Oh but it is so much more...
Firstly, I study at home in the comforts of my own room. Right off the bat here, I am saving thousands of dollars on room and board. Even as great as I see that, the benefits continue! I work part time (I have also worked full-time while in CP), I am currently pursing many other interests that are not in my degree plan, I participate in numerous ministries, I can work my schedule to participate in internships, AND I have the freedom to go on mission trips and other adventure extravaganzas.
--Sounds good, but like, is it a "real" degree?--
YES! Let me tell you about it. The whole process starts when I'm matched with a coach who not only helps me academically, but also in every other way possible. Like seriously, we have the BEST conversations. EVER. Over phone calls, this coach helped me through the beginning stages of studying skills and figuring out just what degree I wanted to pursue that aligned with my life purpose.
Now that I have made my degree choice, an English BA from Thomas Edison State College, (no, CP isn't the degree-granting school. I know- confusing. We'll get there in a minute), I have begun gaining all of my general education credits by taking credit-by-exam examinations. The most popular is called CLEP. These CLEP exams can be taken at most universities and colleges for a barely a fraction of a normal semester-long class. So, with the continued help of my coach, I independently study for a specific exam with various resources, and then take the the exam. Upon a passing score, I can receive 3 to 12 credits depending on the exam. This CLEP process can take me anywhere from 10 days to four weeks and only cost me from $100 to $150 (including books/study resources, the exam itself, and testing proctor fee).
All of this to say, that I am moving through my general ed classes quite rapidly without having to take out any students loans. That's right, zippo.
Once I have completed the various exams, as well as other signature courses by CollegePlus, I will transfer all of my work to Thomas Edison where I will finish my degree as a "normal" (ha..."normal"...) online student (still studying from home with the continued freedoms said above).
psst... still debt-free.
--Okay, well maybe that would work for you, but what about a social life? or the "college experience"? or "the campus life"?--
Let me just begin with that when I have the ENTIRE world to explore and discover, being confined to a college campus no longer seems appealing. And secondly, there is an amazing student community all over the US and beyond! Sure, some of us are only identified as an avatar, Facebook friend, or Google Hangout buddy... but seriously, this community is the BEST. And there are various opportunities for gatherings to meet and collaborate with fellow CP students. So I, in no way, feel like I am "missing out" on any social aspect of the traditional college experience.
If you have actually made it through all of these ramblings of mine, you may be able to tell that I am rather thrilled about this time in my life. Know what? I should be! This is the prime time. Sure things around me might be going a hundred miles an hour, I might be sitting at my desk for hours on end, or grueling over piles of flash cards, but CollegePlus has given me the freedom to live the life that God has given me to live.
Taking a deep breath in- It's go time.
If you have actually made it through all of these ramblings of mine, you may be able to tell that I am rather thrilled about this time in my life. Know what? I should be! This is the prime time. Sure things around me might be going a hundred miles an hour, I might be sitting at my desk for hours on end, or grueling over piles of flash cards, but CollegePlus has given me the freedom to live the life that God has given me to live.
Taking a deep breath in- It's go time.
