Trying to decide between these two grad schools

[norema]

I've been pouring over master's programs for the last two weeks. I've narrowed it down to two schools which are very different. Some advice would be helpful, as right now I am very torn between the two. I am about to get my BS Liberal Studies at Excelsior, and now I'm looking to earn a postgrad degree in a business related field. I don't have a lot of prereqs for either program, although I do have some professional experience and I've decided I'd rather go this route than a humanities-based master's. I would be lying if I said I didn't want to make more money, but I'd also be lying if I said I didn't want to enjoy school. So, here are my top choices.

University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Master of Business Administration.

Pros: This school is AACSB-approved, and assuming that I can find an employer to supplement the costs, it is a good long-term investment. It is a rare find because it is very low priced for AACSB, entirely online, and only 30 credits. The prereqs are not as bad as other schools, and so far the staff has been very attentive. I can't overemphasize the AACSB accreditation and brand-name recognition.

Cons: Although a good value, it will cost around $15,0000 before textbooks for the whole program. The program is very traditional and structured; honestly, I'm not sure if the traditional MBA-program, which is very financially and structurally based, is going to appeal to me. It will take around 2 years to complete.

Amberton University. Master of Business Administration (Strategic Leadership) OR Master of Arts, Professional Development.

Pros: It is regionally accredited, which is nothing to be ashamed of. The bread and butter is the flexibility of both programs. I can end up with a 36-credit master's degree by taking almost exclusively courses that I really like (leadership, conflict management, communication.) I can also get up to THREE graduate certificates, as the classes for the master's programs also apply towards certificates, AND certificates can overlap classes. Furthermore, I can transfer in classes from VESi for 9-12 credits, which are extremely cheap. Speaking of cheap, the school is off-the-radar inexpensive for RA schools. Also, I can complete this degree in a year to 18 months, and within that time frame I can keep adding certificates to my resume.

Cons: Not AACSB is the biggest drawback. The lack of name recognition could really hurt in a competitive market in Silicon Valley, If I later decided to get AACSB, I would then need to start over from scratch. I'm just worried that the degree will be seen as "second-tier," whereas UMass Lowell will probably just be assumed brick-and-mortar from a reputable school. Maybe this fear is irrational, but I wonder if a resume littered with certificates is seen by employers as a resume with a lot of easy, online certificates. As much as I hate to say, perception matters more than reality in the professional world. I can say with little doubt that Amberton will improve my overall skills and make be a better professional, but UMass will make me look much better on paper and open more opportunities.


So, that is my dilemma. I still have time to make the decision, but I should make a decision soon if I want to get started on my prereqs.

I had the same concerns with the PD degree from Amberton. As far as it possibly not sounding specific enough, that's why I considered going for their Human Resource degree. However, I did not want to get pigeon-holed. Then there is the school, which is pretty much unknown. I am the type of person with more interest, than I have money to pursue them all with degrees. I could easily be a 'professional student' if my funds allowed me to be. Although, I realized that I'd rather live life and explore the things that I am interest in, rather than just acquire additional pieces of paper about those things. I want to feel it, instead of reading about it. However, I tried to come up with a compromise for myself, as you are trying to do. In deciding whether to go for that degree that will bring me the most money, versus the degree that could make me the most happiest. ALOT if not MOST of the time they are not one in the same. I worked for over 17 years in a business were I was not happy. There were times that the money made everything alright, and made everything fine on the outside. However, I was miserable on the inside. That is why I have always told my children, that they must figure out what they love to do. That thing that they would do for free, and exhaust themselves into making sure is done just right. I told them to go for that thing, THEN, figure out how to make a lot of money at doing it. It is much easier, however, to do this when you don't have any responsibilities yet, than when you are trying to start over with life on your back I tell you. My advise is, now most companies probably won't pay much attention to the name of where you received your degree. Unless it was from an ivy league school. If it is not from there, and the school is legit. Then they would just focus on the job that you would be able to do with the degree you obtained. The degree name, in some areas may need to be more specific. That of course depends on the job you are going after. If you are not going for that job that would need an MBA, I would not go for it if that is not exactly what you want to do. I too have been mesmerized by the feeling of prestige from just saying 'I have an MBA.' I actually thought about taking Andrew Jackson's EMBA, just for the name of it. Since it sounded even more prestigious, however, I was not even going to use it for any positions that would require it. I could care less about that part of business now. Well, back to you. After all of this, the whole point I'm saying is to try and do something that makes you ecstatically happy. If you are on that second career like me, with a family and endless responsibilities now. To do something ecstatically happy may be too late to do. However, do something that makes you happy, that something that is you, and that you would not dread day-in and day-out doing. No amount of money can fulfill that inner happiness, that the feeling of being yourself, and being what you are about, can bring. Life is too short, for that.