Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with degree

Back to School Alphabet Soup: BA vs BSc vs HonBA vs HonBSc

256 — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:53:48 -0800

So, I'm at a transition point in my life. A bunch of things are ending and a bunch of things are beginning. Seems like a good time to finally get around to finishing that degree. Only question is, which degree? (Apologies in advance for how long this is.)

Let's take a trip down memory lane:

The year is 2003 and our hero is three years into a four year Honours Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence at the University of Toronto. Unfortunately, our hero is also in pretty dire financial straits. Because of decent marks, he has gotten managed to get an indefinite extension from the financial aid department on paying his tuition for the current year, but he'll have to settle up eventually. And paying rent is proving hard enough. So when the tech NGO he works for part-time as a code monkey offers him a salaried position, he jumps at it and never looks back.

In the intervening six years I've worked various coding jobs, published a novella, written a novel, lived in four countries and grown tired of referring to myself in the third person.

I'm thirty years old and considering what my next career move is. I know I don't have the temperament for a career in computer programming. Sad as it is to let those skills go to waste, I've burned out on it. Writing is my primary passion and I am in the process of cleaning up the manuscript for my novel and seeking an agent. I'm sure I'll write another regardless of whether or not i manage to sell this one. I also intend to continue doing freelance work for magazines. That said, it's not a revenue stream that's going to support me and my family.

I think I'm a pretty clever guy, I'm creative and I've got a rather extensive and esoteric skillset. I've got exceptional communication skills and I know I interview well. My real goal is to break into either the publishing (literary press or magazines) or gaming (video or tabletop) industry. Eventually I would love to be in a creative director type position. I'm more than willing to pay my dues and put in my time, but I also don't want to start in the mailroom.

I've also considered the possibility of a career in Public Service Canada.

So, it has occurred to me that before beginning the job hunt in earnest, it might benefit me to have an undergraduate degree on my resume in addition to all my work experience.

Now, the question only remains of how exactly to do that. I'm only two half-credits shy of completing a three year Bachelor of Arts degree. The University of Toronto no longer offers the three year degree but, because they did when I was originally a student, I'm grandfathered in and still have the option of completing it. The trick with getting the three year B. A. is that, should I ever opt to complete the fourth year and upgrade it to an Honours degree, I could only upgrade it to an Hon. B. A., not an Hon. B. Sc..

So, if I want to keep my options open regarding eventually completing my original course of study, I would need to complete seven courses instead of two. This would involve going back to school full time for half a year but, when I was done, I would have a three year Bachelor of Science degree.

The thing is that, since I'm not intending to seek work in a field related to my degree regardless, it's not clear to me what the relative merits are of having a B. Sc. versus a B. A. (or an Hon. B. Sc. versus an Hon. B. A.). Would the fact that I have an irrelevant science degree be more impressive to someone hiring for, say, a publishing company, than an irrelevant arts degree?

The other question is: How much, if at all, are people going to care that I have a three year degree rather than a four year degree? I definitely don't have the money or inclination to complete the rest of my four year degree right now, but I may want to upgrade in the future. I'm not planning to ever go to grad school, but my wife is a German citizen and we may well find ourselves living in Europe (again) at some point. Will my three year degree be looked down upon outside of Canada? Or will anyone even know the difference?

The reason this is important now is because, if I do ever decide to go back and complete a fourth year, I would very much prefer to complete the Hon. B. Sc. in Artificial Intelligence rather than an Hon. B. A. in Cognitive Science. The difference in cool factor should be obvious.

So, yeah... I guess this is a pretty open-ended question with two major parts:

1. Is a B. Sc. (compsci/psychology) significantly sexier than a B. A. (cognitive science/linguistics) to the people that would be hiring in the publishing or game design industries?

2. How likely am I to feel a need to upgrade my three year degree to a four year degree later in life?

---

Below are the actual details about what would be involved for me to finish my degree, for anyone who cares(To even walk back onto campus at U of T, I'll need to pay off the ~$3500 in back tuition that I owe the school.):

1. The fastest way to get out of the school with a degree would involve taking one half-credit psychology course and one half-credit linguistics courses. I would then qualify for a three year Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Cognitive Science. (2 courses. $1100 addtl. fees: $4600 total.)

1a. Identical to (1.) except that by adding a second linguistics half-credit, I could complement the Cog. Sci. major with a minor in Linguistics. (3 courses. $1650 addtl. fees: $5150 total.)

