[barcotta]

I took the CLEP Macroeconomics exam yesterday and I just recently finished my on-line Accounting II class, so, while taking a break from studying I thought I would share some of my experience for whatever it's worth.

When I started out on this journey to obtain an Excelsior degree (associates at first--then I switched to bachelors) I tried to decide what I thought I could teach myself and what I thought I could not. I also wanted to maximize my music training--which was acquired in non-regionally accredited institutions. So I decided to forego the now defunct six credit CLEP Accounting exam and take Accounting at my local community college--as I was not convinced I could learn such a broad subject on my own. Why?

Well, for one, it was very inexpensive. California community colleges charge $20 per credit hour for residents--which makes most of them cost about the same as CLEP and DSST exams. Also, it was a five (5) credit class--so I would be knocking off ten (10) credits by the time I completed Accounting I and II. They also had a one-credit Introduction to Research class ($20 and I photocopied the pages I needed out of the book--so no book cost) that satisfied Excelsior's Information Literacy requirement. Finally, my college required any student who wished to challenge any courses via credit-by-examination to be enrolled in at least six (6) credits--and I wanted to challenge as many music courses as possible--so my 5+1 took care of that as well.

One thing I wasn't able to take complete advantage of was the fully-accredited Work/Study program. If I could've used more elective credits--I could have acquired twelve (12) credits in the work/study program--which basically required you to document a project at your place of employment (1 page). Up to four (4) credits were available each semester and you could do it three (3) times. By the time the semester was over I was not in need of any further elective credit and I had successfully challenged five (5) music classes for twelve (12) more credits.

I didn't know it at the time, but my Accounting I class was their first attempt at teaching Accounting on-line (technically it was hybrid--I had to show up four times) and the teacher had not yet adapted to this method of teaching. All homework was completed on pre-formatted spreadsheets and when you entered the correct numbers they turned blue. Those were due weekly and there were quizzes at each of the four meetings. Actually, he forgot at one of the meetings so there were only three quizzes--and he gave us the answer before we handed each of them in. The "final" exam ended up being some more homework assignments which we completed at home--complete with the spreadsheets that turned blue when you entered the correct numbers. In spite of the almost laughable format--accounting is hard and I spent a lot of hours getting those numbers to turn blue!

Accounting II was the real deal. I was terrified and regretting my decision when I started Accounting II, since I had acquired almost no knowledge in Accounting I. I would say that I put in the equivalent study time for 4-5 CLEP or DSST exams to complete Accounting II--but complete it I did.

Now that it's over I'm glad I did it this way--mostly for the fringe benefits (work/study credits and challenging the music classes) and I did, in fact, learn something in Accounting II.

I just thought I would share my experience in case it was helpful to anyone who is in the position I was last year. If anyone has read this far and wants to know more--post away or send me a PM. Thanks.