I have a tough question

I've been thinking about this question but could not come to a conclusion.

What is more important:

A Bachelor of Arts in General Studies from Brigham Young University?

or

A Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Thomas Edison State College?

What is more important, the "degree" or the "institution"?

(...Talking in general terms as resume, career, eventually a MA/MS in some area that does not require any previous specialization)

How do you see this?

Thanks,

Ricardo

 

I'm FAR from an expert but my personal opinion is that it will depend on what your career and educational goals are. BYU has greater name recognition so it will stand out on your resume more than a college like TESC that few people have heard of. Likewise, BYU's program is partially residential since you're required to earn 30 credits on campus, so you'll be likely to avoid any type of anti-DL stigma. However if a business major is necessary or helpful for your career then that'll probably matter more during the resume screening process.

Of course if money isn't much of an issue you can do both -- if you include business communication as part of your BYU degree plan you can probably get a second bachelors from TESC in business entirely by testing out. That or you could try to get an Associates in business from TESC with your BYU credit.

Assuming you can only do one, it'll probably also matter what type of masters degree you're planning to do. If it's something business-related like an MBA or a MS in Management then the masters degree would effectively cancel out your business BS from TESC. Also if you plan on getting your masters at a competitive brick and mortar school it might be better to go with BYU since it has better name recognition and doesn't appear at first glance to be a DL program.

 

I never heard of Brigham Young University so I don’t care if it stands out on your resume. I go for the degree.

 

It's hard to say since the choices are not equivalent to each other - but that was intentional, no doubt.

BYU is undoubtedly much more recognizable to the average person in the States. BYU has a fairly good football team which helps to get their name out there. TESC, meanwhile, probably enjoys much less brand recognition outside New Jersey than does BYU, and it also is not a b & m school which can be an issue to some employers.

If I had my druthers, sight unseen, I would pick the BYU version of a particular degree over TESC's just because of the name factor. That's only if the degrees being compared were the exact same in terms of labels, i.e. a BA in History vs. BA in History.

If they are not the same, as in the case you are asking, I'd say it depends. In the computing world, a fair amount of job listings DO require a BS in Computer Science or something similar, so a TESC degree in CS would seem to have more utility than a BYU BA in General Studies when applying for work in that area....

So what about a BS in General Business from TESC? Hmm, I'd go with BYU in that case. I can't say I've seen too many job listings that specifically requested a degree in General Business. Accounting or finance, yes, general business, no.

 

I'm guessing that unless you're planning on living in Utah, a BYU degree is worth no more than a TESC degree. Also, once you've got a graduate degree,your bachelors degree isn't that important (IMHO).
Jack

 

TESC doesn't have much name recognition even within NJ -- despite advertising on billboards along Routes 1 & 9.

 

First, you have to realize that whatever anyone tells you (as Jack Tracey indicated) is probably a GUESS. I don't know of any studies that have been compared the value of such RA degrees. If you intend to work in Utah, the BYU degree is, in my estimation, a far better choice. (And this is probably something that is fairly unique to BYU, given the nature of Utah...) Otherwise, my guess is that it likely doesn't make a significant difference.

 

BYU has a national reputation. But it also presumes something significant: that you're a Mormon. This may or may not be true, and it may or may not be received positively.

I'd go with the unknown school awarding a degree in your major. But I'd be tempted to trade my own business degree from an unknown school (USNY, now Exclesior) for a Harvard bachelor's in just about anything.

 

You cracked me up Tommy.

North

 

I agree with what other have posted. BYU has far greater name recognition and in certain fields very well ranked.

Having said that you have to weigh many variables such as residency at BYU, cost, etc. If all things were equal, I would get the BYU degree.

North

 

Take this with whatever grain you wish, since I am from Utah, but the BYU degree will look better on your resume. You state "(...Talking in general terms as resume, career, eventually a MA/MS in some area that does not require any previous specialization)." BYU is a research university, they have a law school, they are ranked in several fields. If you don't need a specific undergrad specialization for your goals, BYU is an easy choice. This statement, is of course, based on what you stated. If you want speed, perhaps it wouldn't be the best choice.
I believe Rich has stated that name recognition is more important than degree title. This would seem especially true in your stated situation.

