Baker College?

Here's another of my "what about this school" questions. Does anyone have any thoughts on Baker College? Anyone have any experience with their doctorate degrees in business? Thanks to everyone for all the answers that have been given over the past few weeks.

 

I am asking because I noticed that a DBA from Baker College is about $5000 less than the apparently same degree from Walden.

 

They are a regionally accredited school with multiple locations accross eastern Michigan and an online campus. Their DBA programs are relatively new, so I'm not sure they have any doctoral graduates. And here http://forums.degreeinfo.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=27757 is an old thread introducing Baker's new DBA programs.

 

Hi, I had inquired last year about attending the DBA program at Baker College and talked to an admission counselor and the dean of the school of business. While the cost is $5000 less in terms of tuition, than Walden, there are also 2 professional conferences you have to attend, as residencies. I could not get a straight answer from the admissions counselor or the dean about what would be acceptable in terms of conferences. The dean did tell me that Baker College would provide a list of accepted conferences that a student could attend, but they do not publicize this list, unless you are actually in the program. They would not even tell me what state or city these conferences are in also, whether they had fees or how long they were. So you may end up spending $5000 savings in conferences. I would have enrolled in the program, if it had not been for lack of information about the conferences/residencies. You may want to try contacting them to see if they will tell you where the conferences are and how much it may cost to attend. I only know of one person who has obtained a masters from Baker and they had good things to say about the program.

 

Good point. Where did you end up going?

 

I ended up at Capella, after attending Jones International Unviersity's DBA program for one course. There is nothing wrong with JIU's program except that they monitor the student's time in the course, regardless if you are doing good in the course and completing assignments on time. After receiving a note from the dean of the program, that stated that despite my having an A course average, I had not spent enough time in the course room and I needed to work on that. Needless to say I did work on that and ended up at Capella, which I am about to finish my 2nd doctorate course with them, so far so good.

I can tell you that it takes some time to narrow down a doctorate program that fits. I was in TUI's program for 1 course, just did not like the learning format. I was at Walden for 2 courses and left, due to the fact I had to keep putting off the 1 residency requirement, due to work and could not progress further, without completing it. So I have washed out of a few doctorate programs, but not leaving the one I am in now!

 

Capella looks really good, I wish they had a DBA/Marketing degree or a PhD/Marketing degree and I would be there in a heartbeat. I spoke with a counselor about that and was not satisfied with her suggestion to go for a general business PhD and do marketing for the electives...not a real marketing degree in my opinion.

Think I'll go with Walden. You were OK with it except for the residency issues, right? Thanks for sharing the info; helps me a lot.

 

Good luck -

 

Hello I will send you a pm. There is also a Yahoo group for Walden learners, in case anyone is interested, its full of activity and there are many present and past doctorate learners there:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/waldenustudentlistserv/

 

Thanks for sharing that Walden group. I will join it soon.

 

That sounds ominous.

 

No, not at all. It is just that you seem uncertain about the schools to choose from. If you start to look for others to help - that is fine but do not let others make the decision for you. Get somewhat logical-
Can you handle a residency?
How much do you want to pay?
Does it have to be RA?
What do you want to do with the degree and will this school [enter school] get you there?
Do you want a PhD, DBA, EdD, DPA, DM,....?

There are the things that are important (and whatever else is important to you) so identify what is important and find a school that fits. Looking back, I don't think I put Valdosta State's DPA in my mix and I wish I would have. Anyway, don't make a rash decision or you may end up wasting more time jumping from program to program.

 

Thanks so much Randell123. Your board has been a great help in keeping me from doing just what you warned about. Very useful for contributing to my "due diligence". JK about the ominous part.

I see you are the administrator, are you also the originator of this board?

 

Also, I notice you are a NCU student. (They just called me today in response to a question I asked) How has your experience been with them? It seems like you are happy with your choice. I appreciate your reply, I'm gathering all the "intel" I can before I make a choice.

 

No, just a servant !

I am happy with the choice. The classes have been good so far and I think I got really lucky with a great chairman. I have had a couple of ups and downs (like anyone a any school in a PhD program) but overall I am very happy with them. The only other school I really considered was Nova but it was just too expensive and I wanted to do it for free (all done with tuition assistance money).

 

Nice! I wish I could do that too.

 

Vote for baker

BAKER - A fine school!

 

I have another question for you. Just got off the line again with a counselor for NCU and was informed that they don't require any residencies for the DBA. Is your program the same? If so, are you concerned at all for the quality and the reputation of your degree when they don't require residencies?

And, they still are about $8 or $9K cheaper than Walden. I'm loving that. I might just go with NCU....that is, unless I flip-flop yet again.

 

No residencies for my program and that was one of the big reasons I picked it. I am not at all concerned. How can quality be a concern based on no residencies? Even compared to the schools that have a 3 day residency once a year (or whatever it is), I don't see that much of a difference. I am sure they have value but 99% of the program is still remote.

 

Good point.