ANA SCHOOL OF NUMISMATICS DIPLOMA PROGRAM vs ANA Summer Seminar

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by mintcollection, Mar 2, 2016.

  1. mintcollection

    mintcollection Member

    Recently I check the ANA grading course:For the ANA SCHOOL OF NUMISMATICS DIPLOMA PROGRAM You only pay about $500 , they will send you the material to you ,and you can take correspondence courses. But for ANA Summer Seminar you have to go there. For the tuition and lodging will cost you over $1500 for one week ( Grading coin 1 then another one more week move to Grading coin 2)
    Is there anyone have experience about this two program , I just want to improve the grading skill ,Will the ANA SCHOOL OF NUMISMATICS DIPLOMA PROGRAM helps to improve your actual grading skill? Since I am just a little bit wonder , if the ANA DIPLOMA PROGRAM can improve your skill , why some people want to spend more money to take the ANA Summer Seminar?
    I appreciate your help!
     
    mintcollection, Mar 2, 2016
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  3. Conder101

    Conder101 Numismatist

    It might but probably no where near as much as the seminar would. Difference between reading and looking at pictures, and having actual coins in you hands to examine and an expert grader right there you can ask questions of.

    Also the seminar is a "total immersion" experience. You not only have your own course, you also have a lot of other serious collector there taking other courses to BS with, exchange information, mini courses, and you can go at it 24/7 if you can stay awake. It's intense, not just a correspondence course you can complete at your leisure.
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2016
    Conder101, Mar 3, 2016
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  4. GDJMSP

    GDJMSP Numismatist Moderator

    There's no question that hands on and face to face instruction is better than a correspondence course. But reality is can you afford the time and the cost ? If you can, then go for it. If you cannot however then you do what you CAN do.

    But even if you take the correspondence course, you can add to that by by reading, and studying, as many books as you can. And attending as many coin shows as you can go to. And attending the coin shows is just as important as any of the books or courses for books are good when coupled with hands on experience. One way or another, at some time or another, if you want to learn about coins you have to get out and actually look at the coins ! And not just a few but thousands of them, and attending coin shows is about the only way there is to do that.

    Coin shows also have seminars of their own that you can attend. And the interaction with dealers and other collectors is invaluable - you will learn a ton just by being around them, talking with them, sharing with them.

    Also, for some people the ANA seminars are great, for others too much, too fast - depending on what your present knowledge level is. So much material is covered in such a short time that it is hard to take it all in, let alone retain it. It would be kind of like trying to attend a full year of school - in two weeks.

    Am I arguing against the seminars ? Absolutely not. But rather trying to get readers to "think" and then decide which course of action is best suited to fill their specific need.
     
    GDJMSP, Mar 3, 2016
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  5. SuperDave

    SuperDave Free the Cartwheels!

    If it were that easy to become "expert," we wouldn't value so much the decades of experience people like Doug bring to the table. All the ANA offerings are worth every penny spent, but the only way you can apply that learning is the same way you actually learn in the real world: experience. That's why people say your "real" learning begins the day you receive your Diploma. Numismatics is an area where nothing beats experience, and there is no real substitute.
     
    SuperDave, Mar 3, 2016
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  6. mintcollection

    mintcollection Member

    Thanks for all of your useful valuable information ! Love cointalk.com ! All the friendly and wise people are here!
     
    mintcollection, Mar 3, 2016
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  7. SuperDave

    SuperDave Free the Cartwheels!

    I would actually love to do the ANA Seminar some day. I'm pretty much self-taught, and undoubtedly have bad habits I'd like to see corrected.
     
    SuperDave, Mar 3, 2016
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  8. messydesk

    messydesk Well-Known Member

    There's no substitute for in-person discussions and coins in hand, especially for grading. There are many scholarships available for the Summer Seminar, especially for YNs. Whether you do a correspondence course or take a more traditional class, however, you have to practice what you learn, or you'll forget it.
     
    messydesk, Mar 3, 2016
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  9. physics-fan3.14

    physics-fan3.14 You got any more of them.... prooflikes?

    Same here. Every year I look at it, and every year I decide to buy a coin with the money instead. One of these years, I'll get out there.
     
    physics-fan3.14, Mar 4, 2016
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