PhD IT, $383 PCH, Bachelors entry, thoughts!?

[posabsolute]

I don't think you should be afraid that AI renders web and software developer obsolete, it's not really their focus anyway.

As a software developer myself, I would say the market is really hot right now, and a master with a concentration in Enterprise and Application Development will help you more get a job in software than an MBA.

In the end tho, there are 3 months bootcamps right now that leads to almost 100% employment in software development.

[armstrongsubero]

@Ideas consider the PhD in Organizational Leadership at the Pan African Christian University. Like just over a 1000 US. A YEAR. But I may be wrong check it over.

Here's their online programs:

https://www.pacuniversity.ac.ke/index.ph...Itemid=511

Here's the fees:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwKr1Si...oyWkU/view


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Ranting time. Sour Grapes.

The US schools are really reallly expensive, I understand why Ideas is looking outside. In my case I dont have a choice, US education would be best ofr getting employers in US to look at international candidate. I mean if you want a huge football field and a big fountain on the campus, but whats up with charging international students ridiculous prices? aren't they non-profit? why can't we pay the same as students on campus? dont we use less resources? isnt your mission and vision to eudcate people? isnt it cheaper to run an online class?

Lets say fine, tax payers dollars contribute, preference to citizens etc etc. I think most for-profit schools are cheaper than "non-profit". I mean schools like Ashworth College, Penn Foster, Aspen University, and AMU seem to genuinely want people to get an education. And yet the "non-profit" schools look down on them because they are online only and want to make a profit and cut costs down to bare minimum to the student. Even Penn Foster charges like $329 for 3 credits, textbook included! most "non-profit" schools charge probably double or triple that for one cresit. They say that their "standard is inferior" because they are accredited by DEAC. From what I understand getting accredited by DEAC is very very rigirous, I mean if they were really "non-profit" institutions that were concerned about students, they would realize that people go these schools cause they literally can't afford to pay US $80 000 dollars to go to a school? it's ridiculous. I mean the IVY LEAGUE schools are the exception, you pay for the name right? but a little college hardly anyone's heard of, come on. At tihs point the MLA in Software Engineering at Harvard actually seems it might be worth more than the PhD from UA Little Rock...you get the "Harvard" stamp and is cheaper than going to "where did you say? little pebbles?"

It seems to me like the "non-profit" seems to want to trap you into their program, stating one price on thieir website then you have to dig around to see the fine print. Yet a for-proft RA school like AMu clearly states "Graduate $350 for military students $325".

The only "non-profit" schools that seems to want to genuninely help people is TESU and COSC, even Excelsior seems a little difficult from what I've been reading. I can understand TESU charging $499 a credit, I mean if you only have to take 3 credits at our school, we might as well charge good for it, you know?

These "non-profit's" are so good they even managed to convince employers and students that for-profit schools are bad, evil places where you buy a degree and dont work for it and nationally accredited degrees with make your children dumb. Kinda like Edison with DC bashing Tesla with AC. Who won that battle?

All people talk about is University of Phoenix, and Kaplan etc. But I think the majority of for-proft schools are quite good. I've emailed persons at Penn Foster, Ashworth, Grantham and AMU and gotten a response in minutes and they are happy to help. I emailed a prof at UA Little Rock and no response.

Sigh..life.

I think I want to write a non-techincal book titled "The Myth of "Non-Profit" Higher Learning Instutions".

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@posabsolute Not really afraid, just looking at the worst possible outcomes I'm with Elon when it comes to AI.

I know right? I was thinking that, even if I knock out the Patten MBA in IT in 4 months, will it really help my goals, probably except faster entry into a PhD program?

I don't need a bootcamp . Though I guess they would help with job placement, hmmm food for thought. I think I have enough references and portfolio that it would just waste my PhD money though, lol. I did do part of freecodecamp for fun though. I think the hardest thing for me is getting a US company job on my resume. I worked for a company that had a branch in Florida, but I figure the more references the better. So I took an unpaid remote internship at a company,  was working for about 2 months and just when I was getting cozy, the guy found my LinkedIn profile and said he feels wrong giving me an unpaid internship and he cant afford to hire me, and that he's sorry but he cant let me work with them anymore. So I decided to write books in my free time instead.

There's still hope, I'm going to give this my all. I am going to work at Micrrochip or TI. I am going to get a Doctorate.

Hmm, well I guess I don't have to do the microeconomics course anymore....tatarsauce.

[Ideas]

Sometimes the for-profit schools are pretty cheap! I'm pretty OK with for-profit schools, but I'm trying to avoid the ones with the worst reputations. I agree with you, there are so many aspects where the for-profit comes out better... but I think some of the for-profits ruined it for the rest. Some of them had big scandals or had really low-quality courses. Others are really decent.

I would like to avoid schools with a specific religious slant, but I've very much considered going to Liberty University despite theirs.

