What I Wish I Would Have Known Before College

There is no step by step guide to survive school while pursuing a higher education degree. Many people describe college as some of the best years of their lives. However, higher education is a dramatic lifestyle change that can be hard to adapt to for many students. As a recent graduate reflecting on my college years, there are a few things I wish I had realized before I entered college. Here are a few things I wish I would’ve known, including stress, studying and money management.

In high school I was a three sport athlete, a member of the National Honor Society, the secretary for the student council and part of many other committees. I balanced these activities very well and loved every minute of it. However, the set schedule I was used to changed when I came to college. You are in charge of managing your schedule. No one is there to guide you along. This can be a major change of pace for many people. So my tip to you is to set a schedule. Sit down and plan out your week. Designate times to do assignments, tests and to study. Stick to your routine. Your grades will thank you.

If you had poor study habits in high school, it’s time to make a change. Students are often shocked by how much effort they must put into their classes. Even though students are often told how much time and effort they will have to put into their classes, they are typically stunned when they are actually expected to do it. If you’re really struggling, reach out to your advisor for helpful tips on how to manage your course work. They may also have resources available to you to make studying easier or more enjoyable! Don’t take on more than you can handle. Some students can handle four courses at a time while others may only be able to focus on one. Wherever you fall on this spectrum, that’s okay! Progress isn’t linear. Lastly, ask friends and loved ones what worked for them or look up studying tips online. If one method fails, don’t give up! Everyone is different, you just need to find your niche.

In all honesty, college was the most stressful time of my life. When my routine was no longer existent, I found that I had to discover new ways to manage stress and anxiety. It wasn’t until my junior year that I was able to find ways to manage that stress that worked for me. I found that what worked for me didn’t necessarily work for my friends. I had always been an extremely active person, so I naturally gravitated towards fitness to take my mind off of whatever I was stressed about. Going to the gym at the end of the day helped me relax and refocus. Other stress relievers can be painting, reading a book or even just watching a movie or tv for a little while. Find a healthy coping mechanism and make sure to incorporate it into your new routine.

Last but not least, money. Money can be a huge concern while earning your degree, and managing it can be difficult. My advice would be to set a budget or allowance for yourself. You can make it weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly. Factor in the cost of your loans, along with other expenses such as books and materials. When I made my budget, I also included money for food, extracurriculars along with how much money I would put into savings. I really stress putting money aside for savings. When my senior year rolled around, I was able to pay off my whole first semester with what money I had put aside which saved me the stress of paying more interest on my loan. Every bit counts, save what you can, when you can.

For many students, college is a whole new world and what comes along with it can be stressful and overwhelming. Finding what works for you during this time is extremely important. Sometimes, though, a little guidance can be helpful — take it from people who learned the hard way.

The DSST Credit by examination

A lot of students who are interested in taking a credit by examination recognize mainly the CLEP program.  A credit by exam lets you take a credit by getting a good score on a certain course that you will take. The exam will test your knowledge and familiarity of the subject matter. There are other known credit-by-examination programs offered to students like the Dantes credit by examination. It is the same with CLEP which is also widely accepted and recognized by colleges and universities all over the country. It is open to everyone who is interested to take the examination with over 2000 colleges and universities who will recognize your score once you pass the exam.

credit by examFor each passed DSST exam, you will gain 3 college credit hours which can be equivalent to one course. Imagine what a huge opportunity it is for you to save your time on college as well as money, for you are no longer required to pay for that subject. There are some DSST exams that offer upper-division credit which you can use on your major. The test is not as easy as it sounds, many fail with the examination. It still requires some review and enough preparation to increase your chances to get a good score.

The main goal of the Dantes Credit by examination is to make the college more affordable and less time consuming without compromising the quality of learning and education. The purpose of the examinations is to test whether the students are already an expert or very familiar with the subjects. If they do, they no longer need to take that subject again in college to avoid repetition. The DSST was initially intended to support service members and for active duty and veteran members. The tests are available to civilians as well, and are now being managed by Prometric, an educational services company. This means that anyone who is interested in saving time and money on their path to a college degree can make use of DSST. The DSST exams are currently available in 38 subjects and accepted in almost all colleges and universities.

