I Broke the School System (Genius Strategy)
Summary
TLDRIn this video, the speaker shares their journey of graduating college in just one year, focusing on how they leveraged AP courses, CLEP, DSST exams, and the Postsecondary Enrollment Option (PSO) to earn college credits while still in high school. Driven by a fear of student debt, they meticulously planned their education to save both time and money. The speaker emphasizes the importance of using tools like Transferology to ensure credits transfer, offers study tips, and reflects on the pros and cons of traditional education versus alternative paths.
Takeaways
- 🎓 The speaker graduated college in one year, which gained attention from LinkedIn and raised questions on how they achieved this.
- 💡 They discovered that college credits could be earned in high school through programs like Advanced Placement (AP), College Level Examination Program (CLEP), and DSST exams.
- 🕵️♂️ The speaker self-studied for many of these exams to save both time and money, realizing it was a more efficient route than traditional college classes.
- 📊 A key tool in their process was Transferology, a website that helps determine if credits transfer between institutions, which helped them avoid taking non-transferable courses.
- 🗂️ They meticulously planned their credits, ensuring every exam or course would count toward their degree, using a spreadsheet to organize AP, CLEP, DSST, and PSO (Postsecondary Enrollment Options) credits.
- 🔍 Some exams, like AP tests, require structured preparation, while others, like CLEP and DSST, can be scheduled more flexibly, allowing the speaker to balance their schedule effectively.
- 🧑🏫 The speaker used resources like teachers, tutors, and free online tools (e.g., Quizlet, Modern States) to study for difficult subjects, particularly in STEM areas.
- 💪 The speaker emphasized that they were not a genius but were strategic in using efficient learning methods, including focusing on practice questions before diving into study materials.
- ⏳ By earning both high school and college credits simultaneously, the speaker freed up time for extracurricular activities and felt less stressed overall.
- 💭 The speaker believes education should be more flexible, allowing students to progress at their own pace, and that there are alternative paths to success outside of traditional schooling.
Q & A
How did the speaker plan to graduate from college in one year?
-The speaker used a combination of AP exams, CLEP (College Level Examination Program), DSST exams, and the Postsecondary Enrollment Option (PSO) to earn college credits while still in high school. This allowed them to test out of many required classes and fast-track their degree.
What inspired the speaker to graduate from college so quickly?
-The speaker was primarily motivated by the fear of student debt and the rising costs of higher education. They wanted to save both time and money by completing their degree as quickly as possible.
What are AP exams and how did they help the speaker?
-AP exams are college-level exams offered to high school students by the College Board. By scoring 3 or higher on these exams, students can earn college credits. The speaker used AP exams to earn credits and reduce the number of classes they needed to take in college.
What is CLEP, and how did the speaker use it to earn credits?
-CLEP (College Level Examination Program) allows students to earn college credits by passing exams in various subjects. The speaker used CLEP exams to test out of certain courses and earn credits without having to take the actual classes.
What is PSO, and how did it factor into the speaker's strategy?
-PSO (Postsecondary Enrollment Option) allows high school students to take college courses for free. The speaker used PSO to take additional courses at a local community college while still in high school, further accelerating their progress.
How did the speaker ensure their credits would transfer to their chosen university?
-The speaker used a tool called Transferology, which shows if courses and exam scores will transfer to specific universities. They double-checked their credits using this tool to make sure everything would count toward their degree.
What major did the speaker choose, and why?
-The speaker chose a major in Organizational Management. This program aligned with their goals and allowed them to use many of the credits they had earned through AP, CLEP, DSST, and PSO to satisfy the degree requirements.
What study strategy did the speaker use to prepare for exams?
-The speaker focused on practice questions from free resources like Quizlet before diving into the study material. This allowed them to familiarize themselves with the exam format and focus on the most important content.
Why does the speaker believe that the current education system is inefficient?
-The speaker feels that schools condition students to memorize information rather than truly learn it. They believe that much of the time spent in school is wasted and that it's possible to achieve the desired outcomes more efficiently by focusing on the essential content.
What did the speaker gain from their college experience, and what do they think about alternative paths?
