I graduated from CUNY Hunter College and I am currently going for my 2nd degree. I already have taken some classes in NC, but I’m moving back to NY so i decided to apply to some CUNY colleges. I received an email saying I got rejected from all of them (Baruch, Hunter, and City College). When I called the admissions counselor she said I didn’t put down that I graduated from Hunter. I thought they would have all that information since all of them use the same processing center and they have my transcripts. She said she would change it and get back with me the next day. I haven’t heard anything yet. Should I call the colleges themselves to see if they can do anything?
Yes you should.
I received a call yesterday and they said despite the fact that I graduated from Hunter, the rejection is due to my GPA; which is lower than 3.0. The admission counselor recommended that I apply to grad school instead. My thought is how can he say I should when I couldn’t even get in as a transfer second degree student?
Guessing here, but maybe Hunter College gives preference to first degree undergraduate over 2nd degree candidates. Hunter is very overcrowded, with students having great difficulty getting their classes. Given its popularity these days, it has become a lot more selective than in the past. Also, a graduate degree is cost more per credit than a undergraduate degree. There is also the potential for “some” 2nd degree candidates to “game” the system, to the detriment of the college.
Why don’t you tell us what degree you obtain from Hunter and what the 2nd degree (major) you wish to pursue this time around? For the second degree, would it make more sense to pursue a graduate degree in your “new” major, by taking the required undergraduate prerequisites (if required)? Why are you pursuing a second degree versus a graduate degree? With a GPA<3.0, were you rejected from Baruch and City College as well?
My first bachelor’s degree degree is in Psychology and my second degree is in Finance. I was rejected from them as well. I applied to Molloy College also initially as a transfer second degree, but admissions also reached out asking if I wanted to apply for the MBA program instead…saying it would make more sense. They waived the application fee and said that I don’t have to take the GMAT. They also said I can take the pre-reqs along with grad classes so I am going to try that. All of the other grad schools I looked at require the GMAT to be taken before applying. I was applying for a second degree since I wanted to be given priority and also boost up my GPA. I thought that would look attractive for grad schools in the future, and I know some give priority to those who already have degrees in that certain major.
I don’t think going to undergraduate school twice would make you look attractive. Not having to take the GMAT is a blessing, I’d go with Molloy MBA!
The fact that a school is willing to waive their application fee and the GMAT requirement should be a big red flag. Molloy College is not known for the business school and what is disturbing is their statement that you can do the prerequisites along with your MBA classes. FYI, most reputable MBA programs do not have prerequisites per se, since they attract “talented students from a broad range of academic and professional backgrounds.” Molloy appears to be desperate to fill their MBA class and that should be a concern to you. Have you look at Molloy’s MBA graduate placement? An MBA from Molloy is not cheap, especially when R&B is factored into the equation.
Have you figure out the cost of their MBA program? It should be significantly higher than the cost of Baruch MBA program. Hunter and CCNY doesn’t really have a finance major. Brooklyn and Queens College would have been better targets. Have you thought about doing some of the basic MBA courses (Applied Business Statistics, Principles of Financial Accounting and Managerial/Cost Accounting, MIS, Applied Microeconomics, Operations Management, etc.) at Brooklyn/Queens College to boast your GPA and then apply to Baruch College? You could potentially apply those credits towards your MBA in Finance at Baruch or pursue an accounting degree (2nd degree) at either of these CUNYs.
I know a few individuals who did their undergraduate degree in finance and ultimately went back and did a 2nd bachelor’s degree in Accounting.
I know their program will be a bit higher, but it is the most affordable compared to other private colleges. My friend graduated from Molloy’s Accounting MBA program and she was very pleased with it…she makes more now and is considering taking the CPA exam. I wanted to stick with Finance because my current job has to do partly with factoring receivables and I’ve taken interest in that. I want a career as a Financial Analyst. I also know that jobs in Finance pay more than Accounting.