​​​*NOW---THIS IS IMPORTANT.  I couldn't use all of the 101 Semester Hours at my College nor at pretty much any College nationwide.  Each Institution requires a minimum of hours TAKEN "IN-RESIDENCE" before they'll put their name on you!

This is typically in the 30-60 Semester hour range, but of course you'll need all the Major Requirements anyway,

which usually requires 10+ classes or so.  

(As mentioned, I did test out of a few of those Business Major classes as well.  Just FYI--there are a few Tech Majors that accept even more)

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Regardless, IN MY CASE it was overkill (by accident). 

But it's been a good story for those I've worked with over the years.​

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*So, what would I change if I did it over again regarding this "Origin Story" section?

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First you'll need some basic simplified definitions covered in other sections:

* DSSTs are exams almost identical to CLEPs

* Dual Credit means College classes taken in HS (for credit at both schools)

* AP means HS Classes taken that allow for a "Credit-by-Exam" test afterward (for College Credit)

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So, with that covered----here we go with "What Would I Do Over"?​

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1.  Align my High School classes with subjects that have CLEP or DSST exams.  YOU SEE A BUNCH ABOVE---and that was about 20. They now offer 70+. This strategy can be used taking Standard, Honors, or AP classes.  We call it the "Honors-to-CLEP" Strategy, revealed later within the "Speed to Degree" section. 

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2.  Look up Colleges that have my Major and see how many General Education CLEPs (listed above) they would accept

& give credit for 2 College Courses.

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3.  Consider Colleges that ALLOW MORE CLEP/DSST/AP credits coming in.  (some can be 30 hours or less, while others allow 60+ hours).  Also check out their score requirements.  We have run into several Colleges that have bumped the recommended ACE score

by 10% or so.  

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4.  PREPARE for CLEPs/DSSTs/AP exams using online sites like study.com and petersons.com.  Use their Exams, Quizzes, & Videos

for 4-5 days in a row for roughly 3-4 hours---then test in the next day or 2.  (Our Mentees' pass rates are typically about 80%).

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5.  Mostly take ANY MATH, HARDER SCIENCE, or Foreign Language via Dual Credit if available.  Why?  NO TEST NEEDED to get the College credit.  And those subjects can be a tad harder to pass via a Credit-by-Exam test.  (more on Dual Credit later)

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6.  Take a few AP or Dual Credit classes in subjects like Social Studies, Composition, Basic Sciences, Humanities/Arts, Technology etc... (then test out via AP/CLEP/DSST on those courses not taken as Dual Credit).  Why?  Generally speaking, most students can absorb these definition-driven, concept-based, or contextual learning classes with consistent but not strenuous effort.  As an added bonus you get the GPA "Kicker" which bumps you up a little---more on that later. 

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7.  Find Colleges that have the lowest "In-Residence" requirement for Semester Hours.  Ideally, this would equate to around 30 Semester Hours--thus I could come in as a Junior--right at the Senior Level.  (Later you'll find out this can be negotiable!  Wait what?)​

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