Second Bachelors Degree

Hello everyone, I am new here. I have a question about obtaining a second bachelors degree. I am a soon to be college graduate from a regionally accredited school in New York where I majored in Computer Science.

I am however, thinking of obtaining an advanced degree (MBA or Masters) next fall but was thinking of acquiring a second bachelors in Business before I do that, next semester. Preferably one that can be completed online while I work. The reason why I am a little interested in doing this because would like to enhance my application to a graduate programs and job possiblities, especially after a sour GPA for my undergraduate work.

I was looking into Barrington University's online Bachelor's of Business Administration program, I know it seems like many people on here gave it a negative connotation because of its unaccreditations. Would graduate schools and employers (if listed on a resume) still however look at a Barrington University degree or something similar like that if I first matriculated and graduated at a regionally accredited school. I'd really like to hear your advice, if it is a wise choice in enrolling in such program. Thanks so much for your help.

 

Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!
Seriously . . . If you have to ask the question in the first place, that should tell you something. The place is a joke.

 

You would not need a second bachelors degree to get into a masters program, but you would need to obtain neccessary prerequisite courses from a regionally accredited school.

 

Re: Re: Second Bachelors Degree

Levicoff, laugh all you want, I'm trying to gain education on these type of schools. Why do individuals enroll in universities like Barrington then?

 

Re: Re: Re: Second Bachelors Degree

It is good that you are trying to get an education on these schools rather than from them. The only real education you can expect to get from these kinds of schools is that it does not pay to be lazy and dishonest.

The simple answer is that the individual believes that his or her chances of deceiving someone into accepting they have a legitimate degree is much better than if they had simply printed their own diploma. Moreover, by doing a small substandard amount of work, they not only assuage their feelings of guilt, but also (mistakenly) believe they will be able to deny responsibility and shift the blame to another entity once their deception is exposed.

 

I can think of no logical reason for someone in your situation to do a second Bachelor's, especially the sort you could complete in just a few months.

Barrington is less than useless, it is really a dangerous credential to have. And if you happen to live in (or do business in) one of the states that has tough school laws (like Oregon), that credential is a criminal offense, that subjects users to a stiff fine and up to six months in prison. Of course you could look forward to attending your graduation ceremony at their campus, a mailbox rental service in Alabama.

If you want some pre-MBA business course experience -- and, perhaps, to demonstrate to MBA admissions officers that you can handle the work, after a 'sour' GPA -- why not do one or two on-line or distance business courses from a reputable school. The subject index to Bears' Guide lists more than 150 good ones, including, for instance, Athabasca, City University, Mary Baldwin, Marywood, Penn State, Heriot-Watt, Touro, Excelsior, and Southern Oregon U.

 

Re: Re: Re: Second Bachelors Degree

I will, thank you. But don't take it as a true flame; the ones who really deserve the laughter are those that were dumb enough not to ask the question you did.

My point is simple: If you fee you have to ask whether a school is legitimate, chances are that it is not. Period. In other words, learn to trust the gut instincts that told you to ask the question in the first place.

Past that point, I concur with Gus and John's responses, and would only add that there is yet another population that falls for shams like Barrington - those who were dumb enough not to ask about them here.

I shall now return to the laughter . . .

 

Your response to Levicoff was courteous and appropriate. My impression is that he tends to have a chip on his shoulder. His second response to you, in my opinion, should have included an apology. He is right, however, in saying that you should avoid Barrington.

Unless you are utterly changing direction in career choice and an entry level degree is required, it is probably not wise to pursue an additional bachelor's degree. It is not likely to make you more marketable.

The real question is whether a master's in your career field or a master's in business is more appropriate. This will depend on what you think you want to do in ten years, or so. If you think you will eventually like to go into management, an MBA will probably suit you well. If you have no wish at all of managing and simply enjoy the applied skills you have learned already, a master's in your field might be more appropriate.

 

Krazymack: "Why do individuals enroll in universities like Barrington then?"

