Tag: CLEP testing

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Finding Your Way after High School

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I remember a most welcome discussion at Hollywood Video with a hilarious family friend in his late 30’s. He knew I was graduating from high school soon.

“What do you want to do next?” he asked.

“I don’t know for sure,” I replied.

“Well, that’s okay,” he said, suddenly becoming thoughtful. “I’m grown up and I still haven’t decided what I want to do!”

His words encouraged me. I wasn’t the only one who didn’t know what my life’s focus would look like in terms of a career.

Start with the end goal—where do you see yourself?

I always admired those students who knew, in high school or earlier, what they wanted to do as a career. They had discovered a passion or found a cause that they wanted to devote themselves to. I, on the other hand, liked many different fields and could see my life going in several directions.

When it came to college I wanted to leave some options open. This is why I chose to take CLEP tests during my freshman year of college: I could explore the various disciplines typical of general education courses to improve my skills and knowledge without going into debt. However, another option would have been to job shadow in several fields.

Find the professionals. How did they get there?

When students job shadow or intern, they are able to preview what the day-to-day in their potential career is like. After I read There Is Life After College, I realized that viewing job goals from the end result would help students reach those goals.

Let’s say I want to be an electrician. Because my dad is a licensed journeyman electrician, I have a go-to source of someone who can tell me exactly how he achieved the skills for this certification and also this job. When I begin with the end in mind, I can plan for the experiences I’ll need to be successful.

Dealing with uncertainty: If you don’t know what you want to do

It’s great when you do know which career you will pursue. But if you still have several options on the table, you may want to try out a few jobs in different career fields to see which you enjoy the most.

Many of my peers were interested in nursing. I have friends who chose nursing school after interning at a hospital. I also have friends who volunteered at a hospital or began nursing courses and found it wasn’t for them. By testing the water in a certain career, you’re making progress toward the end goal of learning where you thrive. You’re also giving yourself the opportunity to change your mind while the risk and cost is low. You may have to try various things and take more time to reach your goal, but you are more likely arrive at the right destination.

Make choices to reduce stress.

The most frustrating parts of high school and college is the uncertainty. Even if you know exactly which career you want to choose, you may not know how to get there. Add to that the pressure to not fall behind peers or disappoint parents, and this time of transition may be quite scary. During this time it’s a good idea to try things. Try things that leave your options open, that encourage you to keep learning and growing without saddling yourself with debt. Perhaps you’ll:

  • enroll in a college course during high school,
  • take a CLEP or DSST test,
  • do a short-term internship,
  • volunteer for a few months,
  • take a job,
  • and/or travel.

All these things can help you build your experiences before you narrow your options and spend the majority of your time pursuing one. With your eye on the endgame, you can reduce stress, gain experience, bolster your résumé and learn more about yourself to prepare for a job you love. And when you love your job, you won’t have to work a day in your life.

Resource Books For CLEP Tests

How to Earn College Credit with CLEP

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Previously I posted “Introduction to CLEP tests for Parents of High School Students” which broaches this topic for parents’ benefit. Here I’ll share tips for someone who wants to try credit-by-exam testing themselves.

Winter break is coming to a close, and now it’s the final semester or second-to-last quarter of this school year. As you look over your schedule for the rest of the year and calculate the number of credits you plan to earn, you might be thinking you’d like to earn a few extra credits and jump ahead for the coming year. Then someone mentions CLEP tests. For about $100 or roughly the cost of two video games, you could earn 3-9 credits. That’s 3-9 credits closer to graduating.

As you ponder this option, you may have a few questions. Will my college accept these credits? Check your college’s website. If there is a search bar handy, try searching for “CLEP” or “transfer credit.” College policy for credit-by-exam tests is typically available in one of the college catalogs. Once you’ve found this information, check the fine print: is there a limit to how many credits you can transfer? a cut-off grade (such as junior status) when you can no longer transfer credit?

If you can apply credit-by-exam tests to your degree, the next step is to verify there is a test that matches a course you need to complete. Credit-by-exam tests can be excellent candidates to fill free elective and general education course credits. For more information about how to fit a credit-by-exam test to your degree plan, see “Where Will My First CLEP Test Fit into My Degree Plan?” (page 33) and Chapter 11: “How to Make a Degree Plan” in College Without the Campus. You might also peruse DegreeForum.net.

Now you’re ready to begin studying.  Questions about textbooks? A Google search will get you started, as will a visit to https://clep.collegeboard.org/  I highly recommend CLEP Official Study Guide for practice tests, and you may be able to borrow materials from the library or from friends who have previously taken a similar course. One of the best parts of studying for a credit-by-exam test is that you are in charge of your schedule. You can decide how much to study and when to take the test. Perhaps you want to study for the test during the remainder of the school year and then take the test. Or, maybe you’ll knock it out in a couple weeks. The choice is yours.

Will credit-by-exam tests work for you? After a visit to your college’s website to see if they will accept transferred test credit, you might decide to give CLEP a try. By testing out 😉 a new method of earning credit, you can save time and money.

Introduction to CLEP tests for Parents of High School Students

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I first learned about CLEP tests at the beginning of high school. Both my mom and I were intrigued by the opportunity to earn college credit that could later be transferred to any of over 2,900 colleges and universities. CLEP tests are an efficient way to demonstrate to a college that a high school student has acquired college-level learning.

To incorporate CLEP testing into your curriculum, begin by educating yourself. For this I recommend Chapter 4: Introducing CLEP Tests from College Without the Campus, Jennifer Cook-DeRosa’s book Homeschooling for College Credit, or Accelerated Distance Learning by Brad Voeller. Any of these resources will explain the process of taking a credit-by-exam test.

Next, educate your high schooler. This step is crucial! When I was in high school, the last thing I wanted to do was take additional tests beyond what was required by my mom and the state. So when I first heard the idea of credit-by-exam tests, I was not enthusiastic. I only became somewhat open to the idea after I read Accelerated Distance Learning for myself and could see the benefit of entering college with college credits. The thought of completing a year’s worth of credit while in high school and entering college in sophomore standing made me willing to study for CLEP exams.

Once you and your high schooler have begun exploring CLEP tests, you are ready to make some goals. How much time will you both devote toward CLEP testing? Which subjects will your student be studying in high school that have a corresponding CLEP test? Say your student wants to earn 30 credits before graduation—how many tests will your student need to take? (Most tests are worth 3 credits, but nine of the exams are worth 6 credits or more.[1]) Asking these questions can help you map out your CLEP test schedule.

For resources, I recommend starting at the official CLEP webpage, https://clep.collegeboard.org/. Here you will find the exam titles, as well as a free list of suggested resources. I highly recommend The Official CLEP Study Guide for practice tests. However, before you feel obliged to purchase textbooks or study aids specifically designed for CLEP, check your high schooler’s curriculum—it may include all the test topics. Visit http://www.free-clep-prep.com/ for more information regarding resources.

After study, pretests, and review, your high schooler is ready to test! This is the perfect time for students to see if credit-by-exam testing is a good fit for them. It is also a low-risk opportunity, as their CLEP score will not affect their high school GPA. Also, the test score will not affect student’s college GPA until you choose to send the score to the college.

The CLEP testing process is one that seemed out of my reach until I had completed each step and walked out of the test room with six credits to my name. Had I never taken my first CLEP test, I wouldn’t have learned this style of education was helpful for me. I encourage you and your student to give CLEP testing a try. You just might save time and money!

[1] https://clep.collegeboard.org/about/score See the “What Your Score Means” document.

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