The name Game!

hello,

Does the name of the university really matter? My situation is , I have a bachelor's degree from India which is for three years and...since a bachelors degree is of 4yrs in US i thought i would complete that one year by joining an University which gives me credits for my previous work.
I live in NJ ...so i thought i would apply to Rutgers but unfortunately they do not give a lot of credits and I probably have to start from the sophomore yr.,I also applied to Kean University which is giving quite a good amount of credits and i can complete the degree in a year and half. I have some friends who r in Kean and r happy with their decision.
So guys....what do i do? Rutgers or kean? Does it realllllyy matter?

 

I think the name matters for three reasons.

First, schools have regional and/or national reputations. Reputations within those areas are understood, but not beyond. For example, the University of San Diego has an excellent MBA program. It is more respected in San Diego than is the one at Chapman University. But outside San Diego, no one cares.

Second, "name" schools are often that because they're better.

Third, funny-sounding schools seem to be a hinderance. John Bear talks about this from time to time, and my research indicated that a degree from a traditional-sounding diploma mill was more likely to be accepted by some employers than a real degree from an accredited school with a dumb name. We've seen evidence of this in the renaming of schools like TGSA (now Capella), and in colleges (like Chapman) who "universitize" themselves.

I've been a real critic of Union's stupid names (like its current one), and think it is a marketing opportunity missed.

There are, however, many other, more salient factors to consider (costs, schedule, admissions policies, transfer of credit, curricula, and delivery method are just some). I would thing one's decision would almost never come down to just the name of the school. But all other things being equal, go to Rutgers.

 

Side issue related to names:

Would it be wrong for me to list my degree as having been earned from "The Union Institute" instead of "Union Institute and University"? It was the former when I entered and the latter when I left.

Or I could use "Union Graduate School," which was never the name of the school, but was always the name of the Ph.D. program (and still is, technically, today).

Or does it matter? I just think Union's current name sounds goofy. Whaddaya think?

 

I would offer a different perspective. I don't think the name of the school matters in the long term. I think there are specific corporations who only hire from certain schools, but most of the rest of America is simply looking for an accredited degree. If it is a choice between 1 1/2 years at an accredited, but less well known school and 2 1/2 years at a more well known school, I would choose the shorter route. I base this on having been a vocational and rehabilitation counselor for more than 25 years. Frankly after the first job, people are looking at your experience and talents. The degree is simply the admission ticket. Time is awfully hard to get back if it will not make a substantial difference over the long haul.

 

I think that a lot depends on how old you are.

If you are a teenager or an early 20-something, without any real work experience, then your bachelors degree is going to be all that you have to sell you. So the more prestigious ones are sometimes (not always) going to beat the less prestigious ones.

But if you are older and have some work experience, then the degree is only going to be one component of a larger mix. The name on it will be less important.

In fact, the "best" schools according to USNews are precisely those that recruit full-time, on-campus undergraduates right out of high school, that have high selectivity up-front and low attrition mid-course, and graduate everyone in four years. That's their model when they assign schools to tiers. (So schools that emphasize DL for part-time adult students are normally lower-tier, simply by definition.)

I should add that these remarks treat degrees as a generic commodity and assumes that university reputation is a simple and easily measureable quality. But that isn't always the case.

CSU Dominguez Hills is a fourth tier masters level school. Very proletarian. But it has one of the top programs in the United States in designing and fitting artificial limbs and orthopedic appliances. People in that specialized field know the school and make their choices accordingly.

So in your case, it's conceivable that Kean might have a better professional reputation in your field, whatever that is, than Rutgers.

