Thanks to IC and All Discussion Board Posters

[snazzlefrag]

They only thing sometimes giving me concern is the name of EC College. It just doesn't sound like Rice, A&M, Harvard YKWIM?

I'm curious to see how others feel about this. Do you think the advantages of getting a BS fast from EC still beat getting a BS from say Texas A&M? Do you think it will be negative in the long run not to have a BS from a very esteemed college? Most likely not or you wouldn't be at EC, however I'd love to hear the reasoning behind it.

Thanks!

Christa

Hi Christa,

The reaility is that the vast majority of people don't ever get the opportunity to graduate from an "esteemed" college. Most people don't have $50-$400,000+ to put into earning their degree, and most people don't have the right connections/breeding to get into the elite colleges. That's just a sad fact of life.

I recently discovered a regionally accredited, private, B&M college in my area, that I didn't even know existed. It has been around for decades and I live right by it, but I had never heard of it. So I think, at best, many schools have only very LOCAL name recognition.

As long as you graduate from a school that is RA, I don't think name recognition (beyond the elites) really has much impact. If somebody has a good solid degree from East Snicketyplop University, and somebody else has a good solid degree from West Porchview College, and they are both verifiable RA schools, I'm not sure how much of an advantage one would have over the other.

At least with Excelsior College and TESC, we are graduating from a college with a little more national exposure. Chances are, that wherever I go, there will likely be an Excelsior or TESC grad close by. I doubt the same would be true of Trouser State Community College grads.

As for the elites? They are so far beyond my reach, that I can't even think about them. I simply must do the best I can with what I have available to me. I will graduate from Excelsior College...and I will work as hard as I can to make sure my Excelsior degree includes good solid grades. Unfortunately, Daddy's Alma Mater isn't Harvard, so that's out. I don't have the finances to attend Texas A&M or Penn State, so they are out. And I don't have enough available time to attend a full-time B&M school.

So my choices boil down to the "Big 3"...and I'm fine with that. Most adults my age are not going to Harvard, Penn State, Texas A&M, or anywhere else. The very fact that I am willing to do what it takes to earn my degree, sets me apart from the majority.

I would have no qualms about expressing my reasons for going with an Excelsior College degree with any HR professional considering me for a position. I made my decision, I will stand by it, and I will be able to back it up with high scores and good grades. However, I really don't think it will even be an issue. Most employers are looking for an RA degree...period!

P.S. I do hate the name Excelsior. But I'll take a degree from Excelsior over no degree at all, and the name is growing on me.
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