I’m happy to share that Fast Transcripts has given our community a coupon code! Simply enter code: HS4CC at checkout to receive 25% off their “Essentials” plan. Normally $7.95
Building a great transcript with lots of college credit? Jennifer Cook-DeRosa is teaching a special 2-hour intensive transcript class. Hour 1: Homeschool record keeping, GPA, weighting grades, and graduation documents. Hour 2: We’ll walk through recording remedial, regular, honors, college dual enrollment, CLEP, Advanced Placement, Sophia, Studycom, Straighterline, ASU, DSST, continuing education, and every type […]
It’s only the most important homeschool document you’ll ever create! No pressure. Be sure to read Chapter 7 of Homeschooling for College Credit (2nd edition). Families who have a lot of college credit often worry about how to record credit earned through dual enrollment, CLEP, or ACE. Our families also want to be sure they […]
Did you miss our transcript workshop last week? We had SO MANY great questions that the event lasted over 2 hours! When your high school transcript has a lot of college credit, it changes things a bit. Below are a few questions that came up.
New to homeschooling high school? Make the most of your teen’s high school career!
Homeschooling for College Credit teens graduate high school with about 1 year of college under their belts, but motivated teens can finish their degree. Homeschooling for College Credit brings the goal post closer and teaches you how to pay cash as you go.
Homeschooling for College Credit families are just like you!
Homeschooling for College Credit will challenge you to reconsider the wisdom of popular college propaganda, and how to make better choices for your family. Even if you’ve never been to college, this book will turn you into a well-informed homeschool guidance counselor ready to proceed with confidence.
If you haven’t read Homeschooling for College Credit, be sure to check it out from your local library or on Amazon – you’ll be resourcefully high school planning like a pro.
Building a great transcript with lots of college credit? Jennifer Cook-DeRosa is teaching a special 2-hour intensive transcript class.
Hour 1: Homeschool record keeping, GPA, weighting grades, and graduation documents.
Hour 2: We’ll walk through recording remedial, regular, honors, college dual enrollment, CLEP, Advanced Placement, Sophia, Studycom, Straighterline, ASU, DSST, continuing education, and every type of credit you’ll encounter!
We’ll wrap up with plenty of time for your questions and answers about titles, course descriptions, and how to present your teen’s accomplishments like a pro.
Each participant will receive a printable handout and an opportunity to send Jennifer their transcript for feedback. This event costs $40 and space is limited.
How many different ways can your teen earn college credit? More than you think! But the goal isn’t just to “earn credit” because the credit only saves you time and money if it can eventually be used toward a degree. This understanding is MORE IMPORTANT for high school students than adults because of the variables at hand.
Q: What’s the maximum CLEP exams a student can take?
A: I’ve got great news- there is no limit! I think that the amount YOUR teen takes is a combination of three important factors.
What subjects is your teen taking in high school? This is an important consideration, in my opinion, because my advice is to always bring college credit into your homeschool plan instead of trying to morph your homeschool plan to the whims of one or two colleges. If you’re planning to study Biology, then take the CLEP biology too. If you’re planning to study Literature, then take a CLEP Literature exam too. When you bring CLEP into your plan, it will always be a good way to add frosting on the cake!
Does your teen test well? Some students really enjoy the testing process and others are incredibly stressed out by it. If your teen doesn’t mind taking tests, then CLEP is a great option and I would encourage you to use it often. If testing stresses your teen to the point that they aren’t excited about earning college credit this way, then my advice is to try one and go from there. CLEP may not be a good fit for your Homeschooling for College Credit plan, and that’s ok! There are plenty of other ways to earn college credit!
Is your teen targeting top tier universities? There are about 3,800 colleges and universities in this country, and most of them participate in CLEP to some degree, but if you’re targeting the very top tier elite colleges (think: Top 30), CLEP is not for you. If your teen is NOT targeting a top tier university, take every CLEP you can!!
Before I ever started homeschooling my own teens for college credit, I wanted to know more about CLEP, and how it worked. The super-short version is that I took one exam “just to see” what it would be like….but I ended up testing out of an Associate’s Degree (60 credits) in 6 months! I didn’t […]
Earning one college credit puts your teen ahead! But when they start accumulating a lot of credit it’s only natural that you start to wonder how their credits will apply toward their future degree.
