Schooling Beyond the Big 3?

[Anberline]

After graduating from a Bachelors degree from one of the big three, what does admission look like to good graduate schools?

Are the big 3 schools the equivalent of University of Phoenix, ITT Tech, and other for-profit schools, or are these degrees more respected because the schools are all fully accredited?

I'm very interested in receiving a Bachelors from one of these schools, most likely in Finance. Would MBA schools really look down on a degree from a school like TESC or Excelsior?

[sanantone]

Sorry, but this is a pet peeve of mine. While ITT-Tech is nationally accredited which can limit graduate options at regionally-accredited schools, University of Phoenix and dozens of other for-profits are regionally accredited. I don't understand what people mean when they say fully accredited. I'd be more concerned about employers than graduate school. University of Phoenix and some other popular for-profits have bad reputations. As far as graduate school, highly competitive, prestigious schools will probably want to see degrees from other prestigious schools. For thousands of other schools, they won't care where your degree comes from as long as it's regionally accredited and you meet the admissions requirements. The Big 3 aren't ranked schools, so they aren't going to be highly competitive at Ivy Leagues and schools like MIT. This is the case with every unranked and lowly-ranked school. If you're completely or mostly testing out of your degree, there could be some issues with GPA. Even if you have a GPA for a course or two, that's not going to impress anyone in a competitive program.

[Jonathan Whatley]

If you're completely or mostly testing out of your degree, there could be some issues with GPA. Even if you have a GPA for a course or two, that's not going to impress anyone in a competitive program.

Building on this point, competitive grad schools generally ask for academic references, commonly two or three. If you're planning on competitive grad school admission, your plan should address this.

[Prloko]

After graduating from a Bachelors degree from one of the big three, what does admission look like to good graduate schools?

Are the big 3 schools the equivalent of University of Phoenix, ITT Tech, and other for-profit schools, or are these degrees more respected because the schools are all fully accredited?

I'm very interested in receiving a Bachelors from one of these schools, most likely in Finance. Would MBA schools really look down on a degree from a school like TESC or Excelsior?

If you are looking into getting into a top MBA program, it'll be tough. If you want to see what people have done after the big 3, just go on linkedin search under people and place the name of one of the schools. You'll see that there are many people from the big three who have gone on to respectable grad schools, not Columbia and MIT, but respectable.

There's a website called poets and quants that shows how competitive it is to get into a top MBA program. Some of the criteria they seem to hit on are where you got your bachelors, your GPA from your bachelors (not masters), your mix of classes (quantitative, business, or did you just take a bunch of easy courses), where you have BEEN WORKING (the site seems to use the term "sexy" companies), your GMAT, volunteer work/leadership, your background (diversity/status) and if you will make good use of the degree.

[rebel100]

With my COSC BS in Liberal Arts I was accepted into every Masters I applied to. I wasn't applying to any of the prestigious schools though. You understand that, a Big 3 will be "accepted" anywhere, rather or not it will make you competitive enough to gain admittance to your dream school is impossible to tell.

It's certainly possible to gain entry to very good schools with a Big 3 undergrad. Remember too that this forum is really quite unique in that we look for all the loopholes, free courses, CBE,and oddball stuff that we can turn into credit for our degree. The vast majority, even at the Big 3, don't really do this. So people won't look at your degree and say "they tested out" they will more likely look at the degree and go "hmmm, lives in Florida but got a degree from New Jersey...must be online". The stigma once attached to that is fading fast.

What's your end game? What do you call a "good" school? What is your goal?

[IrishJohn]

Sorry, but this is a pet peeve of mine. While ITT-Tech is nationally accredited which can limit graduate options at regionally-accredited schools, University of Phoenix and dozens of other for-profits are regionally accredited. I don't understand what people mean when they say fully accredited. I'd be more concerned about employers than graduate school. University of Phoenix and some other popular for-profits have bad reputations. As far as graduate school, highly competitive, prestigious schools will probably want to see degrees from other prestigious schools. For thousands of other schools, they won't care where your degree comes from as long as it's regionally accredited and you meet the admissions requirements. The Big 3 aren't ranked schools, so they aren't going to be highly competitive at Ivy Leagues and schools like MIT. This is the case with every unranked and lowly-ranked school. If you're completely or mostly testing out of your degree, there could be some issues with GPA. Even if you have a GPA for a course or two, that's not going to impress anyone in a competitive program.

