Bachelor's (Brand Name School) vs. Master's (Non Brand)

Hey,

Just wanted peoples opinion on what they thought would be more highly regarded. A Bachelor's degree from a brand name school vs. a Master's from a non-branded school. An example would be a bachelor's from Arizona State or Ohio State University vs. a Master's from AMU?

I ask because I have a Master's Degree in Changing My Mind :-(. Been in this wasteland since 2001. Anyway, I posted in another thread that I have issues staying on track with my MBA program since it is a general Management degree from a low tier school. A friend of mine brought up the idea of taking undergrad courses to augment current degree and maybe just doing a 2nd bachelor's instead of the MBA.

I do have interests in too many different subjects and have a hard time narrowing it down. I was even looking for interdisciplinary degrees but couldn't find one that fit my interests.

However I did look at Colorado State University Global Campus and found a bachelor's in Applied Social Sciences with a Concentration in Business. I found this to be interesting because of the core study is of Econ, Culture, Communications, Media, Sociology, History, Psychology, and 15 units of Business courses in the concentration. The price is great as well. It looks more interesting than my current MBA program with AMU and also CSU is a more recognized school.

What do you think?

Again, I am thinking.... If I do the change, will I change my mind again? I am easily influenced by this forum. This forum has too many great resources and information to find, that one can choose a goal, and then find something better that someone else posted.

Thanks for all your help in advance.

 

I'm considering CSU Global for a MS in Management too, but in your case I don't think 2 bachelors would benefit you more than a bachelor and a masters. Besides you've already got your BS from a Cal State already which I think is pretty comparable to the CSU system.

Somebody else asked about the AMU MBA on a different forum and my response was that the MBA seems to be the most scrutinized masters as far as name recognition and the whole AACSB standard. I live across the bridge from Wall Street and have lived in Southern California and know how snobby people with MBA's can get about where they got it. If that's what's bothering you isn't there a way to transfer your credits into a Masters program of your liking instead?

 

How about a masters from a brand name school, such as Arizona State (http://asuonline.asu.edu/) or Ohio State University (http://www.ced.osu.edu/)?

 

I like ASU too but the tuition is a bit pricey and more so if you're out of state. I wish more state schools with online programs would adapt to having the same tuition for in state and out of state

 

OH don't I know it!!!!! I think you are the first person I've heard here to say it out loud! Whatever you decide, all the best to you!

 

If you're doing a second Bachelor degree, you just waste your time and money. The higher degree is always out rank the lower one. For example, a Bachelor degree is more important than a High School diploma, and a Master is more important than a Bachelor degree. Once you have a Master, nobody cares about your Bachelor degree anymore.

If you have money, invest into a good Master degree with name. For example, an MBA from Stanford University worth more than 3 MBA's from AMU.

 

It sounds like from this thread and the other thread that you have a problem with the fact that AMU is not a well known school. I'd either finish up your MBA from AMU and then add a well known school certificate program to your resume or I'd drop out of AMU and enroll in a better known MBA program. Getting a second Bachelors degree won't help you more than an MBA. Go forward with your degrees, don't stagnate at the bachelors level. I'd hire someone with an unknown accredited MBA before I'd hire someone with a second BS degree in business if everything else about the candidates was equal.

I just looked at your signature and see that you already have a BS degree from a well known school. At this point, you really need to either embrace AMU for your MBA or cut your losses, get out, and enroll in a better known program. I gave you advice on the other thread but if I were in your position, I'd enroll in a better program as it seems to be a sticking point. Remember, this is likely to be your highest degree for the rest of your life unless you plan on picking up additional masters degrees or a PhD.

 

I agree with everyone in this thread. It doesn't make any sense to get a second bachelor's degree. Whether your master's is top-notch or not, it is going to improve your qualifications.

How many credits have you earned in the AMU program?

 

LOL! Your post was what I was referring to earlier in this thread. It felt like dejavu, I guess it's ok to plagiarize myself. I'm glad you read this thread as well since you seemed to have similar concerns as the OP about the AMU MBA which is totally understandable.