The Dantes Credit-by-Exam

The Dantes Subject Standardized tests or DSST, also known as the Dantes “Credit-By-Exam,” is a method that provides you the chance to display your college-level achievement through a program of examinations in undergraduate college courses. The Credit-By-Exam tests will save you time and money and help you accomplish your educational objectives. Through the help of the Dantes exam, the student will be able to acquire a college credit by passing the examinations.

dante's examCollege credit exams are broadly recognized by universities and colleges. By passing these assessments, chances are you’ll earn one-third or maybe more of the credits necessary for a college degree. These types of exams can be found in more than 150 subjects and they are similar to the tests provided by universities and colleges during the end of the course.

The DSST will help you acquire your degree, demonstrate your college-level knowledge in subjects relevant to your work or even get a promotion.  It will improve your chances to get into the college that you want. Colleges have their own admission policies; some include a good grade in entrance exams. When you get a passing score for DSSTs on your transcript, it will be a strong evidence of how well you perform at the college level. The exam will give you confidence before you enter college. The Dantes exam can show you how well you can compete in the college world because you will be compared with other current college students through your score.

When considering the Dantes exam, seek advice from the college or university you’re planning to attend, or together with your education counselor, to guarantee the credits satisfy your degree requirements. You must be prepared before taking the examination. Many people say that the DSST is way more difficult than the CLEP exam. Enough preparation by personal review or taking a review class will increase your chances to get a better score.

Preparing for the Dante’s Credit by Examination DSST Exam

To prepare for the Dante’s Credit by Examination, you must first visit your admission department to discuss the credit awarding policy. Here they will clarify some things you want to know and be able to provide you with their advice. The DSST is an example of a Credit by Examination program allowing students to gain credit by passing the exam.

creditThrough the DSST exam, the schools will be able to award credit to a student when he meets the necessary requirements and the passing rate of the exam. The passing rate is usually determined by the school itself, but it must be established and recommended by the national committee of college faculty. The American Council on Education (ACE) is the institution that approves and provides their recommended passing score. They are also responsible in determining how much credit the student is allowed to receive.

It is advisable to inquire first about your school’s program in DSST to make sure you are prepared and illegible to take the examination. You must also know the passing rate. There are schools that have a higher requirement with their passing rate, not following the ACE’s suggested passing score.

Actual preparation for the DSST exam includes taking practice exams. Through these practice exams, you will be able to assess yourself on how well you are in the subject and how much more you need to study and practice. Practice exams will also help you get used to the exam and makes you quicker in understanding questions.

Make sure you have chosen the best practice test offered by a school or online service. Through these exams, the students will be able to save time and money while accelerating graduation completion, allowing them to take another step closer to the profession you want to achieve.

About the CLEP Exam

The College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) was developed by the College Board, and is the most widely used credit-by-examination program. It is available at more than 2,900 colleges and universities. After passing any of the 34 CLEP exams, you can accomplish your college and career goals in nursing. The program is very helpful because it requires a smaller amount of money compared to paying the whole college course fees.

brCLEPThere are many organizations that offer courses for preparation of CLEP and DSST exams. They provide helpful online study guides that give you the content to prepare for CLEP test. The content of these guides has been focused and is easy to follow. It assists students to prepare for exams without pressuring them too much. The College Board also publishes study guides containing sample tests for all exams. These sample tests are important because they are in similar form with the actual exam.

There is a specially designed CLEP Testing phase in which one can take 4 course tests in one month with a 100% pass rate. This equals to 24 college credits. The main advantages of CLEP exams for a student are to save money that is approx $21,600 per student and also save time. Taking the necessary preparation is needed to pass the CLEP exam. Make sure you are fully equipped with knowledge and some techniques before the examination.

