Life Experience Degree

Wouldn't it be nice to get a degree that will take your life experience into account? Perhaps you have volunteered for some important causes or attended a lot of workshops that gave you additional knowledge. All these are most likely not credited on your transcript. However, there is now a way for you to make use of these experiences and turn them into credits for you to get your life experience degree.

Your life experience can be turned into credits so that you won't have to spend lots of months towards earning your degree. Thus, your bachelor's or master's degree can be a life experience degree as well. You can turn your life experience into credits by demonstrating what you already know about a subject and proving that your knowledge is already enough that you don't need to take up that course anymore. (1) For example, if you have lived in Spain for a few months and are now fluent in the Spanish language, then you can turn your proficiency in the Spanish language into credits so that you would no longer need to take up Spanish 10

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You should be aware, though, that many diploma mills attract people by promising them a life experience degree that they can get just by filling out a form and sending money. To avoid scams like these, you should only get a life experience degree from schools that are accredited by agencies recognized by the United States Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. (2)

To get a life experience degree, or to get credits for your life experience, you must confer with your school's guidance counselor to ask about the process. You will most likely be required to pass a portfolio, which will serve as proof of your experiences. (3) Organizing your portfolio may take some time, but it will surely be worth it. Make sure that you include all important documents such as your resume, references, and certificates of awards earned or workshops attended.

One thing that you should keep in mind, though, is that your life experience may not yield enough credits for you to immediately get the degree you want. Most likely, there will still be some courses that you will need to take up before you are granted a degree.

Literary Citations & Article References:

1) http://distancelearn.about.com/od/nontraditionalcredit/a/TestOut.htm

2) http://www.ed.gov/students/prep/college/diplomamills/diploma-mills.html

3) http://distancelearn.about.com/od/nontraditionalcredit/a/lifeexperience.htm