Spinoff of Ciminok's Education Post: Does it matter to you?

I don't mean does it matter to you that YOU have higher education. The question is do you react when finding out someone else's education level.

For example you mean this complete idiot. heh.. Not just acts stupid but REALLY REALLY is a bit on the slow side. Not dumb just not sharp if that makes sense. The type you have to truly draw a picture for, literally (I do this at my job). You know, write down the numbers so they see that 2 plus 2 really does add up. Then you find out this person has a BA in Math.

Does this make you think:
1- Oh maybe it was just an off day because someone as educated as that can't possibly NOT grasp simple things like this. It must be a mistake or my fault for not explaning myself clearly.

Or

2- Get the name of that school so my children won't apply!!!!

Same goes in reverse. Ever meet someone who is very well spoken and has a good knowledge base. You know the sharp type. Never needs further explanations just 'gets' it and absorbs new tasks easily. Then you find out this person only has a GED or HS Diploma and think:
1- You lose a bit of respect for that person. They just aren't as bright as you thought, probably just luck or this stuff is REALLY easy anyhow.

or

2- Shame they didnt finish school, they already have so much going for them. I know fools with less practical use of their brains with higher educations. Shame shame shame but I won't think less of them. Instead I applaud them for getting so far and not stopping.

Just curious what the reaction is.

Honestly I got this lady here..
DRIVES ME NUTS!!
She has her BA and loves to toss it around 'I spent 7 years in school, you should understand' It reminds me of the UPS commercial about the MBA.

Anyhow.. she's slow. Not dumb, just off the mark a bit. We've thrown REALLY complex stuff at her and as long as she has the time to do it and socialize she's fine. But she's not the type to multitask or check her work.

She's REALLY a nice person. I swear! But you know instead of just saying she's an idiot, I always say 'it's cultural, after all she *IS* educated'. I know that's wrong, but in my mind I keep thinking it.

Even though i KNOW she purposely skipped her grad enterance exams by going to Australia (she's quick to tell you they don't require them there) and honestly it does make me think.

*shrug*

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Posted by TwoBugs

It took her 7 years to get a BA....?

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TwoBugs, I was thinking the same...

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Posted by BoogieDownBride

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Posted by TwoBugs

It took her 7 years to get a BA....?

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TwoBugs, I was thinking the same...

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It took me 10 years.....when you work full time and go to school part time and can only take 2 classes a semester it can take you that long....but I did it and that is all that matters to me now...

7 years..
Don't ask me.. I dont have a BA!! hehe


Norway to US to Australia to US

I guess that explains it? Who knows.

As I said she's a bit.. err.. different.

I, personally, get to start college later this year.. at 29. WHOOHOO

Im so fed up with people's attitude of 'oh.. I thought you had a degree' when I say no.. some are stupid enough to say 'but you're so well spoken' as if that's just not possible. My work product (letters, meetings, etc) it's a professional skill. Granted I read an average of 700 pages a week, none of it's really moving. Im not stupid, I just don't have a degree. People around this office are VERY picky about that.

Grad students automatically get a $5,000 increase in salary and special VIP treatment. I generally don't care since I make about $5,000 more than them and have three professional designations.

Still, my bosses have made it clear. I am NOT allowed to promote without my degree. I am not allowed a few other work functions until I at least START school. They're pushing me to get licensed (which isnt a big deal) and take one course by the end of this year.

LETS FORGET I'M GETTING MARRIED!!

It's strange, but I think I can manage it. Wonder how many courses I can just test out of?


PS: uhmm anyone know any good schools in NYC? hehe That's the other thing. I know next to NOTHING about most of the schools out here. But I have to choose one. My job pays up front for the school (if they find it acceptable). So far I know they pay for NYU's MBA and for Fordham's MBA and Columbia's MBA.

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Posted by Xelindrya

PS: uhmm anyone know any good schools in NYC? hehe That's the other thing. I know next to NOTHING about most of the schools out here. But I have to choose one. My job pays up front for the school (if they find it acceptable). So far I know they pay for NYU's MBA and for Fordham's MBA and Columbia's MBA.

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If they pay for the MBA programs at those schools then they probably also pay for undergrad programs also.

I went out-of-state for undergrad, but the schools you mentioned above are all great schools. Try St. John's, CUNY Baruch, Hofstra Univ. They all have good business programs if that's what you plan to major in.

As to your question, the degree a person has doesn't matter to me. It's a person's character, integrity, work ethic, etc... that matters.

I admit...in the past that I almost thought a BA was a prerequisite for guys that I dated...


boy did DH give me a swift kick in my bum for that theory!!!


