I had “request transcripts” on my to do list for Tuesday. It would be a very simple, straightforward task I was sure. I needed to contact three different places to collect the transcripts for all my testing of the last three years. And have them each send two transcripts: one to Liberty University and one to Thomas Edison State College.
ACE for my ALEKS math credit: This was all online. Very simple and straight forward. I entered my account information, ordered two transcripts, selected the colleges they were going to, entered my payment information, and pushed “order”. I received a receipt in my inbox a few moments later. Total: $30 ($15 per transcript).
CLEP: You have to call CLEP to order transcripts. I spent 6 minutes on the phone listening to menu options. Wow. Finally got to a person and explained to her what I wanted to do. She had to process two separate orders. Which means she had to take my payment information twice! Total: $40 ($20 per transcript).
DSST: Called DSST, only to be told that I have to fill out a form and mail that in. Then they will process it and mail in my transcripts to the colleges. I am working on that form now. Total: $60 ($30 per transcript).
Why can there not be a standard system? Why can CLEP and DSST move their transcript system to online so this would be so much easier? Why do I have to give my Social Security number over the phone, but they can’t give me my CLEP score? Why do each of them have to charge different amounts?
Ah, I don’t know. This is just me ranting… the drama of a CLEP transcript request!