Second Bachelor's Degree?
I graduated from a non-target school with a 3.3 GPA a year ago and have been working in back office operations for a global Asset Management firm. My end goal is to get an MBA from a top b-school and work in IB, and to help get me there I'm considering getting a second BA from UPenn. They have a program where you can enter as a "non-traditional student", and get the same exact undergraduate degree as anyone who went there right after high school. It's expensive, but with scholarships I'm thinking it may be worth it. A BA from an ivy league school could get me into an IB right after graduation, and would definitely help in MBA admissions. Thoughts? How beneficial do you see this being? Aside from costs, do you see any downsides?
I don't even think you'd qualify. Did you check? Those programs are for people with no bachelors and have non-traditional backgrounds.
I asked them and they said I would qualify. They accept people who want to get a second bachelor's degree, but it has to be in a different area (I'd probably want to do their "philosophy, politics and economics" major).
How long would it take? If it's anything over 2 years, it's such a bad idea. Focus on Master's programs instead (MFin, MS Econ, etc)
With the credits that would transfer, it would take 3 years.
Another question is, are you sure that you can get scholarships?
It is likely that I would get scholarships, based on past students who have been awarded significant scholarship amounts. The school is quite generous.
dude, that's too long. Just go for a 1 year master's program. Be sure to do your research on who recruits at the programs you look at.
There's a good chance you will regret it when you are into your 30s and realize you spent all of your 20s in education or slaving away in an analyst role.
I didn't read the details, but getting a second bachelor's degree is stupid. Get a masters, or get work experience. I've never heard of anyone getting any extra benefit from going back to school for a second bachelor's. You'd have to go back for engineering or something along those lines, and no one ever does that. If you were smart enough for that, you would have figured it out before you finished school the first time.
Second Bachelor's: Worth it? (Originally Posted: 04/24/2009)
New Poster Here. I'm finishing a bachelor's in chemistry from a decent (non-ivy) private school in May (3.7 GPA). Did two internships in the field over the past 2 years and hated it. This past summer I helped my brother (a trader) and got to know the financial risk management guys at his firm well. Long story short, I want to go into FRM. Problem is I've been applying to risk management jobs all year and no interviews or offers.
I got into a top-50 public school near my home where I can complete a second bachelors in two semesters. Question is, is it worth it? Also, what major might help me the most - I was thinking Statistics or Engineering? What kind of competition am I looking at to get into FRM?
No, with your background your better off getting a Master's degree in finance at a more prestigious school
well its only a year, and if it's cheap then go for it. It's not a guarantee that it will help but its possible.
how do you intend to spin your chem major as something lucrative for your employer?
Apply for some of the one year MSc Finance programs, if you don't get in you can use this as a fallback option
.........
i heard guys form Doostang said MBA is very useful, and i don't think a second degree would help.
go for a masters.
I ave 2 bachelor degrees, all beit mine are very similar (banking and finance) and (accounting), so really was a waste of time and I dont think it gavce me any advantage. Yours could help, since they will be so different. But I reckon go for the masters rather, and dingus such as myself can get a bachelor
I am doing a second bachelors to attain a 4.0 GPA (Originally Posted: 08/04/2014)
I am attending a city university in new york, I would like to attain a 4.0 GPA this time around. How do I go about attaining a 4.0 GPA
reach-arounds
Don't be a career student. Go and get a job.
get straight A's in all of your classes, it's foolproof
Study.
2nd bachelors from CUNY?
A 4.0 from CUNY still won't help you...
Get a grad degree
Second Bachelors? (Originally Posted: 11/06/2012)
Hey guys, just looking for some advice!
I will be graduating this year from a top architecture school program in New York City... (The Cooper Union), it has a great reputation but is not known as much outside of the field because it is so small and specialized (3 % acceptance rate, full tuition scholarship).
I am looking at the prospects of receiving another degree in economics/finance/strategy after completing my architecture degree. I took an intern position for two years working in Asset Management/Strategic planning for a governmental office in the city and am really excited about the prospects in the field of consulting. I was always interested in the business world, but didn't make the move back in high school.
Now to the point, I am planning on applying to Columbia in order to receive a second bachelor in economics. Why a second bachelors and not a masters?
1) I lack the quant classes that a master program requires 2) I would like to stay in NY and attend a top program full time
I would probably receive credit for courses taken in my current undergrad (humanities, some electives) so it might take me less than four years to complete this degree...
My goals are to break into the consulting world... an economics degree from Columbia would help greatly.
What do you guys think? Would the Big4 look down on someone with two bachelors?
A. If you go to Columbia, you don't go to Big 4. You're good for McKinsey, Bain, Boston Consulting Group.
B. Cooper Union is a great school, people do know about it, and you can make it to a good masters program with that degree.
C. Unless you want to do a MSFE or something very, very quant-oriented, you don't need all that many high-level quant courses. Honestly, your degree in architecture is probably as good prepartion, in terms of math, as an undergrad econ degree.
D. I think a MS is much more worth your time. Especially a MS at Columbia or another top school.
FSC,
Thanks for your reply. Do you have any MS programs in mind? The only MS program I was able to look into at Columbia is the MS in Financial Economics, which has the following prerequisites: Probability, Statistics, Microeconomics, Two Semesters of Calc, Linear Algebra and Matrix Theory, and Computer Programing.
Unfortunately (fortunately when I did) I received credit for my high school Calculus class and have only taken a microeconomics elective and 4 semesters of Structures (which would not count for prerequisites) while at Cooper.
Since you don't have a quantitative background, why are you considering a switch? What job will some calc classes get you that you can't get right now? Why not specialize in architectural consulting instead?
Either: 1) Take Calc 1-3, Linear Algebra, a few basic stats, and a calc-based stats class then apply to quantitative MS. 2) Apply for MBA.
