Slickdeals is community-supported.  We may get paid by brands or deals, including promoted items.
Forum Thread

Is it better to have an Associate's degree before transferring to a 4 year university?

15 10 September 12, 2010 at 12:21 AM
Deal
Score 0
28,283 Views

Thread Details

Last Edited by koraplaya September 12, 2010 at 12:25 AM
0 Deal Score
28,283 Views
I'm in a community college for Business Administration but don't know if I should continue or switch to accounting since it seems to have better chances of landing on a job. I figured if I had an associates in accounting I could get an entry job. But I'm 100% sure I want to transer to a university/college for my bachelors.

I'm in my 3rd semester right now, I'd need take 2 more semesters to get my associates in Business Administration. I could transfer next year without getting my associates and just take the accounting classes needed for the university i'm transferring to.


I'm not really sure what to do now, I will be speaking to my accounting professor soon (hes also the one who controls that department.) I figured I'd ask for your guys suggestions/opinions as well. I've read many threads in this section and a lot of you seem to have experience about different topics.

Thanks in advance Smilie

Edit: Originally I had management in class.. but if you think about it, management is something you learn with experience rather than a degree.
Add a Comment Sorry, this thread is closed.
Report Reply
About the OP
Send Message
koraplaya
Joined Apr 2010 L1: Learner
10 Reputation Points
1 Deals Posted
2 Votes Submitted
15 Comments Posted

26 Comments

View Forum Thread
12

Your comment cannot be blank.

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Joined Dec 2007
Girl Scout
> bubble2 737 Posts
225 Reputation
silenze
09-12-2010 at 12:59 AM.
09-12-2010 at 12:59 AM.
it depends if the classes from the next 2 semesters you would take at the 2 year school would transfer to the 4 year degree you are planning on.
if those classes would transfer for credit then it is better to take those classes at the 2 year school because they will cost a lot less $$$
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Sep 2010
L2: Beginner
> bubble2 48 Posts
17 Reputation
EdgarHoneydew
09-12-2010 at 02:48 AM.
09-12-2010 at 02:48 AM.
Many people in Community Colleges tend to avoid their AA and just transfer on over. That's a bad call and imo you should go for it. In addition, you'll save money since you will be taking the courses at the CC. If you end up going over your transferable units you can just retake the classes at the university and be ahead of the curve.

Also check with your school's counselors to see what other degrees you may just happen to fit into. For completing 4 semesters of Spanish (to which I had no legitimate reason to pass beyond semester 2) I earned a "World Languages" degree that I can add to my resume. Its silly, and stupid, but its just more fluff to impress likely bosses.

Just make sure you can walk the walk and talk the talk. Otherwise, like me, you will be forced to use it as a notoriety of commitment and persistence of education like I plan on using it as.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Dec 2004
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 22,405 Posts
12,231 Reputation
shuriken
09-12-2010 at 04:23 AM.
09-12-2010 at 04:23 AM.
i don't really think you need to waste an extra semester at cc just to finish up your associate's degree. i would just transfer and finish up your four year. just make sure you have a list of classes you plan to take after you transfer to finish on time. the acctg major, at least where i went to school, made you take a lot of classes in succession and i know a few people that had to take a fifth year to finish their undergraduate acctg degrees.

what matters most with an acct major is that you pass the state board of accountancy exams and you have a four year. a lot of my friends have easily landed jobs at firms like kpmg without holding an associate's. Big Grin
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Aug 2004
L6: Expert
> bubble2 1,173 Posts
303 Reputation
j0shua
09-12-2010 at 07:41 AM.
09-12-2010 at 07:41 AM.
Quote from silenze :
it depends if the classes from the next 2 semesters you would take at the 2 year school would transfer to the 4 year degree you are planning on.
if those classes would transfer for credit then it is better to take those classes at the 2 year school because they will cost a lot less $$$
Iagree Make sure whatever additional classes you take at the CC will transfer to relevant courses at the four year university.

Quote from shuriken :
what matters most with an acct major is that you pass the state board of accountancy exams and you have a four year. a lot of my friends have easily landed jobs at firms like kpmg without holding an associate's. Big Grin
If the end goal is to become certified by your state board, make sure you review the requirements to sit for the exam and become certified in your state. For example, in LA, you can get an accounting degree with approximately 130 hours of college credit, but in order to sit for the CPA exam, you have to have 150 hours of college credit (including some specific courses). In order to become certified, you have to work under a licensed CPA for one year and pass the CPA exam.

