SMC University Double Dipping?

Does anyone have experience with SMC University's double dipping program? Once you earn your Doctorate at SMC University in Business Administration, Finances, Political Economy, or Management. Then you pay additional 3,000 EU; the Central University of Nicaragua (Universidad Central de Nicaragua) validates your degree to become Doctor of Philosophy?

I am looking at their Doctor of Finance program because I want to switch to personal investment career. I want to become stock trader and investor in 5 years. Any experience with the school is greatly appreciated.

 

Wow, after you give them a bunch of money for an unrecognized degree you can give them more money and allegedly receive a fully recognized PhD?

I've been pretty on the fence about SMC for a while. But that comes off as awfully shady.

I'd be curious to see how a WES evaluation would handle an SMC degree. But, considering the school isn't considered to be a Swiss University, I would bet that the odds of it being considered equivalent to a U.S. degree is somewhat unlikely. The thing that confuses things is the ACBSP accreditation. In the U.S. that might be enough to tip the scale. But it's really something you can't predict until you actually do it.

If you want to be a "stock trader and investor" meaning that you want to basically be a day trader and invest (read: gamble) your own money then the learning can be had for free if you put the research in.

If you want to work as a personal financial advisor (like the guy who handles my retirement in his well appointed office conveniently located in a strip mall next to a crappy pizza place) then you don't need a doctorate. You need to convince a recruiter at Edward Jones (or wherever) that you can build up a client base and get accepted into their training program.

If you want to be an institutional investor, like working at Goldman Sachs playing with your company's money to (hopefully) make more money, I doubt SMC is going to put you at a significant advantage. I've met with my colleagues in the investment banking world and they are frankly not interested unless you come from either a top business school or a top program in a highly quantitative field such as math, stat, some engineering fields etc (and some of their most competitive applicants are trained by both).

In none of these scenarios is one going to light the world on fire because they have a degree from a Swiss school (of questionable recognition within Switzerland and beyond) whose name strongly resembles the company that Tom Bosley used to shill for on late night television.

Your mileage may vary, of course. But there are clearer paths to the same goal without having to potentially fight with a degree evaluation company.

 

Well, I want to learn about finance and a Doctorate for personal satisfaction only. I do not want to use the degree for employment or teaching. However, I am interested in reading more about stock market, investment banking, hedge fund, and etc. I am current still a student at Nova's Ph.D program, but because of the academic unsatisfactory due to family problem. Therefore, I have to repeat some courses; however, I end up being single dad of 2 and 3 years old. Therefore residencies for me in Florida is out of question. I want to work from home while raising my kids and helping them to start college early. I have been studying finances on my own, and I am really interested. Especially reading books by Benjamin Graham, Peter Lynch, and etc.

The only worry I have with Swiss Management Center degree is illegal to mention, or use it if I need to. Also, I am trying to search for some of Swiss Management Center's graduate dissertation, but I could not find any.

 

Obviously, you'll do what you feel is best for you and your family.

But since we're on the subject of investment, consider this:

The SMC Doctorate costs, if you pay in one lump sum, 6,800 Euro which, at today's rate, is roughly $7,260.

You could stop there or do your 3k Euro buyup for a PhD (roughly $3,200 USD).

So, your total cost is between $7,260 and $9,500. Granted, not bad for a doctorate (though, again, utility may be impacted).

Alternatively, you could take that (almost) $10k and plop it into a decent mutual fund. If we look at the fund performance of Fidelity Contrafund, you can see the growth of $10k from 2010 to present nearly doubles your investment.

So, with one investment you can have a doctorate from SMC (whatever that may be worth) and a PhD from a Nicaraguan university.

With the other, you can keep that $10k investment and basically earn another $10k.

If financial security is your goal then wisely investing your money may yield better results (particularly if you don't want the doctorate to do the things you need a doctorate for).

