The value of education is in making new friends and being able to discuss important growth matters in person. This thing of just getting a paper to "prove" you are qualified is more bogus than your think. Otherwise, people with degrees would automatically find places of service.
My father chose Mercer first, then Andover-Newton as his seminary. His thinking was to get the best education possible and A-N in the 30's was a happening place with all kinds of connections to large NE schools, especially Harvard. He found out when he got out and wanted to come back South that the Southern Seminary boys had a significant edge for consideration by large southern churches of the Baptist variety.
That has not changed so much over the years. In fact, with levels of mistrust running as they are, it is even more important to have people who know you vouch for your integrity in a future place of service.
In my mind, with the games being played over power and triumphalism, I really just don't trust the average SBC seminary graduate to act in a straightforward way. The model preached and taught at our seminaries these days are the mega church and pastoral absolute control. In my 1967-70 days at SEBTS we were being taught a servant model of ministry. The SS Board was offering 3 size models in their SS approach. Now it appears to me the mega is the model and Pharisee control is the mode.