Agreed. For most folks though a degree from the Big 3 should be just fine. I would say that for a percentage of that group following up a bachelor's from the Big 3 with a master's from a good school solves most problems they may encounter. Yet for many, the bachelor's itself or followed up by a master's from a lesser-known school suits their career plan perfectly. I know for myself this is true.

[Anberline]

Thank you.

I'm actually a junior in high school right now with somewhat impressive stats. I stand a relatively competitive chance at most 25-50 ranked colleges. I recently learned about the ability to "CLEP-out" of courses, which really spiked my interest. The ability to earn a bachelor's degree in less than a year was very intriguing to me.

What I've been trying to do is, weigh the pros/cons of a quick, incredibly inexpensive bachelor's degree from a school like TESC or Excelsior, compared to a 3-4 year bachelor's from a very well respected school, at a very high cost. Both sides definitely have their benefits and disadvantages. I'd definitely be attending a school to get my master's following an undergraduate education. I just wanted to know whether or not a degree from one of these 'lesser-respected' schools would completely eliminate my chances at a top school for my MBA.

I did a bit more research and found other schools that accept a generous amount of CLEP credit. Although no other schools fully accept 120 credits (otherwise the Big 3 would be the Big ##), some very good schools seem to allow exemption from most basic classes through CLEP. Some good schools even allow up to 2 years worth of credit to be used.

Realistically, these schools seem like the best option for me.

Without references, a GPA, or a typical classroom setting, from what I can tell, graduating from TESC or EC will put me at a severe disadvantage in admissions to some of the top schools. While I realize there is definitely a chance of me being accepted to a top MBA program, it seems like most people who are admitted to these top schools are admitted because the rest of their application is extraordinary. With a year of actual work experience and a 700+ GMAT, a bachelor's from somewhere like EC would be 'adequate' and acceptable, but most likely not respected by those top schools.

Thanks again for all the input, everyone. I'll definitely be doing a lot more research this year and next about various possibilities for my undergraduate and graduate education.

[Jonathan Whatley]

What I've been trying to do is, weigh the pros/cons of a quick, incredibly inexpensive bachelor's degree from a school like TESC or Excelsior, compared to a 3-4 year bachelor's from a very well respected school, at a very high cost. Both sides definitely have their benefits and disadvantages.

Stay competitive for scholarships, keep state schools in view, and as you've mentioned keep CLEP and other transfer credit strategies in view, and you could reduce, and perhaps even eliminate, that con of high cost.

Without references, a GPA, or a typical classroom setting, from what I can tell, graduating from TESC or EC

For the record, of course, a student can include any of all these things in a Big Three degree plan.

Good luck!

[IrishJohn]

I'm actually a junior in high school right now with somewhat impressive stats. I stand a relatively competitive chance at most 25-50 ranked colleges. I recently learned about the ability to "CLEP-out" of courses, which really spiked my interest. The ability to earn a bachelor's degree in less than a year was very intriguing to me.

Ok, you're in a very different stage of life than many of us here. Of course there are others here who also are in high school planning for their future as well. Yet for folks like myself, in the middle of our working careers, a degree is more about checking off a box to keep a job, gain a promotion or perhaps change fields. Since you are at the cusp of beginning your working career and depending upon what your goals are, the particular school you attend for your degree might make a difference. Folks like myself have years of experience to show potential employers, so while having a degree is important which school we attended isn't so much in most cases. Since you lack experience and are just starting out which school you attend might be beneficial to you. I would say though that you should research and learn the transfer policies of the schools you are interested in. You can then tailor a plan of taking CLEPS/DSST exams or classes at the community college in order to save money. I strongly urge you to consider something like this so you do not saddle yourself with heavy college debt when you start in the workforce. I'm sure that many here would be more than happy to give you suggestions on options you could explore in doing this.

As a matter of fact, take a look at this: Sources of Credit - Degree Forum Wiki

Some of the options listed at that site may transfer to the school you wish to attend.

[Anberline]

For the record, of course, a student can include any of all these things in a Big Three degree plan.

If I were to take CLEP exams and use them all towards TESC/EC, how would I be able to get references withing being in contact with a teacher, a GPA while completing only exams that give completion credit instead of actual grades, or be immersed in the typical classroom setting. (It seems like a majority of colleges prefer traditional classroom learning as opposed to online schooling.)