Is the BS in Business degree path on bain4weeks still valid? extreme newbie here

[LaterBloomer]

Tony, you're trying to run before you even walk. You don't have a degree, and you're worrying about entry into a masters program? FYI, other than some school in Scotland, I don't think that you can get a masters degree without a bachelors degree. Get that under your belt. (Pot meet kettle. I've been working on my bachelors for over 30 years.) Sooooo many folks know more about getting a masters degree than I do, so my information my be way off base. At this point, however, I wouldn't worry about a GPA. Start taking tests. After you've gotten a little bit deeper into the process, worry about how what you're doing meshes with the masters program that you want to enter. You might have made a few wrong turns, taken courses or tests that you don't need based upon your masters program choice, but you'll be moving. Also, no education is ever wasted.

[tonywantsadegree]

Laterbloomer,

I understand your point and I will start testing right away (CLEP) but to avoid wasting anymore time I'm trying to plan years ahead which n this case I have to think beyond the BSBA. it will suck if I accumulate 120 credits for my BS and can't move any further without gong back to take other test to get a GPA. I'm at a level in my career that a Masters is a must for me to make the money I feel I'm worth. I've been studying Sananatone's BSBA degree plan and there are several DSST listed that are two digit scores which should translate into a letter grade and GPA at EC. This is my look both ways before crossing period, but I am crossing lol. Thanks for your feedback!

[sanantone]

Thanks Sanantone! In the post you mentioned that you needed to update the BSBA doc back in June so I'm wondering if what I downloaded is your most recent update? This degree plan will it garner me a GPA?

My plans are only for TESC. If you want a GPA at TESC, you need to take at least one course there. Another way to get a GPA for graduate school, but not necessarily at TESC, is to take community college courses and transfer them. I didn't have a GPA at TESC, but I had enough graded credits from other schools in order to get into my graduate program. Graduate schools will calculate their own GPA from all colleges attended.

If you want to attend Excelsior, my degree plans don't apply. EC has stricter standards on what they consider upper level. EC does require a capstone, so you'll at least get a GPA with that. However, I don't think a GPA for one or even a few courses is going to make you competitive for entrance into a decent MBA program.

The one thing I didn't update for the BSBA is that at least 3 areas of study are required for the major in either accounting, finance, management, or marketing.

[IrishJohn]

Laterbloomer,

I understand your point and I will start testing right away (CLEP) but to avoid wasting anymore time I'm trying to plan years ahead which n this case I have to think beyond the BSBA. it will suck if I accumulate 120 credits for my BS and can't move any further without gong back to take other test to get a GPA. I'm at a level in my career that a Masters is a must for me to make the money I feel I'm worth. I've been studying Sananatone's BSBA degree plan and there are several DSST listed that are two digit scores which should translate into a letter grade and GPA at EC. This is my look both ways before crossing period, but I am crossing lol. Thanks for your feedback!

I don't know the details myself, but talk to TESC because I believe they have a program where you can finish a BSBA while also working on your MBA with them. You can mostly test out of the BSBA but about 6-9 credits are through them at the Master's level, which of course also count towards their MBA. That might be an idea for you if you can put off needing the BSBA right now. Or you could hurry up and finish the BSBA and then look at an MBA at TESC or other schools later.

[IrishJohn]

Come to think of it, Excelsior has a dual Bachelor's/Master's program as well: Degree Programs

I know that if you take the PMP it will count as 3 credits at the bachelor's or master's level, which TESC doesn't accept for some reason.

[rebel100]

The MBA options at TESC and EC are WAY too pricey for what your getting IMO...but to each his own.

The biggest issue in seeking an MBA will be having evidence of completing whatever (if any) pre-reqs are required of that program. Generally they want to see completion of micro and macro economics, maybe an accounting course or two, algebra and statistics, and general management...but there are an infinite number of variables.

Western Governors only requires a bachelors degree...it can even be from a nationally accredited school.

there are a lot of variables.

[GoodYellowDogs]

I've got you beat - I'll finish my bachelors in the next four months after 40 years :hurray:

Tony, you're trying to run before you even walk. You don't have a degree, and you're worrying about entry into a masters program? FYI, other than some school in Scotland, I don't think that you can get a masters degree without a bachelors degree. Get that under your belt. (Pot meet kettle. I've been working on my bachelors for over 30 years.) Sooooo many folks know more about getting a masters degree than I do, so my information my be way off base. At this point, however, I wouldn't worry about a GPA. Start taking tests. After you've gotten a little bit deeper into the process, worry about how what you're doing meshes with the masters program that you want to enter. You might have made a few wrong turns, taken courses or tests that you don't need based upon your masters program choice, but you'll be moving. Also, no education is ever wasted.

[LaterBloomer]

Hey, Denise. I haven't gotten my degree. I'm still six courses away. Who knows? I might still "win" this competition!

Would folks who are getting a masters degree help Tony? Do the masters programs that many of us look at even care about a GPA? Also, when a school requires a GPA, how many courses does it want to constitute the GPA? I mean, I think that TESC has a 1 credit couse on Jane Austen. Is an "A" in that course really going to get someone into Harvard's MBA program? Tony, and I still think that you're jumping the gun, there is a web site, DegreeInfo Distance Learning - online degree forum - The Front Page, at which many folks are getting masters degrees. You might want to check it out.

[tonywantsadegree]

Thanks for all of the feedback everyone! I consider myself a pretty smart guy who learns quickly. Maybe I'm over analyzing this thing so I'm going to take tonight off from the forum and digest what I've learned so far then move to the next step. Latebloomer maybe you're right with what you and Sanantone said, even if I get a GPA it will only be a few classes so I'll have a challenge either way. I think I'll stand a good chance of being accepted into an MBA program without a GPA since I'm prior military, I have years of management experience and I can get great references from my director and CIO. Now my battle is...EC or TESC. after that I'll start studying and testing out. I would like to finish up in time to graduate before my birthday next September. I can't tell you guys how excited I am to finally make this degree happen. I can not let my daughter who's a freshman in college complete her bachelors before me!

[IrishJohn]

Thanks for all of the feedback everyone! I consider myself a pretty smart guy who learns quickly. Maybe I'm over analyzing this thing so I'm going to take tonight off from the forum and digest what I've learned so far then move to the next step. Latebloomer maybe you're right with what you and Sanantone said, even if I get a GPA it will only be a few classes so I'll have a challenge either way. I think I'll stand a good chance of being accepted into an MBA program without a GPA since I'm prior military, I have years of management experience and I can get great references from my director and CIO. Now my battle is...EC or TESC. after that I'll start studying and testing out. I would like to finish up in time to graduate before my birthday next September. I can't tell you guys how excited I am to finally make this degree happen. I can not let my daughter who's a freshman in college complete her bachelors before me!

Well you could "hedge your bets", so to speak, if you choose TESC by taking just 1 course and the grade you receive in that class will count as your overall GPA. Make it an "easy" course or something you are very strong in. I did this while pursuing a BA in History by taking the DSST exam on the Middle East which covered just about the same material as the class I took at TESC. The "A" I earned in that class gave me a 4.0 GPA. That is enough to satisfy most schools I would look at for a master's.