CLEP for Chem or just take one semester of gen Chem?

[Quota, BSN, RN]

I'm just starting the pre-refs for applying to aBSN programs next year. The school I'd prefer to get into, public university = low cost vs private = high cost, doesn't require I repeat Chemistry but the second school does. I earned a BS in biology in 2004 which included a year of General Chem w/ lab and a year of O-Chem w/ lab. So I've TAKEN Chem before and did well.

I'd rather not take Chem again period but the public university is much more competitive to get into, mostly because it's cheaper I'm sure, so it would be in my best interest to apply to both. That means I need the Chem credit and my Chem classes were completed too long ago to count.

CLEP is an option and probably the smarter one than taking a 3 credit Chem class. My issue is looking over the basic CLEP material online the test covers a lot more material than I'd have to deal with just taking a Chem class again. Of course the CLEP route is cheaper, but I'd have to teach myself because most of that material is mostly forgotten now.

Anyone else done CLEP for Chem? How hard was it to go through all the material yourself and pass the exam? I know I CAN do it just not sure if I want to when I know taking a 3 credit class will be easier (even if it's about 3 times the price).

Everyone else seems to freak out over A&P and micro but those are a cake walk to me, Chem is just annoying and boring to me.

Thanks for the input.

[sailornurse]

Check and make sure you can take CLEP since you have already taken college level chemistry classes you may not be allowed to take a CLEP course.

This is from CLEP website:

[h=3]Prior Course Work[/h]Some colleges won't grant credit for a CLEP exam if you've already attempted a college-level course closely aligned with that exam. For example, if you successfully completed English 101 or a comparable course on another campus, you'll probably not be permitted to receive CLEP credit in that same subject. Also, some colleges won't permit you to earn CLEP credit for a course that you failed.

[Quota, BSN, RN]

Check and make sure you can take CLEP since you have already taken college level chemistry classes you may not be allowed to take a CLEP course.

This is from CLEP website:

Prior Course Work

Some colleges won't grant credit for a CLEP exam if you've already attempted a college-level course closely aligned with that exam. For example, if you successfully completed English 101 or a comparable course on another campus, you'll probably not be permitted to receive CLEP credit in that same subject. Also, some colleges won't permit you to earn CLEP credit for a course that you failed.

Nope, not a problem in this case. I'd actually never heard of CLEP prior to the information session I attended for the private university that requires a Chem class in the last 5 years. Someone else asked about it and was told they are accepted. Me having no idea what CLEP meant, asked later if it would matter on my odds of getting admitted if Chem was not completed at the time of my application and was in progress/scheduled for the session prior to starting the aBSN program. Stating my reluctance to take Chem when I already had 16 credit hours completed back when I got my BS in biology and the other program I'm interested in applying for not requiring Chem. I was told to CLEP for Chem, which lead to "What is CLEP?" So yeah, it is an option for me.

I just know I'd have to bust my butt more to pass the CLEP then to just complete a general Chem 3 credit class. Then again taking the class will cost more than going the CLEP route. That is my internal conflict.

[Trust in Jesus, RN]

The one thing to consider is whether the CLEP grade will affect your GPA. I wanted to use some CLEPS I had done in high school at my college and I think that I was told that they would not count as A's, but C's based on my score. But, maybe my counselor told me wrong or maybe I'm remembering wrong.

[APRN., DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

Many, many of the nursing programs will NOT accept what they call "online" Chem, Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology.

Most all are required to have been taken concurrently with a lab.

If you've got your sights set on a program and they'll take CLEP Chemistry, go for it!

[Quota, BSN, RN]

The one thing to consider is whether the CLEP grade will affect your GPA. I wanted to use some CLEPS I had done in high school at my college and I think that I was told that they would not count as A's, but C's based on my score. But, maybe my counselor told me wrong or maybe I'm remembering wrong.

I'd have to look into that to be sure but if I remember correctly they accepted the CLEP scores as pass/fail. Don't think GPA was factored but not sure. I'll look into it again.

[Quota, BSN, RN]

Many, many of the nursing programs will NOT accept what they call "online" Chem, Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology.

Most all are required to have been taken concurrently with a lab.

If you've got your sights set on a program and they'll take CLEP Chemistry, go for it!

I'm taking all my pre-reqs online at my local community college. The classes with labs have virtual labs for most of the material but you go on campus a few times on a specified Saturday for an all day lab. Both schools accept credits from the CC.

The program that wants Chem doesn't require lab, will accept 3 or 4 credit classes so I could get away with no lab.