In two months, I completed nine courses on Sophia.org, earning 27 college credits for a mere $198. You might think that sounds too good to be true, or maybe even impossible—but it’s entirely achievable! If you’re interested in fast-tracking your education without breaking the bank, read on to learn how I did it and how you can, too.
First, which classes did I complete on Sophia? Here is the list:
- Art History I
- Art History II
- College Readiness
- English Composition II
- Introduction to Statistics
- Macroeconomics
- Microeconomics
- Project Management
- U.S. History II
Each of these courses translates to 3 college credits, the equivalent of a full-length course at a traditional university. And while the content in these courses was comprehensive, they were often easier to work through than university courses, thanks to a flexible structure that allowed me to work at my own pace.
The Two-Slot Strategy
The key to completing these courses quickly was a strategic approach that I call the Two-Slot Strategy. Sophia allows you to take two courses simultaneously, so I treated each of these as a “slot”:
- Slot 1 – The “Fast” Slot
This slot is reserved for courses that are entirely auto-graded, meaning they don’t require any interaction with a human grader. These courses consist only of “Milestones”—automated quizzes and exams that allow you to complete each course without waiting for someone to review your work. By filling this slot with automated courses, I could complete them as fast as I wanted. - Slot 2 – The “Slow” Slot
This slot is where I tackled courses that required a human grader for at least some assignments, known as “Touchstones.” These courses often have written assignments or projects that take longer to get feedback on, so they naturally progress more slowly than the automated courses. But by working on a human-graded course in parallel with an automated one, I was able to keep rolling through courses and earning credits fast.
Why the Two-Slot Strategy Works
The two-slot strategy leverages the speed of auto-graded courses while still allowing you to benefit from the deeper learning opportunities of human-graded courses. Here’s why it works so well:
- Minimizes Waiting Time: By filling one slot with automated courses, I avoided delays. While waiting for feedback on a human-graded course, I could potentially speed through multiple auto-graded courses, maximizing my progress.
- Efficient Credit Accumulation: Automated courses were usually faster to complete, so I could finish them quickly and move on to the next one, earning more credits in less time.
- Flexibility: If I reached a point in a human-graded course where I needed to wait for feedback, I didn’t waste any time. I simply switched focus to the automated course in Slot 1.
This method allowed me to consistently be productive, completing courses even while waiting for human grading on assignments.
Recommended Approach
To make the most of this strategy, follow these guidelines:
- Prioritize Automated Courses in Slot 1: Start with courses that don’t require a human grader. These will allow you to keep up a quick pace. Examples on Sophia include Art History I and II, College Readiness, and Introduction to Statistics.
- Add Human-Graded Courses in Slot 2: Choose courses that you know will take longer to complete due to Touchstone assignments. English Composition II, Project Management, and U.S. History II are examples of courses that require human grading. Keep them in Slot 2 so that they don’t interfere with your momentum.
- Avoid Overlap of Human-Graded Courses: Unless these are your final two courses, try not to have both slots filled with human-graded courses at the same time. Having to wait on feedback for both courses would slow your progress unnecessarily.
- Switch When You’re Stuck: If you hit a point where you need to wait for human grading, don’t stop working. Use that time to make as much progress as possible in your Slot 1 course, and then switch back when feedback arrives.
- Focus on One Course in Slot 1 Until It’s Finished: This will allow you to clear out the slot quickly, making space for the next auto-graded course. The faster you clear Slot 1, the more credits you can rack up.
- Don’t let Slot 2 Sit Idle: You need to keep Slot 2 moving on your end as much as possible. Since some assignments can take a week or more to be graded, you should focus on Slot 2 until you reach your next Touchstone submission as quickly as possible. The longer it takes to get to the next Touchstone activity, the more time everything will take overall.
The Results: Massive Savings in Time and Money
By following this approach, I managed to earn 27 credits in just two months. If I had taken these courses at a traditional university, it would have cost around $8,500 more and taken around a year. Using Sophia allowed me to get through these requirements quickly and affordably. For just $198, I completed these general education courses, freeing up my time and resources to focus on more advanced, specialized classes in my degree!