I can't understand how you're an architect yet haven't taken any calc... Isn't an architect a specialized engineer? You can draw it up, but you have no idea if it'll stand once you build it? Seems odd...
pplstuff,
A bachelor of architecture only requires up to Calculus I (which I received credit for). I have taken a semester of Physics, and have continually taken Structures (engineering for architects) which covers some elements of arithmetic and algebra, but nothing past that.
I am hoping to make a switch into management consulting/Asset Management. This is why I have been looking into a different degree.
Also, have you guys heard about the Tuck Business Bridge Program? Any thoughts on it?
Second Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s degree? (Originally Posted: 11/28/2011)
Second Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s degree?
So I’m a senior at a major TTTTTTTTTTTT in WV/MD area. Trust me none of you have heard of this school, absolutely no reputable company recruits on this campus (besides insurance companies). I’m a business/marketing major with a 3.7 GPA; however I have no job prospects upon graduation this May. I did secure an internship with a major automobile company, however before the internship even started; I got laid off due to the company having budget issues. I highly doubt I will get a job with this company, upon graduation. Looking back I regret majoring in marketing, due to the extreme uncertainty of the field when regarding jobs. So now I’m thinking of breaking into a financial analyst type role at a F500 company, or try getting into consulting. However this does not seem feasible at the point, due to my lack of experience in these career areas, and going to a shitty school doesn’t help at all. So my options now are:
Enter a Tier 2 type Master’s program. At this point I have not really prepared for the GMAT, and more ever I do not have the time to study to get a great score (680 and above), due to working full time and attending school. On practice exams I am scoring in the low 600’s. However I am confident I can get into LSU’s MS in Finance, Villanova’s Masters in Accounting, and University of Texas-Arlington’s MS in Finance. These schools don’t seem like strong targets, and with the economy being bad I don’t know if it is worth spending 30-50k for a degree.
Go to a target/semi target school and earn Bachelors in Economics. The school’s I have in mind are University of Texas- Austin (Want to go here the most), University of Virginia, and University of Southern California. I would need to only spend about a year and a half at these schools to complete my economics degree. I figured that by getting an economics degree from a respectable school and in addition to having already a business degree I will be a more competitive candidate for finance or consulting based jobs. Also financially, I will not be spending too much money; in fact at UT I will be only spending 15-20k for the degree.
Right now I’m really confused, so any opinions would be greatly appreciated. I learned the hard way that getting interviews for many business jobs requires going to good schools with, I really don’t want to repeat my mistake again.
all the hottest girls at my school are marketing majors.
it probably wasn't a stupid choice when you were making it...
Lol, the girls were smoking hot. From a social standpoint by time in college has been awesome.
Lol, the girls were smoking hot. From a social standpoint by time in college has been awesome.
The schools you mentioned are barely target schools to begin with, and unless you're going back for a specialized degree [ie: nursing] a second B.A. / B.S. is totally unwarrented. I'd go with the master's program and really, really, REALLY, learn how to make it work for you.
if the school is AACSB for accounting - then it doesn't matter where you go.
Just go to the cheapest place and get a master's there.
Not true at all.
I actually really agree with the MAcc recommendation, but do not go to another no name school.
OP - my background was worse than yours, I had a 3.0 in accounting from total no name school. I had a crappy internship, but with a decent F500 company (in a small manufacturing facility). I spun that, some leadership activities and a pretty good GMAT into a MAcc at Indiana. It was the best move I could have made. With a top MAcc you'll be turning down really good offers, with a no name MAcc you'll be struggling to get a decent offer.
I know a lot of people from my no name undergrad (which is AACSBD accredited for accounting) that went on to grad school their. They all graduated and went to work for regional accounting firms, small companies or even banks (as loan officers and retail bank management). At IU I had offers from 3 of the Big 4 and other quality companies. My friends from undergrad would've died to have even 1 of my offers, while I was turning down interviews for decent roles. Things may have changed slightly in the last 5 years, but I would go for a brand name MAcc - that's what I did and it worked out well.
If you put in the work to do fairly well on the GMAT (650+) you'll be fine. I was under 700 and I even got a small scholarship offer from a top 10-15 MAcc program with my background.
If you are seriously considering a MAcc check out ANT's website and feel free to send me a PM.
in NY, as long as you are AACSB, you're good - they don't give a shit. I know this for a fact.
Maybe it's because there isn't as much demand in the mid-west - I doubt that - but I don't see how it would even matter given that accreditation, considering you're learning the same bullshit...
OP, do your homework: what is your current career goal?
UFO is spot on.
At the time, IU was one of only a handful of schools that was recruited nationally by the Big 4. I had an offer from Deloitte NYC because their national recruiting coordinator came to our recruiting events.
While I'm sure PwC Louisville recruits at Kentucky, someone at UK does NOT have the same opportunities outside of that small office in the Big 4. And even worse, the AACSB accredited directional state school I went to undergrad at had NO Big 4 representation. No one from the school made the Big 4 and despite my best efforts I never got an interview for an internship or fulltime.
The current F500 I work at only recruits new hires from 5 schools. While this is just one example, it also is not an anomaly.
Thanks everyone, for the replies so far. So it looks like getting a Masters, is the best choice for me to make. Could someone explain why getting a second undergrad degree in Economics from UVA or UT-Austin is such a bad idea in detail. I'm not looking or expecting to get a IB job from Goldman Sachs or Consulting gig from Bain (though both choices would be amazing). I am aiming at more realistic jobs such as getting a consulting job with a second tier consulting firm such as Accentue or a Finance based job with a F500 like GE,etc. Also I will be only 22 when I graduate with a second undergrad (since I am onlytaking three years with my business undergrad).
Thanks again guys
how will you only be 22 with a second undergrad???????
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