SF Bay Area and LA Pelicans - pls tell me about Golden Gate University

cantdrv55 · 10-30-2008, 08:08 PM

What can you tell me about this school that I will not find on its website?

I'm going back to school for a MBA. I take the GMAT on December 11 and at that time, I must decide where I'd like the test scores sent. I am leaning towards UC Davis, SF State, SJ State and maybe, GGU or Sac State. The closest school to me is UC Berkeley but the cost of the program is astronomical and very selective. I can get to the other schools in an hour or so, depending on traffic. That commute time is no big deal to me but I'd prefer to stay closer to home in my off time.

Golden Gate Univ has a branch about 15 miles from me. The program is very convenient as it's geared towards working professionals. My concern is, it doesn't have an AACSB accreditation, just WASC. I don't really care either way but I'd like to know what employers think about it. My employer is based out of Orange County but the main HR person came from back east so she doesn't know much about GGU.

Anyone here in HR? How about academia? What do you know about GGU? Do you know anyone from your place of work who went to there? Do you know what your employer thinks of non-AACSB accredited schools? TIA.

cantdrv55 · 10-31-2008, 01:05 PM

Zero response? Have I finally stumped the Pelican brain trust?

Burnin' oil · 10-31-2008, 01:10 PM

I think the non-response might mean something, i.e., nobody knows anything about GGU. I'm just responding so you don't have to deal with the angst of posting a thread with no replies. It's a pity reply, really.

juanbenae · juanbenae's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burnin' oil

I think the non-response might mean something, i.e., nobody knows anything about GGU. I'm just responding so you don't have to deal with the angst of posting a thread with no replies. It's a pity reply, really.

more pitty here may-be-so

cantdrv55 · 10-31-2008, 02:08 PM

Gee, thanks guys.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

low quality law school -- one guy said they should put it out of its misery

dunno re mba

PorschePilot · 10-31-2008, 04:02 PM

I went to Haas Business School in Berkley in the mid 80's. It was a much different demographic then. I'm not Asian, so I think I would have a hard time getting in there now. Not racist, just the truth.

But the real advise is. that unless you go to an ivy league business school, most MBA's are virtually equal. Is a check mark on your career to check off.

the · 10-31-2008, 04:19 PM

sounds shady too me.

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

I'll pm you a few thoughts...

MRM · 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PorschePilot

But the real advise is. that unless you go to an ivy league business school, most MBA's are virtually equal. Is a check mark on your career to check off.

This is not quite true. It is that there is a caste system of B schools, just like law schools, but it is very wrong to say that all non-Ivys are the same. There are many more levels of schools than just Ivy and non-Ivy. The classes of schools range from the Ivys to not worth the paper the diploma is printed on. Here is a short guide. The top level of B schools are the prestige schools. Those are the schools where people smile and nod in pleasant suprise when you saywhere you went. As in: Oh. Harvard. Next are the large, well known state schools or well established private schools. Think Uiversity of Wisconsin, Ohio State, ASU, etc. Below that are AACSB accredited schools that aren't otherwise unique. Below that is everyone else.

Prestige schools open doors that are closed to others. Second tier schools will get you in almost everything an Ivy would, but they don't have the prestige. Lots of big companies will recruit from the local big state school that is nearest their headquarters Minneapolis has quite a few Fortune 100 companies. They recruit primarily from the U of Minnesota as much as the Ivys. Third tier schools are for people who need an MBA, but can't go to a higher level school. They are best suited for someone who needs an MBA from anywhere to get into management or a kid who is willing to work harder after graduating to get good jobs.

Fourth tier schools are no good to anyone, as far as I can tell. Maybe they qualify you if your current employer says you'll get promoted if you get an MBA - any MBA, but no one really recruits from places like that to hire people for their MBA training. If they get hired out of a school like that it's for their other skills plus the MBA.

Golden Gate isn't even AACSB accredited. That means no company with serious hiring criteria will consider an MBA from there to be a degree. They simply won't recognize it as an MBA. Unless your employer says that you need an MBA from anywhere to advance, and they OK GG, I wouldn't consider it for any reason. It just isn't a school that potential employers are likely to recognize as having granted an MBA. To them, an MBA from a non-accredited program is the same as not having a degree at all.

Steve Viegas · 10-31-2008, 07:00 PM

UCD and UCB have excellent MBA programs (both in the top 25 last time I checked).

GGU is not in the same catagory.

My personal belief is that an MBA from a school where they have an excellent alumini following is worth gold. The contacts are what I would be looking for from my MBA program. That being said, UCB would get my vote of the schools you listed.