Help choosing between two programs for this Fall

[JuicyBerry36]

Hello,

Hello,
  I’m a 36 year old non traditional adult first year undergraduate student pursuing an online bachelor’s  degree for the Fall of 2024. My ultimate career goal is to pursue a Sales/Marketing career and or becoming a Business Intelligence Analyst. 
 I have been accepted to two programs fully online. I was accepted to Saint Louis University for a BS in Security Strategic Intelligence with a business Continuity route. 120 credits at $650 per credit hour. I feel I could go straight into a BIA career with this degree. It’s also arguably the best intelligence degree in the Midwest. I was also accepted to Georgetown University School for Continuing Studies with a BA in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Business. $400 per credit hour. I would pursue a masters in Applied Intelligence after with a business Continuity but feel this degree could set me up for sales and marketing after before I pursue a masters in Applied Intelligence through Georgetown SCS. I like the undergraduate core curriculum more at Saint Louis it’s the same as what traditional students take. Georgetown’s is completely different what the traditional undergrads take. So I feel my Georgetown degree wouldn’t feel authentic? Need advice. I live on the west coast so everything is fully online. Cost isn’t an issue either. Which school would take me further for my career goals?

[davewill]

Georgetown is the bigger name, but a Liberal Studies degree probably doesn't cut the mustard unless you've already got experience. It's kinda hard to swallow getting the BALS from Georgetown, but then needing a Master's before you're ready to be hired.

I'd probably choose Saint Louis. It should help your career immediately and nothing says you can't go for the Master's later.

[rachel83az]

Honestly, I don't like either - too expensive!

But since money is no object here, the St. Louis degree will probably look better on a resume, even if the school isn't as prestigious as Georgetown. I usually don't recommend Liberal Arts/Liberal Studies as a degree.

[JuicyBerry36]

Yeah I was kind of thinking the same thing as your feedback. I feel my degree from Saint Louis will provide me more skills for what I want to do right away upon graduation. Also it seems more aligned to exactly the same quality education I’d receive if I was an on campus traditional Saint Louis student. I think it would be best for me to pursue my undergraduate studies at Saint Louis so I can hit the job market right away and get some experience. I could then go to Georgetown for a Masters or just stay at Saint Louis for my masters. Also International Business interests me as a possible masters. It would stack nicely with intelligence skills. Saint Louis is known nationally for International Business. Both schools are Jesuit so that’s also important to me.

[fmsoa]

Yeah I was kind of thinking the same thing as your feedback. I feel my degree from Saint Louis will provide me more skills for what I want to do right away upon graduation. Also it seems more aligned to exactly the same quality education I’d receive if I was an on campus traditional Saint Louis student. I think it would be best for me to pursue my undergraduate studies at Saint Louis so I can hit the job market right away and get some experience. I could then go to Georgetown for a Masters or just stay at Saint Louis for my masters. Also International Business interests me as a possible masters. It would stack nicely with intelligence skills. Saint Louis is known nationally for International Business. Both schools are Jesuit so that’s also important to me.

Have you asked Georgetown SCS whether the diploma has School of Continuing Studies printed on it? You don't want the same trouble that many HR consider HES graduates not Harvard grads.

$400/credit hour is such a steal and bargain these days for a prestigious school like Georgetown

[JuicyBerry36]

Yeah I was kind of thinking the same thing as your feedback. I feel my degree from Saint Louis will provide me more skills for what I want to do right away upon graduation. Also it seems more aligned to exactly the same quality education I’d receive if I was an on campus traditional Saint Louis student. I think it would be best for me to pursue my undergraduate studies at Saint Louis so I can hit the job market right away and get some experience. I could then go to Georgetown for a Masters or just stay at Saint Louis for my masters. Also International Business interests me as a possible masters. It would stack nicely with intelligence skills. Saint Louis is known nationally for International Business. Both schools are Jesuit so that’s also important to me.

Have you asked Georgetown SCS whether the diploma has School of Continuing Studies printed on it? You don't want the same trouble that many HR consider HES graduates not Harvard grads.

$400/credit hour is such a steal and bargain these days for a prestigious school like Georgetown

At Georgetown SCS when you graduate your diploma is literally the same diploma as everyone else from all Georgetown University. It just says Georgetown University. You also get full alumni benefits as well. My program with them is a Liberal Studies degree but with a 48 credit hour concentration in Business. Amazing faculty as well. Most of the faculty teach at the main campus as well. Honestly at $400 per credit hour it’s an amazing opportunity. I’m still deciding. It would be around $48,000 total for a Georgetown bachelors.

[allvia]

My vote is for Saint Louis, for reasons already mentioned.

Also, they're alternative credit friendly; CLEP, DSST, ACE (that can save you time and money) - https://www.slu.edu/professional-studies...redits.php

[JuicyBerry36]

My vote is for Saint Louis, for reasons already mentioned.

Also, they're alternative credit friendly; CLEP, DSST, ACE (that can save you time and money) - https://www.slu.edu/professional-studies...redits.php

I’m kinda leaning towards Saint Louis. I just feel with that program I could do a lot more right away before pursuing my masters. I could always pursue my masters through Georgetown SCS in Applied Intelligence after earning my BS in Security Strategic Intelligence from Saint Louis. Or could stay at Saint Louis and earn either a masters in Security Strategic Intelligence or an MBA in International Business.

[LevelUP]

Georgetown University School for Continuing Studies would be about the same as Harvard Continuing Studies, as all the brand name value is lost once your transcript/diploma says "(continuing studies)." Not to mention, those degree majors would be inferior compared to a straightforward marketing degree.

Penn State World Campus is ranked 60th, similar to on-campus programs. Moreover, you can transfer in 84 credits from easily attainable alternative credit sources such as Sophia/Study.com, making it possible to earn your degree for around $20k.
https://www.worldcampus.psu.edu/degrees-...nce-degree

Another option is to obtain an inexpensive marketing degree from UMPI for $3k and then pursue an MBA with a focus on marketing/data or another area at a high-ranked school such as Boston University or the University of Illinois.

If you are on the west coast ASU is another option, though those degrees are harder to hack than Penn State.
https://asuonline.asu.edu/online-degree-...rgraduate/

Note these are worth college credit some schools such as UMPI

google data analytics cert
https://www.coursera.org/professional-ce...roductCard

google business intelligence cert
https://www.coursera.org/professional-ce...roductCard

google digital marketing cert
https://www.coursera.org/professional-ce...-ecommerce

[bjcheung77]

Ding ding! I'm more on the train with LevelUP, you shouldn't just have two to select from, you may even want to do a quick undergrad degree from a public/state institution and then decide what you want to ladder into. You need to complete the requirements or prerequisites to the Masters during undergrad, in addition to that, I suggest the trifecta of certs, degree, experience.

Since you haven't filled in the addendum/template, we don't know the full scope of your overall situation. @JuicyBerry36, I suggest providing more details, so we can actually provide more concrete advice... Don't decide from two, decide from a few that might be better options for you, for example, focus on a more recognized Masters degree and a quick undergrad check the box degree.

Addendum/Template Link: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...Area-works