How are the "Big Three" regarded in the business world?

Does anyone have any experience with how having an Excelsior degree is regarded in the job market? I just saw a brief mention of this in an earlier post. It mentioned that the Excelsior degree is well-regarded in the academic world, however in the job market, it might be different. Thanks!

 

Why not ask the CEO of Outlook Group?

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20050519005281&newsLang=en

or the new VP of Marketing of Infowave Software?

http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2005/May/1148560.htm

 

I have a BS from USNY Regents(now Excelsior). I have always had on my transcript "The University of the State of New York-Regents, Albany" . I think most believe it is SUNY-Albany. It's been received well as far as I know. I do have an engineering bachelor's from Brigham Young, and did a distance MBA from CSU-DH.

There is a point in a career where they really don't care where you went to school(even at my company they must not care so much because they hired in a guy with a degree from Hamilton.) and look at experience more. HOWEVER, that dept could be looking at trouble if an FDA audit took place. They look at things like..."are you qualified to do this job...where did you go to school?" He ended up quitting about 6 months back and got a higher paying job in another company.

Since I was in the military, most think that I just transferred around and took classes wherever.

 

Most companies only care that you have a Bachelor's from a accredited university. It even better if it's related to your field. The "Big Three" are all accredited so it's as valid as any other degree. A degree is just a check mark to get you in the door most of the time. Once your in the door you have to know what your doing no matter what school you've attended.

I'm in the IT field and when I only had my BS in Liberal Studies (BSL) it was good enough to work government contracts with no problem. I was good enough to bill in the highest labor categories. At one point the customer questioned Excelsior???. After research on their part, they were more than happy with my credentials.

I used the BSL as a stepping stone. I don't have any numbers but I've notice on this forum that most Excelsior grads go on to pursue even higher levels of education. That is what makes me proud to be an alum. You have to be a self starter to make it happen and that seems to be the same for all the "Big Three". Knowing what I know, I'll happily take any "Big Three" glad to work for my company.

 

I'm not aware of any specific research since the landmark Sosdian and Sharp study for the National Institute of Education in the late 70s. Among many other things, they asked the HR people at 81 large corporations about acceptance just of the 'big three' (what are now Excelsior, Charter Oak, Edison). Not only did 100% accept these degrees, but a subset went further and said they prefer them since they show the person is capable of independent research and study, etc.

Oh, I do wish someone, somewhere, would replicate this study.

 

Thanks for the replies to this subject and the one about DL and HR folks. I got a bit nervous when I read a small blurb on how some companies' viewed the Excelsior degree.

 

There will always be some companies/people that consider this, that, or the-other degree somehow below them.

There will be some HR people who tell you anything less than a 3.75 GPA indicates a poor candidate and others that will say GPA is not a valid indicator of performance ability.

There will be some people who think Local State U is inferior to Private LibArts College and some who feel that Private LibArts College doesn't compare to Exclusive Elite College.

Some people think that State Research University is a better place to learn about literature than State Teachers College. Others insist that State LibArts College is the only place to get a "real" education.

My dad tells his grandkids that "trade school" is the way to go. He believes that a community college degree is all anyone needs to start out with. "Learn a trade and get a job!" is his mantra.

Some people, maybe more than a few, will say "all that book learnin' don't mean you got any common sense..." and they discount the value of a college degree completely.

Some people equate an undergrad degree with "13th - 16th grade of high school" and feel that anyone without a 4-year degree is far inferior but those with a 4-year are "nothing special". "Doesn't really matter where you went to High School -- doesn't matter where you did the undergrad."

Some people argue over whether Harvard prepares better business majors than Yale or whether Yale prepares better politicians than Harvard.

What really matters -- and little else -- is whether the degree meets your needs. If you never work for Spacely Sprockets then it doesn't really matter what Mr. Spacely thinks of your degree. If you want to work for the Interpanetary Council of Cretonic Accountants then you better care what they think of your degree.

If you want widest acceptance in academia -- make sure it's an RA degree and not a no-major liberal arts or "completion" degree. Even there though, they can't agree what "sucks" and what doesn't. I just watched a faculty search that didn't interview a single PhD or MFA applicant. "DMA required"...

If it's really important to you that your degree get the highest possible level of recognition and prestige, then you need to attend Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Oxford, Cambridge, and their ilk. Unless you're a musician -- then look at Juliard and Berklee. Or, if you're planning a military career -- then West Point, Annapolis, USAF Acad., etc... I hear that those folks consider the Merchant Marine Academy and Coast Guard Academy "inferior" to their Alma Mater -- imagine that insanity.

Even amongst the most prestiguos universities in the world -- there are debates about "who sucks".

Personally, I've decided I need a few more degrees for interior design reasons. I want to be able to create a pyramid design on the wall of the living room with diplomas. 4 assoc. - 3 bach. - 2 masters - 1 doctorate; it'll just look cool up there. but then, that's just my motivation, your mileage may vary....

 

This, then, will be the new standard for academic elitism: the geometric design formed by one's degrees. 'Single-framers' and 'Dumbbells' will be displaced by 'Triangles,' who will in turn blanch in fear of 'Diamonds' and 'Pentagons.'
The Pyramid wins, though.