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What the H.E.L.L. is a BGS and what the H.E.L.L. can you do with it?

Elizabeth's picture

SD23 is graduating with a BGS, Bachelor of General Studies. What the hell is that and what does it qualify you to do once you graduate?

Comments

TwoOfUs's picture

Actually, my dad got this degree...it wasn't called a BGS but it was the same idea. Bachelor of Humanities? Anyway. He got a perfect score on the LSAT after college and went to Harvard...so I guess what you do with it depends on who you are.

Last In Line's picture

Eh, I have a BAGS...Bachelor of Arts in General Studies. It does open the way for several Masters Degree programs. Won't claim to have used it that way though. There are numerous jobs/careers out there that specify a Bachelors Degree as minimal education requirement, but they don't really care what the field of study was. I taught in a private school for about 10 years with my degree.

ETexasMom's picture

At least your SD is getting a bachelor degree! My SD is graduating with an associates degree after 5 years at the community college! And she's online acting like it's a PHD.

Elizabeth's picture

Yes, she will have a degree and be unemployable. Yay! No, I totally get where you're coming from. It took SD five years to get this degree as well and only because she couldn't get into the nursing program.

ETexasMom's picture

Lol sounds like my SD. Her's is Associates in Art. She kept switching degrees. The only thing her degree is good for is to switch to a University and doesn't look like she plans to do that. So 5 years in school for a degree that should only take two and is supposed to be a stepping stone.

Disneyfan's picture

The degree may not help her land a job, but it can be used to increase her salary.

For example, if she were here and passed on exam for a job(tranist, Verizon, cable, sanitation...)once she gets hired, her salary would be higher than someone without a degree.

redneck69's picture

at least most places look for a 4 year degree. they don't necessarily care what the degree is in with the exception of teaching and nursing. there have been people that have a 4 year degree in construction and start work in a bank or something. my point is sd should be able to find a job doing something.

Merry's picture

Agree. General Studies in my field is just as good as Art History or anything else that is not a technical degree (no offense to the art history majors--I love you). I hire for attitude and aptitude, and good employees develop the skill sets required or they move on. The specific degree isn't as important as reliability, basic math skills (you'd be amazed at the number of college graduates who can't calculate a percentage), good communication skills (again, I am amazed at the terrible spelling and grammar of some of the college graduates I see), and the willingness to learn and get along with their peers.

Cover1W's picture

I was an Art Historian. I even have my Master's in it. I worked 10 years in the arts.
Till I was 30 and broke and now I don't work in the arts any longer Wink

Like you, I think it all depends on how one works with the degree and the amount of drive one has to succeed.
I wasn't good at math at all, hated it, did terrible in it at school of all levels.

But I liked other things.
So I went into art gallery management, which got me super good organization experience (think about how many things museums/galleries have to manage and track) and people experience (art people and the wealthy art supporters are some of the toughest, craziest people I've ever dealt with) and volunteers (a horrible beast of nutty people to train/manage)...

I'm now basically a project manager managing money and projects with federal dollars at a high-level medical research institution. Whoda thunk with a Liberal Arts degree?

Merry's picture

Hey, I do university research administration with a liberal arts degree too! (Former radio DJ here.) If you go to any of the professional conferences maybe we know each other irl!

Exjuliemccoy's picture

We all know it's a crock of b.s., but hey, at least she's finally done. There should be no more funds funneled her way. Any idea what her plans are now? Where will she live??

oneoffour's picture

My daughter got her BGS before going to Nursing School. Actually she took a lot of classes at Comm College and got her BGS without even knowing it.
They called her and asked if she wanted to attend her 'graduation'. She declined because she had a nursing class that day and had to work.
I think it is a great start for kids who have a false start or don't have enough money to attend an expensive college for all their classes. But as the end of your tertiary education, it is just a stepping stone and you have many ahead of you.

Elizabeth's picture

Of course I am glad SD got a degree. Why do you think we were paying all that money? It's just frustrating because she told DH she needed the extra year because the nursing program is intensive. That was OK, nursing is a good degree. So it's frustrating she didn't get that degree after all. I hire, I wouldn't necessarily discriminate against a BGS degree but I wouldn't see it as a plus when comparing candidates.