2008 Woodie Awards
Is an A.A. degree valuable? NO
Earning a strong salary requires a higher degree?
By: Samantha Myles
Issue date: 5/26/05 Section: Insight
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An Associate in Arts degree may grant some seniority over the high school sophomore when applying for that job that requires one to ask, "Would you like fries with that?"
But don't expect too many other perks from the degree alone.
OK, so it will go a little further than that, but without completing at least a bachelor's degree, it is unlikely that a person with an A.A. degree will be earning a significant amount of money per year.
Most employers at high-paying jobs will not even look at an application if he or she knows the person applying for it is not a university graduate.
It is absolutely necessary to get a high school diploma or at least a GED certificate in order to get into college; however, it is not necessary to have an A.A. degree in order to move on to a university from a community college.
It is not necessary to earn an A.A. degree in order to transfer from EC to any other university in the United States.
In fact, if one decides to go to a private university such as the University of Southern California, Loyola Marymount University or Chapman University, one doesn't even need to have completed 60 transferable units; students can transfer at any time.
Students might as well meet with a counselor and then fill out the application to apply for an A.A. degree as long as they are planning on earning 60 units before transferring.
However, if one is planning on transferring before receiving 60 units, here's some advice: say to yourself in your best Italian accent, "Ah, forget about it."
The bachelor's degree is the real ticket towards landing a good job.
If a person with a bachelor's degree and a person with an A.A. degree are applying for the same job, there is little doubt that the position will be given to the person with the higher degree.
An A.A. degree shows that a student has completed at least two years at a community college, but most employers want to see four whole years of college completed, not just two.
But don't expect too many other perks from the degree alone.
OK, so it will go a little further than that, but without completing at least a bachelor's degree, it is unlikely that a person with an A.A. degree will be earning a significant amount of money per year.
Most employers at high-paying jobs will not even look at an application if he or she knows the person applying for it is not a university graduate.
It is absolutely necessary to get a high school diploma or at least a GED certificate in order to get into college; however, it is not necessary to have an A.A. degree in order to move on to a university from a community college.
It is not necessary to earn an A.A. degree in order to transfer from EC to any other university in the United States.
In fact, if one decides to go to a private university such as the University of Southern California, Loyola Marymount University or Chapman University, one doesn't even need to have completed 60 transferable units; students can transfer at any time.
Students might as well meet with a counselor and then fill out the application to apply for an A.A. degree as long as they are planning on earning 60 units before transferring.
However, if one is planning on transferring before receiving 60 units, here's some advice: say to yourself in your best Italian accent, "Ah, forget about it."
The bachelor's degree is the real ticket towards landing a good job.
If a person with a bachelor's degree and a person with an A.A. degree are applying for the same job, there is little doubt that the position will be given to the person with the higher degree.
An A.A. degree shows that a student has completed at least two years at a community college, but most employers want to see four whole years of college completed, not just two.