A dig at Nova

Not strictly DL-related, but a quote in the following article makes comment on NSU's quality.

The article is about Michele Hernandez, the controversial Dartmouth admissions officer-turned-college counselor who became a millionaire coaching the children of wealthy clients on how to game the admission systems of elite universities.

" [...] she earned a quickie doctorate in education from Nova Southeastern University in Florida, where she had moved in 1998. About that degree she is candid: 'It's kind of crappy compared to my other ones. But I figured it would be good to have. I am a doctor. It gives me some credibility.' "


http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_43/b4055063.htm?chan=rss_topStories_ssi_5

 

" [...] she earned a quickie doctorate in education from Nova Southeastern University in Florida, where she had moved in 1998. About that degree she is candid: 'It's kind of crappy compared to my other ones. But I figured it would be good to have. I am a doctor. It gives me some credibility.' "


Is there such an animal as a "quickie" doctorate degree? Besides an unaccredited degree and/or institution of course.

 

ANd just how "quick" was this doctorate relative to ivy doctorates? I'm not so sure it was any "quicker" than the alternatives.

 

Good point

 

Nova Southeastern University's distance and cohort programs have a long reputation for not being easy.

I find it strange that the person in question would (a) denigrate the degree and (b) point to earning it as a means of gaining credibility. Seems like it's one or the other.

 

>>

I read it- I love it. Notice the reporter said "quickie" not Hernandez.
Anyway, more power to her. We all know the truth- there is "Ivy," and "not Ivy." But competition is swift for the few Ivy slots. I think if you are a candidate, you should fight like hell to do it. If your not a candidate (99% of us) then so what? Be smart, be creative, find a way to check the box, and move on.

 

Agreed. She graduated from Dartmouth who is currently ranked #11 at US News, she makes money helping students get into top schools, and her doctorate is from a 4th tier school. Perhaps being 4th tier has more to do with the "It's kind of crappy compared to my other ones" comment rather than NSU itself. The fact that this person who is supposedly so knowledgable about education choose NSU for her terminal degree is more of a positive than a negative IMHO.

 

Quick thought (pun intended) - the article doesn't make clear which program at NSU she graduated from. There is some variation - the average time through the DBA is about 5 years. The education program may be somewhat shorter. Regards - andy

 

I agree with Steve Foerster.

If this woman is charging her clients big-bucks for advice on how to play the prestige universities' admissions game, but her own degree is from a lower prestige school, then she probably needs to provide some explanation for why she chose to earn it that doesn't contradict her elitist message.

 

I am enrolled in the EdD program at NSU.

It has taken about 3 years to complete my courses- I have taken anywhere from 6 to 12 credits each semester. While some courses required considerably less work than others, I would have to say that overall, the coursework has been very rigorous.