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You have a good sense of humor

There must be some degree you can do fast which is actually in IT/IS/etc, not just a concentration in IT/etc. You could have done the Hodges one -- well, if they allow international. It's discontinued, and I want it back 

Do the jobs all want a Masters for sure, or do some other them say they prefer a Masters? Because I think you should do "just" 2 grad certs if they don't say it's required.

[Ideas]

A possible idea for you is to do a Masters in IT from TESU, mostly using PLA. Since you like to write and have already written, and you said you already have many projects done. If you could do the maximum allowed amount of PLA, the price is not bad, I think. I think you can only PLA half but you would have to check, if it's less then it's probably too expensive. But if you PLA half, the other half is like $12000, I guess, plus graduation fee and other fees. They have an Information Assurance concentration available or many others. https://www.tesu.edu/ast/programs/msit/

[armstrongsubero]

I was looking at TESU cause they have a software engineering concentration. I've read the PLA can be a pain though. I'm also strongly considering Harvard Extension maaters in Software Engineering. The Harvard name will give me an edge above other candidates. Total cost is $32 400..not bad at all...considering the name. It would open a LOT of doors. Cause I think employers would like a school they can name on the top of their head. I could do like a few grad certs then enroll in the Harvard program..idk.the DSc from Aspen with a masters would cost 38 000 total. Harvard costs less.

Well most dont want a masters and others say masters preferred. Since my BA will not be technical, a technical masters will help. Also it will give me a salary increase and bring me closer to my goal of doing a PhD.

[Ideas]

Yes I think PLA would not be too pleasant. However, I think PLA is easier for someone comfortable with writing and if someone very much has the equivalent skills (instead of only barely having enough knowledge).

Oh, wow, really a Harvard Masters for $32,400? I was thinking you meant only a grad cert from Harvard since I didn't think it would be affordable to get a Masters.

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Have you already paid TESU the residency waiver fee, grad fee, and capstone? If I were in your position, I think I would spend the same money to get an Tech Bachelor's instead. NAU has a $3000 6-month one. Then have to do less before applying to Harvard or other programs. But I guess this is because I'm thinking of the money more. I'm impressed you are willing to spend a lot But I would be more willing if I was more sure I could get a job.

[armstrongsubero]

Yes! It's that cheap "Harvard Extension School" has a lot of programs. The Masters only requires that you take 2 courses with a B or better, attend one on campus class and then once you have a bachelors (they dint specify in the field) you gain admission, no GRE, no GMAT not 5.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale and "Daddy owns a diamond mining business" needed .

But 2700 a course is still a lot, so I would have to spread the costs over 5 years. Yeah its a lot, but if I land a job in a company that pays for employees to study and gives a decent salary it would pay for itself in no time. However that 5 years thing is what I'm worried about, I think I would be more interested in speed vs quality at this point.

Check it out here:

https://www.extension.harvard.edu/academ...ing-degree

[Ideas]

Yeah, speed. Personally I am not even wanting to do a 2 year Masters if I can help it. 2 years would be the most, that is so long.

That's interesting! The degree name is kind of strange. "Master of Liberal Arts (ALM) in extension studies, field: software engineering". Personally I care about how the degree is phrased/named, somewhat.

[armstrongsubero]

I was worried about that too, 2 years is long, which is why I was contemplating the Patten MBA, but it wont open any doors for me besides a pay increase and entry into a PhD program. I was reading a thread cant remember what forum and the guy said his daughter was pursing a degree there at Harvard Extension, and the weird name din't cause a problem. They do that to kinda disassociate with the Extension School, the price of the whole degree is less than spending a single year on campus and the entry is more lax. but when you look at the origins of the school, I understand why. It seems like they are really non-profit, since their goal is to give everyone access to the best. And 32K isn't much to be able to ware that Harvard ring, I really, really wish I could afford it, if I write like 10 more books, and 1 sell I might be able to afford it in less time. I am also working on a lot of side projects, hopefully one will generate some passive income. I think the Extension school would probably eventually disappear completely or something, because they no longer offer associates degrees.

I was even looking at Columbia University, I saw a comp sci grad from TESU is studying a masters in EE there now...I was considering the BA CS at TESU, but for the cost, I have a better chance getting that "masters preferred" position. I saw a guy list his TESU, BALS degree as "BA Liberal Studies: Engineering" on LinkedIn...I wish I could list mine as "BA Liberal Studies: Computing" or something, lol...

[Ideas]

I saw a guy list his TESU, BALS degree as "BA Liberal Studies: Engineering" on LinkedIn...I wish I could list mine as "BA Liberal Studies: Computing" or something, lol...

Well I'm a little surprised they would allow him to get a Engineering area...  You know you can try to get anything you want for Learner Designed Area of Study, as long as it's different enough from other degrees they offer. It may be worth some extra time and money to get a good area of study like his. Especially if you still graduate in Sept.