2. If I complete four computer science half-credits and three half-credits in psychology, then I can earn a three year Bachelor of Science with no major, but a double minor in Computer Science and Psychology. (7 courses. $3850 addtl. fees: $7350 total.)

2a. Strangely enough, I took several theoretical physics courses as electives and it turns our that I'm just as close to completing a physics minor as a compsci minor. Three year B. Sc. with double minor in Physics and Psychology. (7 courses. $3850 addtl. fees: $7350 total.)

3. To complete the original four year degree I was working towards: Six computer science half-credits, four linguistics half-credits and two philosophy half-credits would net me a four year Honours Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence. (12 courses. $6600 addtl. fees: $10100 total.)

3a. Six linguistics half-credits, four psychology half-credits and two philosophy half-credits would net me a four year Honours Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Cognitive Science and Linguistics. (12 courses. $6600 addtl. fees: $10100 total.)

What to do in Denver for a year? Masters?

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:17:54 -0800

What can a mid-career person (me) do for a year in a new city (Denver) that will be productive in the 12 months or so spent there? Are there Master's programs that you can either complete in one year, or spend a year on-site and then finish while living elsewhere? Or is something else a better option? My girlfriend, a 3rd year law student, is doing a clerkship in Denver beginning in Fall 2010. I'd need to leave a great job to spend that year with her, after which we'd move on to a different place for long-term settlement. We'd only be in Denver for the year.

So, what do I do? I have a bachelors, so I am considering applying to a Masters program if I can find the right fit. I'd want the Masters to open up the possibility of teaching college courses at some point, or just to advance my prospects in one field or another. I'm in communications, but very flexible in what I could study or pursue.

Know of any degree programs that would work? Failing that, how do I not make this a wasted year professionally?

How worthwhile is it, careerwise, to pursue a second Master's degree?

mirepoix — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:28:52 -0800

How worthwhile is it, careerwise, to pursue a second Master's degree? I have one professional Master's degree, but job openings are scarce in that field right now (urban planning, or stuff in the public policy/community-related nonprofit world in general). I'm considering going back to school, but wondering if that would help me or hurt me -- I understand some employers reject candidates with advanced degrees. I also worry that being a specialist rather than a generalist would put me in a box when looking for jobs outside that specialization.

That said, I might be interested in some kind of health policy degree, but it's very early in the game.

I hate The Office

bobber — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:01:00 -0800

What can I do with an business degree if I don't want to work in a typical business setting? In about seven months, I will have a degree in Human Resource Management. While working on this degree, I have been employed by the IT department of my university and have had to sit a desk while editing policy manuals. When I graduate, I do not want to work at a desk, tied to a computer all day long. What jobs are available to a person with an HR degree who does not want to work in an office setting? I love working with people and I love fixing problems. I love teaching so I'm definitely exploring the training route. Any other ideas?

The 40-Year-Old Electrical Engineer

lekvar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:59:52 -0800

How are things looking for Electrical Engineers? I'm considering going back to school to get a degree in Electrical Engineering and I was hoping that The Hivemind could provide some perspective.

Firstly, what is the market like for someone with a BS in Electrical Engineering? What jobs are commonly available in the US? I've done some looking around and the school's website is a little vague about the particulars.

Secondly, and probably more importantly, what kinds of hurdles will I be facing as a 40 year old with a freshly-minted degree?

How to get a career in marketing?

kylej — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:55:11 -0800

I'm a high school student interested in a career in marketing, how do I get there and what is the job like? I'm currently a high school junior, so I'll be applying to colleges about a year from now. I've been spending a lot of time looking at different careers, and though I've changed my mind frequently, marketing seems like an interesting option that would allow be to be creative while also using my brain.

I'd like to know a little more how a career in marketing works, how an average day goes, what skill sets are necessary, where to find jobs, payscale etc.

I'd also like to know what sort of education I should get in order to get a career in marketing. Should I get a bachelors in marketing, or should I get one in economics with a certificate like this? Then should I get an mba focused on marketing? Or would something like this as a graduate degree serve me better?

If you guys think its relevant I can post my academic credentials.

Thanks everyone! Sorry if I sound completely clueless!

MS in Finance Ranking List?

telsa — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:52:50 -0800

MS in Finance: Is there a list of top ranking schools for a MS in Finance? After finally deciding what I'd like to study, I need to look into schools! Google search has yielded me results that include MBAs, but I'm looking for a more in depth program with finance and investments.