-The speaker appreciated the benefits of networking, mentorship programs, and the social experiences of college. However, they also believe that alternative paths, such as starting a business, traveling, or pursuing online education, could provide equal or greater value for some people.
Outlines
🎓 How I Graduated College in One Year
The speaker shares their journey of graduating college in one year, sparked by concerns over student debt. They explain how they formulated a plan after discovering opportunities like Advanced Placement (AP) credits and other credit-granting programs while still in high school. They discuss the challenges of their ambitious goal and how they tackled uncertainties along the way.
📚 Discovering AP, CLEP, and DSST Exams
The speaker delves into how they used AP exams, College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), and DSST exams to earn college credits while still in high school. They highlight the importance of self-study for AP exams, the flexibility of CLEP and DSST exams, and their strategy for maximizing these opportunities to save time and money on college tuition.
🔍 How Transferology Helped Me Maximize College Credits
The speaker introduces Transferology, a website they used to ensure their earned credits would transfer to their chosen university. They emphasize the importance of double-checking credit transferability to avoid wasting time and effort on courses or exams that wouldn't count toward their degree.
📝 Crafting a Plan and Choosing the Right Program
The speaker explains how they used a spreadsheet to track courses they needed for their major, organizational management, and matched those with credits earned from AP, CLEP, and DSST exams. They also talk about their decision to attend the University of Minnesota, where they ensured their scores were transferred properly.
⏳ Why I Chose an Unorthodox Path
The speaker reflects on their motivation to follow a unique path by self-studying for college exams and pursuing early graduation. They highlight the benefits of studying on their own, especially for subjects like economics, where they sought help from high school teachers. They also provide tips on how to balance exams and high school requirements simultaneously.
💡 Testing Strategies and Study Tips
The speaker shares their strategies for efficiently studying for exams, including using Quizlet and other free online resources. They advise focusing on practice questions to get familiar with the type of material likely to appear on exams, which allowed them to streamline their study efforts. They also mention how this approach freed up time for extracurricular activities.
🎯 The Benefits and Challenges of Fast-Tracking Graduation
The speaker recounts the stress and challenges they faced while pursuing this accelerated path, such as the need to over-communicate with schools and navigate various administrative hurdles. They express relief at successfully completing their plan and reflect on how this choice freed them from potential student debt while allowing them to graduate early.
🌍 The Value of Learning Beyond College
The speaker offers a broader perspective on education, suggesting that much of their most valuable learning came from experiences outside of traditional academics, such as audiobooks, online courses, travel, and entrepreneurship. They argue that college may not be the best option for everyone and encourage others to explore alternative paths.
👍 Like and Subscribe for More Insights
The speaker concludes the video by asking viewers to like and subscribe to support their YouTube channel, suggesting that the content may help others considering similar academic paths. They also reflect on the non-academic benefits of college, such as networking and mentorship opportunities, while reiterating that the value of a degree may not always justify the costs.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Student debt
💡AP (Advanced Placement)
💡Self-study
💡College credits
💡CLEP (College-Level Examination Program)
💡Transferology
💡DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests)
💡PSO (Postsecondary Enrollment Option)
💡Graduating early
💡Time management
Highlights
Graduated college in one year, receiving attention on LinkedIn from students and teachers.
Goal to avoid student debt after learning the average private nonprofit university student borrows $35,000.
Discovered AP (Advanced Placement) in high school to earn college credits early.
Learned about AP self-study, allowing students to take AP exams without taking the corresponding class.
Utilized multiple credit-earning programs like CLEP (College Level Examination Program) and DSST (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests).
Took advantage of PSO (Postsecondary Enrollment Options) for free college courses in high school.
Used Transferology to ensure that all earned credits would transfer to the intended university.
Strategized by listing AP, CLEP, DSST, and PSO credits and matched them with university requirements to accelerate degree completion.
Graduated from the University of Minnesota system with a major in Organizational Management.
Self-studied for exams by finding free resources online like Quizlet and practicing with exam questions.
Saved both time and money by using alternative pathways to earn college credits quickly.
Finished high school requirements while earning college credits, reducing overall stress and freeing up time for extracurriculars.
Graduated college in 2020 instead of the originally planned 2023, freeing up 3 years.
