How much more valuable is an honours degree?

[wakeup]

This is probably wrong forum.

But I'm just wondering for people who are working (especially in business and accounting), how much does an honours degree in accounting stand out from non-honours degree?

I'm thinking like this:
-a normal one concentration major in business have 3 extra business courses left to take in whatever course you want.
-a double concentration in accounting and finance will use those 3 extra courses and need 1 more course to satisfy the finance requirement. (so like $300-400 extra)
-if I do honours in accounting, I have to take 6 more courses. so I need 3 more courses ($1000+) and one more semester probably

I'm thinking of just double concentration in accounting and finance (accounting is where I want to go). I feel that it shouldn't be too hard to find a good job as I have coop experience. But do people look at your degree when you are considered for promotions in the future? I'm thinking people just promote you because of your hard work and skills and a double concentration degree will be enough.

Of course honours sounds and looks better but how much more valuable is it? I can just put my GPA on the resume, wouldn't that have similar effects (if the GPA is okish decent).

[countcowden]

some companies will only accept honours degrees and you should check if the courses you take as part of honours count towards the professional qualification you want to end up with.

[Luke]

But I'm just wondering for people who are working (especially in business and accounting), how much does an honours degree in accounting stand out from non-honours degree?

Relevant work experience trumps any honors degree. Not many jobs care about your GPA.

I have an MBA, which required a minimum GPA of 3.0, but no one has ever asked about my GPA, only work experience.

[vash23n]

But I'm just wondering for people who are working (especially in business and accounting), how much does an honours degree in accounting stand out from non-honours degree?

Relevant work experience trumps any honors degree. Not many jobs care about your GPA.

I have an MBA, which required a minimum GPA of 3.0, but no one has ever asked about my GPA, only work experience.

Agreed. I graduated from La Salle without honors and got 900 on the GREs, but still got a full ride to Villanova's graduate program. Of course that was in history and they are a little more desperate for applicants . I do think a well rounded student with good grades (not necessarily in honors courses) and a ton of extra curricular activities (both business and non business related) is an attractive applicant for any job.

[gtmtnbiker]

Your GPA might matter for the first job when you don't have any experience. I remember when I was interviewing for jobs, folks who had a high GPA generally got the better on-campus interviews. After your first job, work experience is what matters.

[nate]

well...I'd guess the way things seem to be the business world, getting into a frat with alot of wealthy people is alot more valuable. who ya know is always better in any job hunt.

also seems very useful to be fairly dishonorable if not full on criminal.

sorry, I don't mean to be a jerk but 20 yrs in the working world has shown me it ain't a meritocracy by any means. but having said that I recomend taking the high road. if you can manage the load, go for it.

[lordofduct]

I'm with nate on this one... it's all about who you know.

Honours courses make you shine in school, once out it may assist in making you look better then a equal applicant with the same work experience (basically little to none) applying at the same time... it's like that little extra oomph.

Of course in some fields it may be more oomph then other (like yours has 6 extra courses... so it probably comes with a little more oomph).


But in the end it all comes down to notoriety. Frats as nate said give you that... but honours courses do the same. An honour course gets you noticed by professors and recruiters, and even the classmates you'll meet. Students can be very picky about people based on grades, and honours always comes with peer respect (or other things that are bad, like jealousy). This again gets you knowing people.

I love how my buddy describes his 5 years of university:

"I learned two hot keys in 3d studio max and met a bunch of people."

the only reason he got a job was because of one of those people he met. Turned out the guy was some famous professional from his industry and put a word into a big name studio for him.




Bar in mind - I'm a college drop out, shit was pointless for me... I met the people in my industry in a more affordable manner. By leeching off the social cliques of those who did spend the money to go to school!!!! GO POVERTY!

[nate]

yep, I've read stories about guys getting promotions cause they had a better fantasy football game over a a guy with a more qualified background just cause the boss liked him and also played fantasy football.

I personally work in skilled labour. I'm a welder/fabricator. I don't fully trust people who don't get dirt under their fingernails at work.

but again, it's always better to be smarter.

[vash23n]

yep, I've read stories about guys getting promotions cause they had a better fantasy football game over a a guy with a more qualified background just cause the boss liked him and also played fantasy football.

I personally work in skilled labour. I'm a welder/fabricator. I don't fully trust people who don't get dirt under their fingernails at work.

but again, it's always better to be smarter.

That reminds me of The Office where they all sit around playing COD. The boss comes out and says he needs to talk to Jim and you think he's about to get in trouble for playing video games, but the boss scolds him for not being better on their COD team.

[wakeup]

I understand what you guys are saying about networking completely and totally agree that knowing the right people is key.

I checked the 6 courses that I need for honours, 3 of them are used by the designation that I want. I see that the general opinion is that honours will get you a job easier but not really essential at all, which is how I thought. So that's good to know.

I'm still probably going to go for my finance concentration. But I'm wondering what the cost difference is taking those courses that is needed for my designation in university as opposed to college. That will probably determine if I want to do the honours. If the cost is similar, it's really just 3 more courses, so I think it'll ok.