I need some advice, OBJECTIVE please

I have read, reread and re-reread the threads about Rushmore University's DBA program. I know, I know, I know, it's unaccredited but I am still intrigued when I read their material and website.

I am a Financial Advisor/partner at a large regional investment firm. For 20 years I have basically been self employed. I answer only to senior partners, run a thriving financial planning practice and really love to read, study and feel that ALL learning is beneficial, accredited or not.

Having said that I have always sought out RA schools simply because in the beginning of ones career one needs all the legs up one can get. I now want to get a DBA, I don't want to spend a fortune and I am super motivated and a self starter. I want SOME structure in order to sharpen my self branding skills and help those Financial Advisors in my charge of which there are about 30. I certainly do not need my hand held.

I guess it would be " fun" to have a DR's title before my name but it's just a novelty, my cousin is a Phd and she's no smarter than the average person.

Please talk me out of Rushmore or in the alternative at least lend SOME credibility. I don't want to teach, I am not going to pay
$ 395 for a fake Phd and will definitely complete a rigorous course of study. The alternatives are RA and ALLOT more money which I don't feel like spending. Besides, for my purposes a Phd from Harvard or Yale would do no more for me than a Rushmore Phd
( and I say that with complete disregard to their website claims of the near equivalency of the two).

Thoughts?

Rafael

BS Western state University, Fullerton, CA
JD " " ( ABA )
MBA Pepperdine, Malibu, CA
MS Kansas State University, KS ( 2003 )

 

I am surprise that you have not rec'd any feedback at this time from the regulars. However, this is the wrong place to put this question. If you have the need for a DBA. Under the non-Accredited category. There are basically three better options.

California Coast University (CCU), California Pacific University (CPU), and Southern California Pacific University for Professional Studies (SCUPS).

IF I have to make a choice, I would select one of the first two. Then again that will be your choice alone for that final decision. You can do a power search for the above Universities. All are California State Approved Universities (Legal Options). Rushmore is less than wonderful University.

 

OBJECTIVE please

No more than providing a legitimate degree!

 

Yes it would, because both Harvard and Yale, unlike Rushmore, are legitimate schools. "Earning" a Rushmore Ph.D. would do nothing except contaminate your stellar academic resume.

One of life's great mysteries (to me) is why people with otherwise solid academic credentials have to add a mill doctorate. It's much like creating the perfect fudge sundae, only to add a scoop of shit as the final piece.

If you want a Ph.D. for "fun" or for ego fufillment, just order up a custom diploma from Kinko's. It's probably cheaper than Rushmore, and just as legitimate.


Bruce

 

Morris

Incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I ask for objective advice and I get this.

Don't patronize me or insult the readers of this board with stupid comments. I KNOW the obvious difference in name.

Not only was your reply WORTHLESS, but I assume that you are smart enough to know that I meant that at this stage in my career and simply in terms of utility the Rushmore degree is just as good to ME as the Harvard degree would be.

In terms of utility, a Ford will do what a Mercedes does. The Mercedes is simply panache and appeal. I would certainly accomplish the same thing, get from point A to point B with any car.

Thanks to the previous poster that DID give me some objective advice. I checked out the sites of those schools he mentioned and will get some information on them.

 

To Bruce

Bruce,

Sorry for the previous diatribe. It's just that I detest aloofness and I feel that there is a place for all academic methods in at least some form.

At least you make sense though and I love your analogy. I don't really want it for ego fulfillment or fun and I truly want to sharpen my management skills but not spend a ton of money. I have other things that I like to buy. Since I am under the impression that RA DBA's all cost a ton of money I was simply seeking an alternative and at worst, advice.

Really, I do not want the easy way out. The previous poster gave me some ideas. Thanks

 

Re: Morris

This is a good point. They are both cars that are capable of transporting one from point A to point B. Of course a cardboard car (similar to those cardboard computers used in retail displays), however much it looks like a car (does it?, I won't insult the readers of this board by spelling out the obvious), only supplies this utility if a person has the ability to suspend belief of the logical.

In other words, do you want to take the chance of ruining your reputation for a degree, which in your own words, you don't need. I certainly can't see your risk/reward angle.

Tony

 

Tony

You are all making sense at this point. OK, OK, no Rushmore. Maybe its to Touro I'll go. Does anybody here have an aversion to the California approved schools.

I just HATE spending all the RA money. My discretionary budget only goes so far you know. I like good wine, cigars, traveling, the theater and yes, fine cars and my wife thinks I am crazy for spending another cent on education anyway so I want to keep it at a minimum and still learn something.

 

Re: To Bruce

No problem. One can't have a thin skin and moderate this forum.

That being said, I wasn't trying to be aloof or patronizing. IMO, Rushmore is a degree mill that sells worthless pieces of paper that they call diplomas. I didn't (and still don't) see any possible reason why you would want to sully your CV with a "degree" from such a school.

If cost is a major concern and accreditation is not, I would recommend California Coast University. They are one of the few unaccredited schools that I recommend, provided the potential student knows about the pitfalls of accredited v. unaccredited.