 

Credit by Examination and Home Schooled Students

If you’ve ever considered how a homeschooler can graduate from secondary school and college at the same time, it is probably because they combined home school with earning college credit by examinations. CLEP examinations, DSST examinations and AP examinations can be used to accelerate through high school and college. There are three basic types of examinations used to earn college credit while home school learners at the secondary school stage. These are the same programs used by learners attending a physical high school as well.

1. The CLEP (College Level Examination Program) was designed by the College Board to allow scholars to gain credit for prior experience or knowledge. There are 33 examinations available that range from three to six credits per test. More than 2900 approved colleges and universities agree to these assessments as credit for classes, allowing learners to skip starting programs and get to the meat of their program. Home schoolers can take CLEP examinations at local colleges and universities.

credit_by_examination2. DSST examinations (formerly known as DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) were initially designed for the army and allowed servicemen to speed up their education while serving in the military. While these assessments are free for the army, citizens may also use these examinations instead of attending a traditional college class. Over 1200 schools agree to the 38 DSST examinations as credit for classes at their schools. Home schoolers and High School students are drawn to DSST examinations as they cover common topic like Astronomy, Personal Finance, and Introduction to World Religions that learners are likely to have some information about and may have to take as a core subject in college. Students must take the credit by examination at a university that provides the test.

3. AP programs with examinations are designed by the College Board and used widely in public schools to award high school learners with college credits. AP exams are often taken in the Spring as part of an official AP (Advanced Placement) class; however, home schoolers can still participate through independent study. You will also need to arrange to take the AP credit by examination at a college in your area that takes part in the AP program.

Deferring Cost Thru Credit by Exam

It used to be that students attending college could only get credits by sitting through weeks-long lessons, writing notes and passing a litany of assessments. Now, however, there may be a more effective way of making credits for classes in a shorter period and at a portion of the cost. There are no projects to finish, no assessments to take, and no lessons or classes to attend, just an examination to pass. Sound interesting? Students looking for a more efficient way to generate a degree might want to consider credit by exam programs, which have become well-known among those who want to speed up their time in school and save costs simultaneously.

credit_by_exam“Credit-by-exam programs have been used for years and keep growing today because they offer real value to students and enable them to finish degree requirements more effectively than getting traditional programs,” says Marc Singer, vice provost of the Center for the Assessment of Learning at Thomas Edison State College, which recently arranged several of its credit by exam programs with open programs to make new routes for students to generate credit. Currently 3,000 universities in the U.S. accept credit-by-exam as transfer credit. The programs allow students to generate credit by passing a single examination and are an excellent fit for independent students, students who possess college-level knowledge and students who are excellent test takers.

Credit by exam programs are not, however, a one-size-fits-all strategy to learning. For instance, those students who choose an organized environment and getting a lecturer and other students may not do as well with getting one test that includes a semester’s worth of material. This strategy does tend to work well for busy adult students who have competitive requirements on their time and who want to work individually. Two of the most well-known credit-by-exam programs in the U.S. are the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP exams) and DSST examinations. “Students considering credit-by-exam programs should talk with their educational consultant to make sure credits from the examination they are planning to take can be transferred to fulfill a requirement in their degree program,” says Singer.

The Secret to College: Credit By Exam

For most scholars, the path to earning credit typically involves several weeks of paying attention to lessons, writing down notes, finishing projects and passing a mid-term and final examination. But if you could generate that credit in less time and at a portion of the cost of getting an official course, would you be interested? There would be no projects to finish and no lessons or classes to attend, just an examination to pass. Students looking for a more efficient model to generate a degree should consider credit by exam programs, which have become well-known among those who want to speed up their pace and save money.

Credit_by_exam“Credit-by-exam programs have been used for years and keep growing today because they offer real value to students and allow them to finish degree requirements more efficiently than getting traditional programs,” mentioned Marc Singer, vice provost of the Center for the Assessment of Learning at Thomas Edison State College, which recently arranged several of its credit by exam programs with open programs to create new routes for students to generate credit. Nearly 3,000 universities in the U.S. accept credit by exam as transfer credit. The programs allow students to get credit by passing a single examination and tend to be an excellent fit for independent students, students who possess college-level knowledge and students who are excellent test takers.

