| Did you know you can test out of college classes? If | | | | the program is to skip classes in college. Take a look |
| you have learned all about a subject, two | | | | and see if you can use this for your future education |
| organizations offer an option to take a test and | | | | plans. If not, student loans may help you get through. |
| qualify for college credit, plus two more ways to | | | | Your third option to skip college classes but get |
| earn college credit fast. You should verify with your | | | | credit: check with your university for an equivalency |
| school that you can use these tests, but if you | | | | test. The school itself may have an in-house program |
| haven't selected a college or university yet, take the | | | | as a way to demonstrate your proficiency with the |
| tests anyway. | | | | material. |
| The Advanced Placement Test, or AP Test, is the | | | | Ask about equivalency exams or testing out. Talk to |
| most recognized. The second largest is the College | | | | your counselor, your professors, or the department |
| Level Examination Program, or CLEP test. | | | | that teaches the class you want to skip. If you can |
| You use these to get credit for classes taken | | | | get the credit but don't have to take the class, that |
| elsewhere or for knowledge you have gained on | | | | is serious financial college aid. |
| your own. Here are three examples. | | | | And the fourth idea: look at distance education, or |
| - Let's say you took European history in high school. | | | | what used to be called independent study. If you |
| You take the test, you get college credit. | | | | have the knowledge, you can short stop an |
| - Perhaps you are a native Russian speaker (or other | | | | independent class and finish the requirement very |
| language). You take the test to earn credits for that | | | | quickly. |
| knowledge. | | | | Here is what I recommend. Sign up for a class that |
| - If you are homeschooled, you can take a test for | | | | you have proficiency in through a self paced program. |
| any subject you have learned in depth and want to | | | | You'll have to pay a fee for the class. When you |
| transfer to college credit, such as calculus, biology, | | | | start the class, you will also receive the guidelines, |
| physics, English literature, and on. | | | | telling you how to submit assignments and how often |
| How does this work? You take the test, and | | | | you can turn things in. |
| designate a university for the results to go to. If you | | | | If it is truly self-paced, you can turn in assignments |
| haven't chosen one, don't worry, you can have the | | | | almost as fast as you can do them. Some classes |
| results sent to another school easily. Then, if the | | | | have no homework, just tests. You may have a |
| college accepts the test in lieu of the classes, you | | | | couple of midterms and a final. Ideally, you can |
| earn credit. | | | | review the material and take the tests just a few |
| When I did this, I earned 8 credits for each test. | | | | days apart, since you already have a background in |
| Very cheap college credit. | | | | this subject. |
| AP and CLEP tests have a great return on | | | | Doing this right, you could take the class and finish it |
| investment for college credit: CLEP tests cost about | | | | in a month. No class time, and you get the credit. It's |
| $20 each, and over 1400 schools accept it. The AP | | | | a good way to finish off a class you don't want to |
| test program costs $84 for each exam. AP truly is a | | | | take over again in the class room. Make sure you |
| standard with worldwide reach, as 15,000 colleges | | | | know your stuff before you try it, and be sure you |
| and universities participate. | | | | turn everything in. |
| Class attendance is optional, and really the purpose of | | | | |