He is such a computer geek...I was dumbfounded (pun intended) when I found out that not only did he not go to college...but he was kicked out of HS...(for being late 75 times....and probably a smartass)


now there are some careers where I expect people to earn their degrees...like doctors...but what a reality check DH gave me...especially since he makes double what I do and I have 3 degrees on him


college was for me...but I definitely learned that its not the end all be all

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Posted by Lisa Rose

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Posted by BoogieDownBride

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Posted by TwoBugs

It took her 7 years to get a BA....?

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TwoBugs, I was thinking the same...

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It took me 10 years.....when you work full time and go to school part time and can only take 2 classes a semester it can take you that long....but I did it and that is all that matters to me now...

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I meant no offense...part-time didn't occur to me for some reason...

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Posted by Xelindrya

PS: uhmm anyone know any good schools in NYC? hehe That's the other thing. I know next to NOTHING about most of the schools out here. But I have to choose one. My job pays up front for the school (if they find it acceptable). So far I know they pay for NYU's MBA and for Fordham's MBA and Columbia's MBA.

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Hunter is a CUNY school...(read: affordable) - if your comp has spending limits...

My mother has her masters....my dad never went to college - they've been happily married for over 30 years.

I have my Masters...Tom never went to college....honestly, it has never bothered me.

I needed a degree to do what I do - he doesn't.

FH is a self-taught, successful technology consulting firm owner. He has a little bit of college education in hotel and restaurant management, which has nothing to do with what he's doing now. A formal education would serve him no purpose in his life, as the curriculum cannot keep up in his field with the day-to-day leaps that technology takes.

I have a bachelor's degree and a doctoral degree with 7 years of formal education behind me and a fancy shmancy little title (said with tongue planted firmly in cheek). He makes so much more money than I do that my salary last year was about $50 more than what he paid in taxes alone.

Education does not automatically equal success (especially monetary success). I feel that, although my salary certain doesn't reflect it, I am good at what I do and have had certain successes that my contemporaries have yet to achieve. I believe that FH has accomplished things that some people can't even come close to accomplishing in a lifetime. All without a formal college education.

So my answer (after droning on like the windbag I am), is that as long as someone can hold a reasonable, intelligent conversation with me, I couldn't care less where they went to school or if they went to school at all. I will admit that in a forum where the only conversations that are had are typed, I find that people who can't spell or punctuate worth a lick definitely set me off, I don't find that those people are necessarily uneducated (without a formal education). I do think that it indicates that maybe a formal education doesn't mean jack squat if someone can't communicate using the English language properly, but I generally reserve judgement until I have had enough time to get to know someone, and not their education level.

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Posted by palebride

My mother has her masters....my dad never went to college - they've been happily married for over 30 years.

I have my Masters...Tom never went to college....honestly, it has never bothered me.

I needed a degree to do what I do - he doesn't.

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OK, that's scary. I swear I could have written that.

Well I make thousands more than Jim and he has the degree (marketing) i don't.

My very good friend in San Fran got kicked out of HS with a sort of certificate saying 'he's done enough' but never really got a graduation. I GUESS it's a HS Diploma. Mostly I think the school was just trying to get rid of him. He went to a school where money mattered, his family had enough that he didnt really need to do HS (don't you love the school systems) but stayed because his Girlfriend needed to finish.

Didnt even TRY to go to college. He'll say that college is for idiots who are trying to improve themselves by memorizing for exam that they never use in real life. He gave me hell for my one 'wasted' year in college as well.

That bugger makes TWICE what I do and drives around in a BMW and flies first class everywhere. It had nothing to do with his family's money, he just got into the Tech World at the right time. To be honest. It annoys the F out of me, but hey.. how can I blame him?

I think it depends on the person mostly.

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Posted by BoogieDownBride

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Posted by Lisa Rose

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Posted by BoogieDownBride

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Posted by TwoBugs

It took her 7 years to get a BA....?

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TwoBugs, I was thinking the same...

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It took me 10 years.....when you work full time and go to school part time and can only take 2 classes a semester it can take you that long....but I did it and that is all that matters to me now...

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I meant no offense...part-time didn't occur to me for some reason...

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No offense taken...I just wanted to give another point of view!! Now, if she went FULL time and it took 7 years...then there is a problem!!

there are some people who graduate college and still arent smart.... for example the students who get copies of what the tests are going to be and study them( i just saw this happen at the last test i took)

however, i might think the person is lacking something, if they couldnt finish hs, or get a ged... because that i find important