Realized that education could be more efficient if paced individually, especially with modern technology.
Reflected on learning more from online courses, audiobooks, and networking events than traditional undergrad and grad programs.
Transcripts
I graduated college in one year got
attention from LinkedIn and received
many messages from students and teachers
on the one question how and here's how I
did it I figured out how to take 17
classes a semester just kidding Let's
rewind back on how this actually came to
be as a freshman in high school I had an
idea that college was going to be the
path for me though there's one thing I
was super worried about and that was
student debt the average private
nonprofit University student borrows
$35,000 after they graduate as you see
these Trends it continues to go up so
after finishing freshman year I made it
a goal to graduate college in one year
after crafting The elusive plan which
I'll jump into in a moment though I
faced a number of challenges ahead with
the skull and here are some questions I
had in my head how the heck was I even
going to do this can this actually work
what happens if it doesn't so backing up
a bit while registering for classes for
sophomore year I found out you could
earn college credits while you're in
high school through this thing called
called AP which is huge at the time I
was like what are college credits and
with ap advanced placement it's a
program in United States and Canada
created by the college board and it
offers undergraduate University level
curricula and examinations to high
school students and with a score of
three or higher typically most
universities will accept that and
they'll take it as if you took the class
at that college and these are
administered at the end of the year then
as I was researching all this something
clicked me I can save both time and
money and so I thought well this has
really no downsides let me sign up for
some more though most teachers really
push to only take one AP class because
they are difficult and not going to lie
they are as I'm going through this
Rabbit Hole of finding more about
college credits I've discovered that you
can self-study these AP exams so AP
self-study is when you study for an AP
exam on your own then you take the test
test without needing to take the class
and this is possible because College
Board doesn't actually require you to
take the class in order to take the exam
then I went into this Rabbit Hole of
finding other college credit granting
programs based off of passing
examinations one of which is the college
level examination program also
administered by the college board and
these are tests which you can take in
high school even if you're in college
there's this other group of exams called
dsst which is just like Kap and and each
has a catalog of their own exams and
there are many other programs out there
but for this these are the three core I
used in order to get most of my credits
knocked out and for credits I couldn't
test out of I did PSO which is
essentially free college while in high
school it's called the postsecondary
enrollment option and it's available in
Minnesota Ohio Washington and in other
states it's probably called something
else so I found a local community
College I can take courses from and it's
all free again the super important part
I made sure that if I can get the
credits through those group of exams I
would take it at PSO or through my local
college and I'll explain that in a
second why so on to the next question
can this actually work a college friend
of mine at the time told me about this
website called transferology and it's a
tool that tells you if the courses and
exam scores you've earned transfer to
that University also a great tool if
you're in college looking to transfer to
another one and here's where many people
get it wrong while they're taking
courses in PSO or they're taking AP
classes they take all these things and
it doesn't transfer which is the worst
case scenario I had in my head and why I
double triple quadruple checked
everything to make sure that it
transferred and so here's how I went
about this I crafted this plan of just
doing all the college credits I could
get put that information on
transferology then list at all the
universities and programs I could do to
complete in record time typically you
need to have 120 credits to graduate and
there's this huge bucket which is called
your generals and in your liberal arts
and these are all the classes that
students have to take to be more
well-rounded now this will work with
certain programs like if you're leaning
to more of a rigorous degree path like
engineering biomed things like that
they're going to need a little bit more
actual classes that you you need to be
taking aside from that business classes
or maybe even some liberal arts this is
easy to pull off After figuring out
which classes to take I decided on a
program in a university which sort of
fell into everything I was doing through
the University of Minnesota system and
whenever I did these KP or dsst exams I
just had the option to select University
or college and that was one I defaulted
to send my scores to I took the program
list of my major which was
organizational man management made a
spreadsheet one column with classes I I
can take and one column with transfer
credits I could satisfy them with with
ap club dsst or PSO now you might be
thinking why John why would you go
through all this The self-studying
Carving this unorthodox path probably
some sleepless nights and there might
have been a lot of that and here's why I
realized most of these exams I could
