I am wondering if there is any real benefit to earning an AA on the road to BA?

First- in my case, I don't qualify yet for the AA because I hadn't taken science, so essentially there will be one semester difference between when I meet the requirements for an AA with when I meet the requirements for my BA- that could look odd.

Second- it's $250

Third- my first associate degree contributed zero credits toward my BA, so I am earning 120 the hard way- from scratch. This would be more obvious if I opted to include it distinctly separate from my first AOS and this BA.

Finally, which is more traditional? Do "most" people get the AA then BA or do "most" people just get the BA? Is that more common among those who went to community college first? I know some colleges don't even offer AAs.

Opinions??

__________________
Jennifer
ALM, Psychology, Harvard University, in progress
AA & BA, Social Sciences, Thomas Edison State College, 2008
AOS, Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America, 1990

IC WORKS! http://www.degreeforum.net/general-e...g-members.html

"Brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.” Randy Pausch

From my experience, no one really wants to hear about your AA once you have your BA, especially if it's in the same field. I have an AA in Aviation Maintenance but from what I've been told I shouldn't list this on my future resumes if I have a BS (in a different field)...and a soon to be accomplished MBA. If this is the case, they why waste the money?

Good question though....any other thoughts on this one? Shoto...Kiwi Lover?

Why are NONE of your AA credits transferable? Were they not ACE approved or is it your current school's decision?

__________________
Associates Degree, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Community College of the Air Force
Bachelors of Science, Liberal Studies Degree, Excelsior
MBA Human Resource Management, California Coast University

Lee...I agree that you wouldn't want to list your AA on your resume, since your particular AA is for a completely unrelated field (unless you start applying for some aviation-related management jobs).

As for me, both my AA and BS are for Business so I do list them both on my resume. From my experience, it seems to be a bit of an "added bonus" to have it on there, because every recruiter or hiring manager that I've met with has commented on it. So I think it can't hurt at all to get an AA and then get a BS, as long as they are in the same field. But that's just my personal opinion; others may completely disagree.

JoAnne

Why are NONE of your AA credits transferable? Were they not ACE approved or is it your current school's decision?[/quote]
>>

I don't want to kill this thread, I really value other's opinions on this. But, to answer your question, my culinary school (then) was NA- it is now a RA college, but that didn't happen until 14 years later.

__________________
Jennifer
ALM, Psychology, Harvard University, in progress
AA & BA, Social Sciences, Thomas Edison State College, 2008
AOS, Culinary Arts, Culinary Institute of America, 1990

IC WORKS! http://www.degreeforum.net/general-e...g-members.html

"Brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.” Randy Pausch

OK, now I understand. I'm not going to touch that one.... That horse is dead, no sense in kicking it.

__________________
Associates Degree, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Community College of the Air Force
Bachelors of Science, Liberal Studies Degree, Excelsior
MBA Human Resource Management, California Coast University

Jennifer ~

I'm doing the AS then BS route myself. My prior learning was from a non-accredited school (at the time, I believe it now is) so nothing was eligible for transfer, so I'm starting from scratch.

Most likely within the next two years I will find myself job searching and I feel that it will look better for resume purposes to show a completed AS and 17 years of related work experience than to have nothing to show but the work experience.

Good luck!

Wendy