I Broke the School System (Genius Strategy)
TLDRThe speaker shares their unique journey of graduating college in one year, motivated by the fear of student debt. They utilized AP exams, self-study, and college credit programs like CLEP and DSST to accumulate credits while still in high school. Through careful planning and the use of tools like Transferology, they ensured credits transferred to their university, allowing them to complete a degree in record time. The speaker also emphasizes the inefficiency of traditional education and the value of alternative learning methods, suggesting that education should be more flexible and personalized.
Takeaways
- 🎓 The speaker graduated college in one year by utilizing various college credit programs to avoid student debt.
- 🤔 The initial goal was set after realizing the high cost of student debt at private, nonprofit universities, averaging around $35,000.
- 🔍 The speaker discovered AP (Advanced Placement) exams, which allow high school students to earn college credits through self-study and testing.
- 📚 In addition to AP exams, the speaker used CLEP (College Level Examination Program) and DSST exams to earn college credits outside of traditional classroom settings.
- 🏫 The Postsecondary Enrollment Option (PSO) was another method used to take free college courses while still in high school.
- 🔗 The website Transferology was instrumental in verifying the transferability of credits earned through exams to the desired university.
- 📝 A meticulous plan was crafted, including a spreadsheet to match university requirements with credits earned through exams and PSO.
- 🧐 The speaker emphasizes the importance of ensuring that all credits earned would transfer to the chosen university to avoid wasted effort.
- 📈 The strategy saved both time and money, allowing the speaker to graduate three years early and pursue a graduate degree during what would have been their undergraduate years.
- 🤯 The process was not without stress and required extensive communication with schools and careful planning to ensure success.
- 🌐 The speaker suggests that education should be more flexible, allowing individuals to progress at their own pace, and that the traditional college path may not be the best for everyone.
Q & A
How did the speaker manage to graduate college in one year?
-The speaker utilized a combination of AP exams, self-study, the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), DSST exams, and the Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSO) to earn college credits while still in high school, which allowed for an accelerated graduation.
What is the average student debt for graduates from private nonprofit universities?
-The average student debt for graduates from private nonprofit universities is $35,000.
What is AP and how does it help in earning college credits while in high school?
-AP stands for Advanced Placement. It is a program created by the College Board that offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. A score of three or higher on these exams is typically accepted by most universities as if the student took the class at the college.
What is the College Level Examination Program (CLEP)?
-CLEP is a group of standardized tests administered by the College Board that college and high school students can take to earn college credit for what they have already learned.
What is DSST and how does it differ from CLEP?
-DSST, or DANTES Subject Standardized Tests, is another group of exams that grant college credits based on passing scores. It is similar to CLEP but has its own catalog of exams and is administered by a different organization.
What is PSO and how did the speaker use it to graduate early?
-PSO stands for Postsecondary Enrollment Options. It is a program available in certain states that allows high school students to take college courses for free. The speaker used PSO to take courses that could not be tested out of via AP, CLEP, or DSST exams.
How did the speaker ensure that the credits earned would transfer to their university?
-The speaker used a tool called Transferology to verify if the courses and exam scores earned would transfer to their university. This helped to avoid taking courses that would not count towards their degree.
What was the speaker's major and how did they plan their course selection?
-The speaker's major was Organizational Management. They made a spreadsheet with two columns: one for classes they could take and one for transfer credits they could satisfy with AP, CLEP, DSST, or PSO.
What challenges did the speaker face while trying to graduate early?
-The speaker faced challenges such as coordinating exams, managing stress, and dealing with school administration to ensure that their credits would transfer and count towards graduation.
What is the Modern States program and how did it help the speaker?
-Modern States is a program that reimburses the cost of CLEP exams and provides free courses and study materials. It helped the speaker by reducing the financial burden of taking multiple exams.
What alternative learning methods did the speaker find more effective than traditional schooling?
-The speaker found learning through audiobooks, online courses, travel, starting their own businesses, and networking events to be more effective than traditional schooling.
What is the Pareto principle mentioned by the speaker and how did it apply to their study strategy?