HELP! Is my teen is applying to college soon, and I’m not sure if she should apply using the freshman application or the transfer student application? Earning college credit in high school can lead you to wonder if your teen is an incoming freshman or a transfer student- good question! In the first place, you […]
We see lots of programs come and go, but this one is STILL available and running strong (since we first shared about it in 2016), so we HAVE TO keep letting our parents know – especially now that we have a HS4CC graduate from this program! If ANYONE in your family is part of the union, your teen may have access to a totally free associate degree. Zero out of pocket, really.
Announcing a *brand new* workshop for the Homeschooling for College Credit community called “Simple Math Difficult Decisions” and a special aspect of this session is that your teens are invited to attend with you! Taught by Jennifer Cook-DeRosa, this workshop will happen several times this summer!
If the math of college costs seems too big and your savings account too small, you’re not alone. Homeschool families are unique because you’re talking about a group of people who are highly invested in their teen’s education, have exceptionally resourceful parents, and have had to carry the cost of their teen’s homeschool education since day 1.
In this session, we’ll talk about how to use logic and math, not emotion and propaganda, to break down the costs of college and how to make a significant dent in what you pay.
DATES (choose 1)
July 15, 2021 11:00am EST – 12:00pm EST followed by 1 hour Q&A
August 31, 2021 6:00pm EST- 7:00pm EST followed by 1 hour Q&A
Once you discover CLEP, the first order of business is usually trying to find out how CLEP exams are accepted at your teen’s target college. You’ll hear the HS4CC community call this “CLEP Equivalency” because once a college accepts a CLEP exam, it will become “equivalent to” a course offered at the college- and THAT’S how you knock out college credit (and save a lot of money) by using CLEP.
HS4CC Tips for CLEP Equivalency Research
College policies change!! Realize that until your teen graduates high school and officially enrolls in college, your CLEP research should be considered “unofficial” because colleges can (and do) review policies like these every year.
A “good” college CLEP policy page:
Has a table or chart on their website that lists each exam and the course it represents
Has a date that identifies the last time the chart was updated (within 2 years is best)
Has a link to the college’s transfer policy for credit by exam (CLEP, AP, DSST)
Lists minimum scores needed to earn college credit (score of 50 is standard)
Explains how CLEP is recorded on your official college transcript (“cr” or “credit” is standard)
Explains how CLEP impacts GPA at the college (“does not impact” is standard)
Provides contact information if you have questions
If your target college does not provide equivalency information, contact the college’s registrar via email and ask for it. Public colleges will all have this policy in place (even if it isn’t on their website) while private colleges can be more reserved about what they’ll accept.
In this 8 minute video below, I narrate the process and take you with me as I encounter a couple snags looking up a CLEP equivalency and transfer policy for a friend.
This is the post I’ve been dying to write! Since COVID-19, the #1 most asked question is “will we ever get to take a CLEP at home?” College Board just made history and is allowing you to take your CLEP exam at home!!!
Our first week of the Summer Workshop Series is over, but we have over a dozen more coming your way this June, July, and August! If you’ve been wondering about how to implement a Homeschooling for College Credit program in your homeschool, now is the perfect time to get started! With over a dozen workshops to choose from, we know you’ll find one you love!
4 Reasons to Homeschool for College Credit This Year What’s so special about this year? It’s the perfect time for your teen to earn their first college credit. Find out why!
The good, the bad, and the reality. Do they save time and money, or are they an expensive way to move the goalpost backward? Learn when an associate degree makes the most sense, and when you should avoid it.
I love sales and deals!! Here are some discounts that might help your credit by exam journey!
TEST PREP CREDIT BY EXAM
Advanced Placement (AP)
None at this time
College Level Exam Program (CLEP)
Take unlimited CLEP exams for free when you complete a free online CLEP prep course through Modern States. You can also receive reimbursement for your testing center fee. Take a CLEP for free!
REA Guides (CLEP Prep books & online practice tests) save 30% when you enter coupon code CLEP30 at checkout.
50% off your second CLEP exam between January 1, 2021 and August 31, 2021, and get 50% off when you sign up for a second exam between June 1, 2021 and August 31, 2021.*Use promo code CLEPSUMMER.
DSST
Free DSST practice tests at Prometric. No code needed.