Is a BS a BS? Or just BS?

ctmf — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:20:03 -0800

Is a BS degree a BS degree, or are there "lesser" degrees - I don't even know how to ask this. I'll try, though. I've finally decided to stop giving in to the reasons to put it off. I'm going to pursue a degree for myself. It turns out that, between my military experience and a handful of community college courses I took, I'm only 30-odd credits from a BSAST from Thomas Edison State College. A few CLEPs and a few courses, and I should be there. Plus, the GI bill should pay for it. So I'm fairly excited about that.

Here's my reservation about it, tell me if I'm being paranoid:
I have this pamphlet about degree programs from the Navy College office where I got most of my info. In one section it explains that there are "academic" degrees, and "professional/technical" degrees, and then lists some typical course requirements. The BSAST degree is a "technical" degree, is the impression I get. Am I getting myself into what amounts to a fancy-sounding cert program like CCNA or MCSE?

My other option is trying to take night classes from UW after doing everything I can at a community college. Financially, that would not be an issue, but the thought of years and years of night school is not appealing.

I eventually want to apply to OSU's Master of Health Physics degree. The requirements say "4 year baccalaureate degree" which it sounds like I would have. I'm just afraid when I put my degree on my resume for jobs, or for the OSU application I'm going to hear, "no, we meant a REAL degree."

Maybe it's just because this sounds too good to be true and I'm suspicious. Can anyone (especially someone with HR or college admissions experience) comment on that?

Would a second Bachelor's Degree be worth anything to a graphic designer?

AtomicBee — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:11:58 -0800

After getting laid off recently, I decided to enroll in a BFA program for graphic design, even though I am a grown up with a BA from a liberal arts university. Should I actually earn the degree or just use the classes to build a portfolio? My first degree was in Cinema Studies, and I took several visual arts classes, but my school had no design program. Consequently, I have virtually no portfolio and only a small idea of what I am doing. I read a few books on design and realized that I had a lot to learn and could use a more structured learning environment, so I thought I would use my unscheduled time off to enroll in a design school.

Most of my classes from my first degree count as transfer credits, so I mainly just have graphic design classes left to get the degree. But there are also a handful of classes like "Public Speaking" that I feel are not worth my time or money. It would only be an extra semester at the most, but do I really need another undergrad degree to get a job?

I might also be able to transfer into the MFA program; would that be useful in getting a job, or just a future teaching position?

Basically I just want good design skills and a good job as quickly or as efficiently as possible, so if you have any other suggestions for how to supplement my education while in school feel free to share them.

Need to apply my previous skills to a new occupation - resources? ideas?

audio — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:23:34 -0800

I just complete a two year technical degree, now I find that I am un-happy with my future job and that the economic outlook for work is terrible. I want to find something that will use my skills and education as leverage for an assortment of different careers. Are there website(s) that can compute this for me? could you suggest for me some occupations given a brief description (inside)... (Continueing from original question)..

I'm good at the following:

- Programming (almost all web languages and some server side)

- Building things (I like to be unorthadox and create solutions from random ideas... try new things to make something work)

- Designing (I have a good eye to make things aesthetically pleaseing)

- Diagnoseing (I can solve complex problems most times and not get stressed out)

- Consulting (I have a long backround in internet marketing, web developement and server deployment)

My Degree: Network Administrator (http://www.academyoflearning.com/AB/Home/Programs/InformationTechnology/NetworkAdministrator.aspx)

So many careers in computers are being outsourced to india. I can't compete. I have thought about doing something in diagnostic medicine but I just got out of school and need a year or two break before I would ever consider something like that.

Are there any careers you would recommend for a person like me? (besides the obvious - web design / programming out of the question b/c of outsourceing competition)

Music's on my mind.

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:01:16 -0800

I find myself increasingly unhappy about the fact that I'm not a music major... but what can I do with a music degree, really? I've thought on this since the beginning of High School, and ultimately decided pursuing a music degree wasn't a great idea. I'm currently in the sciences (freshman, undergrad), and while I do enjoy the material, being here and getting involved in music has made it clear to me that that's what I want to be doing.

I want job stability, I don't want to be working at McDonalds with a bachelor's degree, and teaching isn't for me. I should note that if I do decide to major in music, I'd do a double in the sciences because I'm still intensely interested in them. The only reason I'm not doing that now is that the career I'm thinking of requires me to double in something else, so if I do decide to pursue my musical passion I'd be shutting out that option.

I'm afraid that if I'm having second thoughts now, I'll end up having them the rest of my life. But I'm also afraid to pursue music, because what if I do end up working at Starbucks?