When I interviewed with public accounting firms, they were interested in four year accounting degrees with the qualifications to sit for the CPA exam.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Jul 2009
SDer Freq. Flyer
> bubble2 1,956 Posts
498 Reputation
cagalindo
09-12-2010 at 08:54 AM.
09-12-2010 at 08:54 AM.
Yes..... cc cheaper and ur there already go for it dude
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Oct 2004
Pirate's Life For Me
> bubble2 11,274 Posts
808 Reputation
PiratesSayARRR
09-12-2010 at 09:28 AM.
09-12-2010 at 09:28 AM.
Management is something you can learn with experience that is unless you are doing it wrong. Classes in management can help build a good foundation to become a good manager with experience.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Feb 2010
L5: Journeyman
> bubble2 750 Posts
111 Reputation
sd07
09-12-2010 at 10:25 AM.
09-12-2010 at 10:25 AM.
I agree with the previous posters. So long as the credits will transfer over, take it at your CC and get that degree. Less $$ and at least you'll have something to put on your resume before getting your bachelor's. I'm going the same route myself.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Joined Jan 2004
L7: Teacher
> bubble2 2,049 Posts
653 Reputation
flee
09-12-2010 at 04:41 PM.
09-12-2010 at 04:41 PM.
Make sure whatever college you are transferring to accepts the credits you are earning at the Community College. The state college I transferred to denied about half the credits I had earned and some of the others I had to have a B or better grade to transfer.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Sep 2007
L99: Deal Hunter
> bubble2 1,187 Posts
498 Reputation
AK_47
09-12-2010 at 08:51 PM.
09-12-2010 at 08:51 PM.
Some universities that are in the same city of CC usually will have a transfer cheat-sheet where all the courses that will be transfered are listed there. I got an AA before BS and about 95% of my CC credits transfered to university saved lots of time and $$$ obviously.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Aug 2007
L10: Grand Master
> bubble2 6,148 Posts
2,278 Reputation
Jeffbx
09-13-2010 at 05:49 AM.
09-13-2010 at 05:49 AM.
Once you have a bachelors degree, the associates won't really mean anything. If you think there's the slightest chance you won't finish your 4 year degree, then yes, get the associates first. Otherwise don't bother.

But as others have stated, take as many classes as you can at cc before transferring to University - you'll save a ton of cash that way.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Apr 2010
L1: Learner
> bubble2 15 Posts
10 Reputation
Original Poster
koraplaya
09-13-2010 at 08:57 AM.
09-13-2010 at 08:57 AM.
I really appreciate everyone's input!

I have to double check what credits transfer to the university i'm transferring to again, since currently i'm going by the business administration classes and would like to change to accounting.

Seems like I'll take whatever credits transfer without getting associates, since i'm very positive I want the bachelor's. I will also talk to my accounting professor sometime this week hopefully.

Again, thanks for all your advices! I'll keep you guys updated on what happens Smilie
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Nov 2008
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 371 Posts
118 Reputation
RammsteinNicCag
09-13-2010 at 12:15 PM.
09-13-2010 at 12:15 PM.
After 2.5 years of college (going for a BS in astronomy and physics until I ran out of money), I transferred to a CC to figure out what I wanted to do. They just enrolled me in some liberal arts thing my first semester. After my first semester, I decided I wanted to get a BS in geology. However, instead of transferring right away, I decided to take one or two summer classes and a full load in the fall semester that included just the right amount of honors credits / types of classes so that I could get my associates with honors degree. In my opinion, it was worth it to me to be able to put "with honors" next to my degree on my resume. I don't remember how many of those classes ended up transferring over when I got my BS in geology, but CC was pretty cheap, so I didn't care much.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Dec 2005
My # is bigger than yours
> bubble2 36,753 Posts
6,457 Reputation
SnakePlisken
09-13-2010 at 12:22 PM.
09-13-2010 at 12:22 PM.
Waste of time, get your Bachelors.
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Joined Mar 2010
Volatile
> bubble2 820 Posts
159 Reputation
Gaz
09-13-2010 at 02:20 PM.
09-13-2010 at 02:20 PM.
Now I get why all of my college counselors told me I should be so thankful for the University System of Georgia (USG). Under USG policies, any college that wishes to give courses in the state has to follow the rule that any credit earned as part of an associate's degree from another USG institution MUST be accepted. I never knew it was an option to just not get your associate's. That's obviously what I did. I got mine in Business Administration, and it was the building block for my coursework in accounting on the 4-year level. It would seem like a lot of the classes for each one would be similar. If that was the case, shouldn't be too much money wasted hm?
Like
Funny
>
Helpful
Not helpful
Reply
Page 1 of 2
12
Sorry, this thread is closed.
 
Link Copied

The link has been copied to the clipboard.