Is this wise?With a g.e.d?

Question

I've just obtained my g.e.d,at 19...and i have a greater intrest in writing music but i also like film making.I love movies..My major in college at university of phoenix is business management.Is there anyway someone can work in the film industry with a business management degree?Also,The way societys standards are,do you think people will respect me if i atleast go for a masters?But i only started with a g.e.d?

Answer 1

Filmmaking is very much a business, so your management degree would be helpful in the production office. The producer's job is business oriented in that the producer obtains the financing and brings all of the elements together needed to make the film.

Also, you could make movies after work or volunteer for student films on weekends. Read Robert Rodriguez's book "Rebel Without a Crew" and see how far determination can get someone.

Once you earn a college degree, no one is going to care about whether you started with a high school diploma or g.e.d.

Lastly, respect has nothing to do with your credentials. People will respect you if you're trustworthy and reliable. Knowing how to do your job and working hard will get you farther than any piece of paper ever could.

Answer 2

The higher education level you seek,the more marketable you will be. Business Management is a decent degree to get if you want to work in any business industry. However, I would rethink UoP as your school. Go to a Community College first, then transfer to a four-year university. UoP won't get you any leverage in the business world, and has been criticized for their degree programs.

Starting with your GED isn't a bad thing. It is the same a high school diploma, even though some people don't agree. Don't let those people hold you back!

Answer 3

Once you graduate from college, no one will worry about your GED. You'll have to list it on application forms, but you won't put it on your resume, and no employer will care about the GED at all.

With a business major, you may be able to find work as a production assistant in LA or NYC once you graduate. A business major is fine, and could be very useful. But film is a very competitive industry. I honestly believe you'll have a better shot of getting an entry-level job in the industry if you went to a school with a better reputation.

How far along are you with U Phoenix? Can you transfer someplace with a better rep?

Answer 4

Starting a race isn't nearly as important as finishing it. The film industry may be more dependent on contacts and experience in the industry. But still get the master's so that you'll have an even broader selection of careers.

Answer 5

A business degree would probably serve you well no matter what industry you choose. But UOP? At age 19, you owe yourself much, much more. If you must go online, check out an institution with AACSB (University of Florida), ACBSP (Southern New Hampshire University), or at least IACBE (Nova Southeastern University) accreditation. the schools I named above are merely 3 out of hundreds of possible choices. Check out http://www.onlineuc.net/degrees.html for more info.

Stay away (if at all possible) from for-profit education like UOP, AIU, FMU, Strayer, DeVry, Keller, Westwood, etc. They are certainly legit, but FAR from stellar. It may be a red flag on your resume someday.

Here's a neat article I ran across on the web:

The University of Phoenix is very adept at spinning the accreditation story. Like all universities, they do have regional accreditation. However, they haven't been able to secure program/professional accreditation. And all of the best business degree programs now carry both regional and professional accreditation from an accrediting body that's been approved by the Department of Education. A program accreditation to look for is Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. It's considered to be one widely accepted standard in the market for business education. Another to consider is the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).

Aside from accreditation, your biggest concern should be how employers view degree education and where it comes from. Employer organizations are beginning to "just say no" to graduates of for-profit education businesses. Two examples prove this trend. First, there's a recruitment software company, owned by the Washington Post, called BrassRing that has publicly stated that companies are now searching for candidates and specifically eliminating certain schools from their employee search. BrassRing is able to track this trend because several large corporations they work with on recruitment are excluding graduates of for-profit schools in their hiring search criteria.

Secondly, during the last 12 months, our organization has asked company executives at the most reputable HR industry conferences about hiring and promotion activity related to people holding online degrees. Our 12-month study suggests for-profit institution popularity is slipping as company standards increasingly call for quality, well-educated candidates. For more statistics that track this trend see this 12 month corporate preference study.

Ultimately, much of your fate depends upon where these movements continue to head and how people knowingly perceive them. We're a group that neither cares to nor earns a living off from making predictions. However, this much is factual. To date, the following organizations have publicly stated that the University of Phoenix (as do many for-profit education businesses) has problems: U.S. Department of Education (which fined UofP for $9.8 million); EduVentures; Inc. Magazine; BrassRing (owned by The Washington Post); accrediting bodies such as AACSB; and reputable organizations like Education Commission of the States (ECS).

If your goal with education is to apply what you're learning towards landing a better job or career and if word continues to travel about how employer organizations shun graduates from UofP and other for-profit schools, it might be best to reconsider your choice.