 

In my opinion, the only good reason for earning a second Bachelors degree is if you're planning on shifting into an entirely different career path. Even then there's probably better ways of making the transition (like a grad diploma/cert program). Do the Masters then, if you're still concerned, you can add any number of certs on top. In the long run the certs will probably be cheaper and take less time and they will demonstrate post-Masters motivation to succeed. I think that creates separation between you and the "average" job candidate.

 

Thanks everyone for putting up with my indecisiveness LOL! Reading my prior posts I sound pretty pathetic, and I apologize for that. I really just have to learn to stick with my decisions and modify it with upward mobility as time elapses. This has been a problem for me. I have 15 units from AMU and just need to buck up and finish strong! Maybe at an unconscious level, I just want peoples approval on this forum so I can be sure of my decisions.

Anyway, I will drive myself into a straight jacket if I keep this up.

Thanks everyone for all your help and support

 

I did a similar thread some time ago and I wonder if this is always the case.
Diesel's case he already has a BA from a CSU, so I don't think any different BA would make any difference.

But imagine if someone has a University of Phoenix (I don't have nothing against them, but their reputation is not the best) and decides to get a second BA from Columbia University.

Or someone with a 3 year BA from a unknown foreign university from a developing country (INdia, China, Brazil, etc...) going for a second BA at Harvard Extension (Harvard doesn't allow for a second BA, but they let you in if you have a 3 year degree because they don't consider this a BA. I talked with them about this years ago.).

In both cases I think the second BA wouldn't be totally useless, right?

Or am I totally off mark here?

 

>>

A different way to ask this question, is "what is the point of earning any bachelor's degree" and without a good answer, it's all a waste.

If you have a bachelor's degree that is necessary for an employment credential- say to become a high school teacher, then as long as the degree meets that criteria, additional degrees at that level are redundant.

If the degree is for personal pleasure, than the issue of brand name is irrelevant.

If you are entering an industry where you are swimming with fish that have master's degrees, then you need a master's degree. If those fish have brand name master's degrees, then go for a brand name master's degree. (which wasn't one of the either/or options you listed- however, the argument to transfer into a new master's would have to be MAJORLY compelling, because you have invested significant time and money and would be leaving one of the most transfer-friendly schools....that just sounds like a bad plan from every direction)

Like everyone else, I agree that moves should be upward if at all possible. SOMETIMES you have to go back so you can meet a criteria (I'm doing that now) and then you recenter and head upward again.

 

Yeah, I'm not sure how that exactly works but I would think having the same tuition for in state or out of state would create a lot more revenue for the school. I really don't understand why state schools have different policies on this. For example, CSUDH the tuition for online students is the same for in state and out of state but the tuition for CSUSB and CSULB online tuition is different for residents and non residents, even though they are all part of the Cal State system.

 

In California it depends on whether state funding is used for a course or degree program. For example some CSUDH masters degrees are extended education degrees which are entirely funded by tuition.

In the California CC system, and as a resident, I pay $26 a unit (the rest being paid by my taxes) whereas a non-resident pays $190 per unit.

 

How about you just go for the mba at colorado state? good price, no prereq's, and a growing rep.

 

Well, Jennifer answered this...but I just want to add something in my own opnion. If I have a Bachelor degree from an unaccredited school, but I can gain admission into a Master program. Then I would do a Master program; however, only if I want to attend law school and my GPA is not high enough to get into a top law schools. Then I might do a second Bachelor degree, because for law admission a master degree doesn't help much in admission.

 

Wow, it's 2010 that's super cheap. I took classes in the early 90's from LACC, and I don't recall how much I paid back then but your numbers still sound cheap. My sister is taking prereq's at a CC in NJ and she's paying $125 per credit as a resident.

 

Interesting...in my point of view is actually the contrary. If someone wants a vanity degree, just for pleasure or for self-esteem issues, the brand is REALLY important.

Otherwise he/she wouldn't even bother to get a degree - he/she would just learn by itself in a library or in a non-degree course.

The brand it's kind irrelevant when you need the degree only to check a box (either for a license or maybe some work-related visa).

My case for example: I could get a second BA in Media Studies from Excelsior really quickly and cheap after finishing my MFA. But I'll probably won't do it because the only reason for me to get a second BA would be for self-esteem issues and reputation (I feel bad for not having a BA in my area and in my country a BA has more weight then any graduate degree).

I'd only do it with a B&M university with a really good name.