Bruce

 

Lajazz, have you looked into South African schools? They're among the least expensive in the world, and hold up to Commonwealth standards.


Cheers,

 

Tom/Bruce

NOW we are getting somewhere!!!!

Thank you, I never thought of the SA schools but I'll look into them. I have only heard that the application process is extremely tedious and complicated but I certainly have the time.

Do you suggest any schools in particular for the DBA?

Rafael

BS Western state University, Fullerton, CA
JD " " ( ABA )
MBA Pepperdine, Malibu, CA
MS Kansas State University, KS ( 2003 )

 

The process has gotten easier over the past few years--someone just (almost effortlessly) applied to a UNISA program recently, and can probably tell you more if he's lurking. (Worse comes to worst, I suspect a new thread with the subject heading "South African DBAs?" could be productive.)

I know Potchefstroom offers, or used to offer, an online ("telematic") DBA. The University of South Africa also offers a Doctor of Business Leadership; not sure if they offer a DBA proper, though UNISA's U.S. agent John Craparo (who lurks here) could tell you more. PUCHE boasts Nobel Laureate and former South African president F.W. de Klerk as chancellor; UNISA boasts two Nobel Laureates, former South African president Nelson Mandela and Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, among its alumni. (Both of them actually earned degrees by distance learning--Mandela both a BA in 1945 and an LLB in 1989, Tutu a BA in 1954.)


Cheers,

 

A good starting point is the University of South Africa, which offers degrees at all levels in many fields.

UNISA does have a reputation of being a red-tape nightmare. I probably would have applied for the DLitt.et.Phil if not for the infamous maze you have to navigate in order to be accepted to a degree program.

If you're a US student, I reservedly recommend that you contact John Craparo at his website. I say reservedly because, although I like John personally, his company has acquired a well-deserved reputation of ignoring e-mails and letters concerning UNISA. If and when this changes, I'll be glad to once again sing John's praises.


Bruce

 

If the D.Litt. et Phil. still looks like a live option, my understanding is that the application process--even without an agency--is much more pleasant now than it was when I applied in 1996.

Folks who have trouble reaching the U.S. agency might get some mileage out of IACI, UNISA's Canadian representatives.


Cheers,

 

Actually, Bruce’s analogy was right on target, considering that Rushmore is accredited by both the EU’s Ministry of Education and Research, Department of Enfranchisement (MERDE) and Central and South America’s Ministry of Information Education and Research, Department of Accreditation (MIERDA).

Seriously, Rafael, here are a few more you might want to consider.

• University of Southern Queensland (Australia) - Doctor of Business Administration (DBAD)
  
• Charles Sturt University (Australia) - Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
  
• Henley Management College (UK) - Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
  
• Edinburgh Business School - Heriot-Watt University (UK) - Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
  
• University of Glasgow Business School (UK) - Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

 

Re: Morris

Not incredible at all! And no patronization intended, nor was the post highlighting the difference in name between Rushmore and Harvard, it was rather a statement of utility between the two.

You compare the Ford and Mercedes, yet the analogy doesn't align. In terms of the Ford and Mercedes:

1. Both are genuine automobiles.
2. Both will indeed go anywhere.
3. The Ford will do what the Mercedes will do, functionally.


However,

1. Rushmore is NOT a Ford.
2. Rushmore will not go anywhere.
3. Rushmore will not do what a legitimate degree will do, functionally.

Sorry you felt the comment was worthless, but hopefully not as worthless as the broad utility of a Rushmore doctorate.

 

Re: Re: Morris

More like a Yugo...you might get where you want to go, but sooner or later, it's not going to start.


Bruce

 

Lajazz: Does anybody here have an aversion to the California approved schools.

John: You have demanded objective replies, and this seems to be a request for an opinion.

The objective fact is that if you happen to live in (or travel to) states such as Oregon, New Jersey, and North Dakota, you would be committing a criminal offense if you use a California-approved (or, indeed, a Rushmore) degree, even by handing someone a business card with the "Dr." on it.

People argue (subjectively) over the merits and the longevity and the enforceability of such laws, but they are on the books, and this should be taken into account in considering such schools.

The "Research Doctorates" section of Bears' Guide includes 47 universities in the UK (31), Australia (13) and South Africa (4) with such degrees, as well as some strategies for pursuing them, as offered by numerous readers who have done so.

The new nonresident doctorate from the University of Leicester, described in this forum a week or two ago, is not in the book (too new) but it surely sounds interesting.

 

I have a BS from California Coast and I almost complete with my CCU MBA. I am not going to get into the accredited / unaccredited argument but I do know several people that have RA masters degrees and earned CCU MBA's and DBA's. They highly recommended the school, as long as you know the limitations the might accompany the degree.

If you are set on a non-RA school, based on my experience, I would recommend CCU.

 

Second-hand recommendations without any supporting evidence are not too strong. First-hand recommendations without same aren't either.

"....as long as you know the limitations the (sic) might accompany the degree." Can't argue there. Of course, the debate centers not around whether or not an unaccredited degree is limited, but to what extent.