"Speed To Degree" Strategies
So--we're gonna throw a lot at you on this site, but you have got to remember this:
SPEED IS KEY.
If you take anything away from here---it's got to be "Speed to Degree". It is the primary "Cost Cutter" & may influence the "Type of School" you select (which are the other main topics we cover). Speed impacts TWO Critical Things:
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1. Money--Of which most of us don't have REMOTELY ENOUGH to pay these crazy college costs.
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2. Time--Definitely our most valuable commodity. Once it's spent, you will never get it back.
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Internalize this and YOU WILL save
Thousands of Dollars & Many Months of Your Time!​​
Below you will find the 5 main Strategies to accomplish "Speed to Degree" along with a few "situational" bonus suggestions. We promise you this: just following these 6 little boxes, can allow you to start College out as a Junior (or very close to it). No Bull. And, if you get really motivated and find a College that allows for more than 60 hours to be transferred in, you might even get further ahead. It's all right here for the taking.
You just have to decide---are you going to blaze a new trail, or just do it like EVERYONE ELSE?
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"Whether you think you can or you think you can't---either way you are right."​
CLEP
College Level Examination Program
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CLEPs are perhaps the best known "Credit by Exam" Program outside of the Advanced Placement (AP) courses offered in High School. The difference with these---you don't need to take a class! That's right, if you're a decent test taker (Multiple Choice), and willing to practice a little on one of the 3 Prep Sites we recommend---you can be done with one college class in 60-90 mins.
DO WE HAVE YOUR ATTENTION NOW?
Yeah, these are almost too good to be true and the key is the great majority are accepted at MOST COLLEGES. These standardized tests, administered by the College Board, WILL SAVE YOU serious time and a lot of money on nearly ANY COLLEGE DEGREE. CLEPs have been a favorite of ours for many years!
DSST
DANTES Subject Standardized Tests
DSST Exams---unlike CLEPs---might be one of the least known "Credit by Exam" Programs out there. However, CollegeDawg might actually rank these a tad higher in our "Speed to Degree" strategies. Why? Generally speaking, they have even better success rates, & tests that involve interesting Elective-type subjects of which many of us have some knowledge of just through mainstream exposure. They include a few "Gen Ed" type
subjects, but for the most part those are typically more of a CLEP thing. Overall, these tests are
almost the exact same thing as CLEPs. The main difference is that prior to 2006, these were only offered to the Military and certain Governmental Agencies---but now everyone can join in on the
fun! Here's the key: the great majority of people don't know they exist, yet we assure you they can save you $10k+ all by themselves! Check em' out...
Dual Credits
HS/College While In High School
We love CLEPs, DSSTs, & APs---but "Dual Credits" are definitely competing to be our new favorite. Basically, these are College-Level classes that you can take while in High School that meet your HS requirements, while also getting you REAL COLLEGE CREDIT. They're normally provided through a partnership with the HS (or school district) and a local Community College or State Technical College. So, why on earth would you not consider these? Biology is Biology and Composition is Composition---you just have to decide if you want to take them once or TWICE! Other Advantages include:
1. There's No Test at the end to get the credit.
2. Typically, they are weighted grades just like an AP class. Hello better GPA. And lastly...
3. Pretty much ALL COLLEGES take these credits! Talk about beating the system...
AP Courses
Advanced Placement
These Classes have been around forever, yet few people truly get the advantages. Like Dual Credit they are essentially College-Level but yeah---you gotta take a standardized test afterward to get College credit. THE PLUS---if you score a 4 or 5 (out of 5) on these, depending on the college you select, IT COULD PROVIDE CREDIT FOR 2 COLLEGE CLASSES. That's right. If you get a 4 on Western Civ, you might get credit for 2 college classes (6 Semester Hours) which would equate to about 3k
in Tuition savings & about 6k if you went to a Public Campus Based University (w/ Room & Board). The other Main Advantages:
*There are usually a good bit to select from at
your HS---and again, with "Weighted Averages" as with Dual Credits, they can really be a major GPA booster without getting all A's!
Honors-To-CLEP
+3 other AP/Reg Class Strategies
Although a newer strategy for CollegeDawg, this could be one of the most valuable.
EVERYONE CAN USE IT-----RIGHT NOW.
The Basic Premise is this: you can take basic HS classes yet get the benefit of a standardized test immediately available to knock out College Credit while it's still fresh in your mind via CLEP or DSST exams. This Strategy comes in different forms with varying benefits---but all end with College Credit.
Whether you're like me and want the lower
workload classes or you're the go-getter taking
AP classes---this strategy works for both.
Yes, even if you are a Sophomore in HS, you can make this happen! Just take the class, then spend some time taking Practice Tests & Quizzes on one
of the Exam Prep sites we recommend. Then in
60-90 mins---BAM, you have College Credit!
5 Random
“Speed” Strategies
A Few More Great Options
From getting credit for all you've experienced in life----to asking to take an unlisted test so you can prove your subject competency (instead of taking a class).
From knocking out classes super-quick AT YOUR PACE, to Negotiating the acceptance of past credits or exams not specifically listed in a College's catalog---we've got you covered with
the basics of:
*College Course Challenges
*Bi-Lingual Student Exams
*Accelerated Programs & Degrees
*Life Experience Credit (Adults, Military, AND Recent Grads)
*Negotiation (In all things College!)
Dig in a little deeper with us--you might just find you could EASILY
Earn an Associate Degree
in about a year
Earn a Bachelor’s
in 2-2.5 years
Earn a Master's (after a 2 year Bachelor’s) in about 3.5 YEARS TOTAL
These timeframes are possible AT THE GREAT MAJORITY of schools out there (Bachelor's & below).
And, overall, NEARLY ALL Colleges will play ball with the majority of strategies involved on our site, but it may take you another Semester or Two with specific "Lockstep Majors".
Admissions Office
Note: Remember, our focus is SPEED TO DEGREE, COST SAVINGS,
and SELECTING THE RIGHT “TYPE” OF SCHOOL…we won’t be talking
about GPA’s and getting you into Harvard. Your Counselors or some well-connected Consultants or Specialists can help you with that. We’re just the Rebels helping you BEAT "THE HOUSE” IN HIGHER ED.
