Is there any point in getting an AA?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the value and implications of obtaining an Associate of Arts (AA) degree, particularly for someone who is already on track to complete a bachelor's degree. Participants explore whether there are any benefits to acquiring the AA, considering personal motivations and potential professional advantages.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses uncertainty about the value of obtaining an AA degree, questioning if it would provide any tangible benefits aside from personal satisfaction.
  • Another participant clarifies that in the US, AA degrees are typically awarded by community colleges, not universities, which raises questions about the relevance of the degree in the context of pursuing a bachelor's degree.
  • Some participants suggest that an AA might be useful for job applications if one were to drop out before completing a bachelor's degree.
  • A participant mentions that their university does offer an AA, but acknowledges that it may not be particularly useful, viewing it more as a personal achievement.
  • One participant notes that if the process to obtain the AA is minimal, it might be worth pursuing for personal reasons.
  • Another participant suggests that having an AA could facilitate transferring to another institution, although this is presented as a conditional benefit.
  • One participant shares their own experience of earning an AA, indicating that it provided a morale boost and did not negatively impact their academic or professional trajectory.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the usefulness of an AA degree, with no clear consensus. Some see potential personal value, while others question its relevance given the pursuit of a bachelor's degree.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss various assumptions regarding the requirements and implications of obtaining an AA degree, including its potential impact on job prospects and transfer processes. There is also a recognition of the personal motivations that may influence the decision to pursue the degree.

dkotschessaa
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So I've been in and out of school for years now. I plan on pursuing at least a masters - I'm one year away from a bachelor's degree.

But i have a zillion credits - kind of all over the place. I realized I might be eligible to get an AA from my university. I think I meet all the requirements and would just have to fill out an applications or something.

Might there be any point to this aside from making me feel materially rewarded for having all those credits? I mean it's not like I don't plan to graduate anyway. But dammit, I have so much schooling, I feel like I should have something to show for it - if it's just a personal thing. Am I being stupid?

-Dave K
 
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What's an AA?
 
Associate of the Arts.
 
dkotschessaa said:
But i have a zillion credits - kind of all over the place. I realized I might be eligible to get an AA from my university.

Are you in the US? In the US, universities don't give AA degrees. Community colleges give AA degrees.

No, an AA won't do you any good if you're planning to complete a bachelor's. It might help you get certain kinds of jobs if you dropped out and didn't complete the bachelor's.

Did you attend a community college and then transfer to a four-year school, where you're now enrolled?
 
bcrowell said:
Are you in the US? In the US, universities don't give AA degrees. Community colleges give AA degrees.

No, an AA won't do you any good if you're planning to complete a bachelor's. It might help you get certain kinds of jobs if you dropped out and didn't complete the bachelor's.

Did you attend a community college and then transfer to a four-year school, where you're now enrolled?

My university does offer an AA. It's an obscure little thing they have tucked away amongst the things they offer (http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/9798/aacert.htm)

Yeah, I know it's probably useless. It's more of a personal thing.

I have:

Credits from community college (about 12 years ago) in general studies
Credits from another college (about 10 years ago) in music
Now all the humanities and math for my current degree from this school. I just have so many credits. I feel like I should have something to show for it. It's silly, I know.

-Dave K
 
If all it is is an application, why not?
 
One plays where this may useful is if you plan to transfer. At some places it's easier to transfer in a whole AA than course-by-course. But since this piles up assumption on assumption, so I wouldn't argue this is necessarily a good reason to go down this path.
 
It's kind of a whimsical thing. I don't think I'll be pursuing it. Perhaps if I knew I wasn't going to finish, it would be something for a resume besides "Some college." I was just wondering what people thought.
 
If it doesn't take much effort, I say go for it.

I earned my AA at a community college. I didn't technically need it when I transferred to my 4-year school, but it was a big morale booster for me when I needed a "win." Also, I don't feel that having the AA has hurt me in any way at all. I can't recall, but I may have been asked about it when I interviewed for grad programs (biology), but I was accepted to multiple schools, so it couldn't have been a negative.
 

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