brick-and-mortar" colleges.

[Sandra in NC]

Yes, I want my boys to go to college, but I'd like them to be able to focus on their majors and not get bogged down with Gen Ed requirements. I can't tell you how discouraging it is for my artist-son to have to take Biology, Math, and all the courses he could have CLEPed in high school! The college he is attending accepts many, many CLEPs, so it wouldn't be an issue.

My younger son wants to be an engineer and he is eager to get to work. (Meaning out of school and "actually doing something.") I'd like him to test out of everything possible so he can finish in 4 years instead of the average 6. I wish I had known about CLEP when they were in middle school.

[Martha]

oh wow.
education candy!:)

I'd never heard of that board Sandra!

not that I need another board to join - oh wait, of course I do!

Personally, there's no way I can afford to pay that kind of money for advice and have anything left to actually put the advice into action.

But if I could? You bet.

It is a LOT of work and time gathering information, planning things out, and more to do even some college at home and via dual enrollment. And I have to say most college employee advisors are absolutely useless in my experience. If I could afford to save that time by having someone do the paperwork/research for me - I would do it because that's time I could use to actually be educating my kids.

[Sandra in NC]

Yes, Instantcert is a great resource for students studying for credit-by-exam (CBE). It's one of my favorite sites.

Only paying members of Instantcert may access exam-specific information (invaluable when preparing for exams) . In case you're interested, here's a coupon -- I think it's a 25% discount. You get a refund if you cancel within 27 days.

They have another site for members that has flashcards for many of the CBE exams. Some members claim it's all they need to pass an exam. I don't think so, but the flashcards do help.

https://www.instantcertonline.com/zorderform.php4?discount=85722

[readwithem]

What an informative thread!

We know many many people who are using CP and we also know two young men who have worked for CP. The thread really summarizes all of the postives and negatives of College Plus -- with one exception.

I do think there is a difference in the educational benefit of CLEPping a class and taking a "real" college course. In a "real" college course, a student does more than just learn the material -- he also (depending on the course) participates in class discussions, does labs, writes lots of papers, and takes written (not exclusively multiple choice) exams. I still want my kids to go to "brick-and-mortar" colleges.

Totally agree with this Gwen.

I guess every family needs to analyze and determine what they want from a college experience.

[readwithem]

Yes, I want my boys to go to college, but I'd like them to be able to focus on their majors and not get bogged down with Gen Ed requirements. I can't tell you how discouraging it is for my artist-son to have to take Biology, Math, and all the courses he could have CLEPed in high school! The college he is attending accepts many, many CLEPs, so it wouldn't be an issue.



Unless things have changed in the last 30 years, you CAN take CLEP tests during college. I took Spanish and some English test (not sure which one) during my freshman year of college.

The key is to check with the college the student will attend. My dd's first choice doesn't accept CLEP but it does accept AP, so we've chosen to go that route.

[Kinsa]

What an informative thread!

We know many many people who are using CP and we also know two young men who have worked for CP. The thread really summarizes all of the postives and negatives of College Plus -- with one exception.

I do think there is a difference in the educational benefit of CLEPping a class and taking a "real" college course. In a "real" college course, a student does more than just learn the material -- he also (depending on the course) participates in class discussions, does labs, writes lots of papers, and takes written (not exclusively multiple choice) exams. I still want my kids to go to "brick-and-mortar" colleges.

See, this is sorta my opinion, too. I went to a small liberal arts college for a while, and the give-and-take discussion and conversation with people from multiple points of view is what really opens the mind. I think that is really the value of a brick-and-mortar college education.

OTOH, I will have four kids in college at once (:eek:) and I have to consider that financial nightmare.

My dh was one of those who went to college simply as a way of getting a job. To him, college was a necessary stepping stone into a career path. For me, it was more about expanding my mind. So we are on different wavelengths when it comes to what we want out of a college education for our kids.

Anyway... :lurk5:

[transientChris]

My dh went to the same college that I went to (University of Chicago) and we both value a sound liberal arts education. My husband got a BA in Physics for his undergraduate and took plenty of non science courses. It was interesting to see that when he went to grad school, he placed out of a number of courses because of his undergraduate work and came out ahead of most of his BS in Physics colleagues. It has also helped him become a better rounded person which I think is part of his success in the military. I am going to have to do a lot of work this next year coming up with colleges that we can afford and dd can get into.

[Mommyfaithe]

See, this is sorta my opinion, too. I went to a small liberal arts college for a while, and the give-and-take discussion and conversation with people from multiple points of view is what really opens the mind. I think that is really the value of a brick-and-mortar college education.

OTOH, I will have four kids in college at once (:eek:) and I have to consider that financial nightmare.

My dh was one of those who went to college simply as a way of getting a job. To him, college was a necessary stepping stone into a career path. For me, it was more about expanding my mind. So we are on different wavelengths when it comes to what we want out of a college education for our kids.

Anyway... :lurk5:

You know...my kids went to "brick and mortar" colleges and I am not totally thrilled about their "mind-opening" experiences. I really could have done without a few of them and so could have my children. That said...they will certainly receive enough "opening up" focusing on their career or course of study rather than a bunch of gen ed requirements.

That said...Ds will be clepping and schlepping all through High School...whatever we can do to get him to the end goal without ruining him spiritually and financially too.

~~Faithe...who has always had an open mind even without English 101 :D

[Martha]

open discussion, learning, finding out who we are, and meeting other people is LIFE expereince, not a college experience, and as far as I can tell it's something that can't be bought.

and most colleges don't offer that
you get lectured, maybe have some discussion (altho it's rarely all that open anymore), and take a test or complete your project.

if we can skip the lecture and the half-hearted discussion and go straight to the test while gaining actual life expereinces along the way and spend maybe 1/6 the expense without decades of student loans? yep we're taking the second option hands down.

my son might still go to a B&M college. He says he wants to keep his options of getting a masters at Unitversity of Dallas open, so we're getting that in mind. Esp as he is 14 and we both know a LOT could change over the next 4 years.

And many people who go the fast track route for their BA do attend major universities for their masters degree without problems. And they can afford to do it because of the route they took to get there.

[Kimm in WA]

Warning about CLEP test. We considered them so DS could test out of some CC classes (going to do dual-enrollment this coming fall). CC accepted them, but state university, UofW, does not. So, make sure they are accepted where you want to go.

Kimm

[CaliMomma]

I am the mother of a Collegeplus student and have been pleased with the program. My dd16 is a senior this year and prior to joining Collegeplus she wasn't even interested in college. Could I do this process on my own? I could, but it would take too much time away from homeschooling my other two children. Paying them to be our advisor is worth the hand holding. It is still cheaper than going to a b&m. It continues the process of homeschooling that we know and love. It allows for continued flexiblity in the schedule so you have the time to seek out experience or a mentor. We want our children to have a college degree, however, we are not willing to go into debt to do it nor allow our children to go into debt. There are plenty of choices available outside of what the masses are doing. This has been a great choice for us.

JC

[Kristen62]

I agree, the coaching is worth it, especially if you have others to homeschool. I have two in CP, just starting and two homeschooling. Do the coaches do a good job of motivating? I think its helpful for the kids to be motivated by someone else.