<p>I’m getting an A.S. in Biological Sciences. That, along with IGETC certification and completing the joke of an honors program at De Anza, makes me feel like I really got the most out of my 3 years at community college.</p>
<p>Edit: I don’t want to sound mean or condescending by calling it a joke. I just feel that 10 hours of extra work each quarter is pretty minimal for the title of “Honors Scholar”. Plus it’s not a TAP-certifying program.</p>
<p>@kalamansi:</p>
<p>Yes, but there is a factor to consider. If you are transferring to a school far away from your current CC, you will have to complete the requirements at a local CC or UC. Since schools often have a minimum unit requirement completed at the school before graduation, this means your one class may turn into 12 units or so unless you arrange to have them transfered back to your current CC.</p>
<p>Im kind of confused about all this. So you don’t have to get an AA or AS but an IGETC certificate? And I thought all students have to graduate (walk at the ceremony…or so i read on the graduation page of my cc). Geez 2 months till graduation and I still have no clue whats going on lol.</p>
<p>I am getting my AA in Behavioral Sciences in 8 weeks.</p>
<p>I never graduated High School so this is my first time wearing a cap and gown.</p>
<p>Can’t wait to get the BA from a UC in 2 years, but this ceremony means a lot to me because I busted my ass to get back in school and worked really hard once I was in.</p>
<p>^ No, an AA degree is optional for transfer. I did transfer as well. I did not have to walk, thank God. I was 9 months pregnant at the time. 
</p>
<p>I got my AA degree in History just for the heck of it. I guess I just wanted some sort of recognition for those two years. I needed all the classes required for it anyway. The AA degree won’t do anything for me, really. To me it’s just a piece of paper that acknowledges I completed a certain program. </p>
<p>I contemplated an AA degree in music. I wouldn’t want to go so far to major in it, but it would be nice to have something that says I went through the motions, even if just halfway. As a church musician, it would actually help. It would definitely help for doing something “on the side”, so to speak. Instead of saying, “yeah I took some music classes” you can say, “yeah I have an associates degree in music.” It just shows more commitment.</p>
<p>Yes, in English and Interdisciplinary Studies (aka Liberal Arts). I needed the units anyway, so why not complete the few required classes I haven’t already taken.</p>
<p>thanks for the feedback everyone. I might talk to a counselor and some of my professors about this as well.</p>
<p>@kalamansi isn’t kinda late to turn in the application for an AA degree?</p>
<p>I am for political science, no reason not to.</p>
<p>I’ve talked to some people that believed in some cases an associates can actually hurt your chances at landing certain jobs. For example, in high finance(industry that is notorious for being “academically shallow”). By putting down your associates you just outed yourself as a transfer student instead of a full fledged student from whatever 4year you received your bachelors from. And we have all heard the stereotypes about transfers and the animosity nontransfer students have towards transfer students. The incompetent stereotype is now something that is associated with your resume because of that AS/AA.</p>
<p>Thoughts on this?</p>
<p>AA</p>
<p>in teacher education</p>
<p>@alvaroamorin I was planning to do it after transferring, but if it is not possible then it’s fine.</p>
<p>@MeStudyStuff that’s an interesting point. It would probably be hard to find someone who had an experience like that since they won’t know what they got accepted or rejected for. It would be nice to discuss more about this though. If anyone has any more feedback on this, that would be awesome.</p>
<p>@MeStudyStuff it is just as easy to not include the AA in your resume. Employers rarely, if ever, check out your academic record beyond what you put on your own resume.</p>
<p>No one will know about my AA or that I am a transfer student unless I tell them myself. But then again, I do not plan on going into any field that would give a rats ass if I was a transfer or not.</p>
<p>@MeStudyStuff I guess it depends on how your employers view your achivements. If it’s off putting that you were a transfer student to X university, then forget them! Apply elsewhere 
lol but honestly, you could easily omit info on your resumes, as @BerkeleyorBust said :)</p>
<p>@kalamansi</p>
<p>Sorry i just confirmed with a counselor that you can still apply for your associates once you transfer as long as you complete the prereq’s… and i just remembered that is what my girlfriend is doing. She needs a library studies class for the associates and she will take this class over the summer. She is also transfering this fall</p>
<p>BerkeleyOrBust: @MeStudyStuff “it is just as easy to not include the AA in your resume. Employers rarely, if ever, check out your academic record beyond what you put on your own resume.”</p>
<p>^ This. My major is Social Science & my goal is to go into teaching. When I go to apply for jobs, honestly there won’t be a reason to include my AA degree. My BA degree + the credential encompasses all of that work anyway. I would be willing to bet a lot of people don’t include their AA degree on a resume if it’s along the same lines as what their higher degree was for. I’m sure there are cases where it is appropriate.</p>
<p>If I planned on leaving an associates out of my resume(I probably would, super shallow industry here I come! ) then it would make sense to not go for my associates in the first place. At my CC, I was surprised how many more classes I needed for my AS. Even after IGETC and my transfer reqs I had to take on average an additional 4-5 classes depending on the major. In my case, I think it would not be a good idea to go for my associates since it would push my transfer date back another year and I’d possibly lower my chances at landing a job. Getting an AA/AS is not as harmless as many people make it out to be. In general it is, but there are exceptions students need to know about just so they’re not blindly going for something that can potentially push transfer a year and also have no use(can actually harm their chances at landing a job).</p>
<p>And besides, I firmly believe taking transfer req. classes > associates req courses assuming there is no overlap. Transfer as fast as possible and if you’re home during winter/summer breaks then take the extra courses for your AA/AS.</p>
<p>@alvaroamorin thanks for confirming that with your counselor. I’ll probably do the same thing that your girlfriend is doing and try to do the class over the summer.</p>
<p>“And besides, I firmly believe taking transfer req. classes > associates req courses assuming there is no overlap. Transfer as fast as possible and if you’re home during winter/summer breaks then take the extra courses for your AA/AS.”</p>
<p>This. lol.</p>
<p>I’m transferring to Cal Poly SLO (unless I get into Berkeley EECS ) in Fall 2011. I’m only two classes away from finishing an AA in Math (and if the Physics AS is approved by the state in time, that too) but I probably won’t complete it. Why? Because I’ve applied for some internships, and if I get one, I’ll do it over summer instead. I’ve prioritized internship experience in my major over associate degree classes I otherwise wouldn’t need.</p>
<p>If I don’t get any internships this summer, then I just need to take a health ed. class and a social science class to get the associate’s degree.</p>
<p>I’m getting my AS in Chemistry before transferring. I’m doing this because why the hell not? I realized I fulfilled all of the requirements for one, I might as well get my hands on it. As for perks? Don’t know many. I guess you could say it may help for some internships… may… Aside from that it’s just a degree that says you’ve had some college under your belt. If anything, you’ll have more proof of education than your peers who haven’t earned a BS/BA or an AS/AA.</p>