If you had $100K to spend, would you go to a UC school or Excelsior?

This is a fake dilemma, with two extremes and ignoring all the possibilities between them.

I wouldn't even consider Excelsior - but I'd seriously consider some cheap State Universities alternatives, like SUNY Empire State or CUNY. Other than UC Berkeley in general and UCLA for film/animation, I don't think any UC has any big name advantage over a SUNY or other State system.
As a middle ground, I'd consider a ALB at Harvard Extension.

 

For California residents, tuition is closer to 40 or 50k for four years. You can't put rent and other costs in the sum only for UC option, but not for Excelsior option. Even if student choose the most economical DL school, he/she will spend almost the same amount money for rent, food health, transportation etc in the next four years. The greatest difference between this options is the opportunity cost (forgone earnings), so it depends if potential student is stock broker or burger-flipper.

I assume that UC option in this poll represents all upper tier public universities with reduced tuition for state residents.

 

I would do the EC degree, then buy any tiny condo that is affordable. I did that years ago. I went to a CC forever, and at that time I owned a townhome. The real estate market went down the tubes, and everyone told (including real estate/business experts) not to sell my town home and move up to a single family home. I defied them, and I have made a boat load of equity. To top it off, We just did a fixed refi for 3.75% interest on a fifteen year loan, and we could easily make the payments. This will shave off 7 years of payments. Good investment? Hells yes!

I spoke to a very bitter young lady just yesterday. She told me she blew a boat load of money on her undergrad, and it was the worst mistake she could have made. She is telling her friends to not even bother with college. I set her straight, and told her a college education will always be valuable, but you have to make your pennies last.

Gotta run out the door, forgive any typos or grammos.

Abner

 

This question is neither fake nor is it an actual dilemma.

 

(1) Pick something you really like.
(2) Choose the most affordable undergrad program that will be good enough to get into grad school.
(3) Do really well since you really like the topic.
(4) Get into a good Master's program.

Even though I went to a good B&M undergrad school I have noticed that at least in Canada there is not that much attention paid to your undergraduate degree as there is to your Master's degree. That is why I suggest someone chooses an undergrad school that will not close a door to a good graduate program. But don't go overboard on the undergrad... nowadays I consider it only a stepping stone to something else (an academic graduate program or a professional terminal degree).

 

If I have $100K for education, I must to MUST University for triple degrees (Bachelor, Master, and Ph.D) for a small price. Then pay off my mortgage, and stay unemployment 'cause nobody hires me with those degrees. But the good thing that I can stay unemployed for 13 months. lol:haha:

Actually, I would attend most reputable school as I can for Ph.D.

 

I know you are from Brazil but for many people in the USA Excelsior is a great deal (along with the other big two schools). I have never heard a bad thing about their degrees (except a few complaints about service) and loads of people have gone on to earn masters and doctorates degrees.

In my case my job took me to many locations both in the UK and the USA so my credits were from over a dozen schools - Excelsior enabled me to assemble them into a BS degree.

 

LOL, you saw that? I found that picture by doing a google image search for "muscle man". Then figured that it was too dumb of a joke, even for me, and deleted it.

Like I said before, you mind your manners, sonny, or I'll hit you with my cane!

 

You MUST be kidding! :stooges:

 

I would go to Excelsior and pocket the change for grad school. :banana::banana::banana::banana:

 

:hijacked: I don't mind.

 

In the older thread someone mentioned the Havard Extension option. I think this would make an excellent alternative. Plus marrying some Harvard guy might make a better down-payment

 

It loads instantly for me, no lag at all.

 

You're totally right, I phrased my post badly.

I didn't want to sound that I'm attacking Excelsior. I think they provide A great opportunity for so many people and I actually considered getting a second BA with them. WHat I meant was: giving the proposed situation meaning, I have an extra 100k with me to spend in a BA) I wouldn't consider them.

I don't have an extra 100k with me right now, so a second BA from Excelsior did cross my mind

 

OK. So in this case I would still earn an AA + 30 additional units from a California CC, followed by a BA from Excelsior (or COSC); and I would invest the balance..

When I lived in the UK where you went to school was important but in the US what is more important is the expertise you develop and apply doing your job.