A small sample of the many posts our members shared in April offering encouragement and inspiration. April showers bring May flowers and apparently LOTS of college credit! If your teen earns even ONE college credit in high school, he’s ahead!! Are you ready?
Today, I want to share a section from my book Homeschooling for College Credit. I’m often asked if I think CLEP is starting to decline in popularity or acceptance. I don’t have to guess- we have data!
This is the post I’ve been dying to write! Since COVID-19, the #1 most asked question is “will we ever get to take a CLEP at home?” College Board just made history and is allowing you to take your CLEP exam at home!!!
It’s always best to take a few practice tests before any credit by exam test. There are a good number of DSST practice exams (some for free) available to help you get ready for the “real” test!
Every month we take time to encourage each other and celebrate our teen’s hard work. In most months we’ll hear about a class or exam a teen completed, but May is ESPECIALLY exciting because we often hear from teens who completed their high school DIPLOMA! In addition, we even have a few who finished entire DEGREES! If you’re celebrating a big accomplishment this month, share below so we can celebrate with you!
A small sample of the many posts our members shared in April offering encouragement and inspiration. April showers bring May flowers and apparently LOTS of college credit! If your teen earns even ONE college credit in high school, he’s ahead!! Are you ready?
I am thrilled to share with you this homeschooling success story of how Sara used CLEP in her homeschool with her son Sean during 11th (and now 12th) grade. She posted her celebration inside our Illinois HS4CC Facebook group and gave me permission to share it with you here. I know you’ll find it as […]
Join us for any of these Homeschooling for College Credit live events! All our events are free but space is limited so please register below. See you there!
UPDATE: since publishing this post, Spartanburg Community College added the line “living in SC” to their eligibility requirements. My screenshot from Wayback Machine confirms that it wasn’t part of the original offer. So sorry guys, this is a bummer.
So, it looks like only our SC families can take advantage, and I hope they do, but congrats to those who got in before of the “change.”
Spartanburg Community College (South Carolina) has opened their catalog to students living anywhere in the country for South Carolina dual enrollment AND they are waiving tuition. Yes, really. $0 Dual enrollment this year- what are you waiting for??? Courses are taken online from anywhere.
The button above will take you to the Dual Enrollment Handbook (59 pages) full of everything you need to know, but this is a quick overview to help you decide if this will work for your teen. My prediction is that these classes will be full immediately, so there is no time to waste if you want your teen to register!
SPARTANBURG COMMUNITY COLLEGE OVERVIEW Spartanburg Community College (SCC), established in 1963, is one of 16 colleges in the South Carolina Technical College System. Its service area is comprised of Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union Counties located in upstate South Carolina. SCC offers 70 certificate, diploma, and degree programs in the following areas: university transfer, health sciences, and technologies.
Spartanburg is regionally accredited, so the credits earned here should transfer well into any other accredited college or university that accepts transfer credit.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
The college *always offers dual enrollment, but normally charges tuition. This free tuition program is only for 2021-2022 school year (3 semesters: fall 2021, spring 2022, summer 2022)
They offer several high school programs that all fall under their umbrella term they call Early College.
The online courses open to homeschoolers are in their program called Dual Enrollment (still under the Early College umbrella term).
When you register your teen, it creates a permanent record / GPA / college transcript that will follow them forward and will require future disclosure of their attendance and grade earned.
Your teen has access to the entire college catalog as long as they meet prerequisites (if applicable). Example: You can’t take Biology 2 without having taken Biology 1.
You have to fill out an application.
Instructors are not expected to alter standard course content or discussion topics to accommodate a younger audience. Students should be prepared to read, hear, or see course content that includes mature and sometimes provocative, controversial academic topics and be able to respond in a mature way to such subject matter.
You have to pay for textbooks (if applicable).
SOME of these classes are LIVE ONLINE which means that you have to log in at a specific time- be sure to check!!
Synchronous = live or in real time, Asynchronous = learn anytime
ELIGIBILITY
Age 16 and having completed 10th grade. (Younger students may appeal using the form in the back of linked booklet above- appendix D)
3.0 Grade Point Average (from your homeschool transcript)
SAT / ACT scores may be used in place of 3.0 GPA if necessary
LIVING IN SOUTH CAROLINA (this was just added per SPCC)
OTHER THINGS TO KNOW
You don’t have to get a certificate/diploma/degree from this college.