The hook in every con or scam is the latent 'corruptibility' of the mark. The con artist finds someone who wants to score a big one, or is temptable to want to score a big one. The con artist offers them an 'easy', 'cheap', 'lazy' way to become rich or richer, or to get something they do not ordinarily deserve. If the offer can be made plausible - a pot of gold lying around somewhere just waiting to be picked up, a bank account only needing another one to pay into, a degree available fast, cheap and easy, or whatever - the cast their nets.

Those punting 'degrees' cast their nets and usually pick up some gullible marks each throw. In the immortal words of the saying about marks: "they start with money and end up with the experience, and the people experienced enough to run the con or scame, end up with the money".

Caveat emptor.

 

Thanks to all the posters that had patience with me in answering my question and didn't think I was foolish for asking it.

jackjustice, I appreciate the kind words.

Looking at it now, it is a more wiser choice to pursue a degree at a school of regional accreditation. I may not pursue a second bachelors degree because I may score well on GRE or GMAT exam to land me in a good graduate or business program. I really was just asking the question to participate in the forum (because I'm relatively new here) and inform myself on this issue.

 

Re: Re: Re: Second Bachelors Degree

Some people feel more comfortable when they have a co-conspirator in on their attempt to defraud others.

 

And this, from a man whose Ph.D. is from California Coast University? Pardon me a moment . . .

Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!

But I digress . . .

Now, back to krazymack, who wrote:

Why not do both? Remember that some schools grant undergraduate credit for subject-specific GRE's - up to 30 credits, depending on your score. Both Excelsior and Charter Oak State College do this (TESC does not).

Therefore, if you want to earn a second bachelor's for the halibut and you are going to take the general GRE anyway, simply add a subject-specific GRE.

Keep in mind that you will still need specific pre-requisites for an MBA program. Therefore, a second bachelor's degree is something to do for your jollies - nothing more (and doing it for your jollies is as sound a reason as any). But if you simply want to get into an MBA program, you have two other options: (1) To do a pos-undergrad certificate in business administration taht will cover the pre-requisites, or (2) to apply to an MBA program that includes the pre-requisites, in which case (even though it adds to the number of credits required for the MBA, which you would have to take anyway) they will become part of your MBA transcript.

I have spoken. And laughed.

 

I just want to add that many, if not most, MBA programs will allow you to fulfill at least some (or all, in many cases) of the prequisite/background courses through proficiency exams rather than coursework. This can be a combination of CLEP and DANTES exams, or some schools also offer their own proficiency exams. There is probably not a compelling reason for you to pursue a second bachelor's degree. If your sole reason for pursuing a second bachelor's is GPA repair, bear in mind that fixing a bad GPA could take a LOT of time and effort, and you are struggling against fixing the average when you already have a large number of credits, so it will take quite a few more credits (which you'd want to be sure to get all A's in) in order to make it move much. If you're wanting to get into a grad school with competitive admissions, then IMO you'd be better off getting a master's from a school with relatively lax admission requirements, get a high GPA on that, and then use it to help get you into the grad program that you really want. That way you'd end up with 2 master's degrees rather than a second bachelor's and a master's, and it seems to me that a high GPA for a previous graduate degree should be a pretty big advantage when applying to a program that's tough to get into (like the top MBA programs, etc.). Of course you could always just take the GMAT and appy to some places - you might actually get accepted into a good program without needing to enhance your academic background; you'll never know unless you try.

Just my opinion (and similar to what I decided to do myself)...

 

Dr Jack

Dr Jack,

You either posted to the wrong group with that sig line, or you also have an MD, as I am yet to find a pharmacist who can reattach the family jewells

 

I didn't know that, thanks levicoff. Yes, you can continue to laugh, I have no problem with laughing. I love to do alot of it myself. Hahaha []

 

Wow, that's a pretty smart and sensible idea as well. Thanks for sharing Gary Rients. This advice will help me put things in perspective.