So I'm here to ask... what else is out there for someone w/ a music degree? Or, if you hold a music degree, do you regret it?

Help me realize my counseling career dreams!

GarotaDaCidade — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 06:53:23 -0800

I want to be a counselor in clinics and/or hospitals. What degree do I need to get? I have a B.S. in psychology. My main interests lie in "behavioral medicine"- the clinical side, not the research side. I want to be a counselor for people with chronic illnesses like HIV, but I also want to live comfortably (and by that I mean never worrying about being able to cover basic needs- I don't need to drive an aston martin).

Originally I thought PhD, but I'm not sure whether hospitals or clinics even hire PhDs to do counseling outside of psych wards, and I'm not so excited about research OR 6 years of school. Then I thought social work, but I feel like I would be locked into a job with a very low salary cap for the rest of my life. I have also thought about a PsyD, or a masters in counseling, etc. etc., but I don't know very much about what kinds of opportunities those degrees will afford.

I have extensive internship and work experience in this area (mostly with MDs who unfortunately can't really answer my questions about psychology careers), and I have taken the GREs (regular and psych), so I feel like getting into a school won't be that terrible for me- it's just a question of picking what school to go to.

Any kind of advice would be greatly appreciated- after going back and forth over so many options, I am at a real loss here.

is art institute of pittsburgh the right online place to go?

Anonymous — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:04:06 -0800

My signifigant other is on permanent disability. I just started college as a full-time student myself. I am going to jr college. Paid for tuition and books via Pell Grant, and using the remainder of loans plus s.o.'s disability payments to cover living expenses-- as you can imagine it's tight but we're making do so far. Significant other wants to get a BS in photography. Is Art institute of Pittsburgh right place? Online classes appeal very much due to flexibility, and that it means can take classes wherever there is an internet connection, so if treatments or hospital visits or they will work with schedule.

Said for art institute of pittsburgh, can use financial aid to pay for cost of school. they are billing 437 per course hour, more more than jr college. but s.o. sure can apply previous BA courses to core and just have to take photography courses. 437 seems really high but s.o. says that is actually typical cost for private university.

s.o. had fafsa done, is speaking to rep tomorrow. is making good choice to go thru them? if not, can recommend good online college for photography degree?

How do I know if a Masters is right for me?

tumples — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:44:00 -0800

A year away from graduating my BA in history, what next? Is a Masters the right course for me? I am starting my third and final year (UK) of my BA in history and I have no idea what I will be doing this time next year.

I have been looking into Masters degrees as the start of my search as this seems like the next logical step after my undergraduate degree, especially given the figures on graduate unemployment and the fact that I still haven't found a direction for post university life. I am really enjoying being in education and would happily stay on, but I don't know if these reasons are the right ones.

If given a choice of Masters programs I would look at doing something political or in international relations, but I don't know how much I should be considering future employment or other important serious life decisions in my choice. I would also love to study abroad if possible, the Netherlands and Canada look like they would be incredible for a curious but monolingual Brit. But again, this decision would be based on wanting to 'experience and learn the world, expand my horizons' sort of thought, not for any more serious or well thought out reasons.

I feel lost in a sea of life decisions with no idea of what direction I want to take. Is it a wise choice to study a Masters (possibly abroad) for no larger reasons than wanting stay in education, give me a few more months to grow up and think of a plan and to possibly see some of the world at the same time?

Any personal anecdotes or relating to feeling completely overwhelmed by the future is also really welcome :)

Looking for light sociological holiday reading material

FuckingAwesome — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 03:55:46 -0800

Looking for light, sociological holiday reading material... I am a second year Sociology degree student, currently on summer break. I'd like to read something relatively easy-going over summer with some level of relevance to my course. It doesn't have to be totally dumbed-down, just not extremely challenging! Any suggestions would be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

How does a history major get a job in IT?

capitalist.pig — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:30:58 -0800

How does a history major get a job in IT? If you work in IT or as a programmer, but have a degree in an unrelated field, how did you transition into tech? In 2006, I graduated summa cum laude from a small liberal arts college in Illinois. My b.a. is in history, with specialties in economics and political science. I majored in history because, at the time, I wanted to be either a history professor or a lawyer. My instructors' warnings about the state of the academic job market, however, talked me out of going to graduate school for history, and an internship at a law firm made me realize that I would be miserable practicing law.