These courses should transfer well to other colleges outside of South Carolina
If your teen takes a college class, you can award them 1 high school credit
If your teen pursues a bachelor’s degree at a South Carolina university, use this link to confirm transfer South Carolina Transfer and Articulation Center (SC TRAC): https://www.sctrac.org.
FIND COURSES
Their full catalog is searchable, so be sure to filter for ONLINE when looking for a class. Note that it is possible to earn an entire associate degree online through this college, so if your teen already has a lot of college credit, you may want to consider “finishing” their degree at Spartanburg! They allow you to transfer in up to 75% of the credits toward a degree. Transfer page
Their transfer page says they accept CLEP, AP, and ACE credit. It is unclear if they accept Sophia, Straighterline, Studycom, etc. If any parent here has their teen’s ACE credit evaluated by Spartanburg, PLEASE let me know. -Jennifer
**At this point a new screen opens with all online courses**
Step 5: Select “Open Sections Only” from the Availability option on the left
**At this point the number of open courses will appear as a number next to the SCC Locations button. In this screenshot you’ll see that there are (were) 86 available classes to choose from.
Step 6: You can now either browse the entire remaining list of classes, or filter further by subject on the left. In the sample above, you’ll see a number next to the subjects. That number indicates how many courses are open in that subject. American Government (1) indicates 1 course available.
NOTE: Where it states “ENG-032 and RDG-032” they are indicating a placement level, not a class. In short, your teen needs to be eligible for college level English and Reading. Check with advising about how to prove eligibility.
Step 7: The catalog should be in real time (or very close to it) so be sure to have your teen’s application in the works asap! I expect the availability to be different every day until the semester begins. Popular classes sometimes have extra sessions added, so you can continue to check back.
Jennifer’s Pick for Resourceful Planning
The following are my “top picks” because I like to make the most out of every ounce of learning. If I take a class, I like to see if there are any CLEPs that are “similar but different” to bundle with it. In addition, if I take a CLEP, that might meet prerequisites for other classes. I’ve picked a few classes that will bundle well (without duplicating) CLEP exams – and suggestions for classes you could try if you’ve already taken a CLEP in that subject.
PSY-103 Human Relations (3 credits) This course is a study of human relations, including the dynamics of behavior, interrelationships, and personality as applied in everyday life.
(I would study for and take the CLEP Sociology after this course)
PSY-212 Abnormal Psychology (3 Credits) This course is a study of the nature and development of behavioral disorders, including the investigation of contemporary treatment procedures.
(I like this course if you’ve already done CLEP General Psychology exam and want more psychology credit)
PHS-101 Physical Science I (4 Credits) Topics are selected from astronomy, chemistry, geology, and physics.
(This course has some math/language arts pre requisites, so not everyone will qualify, but if you’ve already taken either high school or college biology, I would study for the CLEP Natural Sciences exam after this course)
MUS-105 Music Appreciation (3 Credits) This course is an introduction to the study of music with focus on the elements of music and appropriate listening experiences. ART-101 Art History and Appreciation (3 Credits) This is an introductory course to the history and appreciation of art, including the elements and principles of the visual arts.
If you take both Music Appreciation and Art Appreciation, it’s low hanging fruit to attempt the CLEP Humanities exam too.
BONUS suggestion: PHI-105 Introduction to Logic (3 Credits) This course is an introduction to the structure of argument, including symbolization, proofs, formal fallacies, deductions, and inductions. This course doesn’t tie into another CLEP exam, but it’s SUPER HARD TO FIND and one that many parents ask for!
Announcing a *brand new* workshop for the Homeschooling for College Credit community called “Simple Math Difficult Decisions” and a special aspect of this session is that your teens are invited to attend with you! Taught by Jennifer Cook-DeRosa, this workshop will happen several times this summer!
If the math of college costs seems too big and your savings account too small, you’re not alone. Homeschool families are unique because you’re talking about a group of people who are highly invested in their teen’s education, have exceptionally resourceful parents, and have had to carry the cost of their teen’s homeschool education since day 1.
In this session, we’ll talk about how to use logic and math, not emotion and propaganda, to break down the costs of college and how to make a significant dent in what you pay.
