"Big 3" degree value?

[MA2]

You should probably attend Harvard. The courses that I took there were the best of the best. Harvard Home

Your sarcastic comments are contributing SO much to this discussion. Thanks again.

[MA2]

MA2, I'd stick up for you, but the world seems to cave in on itself whenever I do for anyone. The thing is, there are a lot people on this site who get upset when a new commer asks a legitimate question. My advice is to just ignore it and glean whatever information you can in their posts. If worse comes to worse, you can try the search feature or PM someone who is nice enough to help.

Indeed it does seem there's a lot of pride. Seems pretty snooty get all upset when someone asks a legitimate question.

Everyone here mentions cost. I am concerned very little with the cost of tuition. I spent 4 years in the Navy to earn my college being paid for and as long as the cost is under the amount paid by the VA, I'm fine. If you take CLEP (as I have) and take classes online to save money, and that works for you, then awesome, keep it up.

I was simply asking a legitimate question about your opinions about the degree value to employers. I never said anything about a masters degree. Obviously having an MBA and taking the CPA exam would be better and employers wouldn't look at your BA degree, but that's not what I was asking. There's a lot you can do with an accounting BA that most people don't know of or aren't qualified for. FBI/US Marshals/Secret Service etc LOVE people with accounting degrees. I could also go back active in the Navy as a supply officer, or have a good shot at making rank quickly with a police agency, and so on. But I wouldn't be able to do any of that if the recruiter/hiring manager/etc looks at the school I got my degree from and goes "Here's another one Hank!" and throws my application away.

Thanks to the few people that had an honest answer.

[cookderosa]

Your sarcastic comments are contributing SO much to this discussion. Thanks again.

??


I was serious btw.

And, none of my comments have been sarcastic. Re-read what I've written to you, I've been nothing but helpful to you. <shrug>

[OE800_85]

Another thing I wanted to add. The school I went into is a pretty good school. It's often considered top 3 or 5 in the nation and has reasonably tough entry requirements. But even then, a degree from there doesn't hold much weight over other schools, I imagine even over the top 3. The important thing is not really the school, but the program. If the program is prestigious then sure you'll come out looking good. But personally I think if you're on this thread, it means you don't have the credentials to get into one of those programs. So, you're gonna be talkin medium level programs and institutions, which I really believe hold the same weight as the big 3. Very few professions require tha kind of background. If you're able to get into a top program, I say it's worth it, but like the other poster said, your program is likely in the medium level, then it doesn't matter.
Another great thing is hat few people know about these programs, compared to schools that get so much publicity like devry. It doesn't matter how good their program is, there will always be people who laugh at that degree, the same can be said for Phoenix. Maybe their discrimination is unfounded, but it might affect your job prospects. I think it's way better to have a degree from some place no one has heard of than one everyone knows about and has varying opinions about

[CLEP101]

Your sarcastic comments are contributing SO much to this discussion. Thanks again.

She was not being sarcastic, she actually did go to Harvard. I've followed a lot of her advice and I've ended up with three degrees since joining this forum. And of course from lots of others on here as well.
In the end it is your decision to make what school you want to go with. I could care less as long as they are regionally accredited schools. That is all my future employers cared about after talking to them. I'm lining myself up for when I retire from the army. They are ready to hire as soon as I drop my retirement paperwork.
Good luck in your decision, and keep us posted.

[MISin08]

:iagree:
Although I have gone back and forth about this a whole lot in my mind, I'm starting to lean towards the Big Three

This after I have started mentioning UW Laramie...:reddevil:

[...]The truth is, unless your degree is the one main thing setting you apart, then it probably doesn't make so much of a difference WHERE you get it, rather, THAT you get it.

:iagree: and if you need your degree to do a lot of the talking, get the best you can afford.

Phillip

[MA2]

??


I was serious btw.

And, none of my comments have been sarcastic. Re-read what I've written to you, I've been nothing but helpful to you. <shrug>

Well forgive me then, but someone randomly saying "well go to Harvard then" can come off as quite sarcastic when dealing with the internet.

I think the traditional learning environment is probably going to suit me best... but a big factor in that is getting the full GI bill stipend instead of the $688 a month for taking classes 100% online. I'm sure there's a way to work it so I take one class at a local school and the rest online, but I'm not sure how the VA would handle that.

The VA is the very definition of a love/hate relationship. >_<

[CLEP101]

I think the traditional learning environment is probably going to suit me best... but a big factor in that is getting the full GI bill stipend instead of the $688 a month for taking classes 100% online. I'm sure there's a way to work it so I take one class at a local school and the rest online, but I'm not sure how the VA would handle that.

The VA is the very definition of a love/hate relationship. >_<

Make copies of your Certificate of Eligibility and send them to your online school and to your B&M school. Just enroll for the courses and the schools will deal with the VA for you. There is always a way. My wife is going to a B&M (Central Texas College) and online to TESC. She sent in her GI Bill COE to both schools and all she does is sign up for courses at both schools and she never deals with the VA, the schools take care of everything.

[cookderosa]

Well forgive me then, but someone randomly saying "well go to Harvard then" can come off as quite sarcastic when dealing with the internet.

I think the traditional learning environment is probably going to suit me best... but a big factor in that is getting the full GI bill stipend instead of the $688 a month for taking classes 100% online. I'm sure there's a way to work it so I take one class at a local school and the rest online, but I'm not sure how the VA would handle that.

The VA is the very definition of a love/hate relationship. >_<

Most state colleges and community colleges do NOT differentiate method of delivery on your transcript, but what I'd suggest is doing a mix of butt-in-seat and DL in the same semester. See what happens. You might get the full $. Also, have you investigated the APUS system? They are about 80% military students and are VERY able to help you maximize your $. I believe they set their tuition at whatever your GI bill is, but not sure. American Public University System - Official Site

Harvard's college of Continuing Education allows you to take credit courses in an open enrollment format- meaning, you just sign up. They have butt in seat and distance learning. They also have undergrad / grad. You can't do an entire degree online, but you can do online classes in the fall/spring then do summer sessions on campus- they are 7 weeks.

After completing their requirements you can apply for admission into their degree program. The degree is awarded through and completed through the extension school, but it is 100% Harvard University (College of Continuing Education). Some people like to debate the issue of using an extension school, but I'd wager most people have no idea which college in their university is issuing their degree- and if it's an online/hybrid degree, it likely is through an extension school (they just don't know it!) So, getting in to Harvard Extension is easy, getting out? Not so much lol, but it might be a good alternative for you to consider if you want to move to Boston.

[OE800_85]

I think you have to keep one thing in mind, the way you made the statement before sounded standoffish. The whole point of saying "go to Harvard" naturally implies that you think he looks down upon us or something, and being sarcastic implying that he could never go there. So naturally it created a confusion on the whole issue. Also, your link was to harvard.edu, not the website for harvard extension, so it created further confusion there. I mean, let's be honest about this.