D.Sc IS Dakota State - Admission Requirements

Can someone help me with this question? I might be reading too deeply into this.

I am currently enrolled at Capella in the MS Information Assurance with a GPA of 4.0 (so far). I graduate in September 2011.

I am considering Dakota State's D.SC IS program

The adminssion Requirements state"

In undergrad, my GPA was 2.7, but that was 10 years ago.

Does the requirement under "Specific Requirements" hurt me?

Thanks

 

Specifically, I was refering to this line:

.

I apologize regarding the vagueness of my earlier question.

Thanks

 

My guess is that Dakota State would be willing to give you an exception to the 3.0 requirement provided you otherwise qualify.

 

I think that you should be fine. You can technically get admitted without a Masters degree. But since you will have a masters degree I think you should be fine.

 

Why not just call the admissions office and speak to someone directly? There are more folks in your shoes who have a lower GPA undergrad but their Masters are rather high...

 

It will affect you. The DSc. program is getting more and more competitive as the word gets out about it. How much it affects you will depend on the strength of the rest of your academic history and whatever strengths and recommendations you bring to the table as part of the admissions process.

I second the statement that you need to call admissions to get answers to these questions. No one here is on the DSU admissions committee

 

That is strange, I have been monitoring DSU's DSc admission program for awhile. Before I did not see anything about UNDERGRADUATE degree. The only mention that your Master degree must be at least 3.25 for GRE waiver. Otherwise you have to submit the GRE.

 

It almost feels that a Masters GPA doesn't have much weight. I requested information and emailed them directly to schedule to speak to someone. I just wanted some opinions on the matter and curious if I understood this correctly.

Thanks

 

I'd hazard a guess that it's not that a masters doesn't carry weight, but merely that you don't need a masters to pursue a doctoral degree. I'd argue that most doctoral students don't have one (especially if you're not talking about ivy league doctoral programs)

While this is usually an odd concept for non-traditionals to grasp as the major online doctoral schools require a masters degree, it's out of the norm for conventional schools to require one and far more common for them to require GRE, GMAT or LSAT scores to gauge capability.

So I'd not read too much into it and just wait for that reply from DSU. If history is any guide you'll be waiting a week.

Best,
ITJD

 

Number one, make sure you take the GRE. It has become a very important requirement now, compared to a year or so, ago.

Number two, know that your Capella Masters degree may be discriminated against, why? They are not for profit-friendly neither are they friendly with degrees from internet schools (yes, a few of their faculty members have PhDs from Capella University, however, the politics that exists in education tells them; a state school, to look down on for-profits, and worst, hold less regard for degrees from internet schools, even though they offer one). I learned this first hand, when I was denied admission last year for the program.

Number three, if your undergraduate degree is not in information systems or a closely-related IT field, your GRE score will have more weight than your Capella masters, certainly. So make sure you concoct a strategy to over-come that deficiency (I had a 4.0 GPA in my master's from an internet school, it didn't make a difference. Infact, in my opinion, it was a negative).

Finally, here's my prescription for success: Take the GRE. Make sure your admission letter is top-notch. If you have certifications, or have published or presented papers, include them in your admission package (also, make sure those accomplishments are referenced in your letter). Depend less on your Capella masters, especially, if your undergrad was in-field. If your undergrad was out-of field, boost your admission packet with other accomplishments but focus less on the graduate degree. The DSc degree gets a lot more applications now than two years ago, so they are tightening the requirements. In fact, it shouldn't be surprising if they start requiring mandatory residencies in a few years to come. Goodluck!

 

I am in a similar situation. I have an undergrad in Mechanical Engineering (1993) with a GPA of 2.9. I completed an MS in technology systems from East Carolina University a few years ago with a 4.0 GPA. I applied this year and I waiting to hear if i got accepted. The admissions office said they don't make any decisions until after May 15th. So I am waiting anxiously to hear if I got accepted. I did not re-take the GRE, I took it over 8 years ago, but since it wasn't required, I rolled the dice. I am hopefully that my previous graduate work and work experience will get me over the hump. I'll let you know how it works out for me.

 

I have been waiting for a decision since last September 30, 2010. I can't get any information about my chances.

I have a so-so BS in mathematics (2.70) 1974 regionally accredited.
I have 3.62 for MS in Computer Methodology 1993. This a hybrid of CS and CIS. regionally accredited and AACSB Accreditation. I was inducted into AACSB local chapter.
I wrote a thesis for MS that my thesis advisor worked with me to get published in 1999.
I have over 35 years IT experience. The last 10 working with mainframe networks (z/os communications server) and specifically in network security.
I have certification from Qualys in their Vulnerability and Risk Management.
I am working on paper discussing Brute Force Attack via SSH.
I got waived from the GRE because of my BS was earned over 30 years ago.
I have taught IT on the undergraduate level as adjunct for over 25 years. Also Business Statistics.

Yet I don't feel too confident about being accepted. I have been told that my file is being under review, and this is since October 2010. I have been told this many times.

Why do they encourage applicants to apply very early? It doesn't make sense to apply as early as I did.

 

I was considering this once I finished my MBA in Applied Computer Science at NCU but I don't have a very traditional schooling background either, having finished up at TESC.
I'll probably just continue with NCU since its a known quantity and I don't have to sit around waiting to be told I can begin classes. I have zero patience for that.

 

I think that a Master's is weighed differently depending on the degree and university. One doctorate that I was researching requires a GRADUATE GPA of 3.25 for consideration. They asked for undergrad transcripts as pro forma it seems.
Troy university would waive GRE requirements if you have another graduate degree as another example.