A Plan, Finally

It's always good to have a plan. It helps you know where you're going and how to get there. I *finally* have a plan for something that I've been very indecisive about all fall. Sweet Pea is taking US History this fall. I wanted her to take the AP test in the spring but I kept going back and forth about it. I wasn't sure if our class at home would be enough to get her ready for it and I knew we wouldn't be done in time to spend weeks studying for it. I was also thinking about the CLEP test then I couldn't decide which would be better or if it really mattered which she took. This job of being guidance counselor for homeschooled high school students is not for the faint of heart!

I finally got to the point of thinking she wouldn't do either, she'd just take the class and we'd call it good. I had looked into the AP test and had some concerns - besides what I mentioned above, it's only offered once a year in the spring and this coming year it's May 15. We're planning on going on vacation the last two weeks or so of May and this could be a problem (the AP test date). One of the advantages of homeschooling is being able to set your own schedule and take vacations when you want, when everyone else is still in school. I do realize that it's sort of a different ball game in high school but we still are able to tailor our schedule to accommodate the things that are important to us and this vacation is one of those things. So I was dropping the idea all together.

Then the other day I got an email from a Yahoo group I'm on. Someone was asking about AP classes/tests and another person asked about the difference between AP and CLEP. One parent responded with a lot more detail about the CLEP tests and why they were a better option for her son. Reading what she wrote really spoke to me and after doing some CLEP research on the College Board website, that's the route we're going.

There's two US history CLEP tests - one that covers the early period to 1870 and the second is 1865 to the present if I'm remembering right. I've looked into the testing sites and while there's one close, the local community college has much better information on their website, including the registration form, so I think she may go there even though it's farther away. The really nice thing about the CLEP test is that you can pick the date, they'll tell you what time, you go and test, done. I really like that we can do the test on our schedule.

I feel like a weight has been lifted. I have a decision and it's one I feel good about, just hope that Sweet Pea feels the same way about it. It's good to have a plan.