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February 14, 2005
In This Issue
Ask the Experts: Is it Too Late?
Featured Expert: E. Faith Ivery, Ed.D.  Question: I was a highway
patrolman for 18 years, but had to retire about 10 years too early,
due to an injury. My former employment was closely associated with
the transportation industry, so I am quite familiar with trucking,
rail, and intermodal transportation. I would like very much to gain
employment in an operations/supervisory position, however most of
these positions now require a bachelor's degree in business or transportation,
which I don't have. I am looking at a good 3 plus years to obtain
my degree. Is it too late for me? Would a future employer look at
me as being too old? (I'm 44.) What would you suggest? - Jon
Answer: Jon, there are over 2.5 million adults going to college - you won't be alone in your efforts to earn your college degree. It can be done. Research schools that will grant college credit for work/life experiences. This process is usually termed portfolio credit. There are hundreds of colleges/universities that award such credit to adult learners. A good resource is the EASi/OnLine Advisor. There are testing programs and other options to evaluate your prior learning towards your degree. Usually graduation from a police academy also gives college credit. If all your background is used to its full potential, you may only need 1-2 years of actual college work to complete a bachelor's degree in business. Finding the best-fit college for your needs is essential. - Faith Question: I already have a bachelor's degree in biology. I would like to return to school but for a different area of study. How do I go about applying for a second bachelors degree? How do I find out if a college offers second degree programs? Will past prerequisite courses transfer for the second degree? Thanks for your time and help. - RachelAnswer: Rachel,
if at all possible, don't spend your time and money
duplicating another undergraduate degree. Contact a
graduate school of your new found interest and ask them
what courses you need to take to be able to apply to
their program. This will give you a better idea of your
course deficiencies, and then you can just take those
courses (not a full degree program) and spend your time
and money studying at the graduate level. - Faith
Feature Article: Should You Consider an MBA?l The Master of Business Administration (the MBA) has
long been seen as the “magic ticket” for career
advancement, but should you consider an MBA despite
the lengthy time commitment and potentially high cost? “There is no doubt that the knowledge and skills
acquired in a good MBA program gives the graduate a
boost into leadership positions,” said Paul Danos,
Dean of Tuck
School of Business, Dartmouth University. “We
did a survey of Tuck graduates and found that nearly
70 percent of Tuck alumni were in positions of leadership
in the organization, that is, CEO, Chairman, Partner,
Owner, CFO, etc.” According to Danos, Tuck students
often more than double their salaries. Bill Brady, director of Graduate Career Management,
the Marriott
School of Management, Brigham Young University,
agrees. MBA’s are “like bachelor’s degrees
in the 90’s,” said Brady, and since MBAs are
becoming available by so many resources, “it is
more common to expect managers to have the degree.” MBA benefits abound. Mindy Storrie, president, MBA
Career Services Council and director of MBA Career
Services at Kenan-Flagler
Business School, the University of North Carolina,
adds, “The rewards are immense for a mid-career
MBA student. An MBA can be one of the best ways to increase
your business knowledge base.” According to Brady, there are two reasons for obtaining an MBA: first, to obtain advanced skills to “provide a power boost to an individual’s career” and second, to change careers, for example, from retail sales to finance.
According to a 2004 survey by the Graduate
Management Admission Council (GMAC), the majority of the MBA
class that graduated in 2004 (54 percent) were using their MBA as
a way of changing career tracks. The survey showed that that the
average graduate made roughly $56,500 before earning the degree
and about $76,000 afterward. GMAC surveyed 6,223 MBA graduates from
128 business schools in 16 countries. Twenty-one percent of the
respondents were from outside the United States.
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| Featured Program: American Intercontinental University
Online
American Intercontinental University offers several undergraduate and graduate degree programs completely online. Undergraduate
Programs include an Associate of Business Administration,
and bachelor's programs in visual communication, business administration,
accounting and finance, health care management, human resources,
management, marketing, operations management, project management,
information technology, network administration, and criminal justice.
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Ten Tips for Adult Students to Maximize Financial Aid Ten strategies you can use to reduce the cost of returning to school. 7 Steps to Writing a Great Research Paper Here's how to ace the assignment, impress your professor, and alleviate stress. Academic Reference: Online Etymology Dictionary Learn the roots of language with this searchable index.
Special Reports: The Investment Payoff: A 50-State Analysis of the Public and Private Benefits of Higher Education Major new report by the Institute for Higher Education Policy studies the dramatic impacts of college education on each state as well as on private citizens. Results show how going to college leads to higher personal income, lower unemployment, and better health for individuals. State benefits include decreased reliance on public assistance, higher voting rates, and increased volunteering. Report requires Adobe Acrobat Reader for viewing. |
| College
Connection.
Save time and money on your college degree. Find fully accredited distance and online degree programs that offer American Council on Education credit for college level life experience and other accelerated options. Learn more. |
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