study in 2 to 3 weeks then take the test
and mind you depending on the difficulty
of subject let's say it's calculus
chemistry or biology I recommend that
you actually take the classes for or
have a tutor or you find a teacher at
the high school where you can run
questions by and that's what I did when
I was self-studying some of these exams
I would run some questions by our
economics teacher that we had at the
high school and then she would be
willing to help out with some resources
or answer any other questions with clap
and dsst exams you can take them
whenever you schedule it you find a
testing location near you and it's as
easy as that they do cost money and I
think when I took them they were around
$50 to $75 but it's probably more than
that now there's also this program
called modern states where they'll
reimburse you the cost of the clap exams
and I'll link it in the description and
they also have free courses and study
material that you can also use however
with AP exams because they like to
structure it towards the end of the year
with all the exams I had to coordinate
three of them the first year of doing
this and it was uh quite the juggle and
by the way you can take AP exams your
school doesn't offer my school didn't
offer many but they still facilitate
them so they'll have a proctor you just
go into a testing room or just an empty
classroom and they'll sit there and
watch you to make sure that you're doing
everything right now you might be
wondering John I'm not a superhuman how
did you study and good news I'm not a
genius either if you've ever been in a
high school classroom you know how much
time is wasted and you're not really
learning the school conditions you to be
a memorization machine it's incredibly
inefficient most teachers will pack
their lessons with so much fat that they
typically over complicate it with exams
tests projects group projects
assignments homework and you get it it's
not their fault unfortunately it's how
our education system is set up in
reality you just need probably 20 to 33%
of that to accomplish your desired
outcome it's like the Paro principle the
8020 rule where 20% of the inputs
actually derive 80% of the outputs not
to say teachers are classes are bad
though versus a YouTube video that can
explain a subject in 10 minutes for me
and I can watch it over and over until
it clicks just makes more sense and here
are some testing tips whenever I
approached a new exam I would find all
the practice questions I would go on
Quizlet and any resource that's free
that was out there I would just do all
those practice questions before I
actually study the material so I get
familiar with everything before doing a
really deep dive into it and I know what
to look for if you focus on the
questions and you get familiar with what
you're most likely going to be tested on
it just works out and that was
essentially a cheat code for me so after
earning college credits I learned that
you could also satisfy High School
requirements which is a double whammy
and the crazy thing was that I was less
stressed this freed up more time for
high school and extracurricular
activities I felt like I cracked open a
system which freed up time on an easier
path and it didn't make sense for me not
to do it however this wasn't easy it was
incredibly stress in its own way I had
many back and forth emails with the
school just to double check things
overthinking if it would actually work
if I just missed a few classes it would
have pushed my graduation year to
another year fortunately I accomplished
my goal it was supposed to be a
graduating class of 2023 this year
actually I finished in 2020 freeing up 3
years and since I knew my freshman year
was going to be my senior year I made
the most out of it again this was driven
by two things a fear of student debt and
a goal of doing something out of the
ordinary with Co lockdowns and
everything else I decided to get a
graduate degree so I didn't accomplish
my goal I also think maybe education
should be designed in a way where you
can get through it at your own pace
rather than a rigid structure Society
puts on you with technology this is more
possible than ever and in conclusion you
know this was a unique path it's not
meant for everyone but I have I did have
a lot of people asking me about it on
what I did and how I did it again I do
think there are other paths which are
better especially now College isn't for
everyone and by then you could use the
same amount of time and energy that you
could dedicate to something else which
could result in in more outcomes like
traveling the world starting your own
Ventures and I'm not saying that school
is bad I am enjoying a lot of the
benefits from what I gained in terms of
Alumni network and mentorship programs
and everything else though the financial
and time costs may not necessarily
equate to the benefits it once had this
doesn't mean it has to be the default
path and here's another interesting
comment I've learned more from Audi
books online courses travel starting my
own businesses and networking events
than I have for most of undergrad and
part of grad school the most value is
really just the community of people and
social activities that you get to be a
part of and that's essentially what
you're paying for and universities have
capital I ized on this lastly if you can
do me a favor and hit that like button
it will tell the algorithm to push my
face in front of more people which could
potentially help someone else out and
subscribe if you want to follow me on my
YouTube Journey thanks
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