4 ms·

As I replied to enraged_camel's thread (linked in his/her comment), what you want is essentially a BS in CS. What's wrong with having multiple BS degrees? How d

by 205guy 13y ago

As I replied to enraged_camel's thread (linked in his/her comment), what you want is essentially a BS in CS. What's wrong with having multiple BS degrees? How does a BS in one field prepare you for an MS in another? The real issue is that the BS degree covers (roughly) 2 years of general study and 2 years in a major. Anyone that has already done the general study part just wants to do the 2 years part in another field. I think it is a failure of the academic system (in the US) to not break down the degrees correctly and to call those 2 years in another field an MS--should be a 2nd BS. I will note that in Europe, a lot of the general study that US universities do in the first 2 years of a BS are done in the last two years of high school, for example the French baccalaureat (bac).

wilfra 13y ago
I agree what I want is a BS in CS. However getting a second undergrad degree is extremely uncommon in the US. Many schools don't even allow it.
- terenceong 13y ago
  actually, that's not true. i was always under the same impression as you that schools in US don't seem to encourage or even allow second undergrad degrees, having read somewhere before that a first undergrad degree disqualifies you from applying for a second. however, due to a series of unfortunate events, i have discovered that it is not true at all. source = me. i'm currently admitted back to my alma mater for a second degree in CSC and will be returning in fall this year.
glesica 13y ago
Many schools, at least in the US, frown upon students earning a second BS/BA. I tried and was basically told by an admissions counselor that I probably wouldn't be accepted. I was welcome to apply for a master's degree and take any undergraduate courses I needed once I had been provisionally accepted into that program, however. But I wouldn't have earned a BS. I suspect that this might have to do with financial aid rules, but I'm really not sure. I ended up taking some post-bac courses at the university I'd gone to for my BA then going directly into an MS program.
- terenceong 13y ago
  as i said in another reply, this "anti-second BS" thing might have been true years ago but as i've personally discovered, it's not true at all. yes, some schools don't have a clear-cut program for readmission for second degrees, but it seems many schools now do. i'm personally returning for a second degree in CSC, and i didn't even have to go through any kind of admissions procedure - just fill in a one-page form to my alma mater and 3 weeks later they informed me it's approved and so i'm returning for my second BS in fall this year. it's definitely very possible today and if you want more details, please feel free to PM me.
  - doktrin 13y ago
    A few points : 1. Getting re-admitted to ones alma mater is simpler than a new school (given that these are adults going back to school who may well have moved and established families, their alma mater quite possibly is no longer an option) 2. How many credits were waived? This is a pretty serious sticking point, as anything > 2 year full time equivalent becomes a major time commitment & investment. I would also point out here that this can vary significantly by institution, unfortunately. 3. Many undergrad classes don't support a fully flex part time schedule (or, severely limit their evening & part time options). This becomes increasingly important in this scenario. While there may or may not be an admission-department policy or stigma against second undergrad degrees, the system is by and large certainly not geared to encourage it as of present.
mc-lovin 13y ago
It seems like your objection is to the fact that undergrad-like course loads are branded as MS degrees. But the question here is what is best for the poster. Assuming he can pass the MS degree, a future employer will give much more credit to an MS than a second BS in CS. Furthermore, as he describes it, the coursework already includes the equivalent of an undergrad in CS or more.

by 205guy 13y ago

wilfra 13y ago

I agree what I want is a BS in CS. However getting a second undergrad degree is extremely uncommon in the US. Many schools don't even allow it.

terenceong 13y ago
actually, that's not true. i was always under the same impression as you that schools in US don't seem to encourage or even allow second undergrad degrees, having read somewhere before that a first undergrad degree disqualifies you from applying for a second. however, due to a series of unfortunate events, i have discovered that it is not true at all. source = me. i'm currently admitted back to my alma mater for a second degree in CSC and will be returning in fall this year.

glesica 13y ago

Many schools, at least in the US, frown upon students earning a second BS/BA. I tried and was basically told by an admissions counselor that I probably wouldn't be accepted. I was welcome to apply for a master's degree and take any undergraduate courses I needed once I had been provisionally accepted into that program, however. But I wouldn't have earned a BS. I suspect that this might have to do with financial aid rules, but I'm really not sure. I ended up taking some post-bac courses at the university I'd gone to for my BA then going directly into an MS program.

terenceong 13y ago
as i said in another reply, this "anti-second BS" thing might have been true years ago but as i've personally discovered, it's not true at all. yes, some schools don't have a clear-cut program for readmission for second degrees, but it seems many schools now do. i'm personally returning for a second degree in CSC, and i didn't even have to go through any kind of admissions procedure - just fill in a one-page form to my alma mater and 3 weeks later they informed me it's approved and so i'm returning for my second BS in fall this year. it's definitely very possible today and if you want more details, please feel free to PM me.
- doktrin 13y ago
  A few points : 1. Getting re-admitted to ones alma mater is simpler than a new school (given that these are adults going back to school who may well have moved and established families, their alma mater quite possibly is no longer an option) 2. How many credits were waived? This is a pretty serious sticking point, as anything > 2 year full time equivalent becomes a major time commitment & investment. I would also point out here that this can vary significantly by institution, unfortunately. 3. Many undergrad classes don't support a fully flex part time schedule (or, severely limit their evening & part time options). This becomes increasingly important in this scenario. While there may or may not be an admission-department policy or stigma against second undergrad degrees, the system is by and large certainly not geared to encourage it as of present.

mc-lovin 13y ago

It seems like your objection is to the fact that undergrad-like course loads are branded as MS degrees. But the question here is what is best for the poster. Assuming he can pass the MS degree, a future employer will give much more credit to an MS than a second BS in CS. Furthermore, as he describes it, the coursework already includes the equivalent of an undergrad in CS or more.