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+--- Thread: Which is better - multiple degrees question (/Thread-Which-is-better-multiple-degrees-question)
Which is better - multiple degrees question - jamshid666 - 10-10-2019
Academically speaking, is it better to have multiple degrees from different schools or is it acceptable to stick with the same school? I ask because if you look in my sig block, I'm going to end up with three degrees from WGU, not sure how that would look when applying for doctorate programs. Note that I might add a third masters degree in biology from Miami University: https://gfp.miamioh.edu/. I don't need the biology degree for my career, it just looks like a really fun program and it isn't that expensive.
RE: Which is better - multiple degrees question - Leedeedee - 10-10-2019
(10-10-2019, 11:49 AM)jamshid666 Wrote: Academically speaking, is it better to have multiple degrees from different schools or is it acceptable to stick with the same school? I ask because if you look in my sig block, I'm going to end up with three degrees from WGU, not sure how that would look when applying for doctorate programs. Note that I might add a third masters degree in biology from Miami University: https://gfp.miamioh.edu/. I don't need the biology degree for my career, it just looks like a really fun program and it isn't that expensive.
Sorry I can't answer the question about multiple schools, but that Biology Masters degree at Miami looks awesome. Quite tempted myself.
RE: Which is better - multiple degrees question - jamshid666 - 10-10-2019
(10-10-2019, 12:30 PM)Leedeedee Wrote:(10-10-2019, 11:49 AM)jamshid666 Wrote: Academically speaking, is it better to have multiple degrees from different schools or is it acceptable to stick with the same school? I ask because if you look in my sig block, I'm going to end up with three degrees from WGU, not sure how that would look when applying for doctorate programs. Note that I might add a third masters degree in biology from Miami University: https://gfp.miamioh.edu/. I don't need the biology degree for my career, it just looks like a really fun program and it isn't that expensive.
Sorry I can't answer the question about multiple schools, but that Biology Masters degree at Miami looks awesome. Quite tempted myself.
Yeah, sad thing is one of the reasons I want to enter that program is just to have the excuse to go to Australia. I've been to five of the seven continents, I'm just missing Australia and Antarctica.
RE: Which is better - multiple degrees question - ReyMysterioso - 10-10-2019
Personal opinion: I would suspect that having degrees from different schools looks better, as it makes you seem more well rounded or more diversely experienced. Speaking for myself, as I've been involved in hiring decisions, if I was looking at a candidate from ...let's say College Station, Texas who had a Texas A&M undergrad and a Texas A&M master's ... I would wonder "Has that person ever left home? Have they had an insulated experience in life? Is it some indication that they're scared of taking risks or unwilling to try and adapt to different environments?"
Depending on the position, it would factor into my decision. Is it a dealbreaker? No. Would it raise a bunch of questions? Yes.
If a person had an online undergrad and online master's from the same school, I would similarly have questions of why they made that decision. If I saw two different schools, I wouldn't even think anything of it. Does it hurt you? Hard to say. Will it raise questions? It's possible. That's just one person's perspective.
Actual mileage may vary.
RE: Which is better - multiple degrees question - sanantone - 10-10-2019
Good schools don't like to hire their own graduates as professors because of academic inbreeding. They want an exchange of ideas. I guess that concept could be applied to non-academics. If you stay at the same school, you'll only see a limited number of perspectives. Traditional university departments tend to specialize in one area, so a student wouldn't get exposure to other specializations if he or she earned undergraduate and graduate degrees at the same school.
RE: Which is better - multiple degrees question - jsh1138 - 10-11-2019
I think different schools look better personally, unless it's all from a really good school
RE: Which is better - multiple degrees question - cecilgambe7 - 10-11-2019
Different schools, totally
RE: Which is better - multiple degrees question - jsd - 10-12-2019
But you'll also have a TESU degree it appears, so that could help with the perception some.
RE: Which is better - multiple degrees question - cookderosa - 10-17-2019
I agree with everyone EXCEPT if you're trying to bury the distance learning elephant in the room. My employer was in Iowa while my grad school was in New York. Obviously I was not in 2 places at once.
That said, I don't list my education dates on my resume, so my resume makes more sense that way because I have 2 degrees from NJ (TESU) and 2 degrees from NY though they were VERY far apart.
I have also completely ignored my TESU degrees more than once and left them off. In my culinary bio that is linked to the university where I teach rec courses, my undergrad is from CIA and my grad degree is in Nutrition. (worded almost exactly like that)