Hello everybody! I have an issue that I cannot find an answer to, and I hope you nice folks can help me out.

This is my situation. I am 21 and unwisely dropped out and "earned" a GED. I then decided to take some college courses at a local community college. Yet again, my determination fails me after only earning 9 credits....

Long story short, I am going to enlist the Air Force. I scored an 89 on the AFQT (the qualifying test for the military, which is a percentile score), which basically guarantees any job placement I choose. The problem lies in the fact that, because of my GED, most jobs are not open to me, and I do not get to pick a job...instead, I mearly wait to for a job to open that I qualify for...then off I go. However, if a person with a GED has recieved 15 college credits, they are considered high school equivalent. SO...

I only need 6 more credits to get to where I want to be. I have been thinking about the CLEP tests, but my confidence to pass those are relatively low. I cannot afford to take those test until I can pass one.

 I then started researching online classes. The option to start whenever is awesome, and the idea of getting this stuff out of the way in 4-8 weeks is ideal. Which brings me to why I am here...

I am looking for a few things...

A. The cheapest online schools that are still accreditable and legit

B. Schools that have the least amount of time to complete classes.

C. Any suggestions will be GREATLY appreciated.

Thank you for your time!

You've already mentioned your best option.  It doesn't get any faster or cheaper than CLEP exams...and the military is a big supporter of CLEP exams.  They push those things a lot. 

There are CLEP exams which are worth six credit hours, so your best bet is to pick a subject that you are good at, spend a little time studying for the exam, and then spend the $80 and take the test.  It doesn't get any better than $80 for six credit hours.  A great study resource is www.instantcert.com  It's 20 bucks a month, but it shouldn't take longer than a month to study for the exam.  So, for a total of $100, you could have six credit hours and be well on your way to getting the job you want in the Air Force.

I was in the Navy and took the ASVAB test before enlisting.  I don't remember my score, but apparently I did very well because the recruiter was practically salivating and trying to get me enlisted in the nuclear power program.  But, my interest was in journalism and broadcasting, so I spent five years working as a Navy journalist.   I had good times and bad in the military, but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything in the world.

Jeremii:

I only need 6 more credits to get to where I want to be. I have been thinking about the CLEP tests, but my confidence to pass those are relatively low. I cannot afford to take those test until I can pass one.

If six credits from CLEP would count, and if you did really well on the AFQT, then I urge you to consider taking the "Analyzing and Interpreting Literature" CLEP test.  Make an appointment, walk in, take it cold, and I bet you'll pass.  Not all CLEPs are easy, but that one's a glorified literacy test.

Good luck,

-=Steve=- 

One direction is exactly as you describe and that seems to work.

Could another direction be to get that high school diploma? While not as fast as CLEP exams, you could likely do it faster than college courses. There are so many, many online high schools out there in the world now that you have a lot of choices.

Tom Nixon

http://www.bestonlinehighschools.com

Here are some CLEP resources should you decide to go that route:

1. The CLEP Official Study Guide is available for $24.95 at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0874477719/.
2. At $10, you can download 34 CLEP exams as study guides from the College Board (http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html ).

Or, on use our site to learn more about CLEP exams.

Hope this helps!