VoicesNews.com
10/04/2006
Head Start on College:
Oxford Student Passes CLEP Tests
By: Leda Quirke
OXFORD - At Housatonic Community College, 18-year-old Daniel Kresina is known as the "Crown Prince of CLEPs."
That's because he's taken 16 CLEP tests and passed them all.
CLEP, which stands for College Level Examination Program, is offered by many colleges to provide students of any age an opportunity to demonstrate college-level achievement via exams in undergraduate college courses.
It enables students to apply the information they already know - what they've learned in independent study or in school or home - for college credit.
About 2,900 colleges grant credit or advanced standing for CLEP exams.
For Daniel, who has been home-schooled all his life, the decision to acquire as much college credit as he could via distance learning was a natural alternative to attending college.
In an interview with Voices, the Newgate Road resident said he learned about CLEP three years ago at a seminar and decided that it would be a great way to get a jump start on his college education.
For one thing, the program allows students to proceed at their own pace. For another, it provides an opportunity to save money by skirting the customary college costs for tuition, room and board.
AT HCC where he has taken all but a couple of his CLEP tests, the cost per test is $60 plus a $15 scheduling fee. Students also must purchase books and other materials to prepare for the tests.
To save money, Daniel elects to buy used texts on line whenever possible.
Daniel began taking CLEP tests in 2003, the first one in natural science at Charter Oak State College in northern Connecticut. He also took a test at Sacred Heart University, but the majority were administered at HCC.
Of the 16 tests he's taken so far, 15 have been since January. They've been in the subjects of sociology, analyzing and interpreting literature, microeconomics, macroeconomics, college math, trigonometry, social science and history, humanities, English composition, introduction to business law, principals of statistics, introduction to business, marketing and management, human resource management, information systems and computer applications. Most of the courses are at the introductory level.
He also has taken three DANTEs, standardized tests originally offered to the military for college credit. These, according to Daniel, tend to be more advanced than CLEPs.
CLEPs are 90-minute tests. Except for composition, tests for most subjects are in multiple choice format. A score of 50 is passing. A perfect score is 80.
Daniel's average for the 16 tests he has taken is 69, the equivalent of an A, according to HCC Test Coordinator Pat Costeines.
All together, he has amassed 75 college credits, typically three to six credits per exam.
After he has competed three more DANTEs, he expects to have more than 100 credits toward his college education. He is currently studying finance and business law, level II.
Because the courses are more advanced, they will require more time than usual, perhaps a year, to complete, he said.
With many colleges offering degrees for 120 credits, Daniel already is well on his way toward the bachelor's of science degree in business management he is aspiring to obtain.
He expects to complete his education via distance learning, using his computer at home as a link to Thomas Edison State College in New Jersey.
Or, he may enroll in a community college.
He said he is leaning towards the former because he is "happy with the system so far."
In the meantime, he also works about eight hours a week for a resident who operates a management consulting company, getting hands-on experience.
Lest readers get the impression that home study with follow-up tests is an easy way to get through college, they should know that Daniel starts studying at 6:15 each morning five days a week, year-round and continues until close to 5 p.m.
It's a great program for those who enjoy the learning experience and want to unleash learning power, but probably not a good choice for those who are not motivated or who need regular interaction with a teacher, Daniel said.
By offering non-traditional learning and CLEP testing to students, colleges benefit too.
According to Anson Smith, in charge of public relations at HCC, students coming to HCC to take the tests are introduced to the college and its offerings, which is good exposure for the school.
"We're seeing more and more highly motivated students," he said.
Daniel's remarkable achievement was instrumental in the school being awarded a citation from the College Board this year.
According to Ms. Costeines, the citation recognized the school's success as a CLEP center.
Ms. Costeines indicated that it was a pleasure to work with Daniel in his pursuit of learning.
"He puts his heart into his studies," she said.
Anson C. Smith, Public Relations Coordinator
Housatonic Community College
900 Lafayette Blvd.
Bridgeport, CT 06604
Tel: 203-332-5229, Fax: 203-332-5247
E-mail: asmith@hcc.commnet.edu