No. It doesn’t matter if you are attending courses online or at a college campus, in both cases, credit-by-examination policies allow you to test-out of college courses.
It sounds too good to be true. Is it?
Testing-out of college courses has actually been around for decades, so it’s not new.
Achieve simply makes the testing-out path a lot more accessible than it would be on your own and you end up with exactly the same degree. Testing-out is a 100% acceptable way to contribute to your degree.
Can you provide a reference from past or current students?
Absolutely! We'll be happy to provide you with a student reference.First we need to gather a little information about you, then we’ll be pleased to provide you with the phone number of an Achieve student who will be happy to answer your questions and share their experiences with you. By the way, we have never heard of any college willing to do that.Please see our testimonials page for pictures of graduates and students that are willing to speak with you.
Is the Achieve Test Prep program accredited?
I worry that I won’t have the option to get my degree from a reputable college or university?
Just about every single college and university allows you to transfer in credits and test-out of exams, including: Arizona State University, Boston University, Columbia College, Monroe College, and Penn State University just to name a few.
I know the college I want to attend, will your program still work?
Yes, Achieve’s programs work with virtually any college or university, as it’s the college or university that ultimately awards the credits and the degrees according to their policies.
We just help you meet all your general education requirements to get there quicker.
Test prep means pushing people through exams doesn’t it?
Will testing-out affect the quality of my education? It sounds like cheating?
Well, since it’s the college and universities’ themselves that create the testing-out policies, we don’t see how this should be a concern. Credit-by-examination happens every day with millions of students – your degree will look just like everyone else’s. You won’t be the first person to transfer in college credit to your college, or the last. Some courses are undoubtedly critical to your education, and these are precisely the courses you will not be allowed to test-out of.
Ask anyone who ever got a degree, just how handy those obscure Algebra formulas have been during their post college life. Let’s not forget that America’s public school system is one of the best in the world and teaches a well-rounded educational foundation. So why force a student to load up on a bunch of repetitive general education courses?
Could it be because the college can collect a lot more revenue if every student, regardless of their field of study, is required to take general education courses like Western Civilization, Biology, and Algebra? Well, it does make you wonder.
If I still take a class to Test-Out, how is that any different from taking a college course?
This is a question we get asked a lot. The difference is when you are taking a test-prep class; you’re studying just a small subset of focused topics in preparation to pass just one exam.
So you meet once a week, that’s just 4 to 8 sessions for most subjects. You only need one thin, condensed test prep book, and it’s free.When you take a college course, first you will need to buy a bunch of expensive books. Then you are going to meet several times a week, and you’ll need to find time to complete a full semester of assignments, quizzes, research projects, essays, and term papers. And in the end, you still need to take a final exam. At Achieve, we concentrate on the exam. We know the types of questions that will be asked and, we’re experts at getting you to pass.
If the books are free, are they any good?
You might say our books are the best kind of books. They’re thin, condensed books that get straight to the point and teach you just what you need to know to pass the exam.
If you like thick expensive books that will eat up all your free time with reading assignments, then you probably won’t like testing-out.
How much do your programs cost?
Well, that depends on how far you have to go before completing your degree and it also depends on how many college courses we can eliminate from your path.But rest assured we will save you time and money. The proof lies in the thousands of students that enroll with Achieve every year.And with our guaranteed student loans and other financial aid options everyone can afford to get that degree.
So, your programs are more affordable than regular programs, aren't they?
Through Achieve's program instead of TAKING college courses, you test out of them. This means instead of paying for expensive courses PLUS crazy expensive books, you only pay for testing fees and test prep courses (books are FREE). The cost savings are typically 50% less and you receive the exact same credit for the course!
Yes, we have financial aid.
Some financial aid programs, but not all, are available for the Achieve portion, and regular federal financial aid is available for any of the college courses that still need to be taken.When you have your evaluation appointment, we can determine what financial aid you qualify for.
Do you have a withdrawal policy?
Yes, we have a withdrawal policy, if you're not satisfied for some reason, we will be happy to provide a refund based on our withdrawal policy.
Do I have to pay for everything upfront or can I pay as I go?
You may pay as you go, but a deposit is required when you enroll.
When do you hold classes and how long are they?
Each class runs once a week and meets for 4 hours. We run day, night, and Saturday classes.
Do you offer a referral program?
Yes, we have a very active referral program that our current students use to refer their friends. When a friend they refer enrolls, we express our thanks with $50-100 financial gift.
