Hello everyone – I have monitored this board for some time now and I have to say I am impressed with the support that has been provided to potential DL students. I have actually learned a lot and recently got the courage to post my own issue for review and comments. This is an issue I have been tossing around and want to call on your expertise to help me think through it. I am currently enrolled in an online MS program considered to be in the top 25 by USNews. I have 7 of 12 courses completed and when finished, will have successfully completed my 3rd Masters (MS in Computer Systems and MBA from non-ranked RA university). My dilemma….I am contemplating leaving this top 25 school to pursue a DBA with NCU. My story is I have a BS from Regents College (now Excelsior) and want to get a “big name” university on my resume. This top 25 will do it; however, I don’t want to just pile up the graduate degrees without showing progression. Saying that, I am stuck between the decision to complete the online program with the top 25 B&M and the decision to drop it after 7 courses and move on to the DBA from NCU. The courses would transfer to the DBA program at NCU so they are not a total loss. The 3rd Masters will not add much to my resume but the name will stand out. My concern is even though the school is reputable, I might actually be wasting my time and money. Some people have even asked me “why three Masters?” Yes, the pressure is there. Plus…I’ll soon be looking for a second career after completing a stint with the government. Another issue that makes this tough is the cost for the 5 remaining courses will eclipse what 7 NCU DBA courses will cost. Any thoughts? ps…sorry for making this sound like a case study.
Is your third Masters (the one you are currently taking) related to the other two? By completing it, are you obtaining a braoder range of skills? AND, will the new career that you are looking for be complemented by this 3rd Masters? If the answer is YES to any of them, IMO stay with it. Also, to reiterate Ted's post, why not both? And, by the way, if getting some name recognition of the resume is as important to you as you say it is, NCU won't do for you. That would be another reason to possibly complete the third Masters.
I think NCU requires 51 credits to be completed there. So, that would be more than 7 classes. I would ask the same thing myself. Why three MS's? However, I don't have a clue about your situation to really ask such a question. The question is do you think it is too much? You can always resumesmith it. You don't have to put all of your education on a resume. I don't. I mix and match depending on what I am putting out.
Re: Re: 3rd Masters or NCU DBA? Actually, NCU's DBA is an 81 credit program that will take up to 30 hours in transfer (i.e., you only need do 51 hours if you already have the master's). Now, here it will be significant what the three master's degrees are in and which of the three are most relevant to the proposed DBA at NCU. Assuming that the third master's is most relevant, finish that and have your USNews-rated top 25 master's degree and then enter the NCU DBA with only 51 credits to go.
Actually, the situation is not mutually exclusive. I concur with the thought that both are attainable (3rd Masters and DBA) but the final cost might become an issue since I pay for my own education. This reason alone brought me to the conclusion that it was either one or the other….perhaps not both. The third Masters is in Educational Leadership but seems it would carry weight if I am looking to work in academia. My review of NCU DBA requirements suggest that I would transfer in 30 credits (max allowed), take 7 specialized courses (21 cr.), and then the dissertation courses (8). I might have to add a couple of courses but for the most part, this would be the plan. I also recognize that if the name is critical for me, then NCU perhaps is not the one at this time. Looks like I might have to play the cost/benefit analysis game to determine which is best. Wish me luck!
Interesting Mikey2: Tough call. You're gonna have to flip a coin on this one and figure out what is important to you. My $.02? It is a shame that society has placed such emphasis on where you went to school versus the quality of education you received and how you apply it. I work with some very intelligent people designing and launching satellites. I can name off perhaps 5 of the top 10 universities when it comes to these guys. They are smart but it seems that most of them could not function outside of a discussion on algorithms, SLOC, and orbital sciences. Some would say it is an anomaly but somehow my City University degree has placed me in a better position than most of these guys. I say press on with what is important to you. Only you can figure that out.
Are you planning to teach in the future? The DBA from NCU would make sense if you want to have a credential to teach at a University as an adjunct or perhaps full time at a small primary undergraduate University. For industry jobs, I think that the DBA from NCU would give you very little value added as most Fortune 500 companies would hire you based on experience and for your big name University degree rather from a low tier online DBA.
Mikey 2 asks: 3rd Masters or NCU DBA? ------------------------------------- Oh, I think Tiger would prefer a 3rd Masters. I agree with RFValve. In so very many situations, I think the doctorate is overrated. Unless a job requires it (some academic ones do, very very few business and industry ones) or pay a significant doctoral salary increment (which some secondary teaching jobs do), I think the "top 25" Master's is a better career move. It would not be a "3rd Masters," it would be the primary Master's mentioned, with two secondary ones, I suspect.