 

I’m in agreement with Steve. Considering your prospective career change goal and field of interest—the doctorate in would be IMO an unnecessary (excess) endeavor. No concrete ROI that I could project as a pro argument. And as Steve has suggested, the Academics - The American College is definitely a credible alternate to consider. The American College of Financial Services has specialized in their academic offerings for some time.

While not channeled solely at financial service industries and not a PhD, nonetheless, in the overall finance /economics arena and a possible career change enhancement approach—you may want to also consider the MS in Finance and Economics (M.S.F.E.) offered fully online via West Texas A & M (AACSB) West Texas A&M University: Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance Finance and Economics Graduate Program.

 

How fully-recognized would that degree be? Universidad Central de Nicaragua is a "real" school - no doubt about that. Reliable posters (or at least one, anyway) in Nicaragua have informed us of its solid on-ground presence and the academic work that goes on daily. However, I seem to remember being told that its degrees, while perfectly legal, don't have "mainstream" standing (we had a 7-page thread) in Nicaragua and that UCN is also involved in cross-validation schemes with other schools that don't have "mainstream" standing in their own countries - including SMC and a Mexican school, IIRC.

I'm not saying UCN is a "bad" school. I don't believe it is -at all. But since its own degrees aren't "mainstream," how can its validation - however well-intentioned - make SMC degrees any more "recognized" than they are? As well, I checked to make sure all four of those SMC Doctoral programs are ACBSP-accredited; they are. I think that's about as good as the icing will get, on that particular cake.

UCN was established in 1998 as a private university; it is also accredited by ASIC.

J.

 

Thank you for pointing that out. Though the names aren't really similar, I had confused UCN and NAUN. The most likely cause is that National Autonomous University is really the only Nicaraguan school I have mentally filed.

With this tidbit, I'm even more uncomfortable with SMC and their double dipping scheme.

 

Darn that 10-minute limit! What I meant to say re "Mainstream standing" is that UCN's degrees are those of a private university and may get different recognition in certain cases / places from those of a public university.

Here are two previous threads on Universidad Central de Nicaragua. There are others.

http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/39855-double-degree-phd-doctorate-universidad-central-de-nicaragua-universidad-azteca.html

http://www.degreeinfo.com/accreditation-discussions-ra-detc-state-approval-unaccredited-schools/43380-universidad-central-de-nicaragua%5Cuniversidad-azteca-accreditation.html

J.

 

How fully-recognized would that degree be? Universidad Central de Nicaragua is a "real" school - no doubt about that. Reliable posters (or at least one, anyway) in Nicaragua have informed us of its solid on-ground presence and the academic work that goes on daily. However, I seem to remember being told that its degrees, while perfectly legal, don't have "mainstream" standing (we had a 7-page thread) in Nicaragua and that UCN is also involved in cross-validation schemes with other schools that don't have "mainstream" standing in their own countries - including SMC and a Mexican school, IIRC.

I'm not saying UCN is a "bad" school. I don't believe it is -at all. But since its own degrees aren't "mainstream," how can its validation - however well-intentioned - make SMC degrees any more "recognized" than they are? As well, I believe those SMC Doctoral programs are all ACBSP-accredited; I think that's about as good as the icing will get, on that particular cake.

J.

 

UCN has a ranking in Nicaragua. Top Universities in Nicaragua | 2015 Reviews & Rankings

 

Absolutely right!

I retract this.

Reason - the seven-page thread, which I couldn't find at first, contains proof that UCN degrees, including doctorates, have proven acceptable to Anabin (Germany) UK-NARIC and at least three NACES evaluators in the US. Here it is:

http://www.degreeinfo.com/accreditation-discussions-ra-detc-state-approval-unaccredited-schools/48396-universidad-central-de-nicaragua-again.html

Summary: UCN degrees are absolutely 100% good and acceptance is widespread. Concerns were expressed re: its validation activities with schools that were less-recognized and some of its other affiliations. UCN's accreditation in its own country was deemed beyond question.

