Home College: What are the Options?
From a lecture delivered at ENOCH's Convention in 2002
By Bruce Eagleson
This was presented by wife, husband and daughter who achieved a college degree, mostly at "home".
Wife: MaryAnn
My daughter got her BA degree from Thomas Edison State College, which specializes in distance learning. First step is to pray for discernment re:college. An option is to enroll child in American School (after Calvert). It has open book exams. Refuse to let child pass until they go back and find the correct answers.
Take CLEP exams ($50) and send results to the college of your choice. You will need photo id and so a passport is ideal. Use the College Board CLEP Guide Book to prepare.
Their approach: Thomas Edison State College
Ways to get credit:
Transfer viable credit from a regionally accredited school to here (from other distance coursework or a local college.
They used Steve Haig at the Rivendale Study School and some classes from Geneva College)
CLEP exams.
She got 30 credits this way
Portfolio Assessment:
World Journalism Institute experience was used to get this type of credit as was harp (8 credits) and 12 years of piano (21 credits)
This way avoided much peer pressure and saved on commuting costs. Much was done via Internet and enabled her to double up on some of her high school and college learning. The distance approach can be expensive, however, i.e. University of Phoenix.
Hannah, age 19
This enabled me to get a college degree at age 19
Advantages:
Inexpensive, no debt
Stay in contact with home and community. Learn from examples of elders and teach young while still involved with family and church.
Benefit in training in managing a household
Disadvantages:
Learning with little outside support
Few peers -all away at college
Little discussion on assignments
Responsible for everything
She recommends taking CLEP immediately after completing class.
Thoughts on portfolio assessment: college level work can be done at a younger age, equivalent work can be credited (use a college course description of a course to outline and demonstrate that you already have competency in it. Write up narrative, list work done and learned and when learned, complete with evidence of work sheets, video demonstrating proficiency and programs.)
Distance learning allows for learning via book, mentors and videos. Work is assessed by papers and tests (administered by proctors)
Husband: Bruce
The single best resource is Barron's Guide to Distance Learning, 25th edition. It has excellent information on accreditation.
What are your reasons to homeschool?
Pass on values to your children
Avoid untoward influence
Safety on campus
Enjoy their presence
Don't these reasons still exist for college?
Other basic questions:
Can you afford the tuition of college?
What college is best?
Real question is "What college is best for my child?"
A college's purpose is to sell you an education for your child. What program of study is worth $100,000? Will the increased income due to college really offset the cost of tuition and the lost years of work? Perhaps we go to college less for economic benefits and more for interest and desire.
Home College with distance learning and community college meets the home values. You can enjoy time with your child and balance some of the crazy ideas from college, giving perspective and discernment. For $6000 Hannah got a BA in English. This doesn't work for computer science and other disciplines so readily or affordably. It requires much planning.
Using CLEP is economical and gives good feedback and affirmation on studies already done. Lets look at the math for cost/credit:
Typical college:
$100/credit
Community College:
$75/credit
CLEP:
$9/credit
Even if credit not given it is still worth it, he maintains. To determine whether the test should be taken, buy the $14.95 guide and take the test it contains. If less than 50% correct on the practice choose to study or decide that particular test isn't needed. (Is it necessary for an English major to get CLEP credit for Chemistry???)
Hannah received:
6 credits for English Comp 101
6 credits for American Lit
6 credits for English Lit etc at a cost of $50/6 credits each.
However, a college doesn't want to give away too many credits and so they often have a limit of 6 -24 CLEP credits they will permit.
The distance learning option you choose should be accredited if you want the key to better jobs. There are 5 regional accrediting agencies: Middle States for NJ. These colleges will hold your CLEP scores for 10 yrs:
Thomas Edison State College, NJ
Charter Oaks, CT
Excelsior, NY
They are all designed for adults over 20; however, they will make exceptions if you apply for it.
College Board Exams:
SAT II vs. CLEP vs. AP
CLEP is a bit easier than the AP and gives 6 credits. Best way to harvest many credits quickly. AP is harder for less credit (3 cr.); you may get advanced placement but no credit towards degree.
What if portfolio is rejected? 90% of applicants are successful. The college tells you what they look for. Use an accredited school's course description and prove step by step how you met these qualifications. There is an option for portfolio in process. You pay for the credits in advance without any guarantee they will accept it.
Concluding Thoughts:
Thomas Edison charges $300/credit hour for on ongoing student or $6700/year for a full-term students (3 twelve credit semesters/year). So, enroll for one year and transfer all credits that year at no fee.
36 credits from fulltime enrollment
60 credits via CLEP exam
30 credits via portfolio (in process during that year)
Clever planning required to pull this off…..
Return to the Table of Contents20 May 2008