 

____________________
Does the name of the university really matter?
____________________

In the job market, there is always competition, and where there is competition, the name matters. This is especially true, I think, if the competition is between a name that is recognized and well-respected and one that is less known. It is important to point out that there are two dynamics at work here. The first is the case in which it is the school's name that has the impact. If the school has some sort of public renown, there is a competitive edge, sometimes in spite of a not-so-well-respected program at that school. It is the public recognition of the name that provides the edge. The second case is one in which the program has the impact regardless of the overall public reputation of the school. In this case, your competitive edge comes from the person doing the hiring being aware of the quality of the program you graduated from. If it's a specialized field, chances are someone in the hiring process will know the good programs, or have decided on favorite programs, either of which provides the edge. Often the name/program edge may be local. Rutgers is a name virtually any employer in the US, and many parts of the world would recognize. I don't know much about Kean, but it is possible that in NJ, where perhaps the school is more known and its graduates more common, Kean's reputation might be considered competitive with Rutgers.

I have always thought that name/program recognition edge has more of an impact where graduate degrees are concerned, but perhaps this is not really true. I can imagine undergraduate situations--engineering, for instance--where the name/program recognition might be more important. Undergraduate programs are so general and vary so dramatically that to many employers, I think, it's the general level of education and perseverance that it represents that really matters. Even here, though, a respected name provides a competitive edge.

I would agree with Rich, though. Choose the school that's right for you. Don't choose just because of the name.

marilynd

 

________________________
Would it be wrong for me to list my degree as having been earned from "The Union Institute" instead of "Union Institute and University"? It was the former when I entered and the latter when I left.

Or I could use "Union Graduate School," which was never the name of the school, but was always the name of the Ph.D. program (and still is, technically, today).

Or does it matter? I just think Union's current name sounds goofy. Whaddaya think?
_________________________

Rich,

I, too, do not like the name "Union Institute and University." It sounds contrived. "The Union Institute" had a solid reputation, and I have never understood the necessity of changing the name. Did program structure changes necessitate the name change? Did they add a medical or law school or a School of Aeronautical Engineering?

I would think that abbreviation to "The Union Institute" would be acceptable in most cases; though perhaps not in some more formal situations (although an example of the latter escapes me at the moment). The real issue, I think, is whether or not there is a intent to deceive, and I can't imagine how someone could reasonably claim deception in this instance.

"Union Graduate School" is a little different matter, though. You would not say that your degree came from "Barker Graduate School" if Barker was a division of "St. Barnum & Baily University". The degree was conferred by the authority of the university, not the graduate school. Besides, "Union Graduate School" would raise confusion about whether it was a different institution than "The Union Institute."

Just my two and half cents.

Regards,

marilynd

 

Thanks everyone for replying. I agree with most of what u guys said. i I am planning to do my MBA later after i get some work exp.(i am 22 with no work exp.) thats the reason i thought that if i complete my bachelor's asap the closer i'll get to MBA...though i'am not in hurry...but i was thinking getting an MBA degree from an accredited college rather that getting an undergrad degree since i already have one.
I would love to have degree from rutgers ...but it'll take more time....it'll cost more...where as if i do it from kean i can complete it in a shorter time ...i wont have to pay more...and i'am sure i can get a decent first job with a degree from kean...since my friend who graduated from kean got some very good offers....i just feel if i work hard maintain a good GPA.....i can survive!! I'am not really afraid of competion....it will be there no matter which university i graduate from.
I agree with obecve after the first jo ppl will see ur experience and talent not ur degree. moreover if I have rutgers degree and I dont work hard ...how long can i survive?
Its funny..I donno.... if i'am trying to convince u guys or myself..!! neways i have to thank u guys for helping me think..! its strange....sometimes the ppl u dont know ..have never met...help u make some important decisions in life even if u have heard it all from ur friends and family!
Thanks!

 

Hi,

I completed my bachelor's degree from Osmania University ,Hyderabad...its the state university and its well recognized in India. It is also Accredited by NAAC(The National Assessment and Accreditation Council).
Thanks.

 

marilynd:

Thanks for your perspective. I would remind us all, however, that it is sometimes done. Graduates of UC Berkeley's law school often say they went to Hastings. Graduates of Heriot-Watt's MBA know how much it is labeled the Edinburgh School of Business. But I agree with the informal/formal thing.