J.

 

Thanks everyone for the replies. The American College of Financial Services program looks great, but the price tag seems to be higher than I expected. I am novice in finances, so I have to take many MOOC courses before starting the program. Other schools require me to take perquisite courses, which I am not big in spending more money. I think Swiss Management Center's Doctor of Finance and Ph.D from UCN is what I need. I don't plan to teach nor using the degree for employment. I just want to be investor and stock trader by using my own capitals.

 

Hi TEKMAN,
I am currently a doctoral student at SMC and totally satisfy with the program. It is flexible, so you can submit the assignments at any time you want. I selected monthly payment option and that can help me to save money. I completed 3 courses (out of 7) within 6 months and expect to go to dissertation stage in the next 8 month. The assignments were tailored to help you in systematizing your knowledge, reading then creating your "things". General speaking, it is OK.
The only thing that I don't like is the library EBSCO. Its content is poor and doesn't meet my needs so I have to pay more for other online libraries. Anyway, that is my personal.
Study is my favorite hobby and I don't care much about SMC legitimate issues as long as it has ABCPS accreditation to ensure its quality.
Good luck to you and your kids.

 

Hi Steve, PhD in Management.

 

Yes, what I said, mostly. However, I have been reliably informed today that UCN does not teach any on-ground Ph.D. programs; they are only available as distance-learning to students outside Nicaragua. I was further informed that although ANABIN (Germany) recognizes UCN degrees, it does not recognize the Ph.D., as UCN does not teach it within its own country.

(I guess that shouldn't deter anyone here, unless they need Doctoral degree recognition in Germany. :smile: )

A reliable long-time DI member, on-ground in Nicaragua, confirmed having contacted NACES-member evaluators in the US. I quote:

"I have personally confirmed with two NACES agencies that they have granted equivalency to PhDs from this institution in the past or have said that it "holds a valid accreditation in Nicaragua so a degree from it could be granted equivalency."

(Thanks, Novadar - that's from Page 1 of the thread cited above.)

Summary:

(1) UCN degrees, as stated many times, have widespread acceptance. UCN's accreditation in its own country is unquestioned.
(2) ANABIN (Germany) recognizes UCN degrees except (distance-only) doctorates.
(3) NACES evaluators contacted in the US have granted equivalency on UCN doctorates.

J.

 

My esteemed informant's exact words:

"UCN doesn't offer PhDs to residential students, only to students who follow their distance education programmes in collaboration with foreign universities. As I understand it, there's nothing behind the maestría that is under governmental oversight so I guess the PhD degree is a bit of a titulo propio at UCN. As a consequence of this, UCN's PhD degrees aren't recognized in Germany, although the university is considered legitimate."

J.

 

UCN Doctorates, as well as those offered by other Nicaraguan institutions, are not "titulo propios".

Nicaraguan Higher Education law grants universities autonomy in creating degree programs as they see fit. This includes Doctorates. Maestrias are NOT the highest qualifications in Nicaragua.

In the thread you referenced earlier I listed links for the Law sections where this is abundantly clear.

Here are universities other than UCN, including two state-run schools that offer Doctorates. These are fully legitimate.

UNAN FAREM Matagalpa (National Autonomous University of Nicaragua (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua)) (State-run University)
Doctorado en Ciencias Desarrollo Rural Territorial Sustentable

http://www.farematagalpa.unan.edu.ni/men-diplomado


Universidad Nacional Agraria (State-run University)
Doctorado en Agroecologia

http://www.una.edu.ni/index.php/oferta-academica/posgrado/doctorado/77-doctorado-en-agroecologia


Universidad Centroamericana
Doctorado “Cuestiones Actuales del Derecho”

http://www.uca.edu.ni/index.php/42-posgrado/facultad-de-ciencias-juridicas/programa-de-doctorado/1193-doctorado-en-cuestiones-actuales-del-derecho