Credit by exam programs is not for everyone, especially students who choose an organized environment and getting a lecturer and other students. Deciding to get college credit by preparing for an examination that covers a semester’s worth of content means you have to be self-motivated and regimented. This approach attracts many busy adult students who have competitive demands on their time and who want to work individually. Two of the most well-known credit-by-exam programs in the U.S. are the College Level Examination Program (CLEP exams) and DSST examinations. “Students considering credit-by-exam programs should talk with their academic consultant to make sure credits from the examination they are planning to take can be passed to satisfy a requirement in their degree program,” said Singer.

Credit by Examination and CLEP

According to the Department of Education, only 40% of learners graduate in 4 years, with the average closer to 6 years. This can mean a large number of extra dollars of additional college tuition, room and board, and even lost pay. Here is some smart ways to generate college credits, guaranteeing you graduate on time and within your college budget.

credit_by_examination

AP/IB Programs in High School: Take AP (Advanced Placement) or IB (International Baccalaureate) courses while in High School. These double credit ranking courses can mean that you actually start college with credits already gained. Be sure to check which is approved by your colleges of choice and know that you must successfully pass the final examination with a passing grade to get the credit. Please note that for IB courses, many universities and colleges only give credit for exams at the HL (Higher Level) courses and examinations.

Earn College Credits over the Summer: Spend summer season before you begin college or between semesters by making credits. Whether you are studying to take a test for credit (like a CLEP or DSST test), or making some General Education credits at your local college, a large number of universities agree to a passing test or course score for credits.

Test for Credit: Speaking of credit by examination, did you know that there are over 50 college courses that provide you with credit if you successfully pass a test? Called CLEP (College Level Examination Prep) or DSST (originally created for the military), these courses can reduce your path to a degree and are approved by over 3,000 universities in the United States. Here are some pretty great reasons to consider testing for credit:

  • Test for credit saved an average of over 6 months toward their degrees.
  • 91% of CLEP test-takers said CLEP made a distinction in helping them finish their degrees.
  • 70% of CLEP test-takers said their CLEP credits made a distinction in their ability to finance college tuition and other costs.
  • CLEP learners have considerably greater collective GPA than non-CLEP learners when controlling for demographics and prior accomplishment.
  • Students who receive credit by examination through CLEP for an introductory course are much more likely to get an A or B in succeeding courses than learners who finish the introductory course.

Credit by Exam and DSST Exam

credit_by_examAs college tuition prices continue to increase at universities across the country, some learners are looking for more cost-saving, non-traditional routes to college. One way that you can preserve countless numbers (or even thousands) of dollars on expenses is by getting an examination to generate college credit in place of a conventional three-credit course. Many American universities, colleges and schools will actually allow you to test out of certain programs with a DSST examination, allowing you the opportunity to take more classes that can get you ready for your future profession. In fact, here are some reasons why you should consider credit by exam:

  • Save Time: DSST examinations can help decrease the number of hours and classes you may need for a degree program. You have the versatility to schedule the credit by exam on your own time and to create a study plan that continues as long as you need it to.
  • Save Money: A DSST exam costs only $80! On average, one college credit is worth $250, add up 3 credits and that is $750! DSST examinations are also financed for active duty military members (and their spouses).
  • Credit = Credit: Over 1,900 organizations allow credits for DSST examinations. Whether you are seated through a class of 400 learners taking notices or passing a DSST examination, the credits are worth the same!
  • Wide Range of Educational Experience: DSST provides a wide list of 38 examinations (and growing!). In comparison, CLEP provides only 33 examinations. There is no limit when it comes to DSST. Choose examinations that fit your system needs and wishes.
  • Plenty of Resources: With the help of DSST online exercise examinations, the DSST Official Test Preparation Guides and several third-party sources, you can make sure that you will be advised on your direction to success.