ohwilleke

An associate's degree is all but useless (or worse) except in cases where it is the only degree you have, or it is the normal credential for your chosen field (e.g. being a licensed practical nurse).

An associate's degree would probably make it more difficult, rather than less difficult to get a degree in a computer field. The prevailing assumption, true or otherwise, is that someone who got a B.S. in physics is smart enough to handle difficult computer problems, while someone who got an A.S. in Comp Sci. has a credential that is not backed up by the actual intelligence and ability to do the job and that the courses given at junior college in Comp. Sci. are not sufficiently rigorous. If this isn't true, a few local employers may know this, but out of town employers will not.

Thus, while an associate's degree in comp sci might help you get a job in computers v. having no formal education beyond HS at all, it could hold you back once you get your B.S.

Also, I hate to sound snotty, but a B.S. from U.C. Berkley is worth a lot more in the job market than a degree from SSU. If you are serious about getting a bachelor's degree and can get into Berkley, go ahead and spend the money and get an apartment near campus to cut down on commuting. It will pay off in the long run. Employers look at your pedigree as much as they do at your major or GPA. Berkley is a track to a decent job in your field. A B.S. from SSU isn't going to get you serious consideration in your field without a graduate degree from a more prestigious school to go with it.

It isn't clear if you are contemplating full time study or part time. If it is full time, do not permit location to be a factor. Even if you have a family rooted someone else, 100 miles should not drive this very important decision. If that means you have to stay overnight on campus and be away from the family, so be it.

This isn't to say that a B.S. from SSU isn't a good thing. A bachelor's degree from any accredited college or university opens a lot of doors that are closed without it. The B.S. from any college is an official ticket to membership in the middle class, socio-economically. But, when it comes to an education, you can be ounce wise and pound foolish. Please realize that the market price for private college or out of state tuition is about $15,000 a year. Allowing the difference between $11 a credit and $65 a credit (i.e. about $1,500 a year), make a decision for you is foolish beyond reason. Pick the best education you can find first, and don't worry about those kinds of cost differentials.

By the way, I have to smile at the prospect of a school with 7,900 student being a "very small" school. My alma mater had 2,900 students, with 500 in a music conservatory, and I seriously considered a school with about 1,500 students. My brother's school was a little smaller than mine, and one of my counsins went to a school with about 500 students.

Bree

Boy, I'm glad this only applies to certain fields.

HeatherD

While I agree that an A.S. degree isn't worth as much as a B.S. in physics, I can't see how it would hurt to have both. The physics programs at most of the CA colleges include some programming, mostly MatLab, Mathematica and/or Fortran. Certainly the A.S. or a computer minor is better than nothing else. From what I've been told many physics majors do seek additional computer science or programming knowledge. A computer science minor is probably second only to an astronomy minor. But I can see that a computer science minor might be better than an A.S. degree from a junior college.

I'm curious how much you know about the present college system in CA. Yes, UC Berkeley is highly ranked, it's certainly a name-dropper. If I were 19 years old again and in good health, I'd still be on the east coast so UC Berkeley wouldn't even make it on my radar.

I can't even consider UC Berkeley, it's doesn't cost much more to go but I'm not confident I'll be able to afford SSU. It's highly unlikely I'd even get accepted, U.C. Berkeley rejects around 1/2 of the 4.0 GPA applicants they get every year.

:banghead:
I should try living in a cardboard box. You obviously have no idea of my situation, there is no way I can possibly just uproot myself and go off to any college I choose. It would take too long to explain it fully but I am well aware of my situation, trust me, U.C. Berkeley is out of the question. Getting an apartment nearby is out of the question, commuting is highly improbable at best.

SSU is a very highly rated university in the CSU system. The physics department is also highly-rated, they have a larger percentage of physics majors than almost all the other CSUs. The physics program is financially supported through grants and equipment from many of the large & local industries like Agilent, Medtronics, and OCLI. Many of these national corporations hire as many SSU grads as they can.

I'm presently full-time, living with my sister in-law. I have no income save my VA benefits but they run out in 12 months. My health makes having a part-time job and working at school full-time nearly impossible. I'm lucky that I was able to get health coverage under my sister in-law's family plan. Without the prescription benefit I'd have to cough up about $350 a month for the drugs I take for my chronic allergies, asthma and bronchitis. Without them I'd be choking on my own mucus.

Even if I got accepted at U.C. Berkeley, the scenario you mention is nearly unworkable. I have to make due with what I have available to me. That is why I asked about choosing between the A.S. or a computer minor, in addition to the B.S. in Physics. I didn't ask for a career counseling session.

The B.S. in Physics from SSU is probably the best I can do. I know what the out of state costs are for many colleges. As for the cost differential, that really doesn't come into the picture although SSU does cost more than the JC. Many students go to the JC first because, like me, it's easier to get into SSU as a junior than as a freshman. A 40 year old freshman student will have a harder time getting accepted without recent SAT scores and high-school level education in math and science.