2/15/2013 8:02 AM
The $64K question, literally. The door to our business today will not open without some piece of paper. The Bachelor of Science requirement that many of us predicted has never come to pass. Several jobs in our area listed a B.S. but hired candidates lesser degrees. If all he ever wants to do the rest of his life is work on a golf course then there are a bunch of excellent certificate and Associate Degree programs across the country. They do an amazing job of training our assistants. However, the credits from many of these programs are not transferable, even to the same institution. Especially the shorten, 10 week semester programs. You never know what life is going to throw at you, look at the changes in our industry the past few years. Maybe you'll want to (or be forced to) do something besides working on a golf course. For the price of education today, you would like all the college credits you pay for to transfer. My advice would be to start at community college, all the math, english, etc. will transfer. Like Sandy said, an advisor is critical. Not sure where you are from but if there is a two-year turf program go for it. Certificate or A.S., just make sure it is an academic certificate where classes will transfer. Good luck. This argument has raged for 30 years, it was actually a question on my graduate final 20 years ago. Kenneth Ingram, UMD.