I Broke the School System (Genius Strategy)

Summary

In 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.