Degree Planning - From Bachelors to Doctorate

[fromgedtoPhD]

Hey guys, I've been here for a while but still think there's someone out there who can shed some light on my path. I'm trying to get a doctorate from any regionally accredited institution that's less expensive or less time-consuming.
Education:

• High school diploma
  
• SIEMENS NX CAD Certification
  
• Google IT Support Certification
  
• MIT MicroMasters Program in Statistics and Data Science with 4 certifications
  • Cert1: Data Analysis - Statistical Modeling and Computation in Applications
    
  • Cert2: Probability - The Science of Uncertainty and Data
    
  • Cert3: Python - From Linear Models to Deep Learning
    
  • Cert4: Fundamentals of Statistics
    
• Previous two years of brick and mortar college with no transfer credit from that college
  
• Sophia: 115 credits, because it's cheap and easy I can take any course on Sophia, so assume I have it if it's on Sophia
  
• Real Estate license I took 4 college level courses (" 1-Real Estate Principle 2-Real Estate Practice 3-real Estate Finance 4- Property Management") from a non credit online school but it accept by the California department of real estate
  

Location: California
Age: 26
Budget: $20k; I'm willing to spend more for easier or faster degrees
Commitments: I'm currently working 50+ hours at SpaceX, but I have a month and a half of PTO, and I can take unpaid leave for up to 6 months. I'm also willing to quit my job to focus on getting my degree since I'm not getting paid well enough, and I'm looking to move to tech companies (FANFANG).
Dedicated time to study: I can put in 60h+ per week.
Degree Timeline: 0 to 5 years; aiming for the fastest or least time-consuming degree.



Any idea or advice is highly appreciate

[bjcheung77]

Basically... You can't really skip the Bachelors, the best option is to do the Pierpont BOG AAS Info System, ladder to the UMPI BAS MIS plus 3-4 classes that go towards the MAOL. Complete the MAOL, then UK Level 8 Diploma, lastly the DBA/DProf. While waiting in between downtime, you should try to complete the balanced mix/match trifecta of certs, degree, experience, especially if most of them are cheap or freebies on the WIKI. It'll be within budget, ease, speed and you can finish that from Associates to Doctoral degree in 2.5-3 years...

You can go directly to a BABA with concentration if you wanted and skip the Pierpont BOG AAS, you really need to apply and send transcripts from your Sophia.org and the community college you went for two years. They're part of the National Student Clearing House, you'll not get admitted until you send in all transcripts, they have a record and do verify everything properly. You can then take the 3-4 classes that go towards the MAOL, finish the MAOL and do the UK Level 8 Diploma. Here's an example: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...-7-Diploma

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You can do the Pierpont BOG AAS, you just apply and get the degree without extra class work. You can also add the UMPI AALS freebie as well, there are no extra classes, energy, time you're placing in these two cheapies. You can get the UMPI BAS MIS instead of the BABA as it takes more of the electives (60-62 credits), and you can add the 3-4 classes that go towards the UMPI MAOL, it'll be flexible and more options than the BABA that provides only 18-21 elective credits. You're young, work on this exactly the way I mentioned for the max balance mix/match certs, degree, experience combo you can get. I'll update your thread, so you can continue with the thread instead of PMing me...

[fromgedtoPhD]

Basically... You can't really skip the Bachelors, the best option is to do the Pierpont BOG AAS Info System, ladder to the UMPI BAS MIS plus 3-4 classes that go towards the MAOL.  Complete the MAOL, then UK Level 8 Diploma, lastly the DBA/DProf.  While waiting in between downtime, you should try to complete the balanced mix/match trifecta of certs, degree, experience, especially if most of them are cheap or freebies on the WIKI.  It'll be within budget, ease, speed and you can finish that from Associates to Doctoral degree in 2.5-3 years...

You can go directly to a BABA with concentration if you wanted and skip the Pierpont BOG AAS, you really need to apply and send transcripts from your Sophia.org and the community college you went for two years. They're part of the National Student Clearing House, you'll not get admitted until you send in all transcripts, they have a record and do verify everything properly.  You can then take the 3-4 classes that go towards the MAOL, finish the MAOL and do the UK Level 8 Diploma.  Here's an example: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...-7-Diploma

Thank you again , this guy get accepted into a PhD in computer science at MIT without bachelor or master  , go to minutes 5:50  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfvaW7LTh_k. 

What do you think about going with south college DBA ( 6K per term ) after MAOL

[RJ77]

FAANG companies are very competitive, especially with all the recent downsizing in the tech industry. If FAANG is your goal, getting a degree from any online checkbox school may not be your best option. What type of position are you looking to get into specifically?

[fromgedtoPhD]

FAANG companies are very competitive, especially with all the recent downsizing in the tech industry. If FAANG is your goal, getting a degree from any online checkbox school may not be your best option. What type of position are you looking to get into specifically?

Anything IT related with. A 150k/year or more, I think I can make it with a PhD and my experience at SpaceX plus a reference from inside one of those companies, probably I have to go with an entry level position in the beginning, then move up ,  I'm not interested in social validation as much as I'm interested in high income, any position will do if it pay good even if it was in a startup

[NotJoeBiden]

Why do you feel you need a PhD? You can make that much in tech as a software engineer with just a BS in computer science. That is a harder salary to achieve in IT without years of management experience.

