<p>I just ran across a chart that shows one saving almost $12,000 in tuition costs taking clep exams (Survive</a> the Increasing Costs of College and Get Ahead | CLEP Test Review middle of the page). I'm just wondering, does every school offer this? And if so, why didn't I know about this?</p>
<p>Go to the website of any college you are considering and type "clep" in the search engine. The colleges that accept clep test scores for credit will list which ones they accept, what score is necessary on the test to receive credit, and which of the college's courses the credit will be applied to.</p>
<p>Not all schools grant credit for CLEP tests and some limit the number of credit hours that can be earned by examination.</p>
<p>I used to be an advisor at a SUNY branch that gave CLEP credit. It generally is a program for adults with "life experiences" who are entering or reentering college. It's not a program for kids coming out of High School. It involves study,testing and preparation and evaluation of portfolios documenting the relevant life experiences of the applicant in relation to the credit desired. The college you are considering enrolling at would be the best source of information about whether they grant credit and what their process would be.</p>
<p>D2 is taking the precalc test and will get 3 math credits. We're using it to up her standing so she can enter as a sophomore and be able to have a higher rank for housing and registration.</p>
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evaluation of portfolios documenting the relevant life experiences of the applicant in relation to the credit desired
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? is that normal at many schools? At my daughter's school the clep tests are just tests on particular subjects - Algebra, Calculus, US history etc. If you take the test and pass with the required percentage you can get the clep credit. No portfolios required. </p>
<p>The amount you would save on tuition would depend on how many clep tests you take and how much the tuition at your school is. </p>
<p>I would be cautious about taking clep tests in subjects where you will have to take a more advanced level of the subject unless you are very sure you have a very good and recent knowledge of the subject. My D was thinking of clepping pre calc (algebra and trig) which she would probably have passed but is now thinking she will take the class to make sure her foundation is solid for calculus. She has taken all those subjects at HS (through calculus) but was really sick of math when she graduated so did not take any math her Freshman year of college.</p>
<p>Also if you are planning on any further education such as medical school be aware that they will not usually accept clepped credits for their pre requisite classes so you would have to take a more advanced level of the subject.</p>
<p>I called D's college (SUNY) and they said CLEP exams are a great way to get some core credits and save money. My D is taking the College Math and Natural Sciences tests. I got her a prep book online and the sample questions are not too bad.</p>
<p>Oh...our CLEP tests are free if you take them while in high school.</p>
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If you take the test and pass with the required percentage you can get the clep credit. No portfolios required.
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<p>That's right, swimcatsmom. I have never heard of a school requiring a certain age limit, life experiences, or portfolio examination in addition to a CLEP score, but perhaps cathymee's school was an exception. I have done quite a bit of research on CLEP and have never seen this requirement at any school I checked into.</p>
<p>My S is taking the Sociology CLEP next week. He's a college senior and is taking to make his workload lighter during his senior year. He bought a CLEP test prep book and is studying it. He'll take the test and assuming he passes, he'll receive credit for 3 hours of Sociology.</p>
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My D is taking the College Math and Natural Sciences tests.
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Momof3Stars, have you checked with SUNY to see if they will grant credit for those particular tests? I have found very few colleges that grant credit that counts toward a degree for the College Math or the Natural Sciences tests. I think it's because they are lower level courses than what most colleges require. For instance, most colleges require at least College Algebra, which is above the level of the College Math CLEP test.</p>
<p>Yes, my D's SUNY does grant credit. 3 credits for anything over a 50 on the College Math and 6 credits for over a 50 on the Natural Sciences. There is a chart on the AP page of their website and I called the AA office to confirm which is when the counselor told me the above info on it being a great way to save money. My D only needs these for core requirements as she is a Music Ed major and requires no higher level courses.</p>
<p>I will have to call D's HS and ask if there is anyway to take the exams for free. If not they will cost about $70 a piece to take them at a local school. And better than AP's you get your score that day.</p>
<p>My son has taken Cleps in American History, Literature, Freshman comp, English comp and received 15 credits he is now self studying and about to try for Microeconomics. The Clep program, if accepted at your college is a great way to save a semester or two worth of tuition, not to mention time. My son is in a 5 yr masters program. Between Clep credits and university in the HS and a couple of courses at night he took he completed 33 credits prior to entering his first year. Effectivly he becam a junior after his freshman year. He will complete his masters in 4 years. Luckily he is on a 4 year scholarship that will now cover him straight through his masters!</p>
<p>Wow, that's very impressive! Is it a BS/MBA program?</p>
<p>Yes BS/MPA Masters in Professional Accountancy.</p>
<p>it depends on the college.
It is interesting to me- that while our flagship university will grant AP credits as college credit, in our state ( WA) virtually only some of the community colleges grant CLEP credit.
However, I wonder if you obtain an AA certificate from the community college- which supposedly is transferable as a block of credits to an instate university, if some of those requirements were filled by CLEP, if that would make any difference?</p>
<p>It depends on the college.</p>
<p>If you have no AP credits and you go to a college that is good about accepting CLEP credits and you are good at passing CLEP tests, you can save a year's worth of tuition.</p>