Over the past few years, I've developed a strong interest in computing and the internet. I'm proficient in Windows and Mac. I read sites like ArsTechnica and blogs like Daring Fireball daily. I'm running the Windows 7 RC. I started learning web development on my own earlier this year, and am really enjoying myself. I've also startied to dabble in programming, specifically C and C# (I really want to write iPhone apps), but I'm still very much a novice. Although I've largely been working since I graduated, I've also taken a few courses at the local community college, including Calculus I and II (I got A's in these.)

So my question is this: given my educational background, how do I get a job in IT/technology? Do I need to go back to college? I've been thinking about applying to the University of Chicago's m.s. program in Computer Science. It's very expensive, however, so I'm wondering if getting a master's is even necessary. (I also have no debt right now, and am uneasy about taking out loans.) Will getting a master's make me overqualified? If I get a master's, should it be in computer science or should it be in something else, like information science? Should I get an mba?

Given my background, can I get a job in IT now? If so, what types of jobs should I be looking for? Should I move to "the Valley" (I'm near Chicago now)? I have solid work experience, but nothing really related to computing. I'm really interested in start-ups and would love to work at one (I have entrepreneurial inclinations). I don't care about getting rich--I just want to be able to make a living doing something that I actually enjoy.

I've read past questions on metafilter related to my question, and I've found that there are a lot of people on here who work in IT or programming, but got degrees in unrelated subjects. If you're one of those people, please advise me on how to make this same jump. How did you get started?

Wondering how to swing my progress in school on my resume/cover letter.

disaster77 — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:38:49 -0800

Wondering how to swing my progress in school on my resume/cover letter. I've been working on my BS in computer science slowly over the last several years. I am now done with the computer science part and have a handful of general electives I need to take to finish my degree, which will be next year if all goes as planned.

I was laid off recently and I'm looking for a job. A lot of jobs I want do, and are qualified for, are looking for a BS in computer science. While I do not have it technically, I have completed all the computer science education associated with it. Currently on my resume, I just list the degree with in progress to be complete in 2010.

I wonder if I should note that the CS part is complete on my resume and/or cover letter, and if so, what is the best way to do it.

Bad permanent record. How to fix it now?

mmf — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:48:09 -0800

If someone has a 2002 college degree in Communications from a pretty good school, yet only achieved a 2.49 instead of the minimum of 2.5 now required to get into a teaching program, is it possible to go back and get another degree (in, say, history because the student had many courses in that subject) from the same or another school, just adding on the extra few courses and thus raising the GPA to an acceptable level? If not, is there any way to boost a low GPA now aithout spending another 4 years in college???

Online school for programming?

Bakuun — Thu, 07 May 2009 20:27:07 -0800

My boyfriend is hoping to find a really nice online programming study that results in a Bachelor's degree - his goal is to work on games, but we figure that non-game-based online schools could be just as helpful, and cost-effective. (Learn normal programming, and then just adjust courseload later on to take a couple of game programming classes and take a lot of C++ and usual game languages.) Does anyone have recommendations for such online study programs? If you'd need more details, definitely ask me! :)

(He's in Montreal right now, but planning on moving in with me - in California - and begin such a program around this time next year. We figured we'd begin looking at options early.)

I'd love any and all suggestions, but if you've taken such an online courseload and have good things to say, that would be great.

Master of Arts of Politics?

parmanparman — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 02:14:26 -0800

George Washington University has a Masters in Professional Studies in Political Management. Great, except for being a Masters in Professional Studies. I want to do an MA or MS degree with classes in political management, speechwriting, and fundraising. Any other places you can suggest that are in the DC Metro/Northeast USA area?

Do I need an honours degree?

smitt — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:15:44 -0800

(Canadian) Law School Question: Will a bachelors degree with a high GPA qualify me for most law schools, or do I need to pursue an honours bachelors degree? I'm considering applying for law school when I complete my degree (still a few years off). I'm working full time in finance and finishing my bachelors degree in English part time.

Will strong grades and a bachelors degree qualify me for most law schools if I also achieve a strong LSAT score?

Or do I really need to go after an Honours degree along with a strong LSAT score to get into law schools in Canada?

I don't doubt that an honours degree would help matters, but it's a significant investment of time and money.

Are expensive American undergraduate educations worth it for foreign students?

Mo Nickels — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:44:41 -0800

Is it worth it for a foreign parent to squeeze his budget to manage very expensive undergraduate educations for his children in elite American schools? A respected colleague in Asia writes with this query. It's not so much about how to get financial aid when you are a parent of foreign student seeking an undergraduate education in the United States so much as it is a question as to whether it is worth it at all, even if you can pay.