Are there specific roles you have looked at? That might give you a sense of the experience/education those people hold.

[Duneranger]

FAANG companies are very competitive, especially with all the recent downsizing in the tech industry. If FAANG is your goal, getting a degree from any online checkbox school may not be your best option. What type of position are you looking to get into specifically?

Anything IT related with. A 150k/year or more, I think I can make it with a PhD and my experience at SpaceX plus a reference from inside one of those companies, probably I have to go with an entry level position in the beginning, then move up ,  I'm not interested in social validation as much as I'm interested in high income, any position will do if it pay good even if it was in a startup

I don't think you understand what a PhD is or isn't. A PhD is an academic research degree which traditionally takes 5-7 years. Most PhDs don't even near 100k but that's not why they do it...

FAANG and IT types often only have a BS or BA + maaaaybe a MBA or tech related masters. A PhD (and certainly not one from a crackerjack box school) is likely going to be a non factor.

South College has a poor rep

[fromgedtoPhD]

FAANG companies are very competitive, especially with all the recent downsizing in the tech industry. If FAANG is your goal, getting a degree from any online checkbox school may not be your best option. What type of position are you looking to get into specifically?

Anything IT related with. A 150k/year or more, I think I can make it with a PhD and my experience at SpaceX plus a reference from inside one of those companies, probably I have to go with an entry level position in the beginning, then move up ,  I'm not interested in social validation as much as I'm interested in high income, any position will do if it pay good even if it was in a startup

I don't think you understand what a PhD is or isn't. A PhD is an academic research degree which traditionally takes 5-7 years. Most PhDs don't even near 100k but that's not why they do it...

FAANG and IT types often only have a BS or BA + maaaaybe a MBA or tech related masters. A PhD (and certainly not one from a crackerjack box school) is likely going to be a non factor.

South College has a poor rep

Thanks for the feedback back , I wish those bureaucrats corporation and there HR see it that way , Any PhD even from a crack school will check the box if it RA,  degree doesn't tech you What you need for the job , but there's  two jobs that I'm interested in and both required a PhD plus 3-5 years of experience or master plus 8 -10 year's of experience


Having it is better than not having it

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Why do you feel you need a PhD? You can make that much in tech as a software engineer with just a BS in computer science. That is a harder salary to achieve in IT without years of management experience.

Are there specific roles you have looked at? That might give you a sense of the experience/education those people hold.

https://www.indeed.com/m/viewjob?jk=77e1833804cef4f1

[bjcheung77]

Hmm, nice indeed job posting!  Three main things that I can see from it...
1) Based in Pasadena, California, with an expectation to be in office 4 days a week

2) Doctorate or Master's degree and 5+ years of marketing and/or business experience OR 
Bachelor's degree and 10+ years of marketing and/or business experience, preferably in the biopharmaceutical industry

3) Experience in cardiometabolic therapeutic areas, preferably with a focus on dyslipidemias
I would focus on the trifecta of certs, degree, experience and get the balanced mix/match of them

I would shoot for being in the middle of the pack, with Masters, plus 10+ years in experience.  
While working, slowly get the Doctorate completed, especially if they provide tuition assistance or reimbursement.

[Duneranger]

FAANG companies are very competitive, especially with all the recent downsizing in the tech industry. If FAANG is your goal, getting a degree from any online checkbox school may not be your best option. What type of position are you looking to get into specifically?

Anything IT related with. A 150k/year or more, I think I can make it with a PhD and my experience at SpaceX plus a reference from inside one of those companies, probably I have to go with an entry level position in the beginning, then move up ,  I'm not interested in social validation as much as I'm interested in high income, any position will do if it pay good even if it was in a startup

I don't think you understand what a PhD is or isn't. A PhD is an academic research degree which traditionally takes 5-7 years. Most PhDs don't even near 100k but that's not why they do it...

FAANG and IT types often only have a BS or BA + maaaaybe a MBA or tech related masters. A PhD (and certainly not one from a crackerjack box school) is likely going to be a non factor.

South College has a poor rep

Thanks for the feedback back , I wish those bureaucrats corporation and there HR see it that way , Any PhD even from a crack school will check the box if it RA,  degree doesn't tech you What you need for the job , but there's  two jobs that I'm interested in and both required a PhD plus 3-5 years of experience or master plus 8 -10 year's of experience


Having it is better than not having it

---

Why do you feel you need a PhD? You can make that much in tech as a software engineer with just a BS in computer science. That is a harder salary to achieve in IT without years of management experience.

Are there specific roles you have looked at? That might give you a sense of the experience/education those people hold.

https://www.indeed.com/m/viewjob?jk=77e1833804cef4f1

I’m from a tech Mecca (Seattle) and 99% of tech job postings are not like this. All of my tech friends clear 200k with a BS degree alone. You are hyperfocusing on a couple unique job posts that are NOT the norm.

Getting a crackjack box doctorate is not going to absolve their heavy experience requirement regardless. 

You are trying to run before you can walk. Get the BS and experience and then level up with a master eventually.

A PhD is a waste of time (I say this as someone currently in a doctoral program) but it’s your life.