Finishing the Race
Earning College Credits
the Easy Way
By Tricia McQuarrie
Some homeschooling parents find
formulating a plan for homeschooling
through high school a challenge.
Should our focus be on completing a
comprehensive high school curriculum
package? What about facing the
college recruiters? What about spending money on costly
umbrella schools that offer accredited diplomas?
These concerns motivate some parents to plan hours of
unnecessary course work that they hope will lead to a
diploma. Others choose educational paths that attempt to
satisfy nagging doubts about future college entrance
requirements. CLEP solved both these concerns for our
family by allowing us to chart an independent course that
ultimately will show college recruiters that our students
are ready for the next step.
What Is CLEP?
CLEP® stands for “College-Level Examination Program”
and is also referred to as “testing out” or “credit by examination.” Simply put, students use independent study to
prepare for a specific college course and then go to a local
college to take a computerized multiple choice exam. If the
student passes, he is issued the appropriate credits for the
class, as if he had taken the class at a college.
How CLEP Exams Can Be Used
Accumulate dual credit, earning credits that will
count toward high school requirements and at the
same time count toward a college degree.
Shorten the years of study required to earn a college
degree, since the student can start in the teen years.
Save money, since the cost of taking CLEP exams is
much cheaper than registering for a college class on
campus.
Show any “brick and mortar” college that your child
is capable of performing at a college level, and you’ll
have the credits to prove it!
Avoid having to take “basic skills” classes when
entering college by taking CLEP tests to earn credits
for college math and freshman English.
Give your child the chance to delve into the subject
being studied yet move at a comfortable pace for
optimum learning.