His words are below, posted with his permission. I have stripped out identifying information. The family is not in Singapore, for what that is worth.

«I have 2 children entering university at the same time this year.

My son has won a partial scholarship to the Eastman School of Music, but even then, the amount we'd have to come up with to send him there is rather forbidding.

My daughter has been accepted into New York University to do Liberal Arts -- but without any aid, which makes it virtually impossible for us to help her realise her dream.

What resources can I apply for in the US or elsewhere to help them? We've tried ones in our country but so far without success.

Would you recommend they take up the places offered them by the 2 schools, given the constraints? Are the schools really worth the astronomical expense? (Well, I know Eastman is about second to Juilliard, and NYU is reputable, although its Arts programme is 15th in the world.)

Would it really count so much that these would be for undergraduate study? Do people look more at one's postgrad pedigree? Would it be just as well that they did their first degree elsewhere (more affordable) and seek to go higher at Eastman and NYU afterwards? (In fact, my son has also obtained a full scholarship to theYong Siew Toh Coservatory of Music in Singapore. But then, what is YST compared to Eastman?)

I'm sorry if I sound inane but this issue of my children's further education has been keeping me from sleep for quite a while.»

Would I qualify for a masters program at a reputable school?

C.Batt — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:07:24 -0800

Can a modestly successful software developer with a two year diploma and 11 years experience designing and developing fairly complex software systems qualify for a masters program in comp sci? I've been programming since I was 8. I have 11 years of professional experience. For the past 4 years I've been the software architect at a small tech firm where I am personally responsible for 50% (the other 50% is my counterpart's in embedded systems) of the design and development of a product/service that generates several million dollars of revenue annually. In short, I think that I'm pretty good at workin' this here computer thingamabob (but I'm no wunderkind).

Anyhow due to my personal life moving in mysterious ways, I suddenly have a lot of free time on my hands. I also might have an opportunity to cash out from said company with a (very) modest sum (revenue doesn't necessarily mean profit :'( ). I've always wanted to formalize my education - to prove to myself that I am indeed "pretty good" - but I'm debating whether or not it's worth the effort. (This isn't about earning potential, this is about personal development)

I only have an honours diploma from a two year tech school. I believe that my experience gives me the equivalent of a bachelors and I should be able to handle a masters program. Is it possible to make the jump straight to a masters - at a reputable school - without first "paying your dues"?

I've found Athabasca University here in Alberta, but I'm not sure if they'd accept me or if their program is any good (it is correspondence after all). I've heard of University of Phoenix, but that's correspondence again. I'd really like to go to the UofA(lberta), but I've heard that they're real sticklers who won't give credit for diplomas or work experience, and that's not acceptable - I could teach 100 and 200 level courses for crying out loud.

What schools could I... strike that... what schools would consider me?

Where to go to college, then chiropractic school?

attercoppe — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 09:29:26 -0800

I might like to go back to college - and then to chiropractic school. Help? Long story short, I'm considering becoming a chiropractor. I'll apparently need to finish college first. I'd like recommendations on chiropractic schools and what I need in a college degree to get in. Tell me all about your experiences! I'm less interested in subluxation theories and more in proper alignment to alleviate muscle stresses. My wife is a massage therapist who is skilled in trigger point/myofascial work, and we'd like to be able to work together in a complimentary manner.

Also good are recommendations for colleges, particularly in Western Colorado or online, especially less expensive ones. (To be honest, I view the college degree as a bit of a hindrance to just going straight into learning what I need to know to become an effective chiropractor. This may certainly be misguided, but I'd like to be able, if possible, to test out of as much as I can / get credit for work experience / skip classes and self-study.)

How did you end up in a IT Leadership role?

Silvertree — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 08:05:28 -0800

What steps did you take to prepare for and ultimately land your IT leadership position? Background first. Currently I am working as a Netbackup and Windows sys admin. I enjoy working in the tech and my long term goal is to work into a Director or CTO level position in a medium size corporation of some sort. I have a MA in Cognitive and Social psych right now.

Here is my question. What can I do to prepare for upcoming opportunities? I mean I don't see a lot of degrees that specifically target this type of work, at least not yet. Other then continue to learn everything I can and build a good reputation, I am not sure what else I can do to plan. So what do you suggest? Certifications of some sort? An MBA? A PhD in something? If so, in what? I am location bound at the moment due to my current work but I am opening to moving when able.

So what did you do to prepare and position yourself for this type of role? Any kind of advice or thoughts would be appreciated.