₦airaland Forum

Hey everyone, I’m facing a unique issue and would appreciate your advice.

I hold a 3-year BSc degree from the Benin Republic. Recently, I was admitted to several universities in the US. Some schools offered me admission for a B.Sc (second bachelor’s degree through transfer), while others offered admission for an M.Sc. Interestingly, some schools even offered admission for both a B.Sc and an M.Sc.

I’m torn between two options: pursuing a second B.Sc (which would take 2 years since I’ll be transferring credits from my existing B.Sc) or an M.Sc (also 2 years). My primary concern is the visa process and the ease of living in the US. Which option would be more favorable in terms of these factors?

From my perspective, I’d prefer pursuing a second B.Sc because it would provide me with a stronger foundation (since my first B.Sc is 3-year). Additionally, I plan to pursue AI research, and most schools and fellowships I’m interested in require a 4-year BSc.

On a separate note, if I had to choose between two schools with similar rankings and tuition fees were not a concern (since I’ve already secured a student loan), would you recommend choosing a private or public university? I’d appreciate your insights.