DATES (choose 1)
June 8, 2021 4:00pm EST – 5:00pm EST followed by 1 hour Q&A
July 15, 2021 11:00am EST – 12:00pm EST followed by 1 hour Q&A
August 31, 2021 6:00pm EST- 7:00pm EST followed by 1 hour Q&A
As always, our workshops are free but space is limited so advanced registration is required.
As the school year comes to an end, our normal monthly celebrations are not only including college credit celebrations, but GRADUATION stories too! Hannah Joy from Florida sent me her Homeschooling for College Credit graduation story, and while she gave me permission to cut and trim, I decided that each and every word she wrote was worth sharing. TEASER: Her degree from Liberty University came in under $8,000. She is an extraordinary young woman who took charge of her education in an extraordinary way. I hope you’ll take the time to read her story, celebrate with her, and find encouragement from her words. Bonus- she’s even taken the time to track EVERY CREDIT and every DOLLAR she spent for those who would like to develop a similar plan. Dig in!
If you’re brand new to the Homeschooling for College Credit Community, you’re invited to attend one of our “quick-start” welcome events via Zoom. Our next sessions are listed below. Ask questions and get started!
Welcome to the Homeschooling for College Credit community! If you want to get started injecting college credit into your homeschool, you’re in the right place. Join us for this welcome event and get started!
Welcome to the Homeschooling for College Credit community! If you want to get started injecting college credit into your homeschool, you’re in the right place. Join us for this welcome event and get started!
We’ll chat about important aspects of high school and you’ll have an opportunity to ask questions and get encouragement. Even if you’ve never been to college, you CAN help your teen start earning college credit in high school and beyond. See you soon!
I know you’ve been waiting for the HS4CC Summer Classes & Workshop Schedule, and I’m thrilled to share that it is ready! We have a TON of free and low-cost educational classes this summer- ranging from dual enrollment to CLEP to transcripts to associate degrees and a lot of bonus events with special guests. Go to the website’s LIVE EVENTS tab to get registered. www.homeschoolingforcollegecredit.com/live-events
If you’re ordering graduation announcements, you can check out the options at Zazzle. They don’t advertise with us, but I used them for my son’s announcements and received a referral code. Since ours turned out really great, I’m happy to pass this along! A referral coupon to share with you! Get 60% off your family’s cards, and 20% everything else when you use the link!
Join us for any of these Homeschooling for College Credit live events! All our events are free but space is limited so please register below. See you there!
Resourceful high school planning for those who want to use CLEP exams to the MAX! You’ll learn how to align your high school and CLEP courses into one seamless plan resulting in maximum college credit. Hosted by Jennifer Cook-DeRosa
“Pursuing high-quality postsecondary education is one of the most important investments a student can make, and is the surest path to the middle class in our country.” The U.S. Department of Education says so, therefore, it must be true. We think it’s true. Well, it’s probably true, right? What’s the alternative? NOT going to college? Too risky. But what if that statement makes assumptions about students that aren’t true?
In today’s post, I want to feature CCU’s online dual enrollment program – some of the pros and cons as shared with me by a Homeschooling for College Credit parent whose daughter just finished an Associate of Arts degree through their program!
A small sample of the many posts our members shared in April offering encouragement and inspiration. April showers bring May flowers and apparently LOTS of college credit! If your teen earns even ONE college credit in high school, he’s ahead!! Are you ready?
We have some great Homeschooling for College Credit LIVE EVENTS coming up on Zoom! All HS4CC events are free but space is limited (register below). Today’s event is for anyone considering the fantastic ASU Universal Learner. Don’t know what that is? Come find out!
Arizona State University’s Universal Learner program has gone viral in our Homeschooling for College Credit community. Is it right for you? Hosted by your ASU team Andrea LaBass, Ann Dorminy, Chrystal Smith, and Jennifer Cook-DeRosa.
In the Spotlight: Arizona State University Prep Digital. In contrast to ASU’s Universal Learner program, the Prep Digital program is for high school students who want to take college classes from ASU’s larger college course catalog. Hosted by Andrea LaBass and Jennifer Cook-DeRosa.
Dr. Joel Gardner of The International Institute for Innovative Instruction @ Franklin University hosts a podcast that tackles educational questions like “Is Higher Education Relevant?” In Episode 13 they invite me into The Learning Lounge to share my two-cents about homeschooling, the rising cost of college, and earning college credit. (Gulp. No pressure.)