-The Pareto principle, also known as the 80/20 rule, states that 20% of inputs create 80% of outputs. The speaker applied this principle by focusing on the most important aspects of their studies, which allowed them to achieve their desired outcomes with less effort.
Outlines
🎓 Accelerating College Graduation Through Advanced Placement
The speaker shares their journey of graduating college in one year by utilizing Advanced Placement (AP) courses and exams, a strategy that began in high school due to concerns about student debt. They discovered that earning college credits through AP exams, which can be self-studied and taken without attending the corresponding classes, could save both time and money. The speaker also explored other college credit granting programs like the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and DSST exams, and used the Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSO) to take free college courses while still in high school. They emphasize the importance of using tools like Transferology to ensure credits transfer to the desired university and the strategic planning required to graduate early, including dealing with general education requirements and choosing a university that aligns with their credit-earning strategy.
📚 The Unconventional Path to Earning College Credits
This paragraph delves into the speaker's experience with self-studying for AP, CLEP, and DSST exams, which allowed them to earn college credits in a fraction of the time it would take through traditional classroom learning. They discuss the challenges of coordinating exams, the costs involved, and resources like Modern States that can reimburse exam fees and provide study materials. The speaker also shares their study techniques, such as focusing on practice questions before deep diving into the material, which helped them efficiently prepare for the exams. Additionally, they highlight the benefits of this approach, such as satisfying high school requirements and reducing stress, and acknowledge the stress and effort involved in this unconventional path.
🚀 Reflecting on the Value of Traditional Education and Alternative Learning
In the final paragraph, the speaker reflects on the value of traditional education and the potential of alternative learning methods. They share that they learned more from audiobooks, online courses, travel, and starting businesses than from their undergraduate studies. The speaker argues that the community and social activities are the main value of university education, which comes at a high cost. They suggest that with technology, it's possible to learn at one's own pace, and society should consider education beyond the traditional structure. The speaker concludes by encouraging viewers to like and subscribe for more content on their educational journey, emphasizing the importance of exploring different paths in education.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡College Credits
💡Advanced Placement (AP)
💡Self-study
💡College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
💡DSST
💡Postsecondary Enrollment Option (PSO)
💡Transferology
💡Student Debt
💡Organizational Management
💡Modern States
💡Education System
Highlights
Graduated college in one year, receiving attention from LinkedIn and numerous inquiries about how it was achieved.
Had a goal to graduate college in one year to avoid student debt, which averages $35,000 for private, nonprofit university graduates.
Learned about earning college credits in high school through Advanced Placement (AP) exams.
Discovered AP self-study, allowing students to take exams without enrolling in the corresponding class.
Explored other college credit granting programs like the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and DSST.
Utilized the Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSO) to take free college courses while still in high school.
Ensured all earned credits and exam scores would transfer to the desired university using Transferology.
Focused on general education requirements which are easier to fulfill through testing out of classes.
Chose the University of Minnesota system due to its compatibility with the planned credit acquisition strategy.
Created a spreadsheet to map out which college classes could be replaced with transfer credits from AP, CLEP, DSST, or PSO.
Self-studied for exams in 2-3 weeks, utilizing resources like tutors and teachers for difficult subjects.
Recommended using free resources and practice questions before delving into material study for exams.
Highlighted the inefficiency of traditional education and the benefits of targeted learning for exams.
Earned college credits also satisfied high school requirements, reducing stress and freeing up time for other activities.
Faced challenges and stress in the process, including coordinating exams and ensuring credits transferred.
Achieved the goal of graduating three years early in 2020, motivated by a fear of student debt and desire for an extraordinary achievement.
Considered pursuing a graduate degree during the pandemic, inspired by the unlocked time and potential.
Believes education should be flexible and paced according to individual learners, not a rigid structure.
Suggests that the value of a university education may not always equate to its financial and time costs.
Shares personal learning experiences outside of formal education, emphasizing the importance of community and social activities.
Encourages viewers to like and subscribe for more content on the unique educational journey.
Transcripts
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