Good luck,
Tony

 

When I get any response at all from the locals (my office is only a few miles away from the state capitol and, by extension, TESC), it tends to be: "Hey, I see the signs for that exit all the time. Where *is* the school, anyway?"

I used to get equally blank looks in Georgia when-- 30 miles from Atlanta-- I'd mention that I went to Georgia State University (brick & mortar, enrollment >20,000.. and in the middle of the city.) My admittedly unscientific conclusion is that unless you run into alumni, or boast a particularly well-known (though not necessarily particularly good) school-- most people will have no clue. I think this holds true whether the school's programs are entirely DL, entirely residential, or entirely fictional.

 

I would still go for BYU because people who know education will know that BYU is a well respected and ranked school.

Your point is well taken though. A great many people are just ignorant of education (hence the issue acceptance of CCU in certain siutations in another thread). I have heard college educated people (in person not on this thread) speculate that a local State University was losing its accreditation (which it was not) and that the University of Phoenix is not accredited (which it is), and that anything DL must not be accredited (which is not necessarily true).

North

 

If you want the undergrad degree as a stand-alone credential, I personally would prefer the BYU degree. However, Rich has a good point that a BYU alum is probably going to be presumed a Morman, which could help or hurt.

If you want a degree simply as a ticket to graduate school, unless it's a very competitive program, I don't think the source of the degree is very important, as long as it's regionally accredited. I'd wager that not many on this board have heard of my undergrad alma mater (Curry College), but I was accepted to every Master's program to which I applied (Boston University, Northeastern, Suffolk, and UMass), and I think Jack nailed it that your undergrad degree becomes almost irrelevant once you get a graduate degree.


Bruce

 

Ricardo,

A have a few degrees from BYU and it has definately been a "door opener" for me. Of course, BYU has a certain appeal to Latter-day Saints, but plenty of non-Mormons (including one of the biggest names in my field of instructional technology) have degrees from BYU.

That said, I have had several friends (including Mormons) whose circumstances made a bachelors degree TESC their best choice. They have all been well-served by their Thomas Edison degrees (e.g. they were accpeted into graduate schools and were successful in their academics and careers).

I started a doctoral program at Arizona State University (a large and well-known institution) but, after moving to California, I decided to transfer and finish at La Sierra University (a much smaller and lesser known RA institution) because La Sierra's program met my needs better than ASU's

So, while I definately have a bias toward BYU, my advice to you is to choose the program that best meets your needs.

Tony Pina
Faculty, CSU San Bernardino

A.A., B.A., M.Ed., Brigham Young U.
Ph.D. studies, Arizona State U.
Ed.D. Candidate, La Sierra U.

 

I like this comment. At TESC I can gradutate by the end of this year just by testing out, and then apply to a Master's program somewhere. You've been accepted to every Master's program to which you applied with your Curry College degree! I agree with you that an undergraduate degree becomes almost irrelevant once you get a graduate degree.

Ricardo

 

Tony, you are absolutely right. Speed is an attracting factor. At BYU it would take me almost 2 years to finish (2005). At TESC, I can be done by December 2003!

Anthony Pina gives a straightforward counsel: "while I definitely have a bias toward BYU, my advice to you is to choose the program that best meets your needs."

 

C'mon Bruce, everybody knows that Curry College is in scenic Milton, Massachusetts. By the way, I know that John Bear is fond of all those unusual team names e.g. the Fighting Banana Slugs, etc., well the Milton High School teams, one of my old rival teams from the Bay State League are known as The Milton Whiz Kids, ahead of their time in regards to gender PC, non-violence PC and non-offensive to Native Americans PC.
Jack

 

I guess, of course, that that depends on what the meaning of whiz is.