Do you think you are smarter than me because you have a graduate degree?

[Anonymous]

You come off as angry and bitter.

I have a measly Associate Degree and always feel intimidated by those who have their Master's and Doctorate's.

I just do. In reality, these higher ups have studied much longer than I have so it is assumed they are much more educated and intelligent than I am.

Whether or not they posses better common sense remains to be seen.

I always thought of George Bush as a talking idiot.

[Anonymous]

Nope. I have an MA in a specialized field, and so I assume I know more about that field than you do, but I recognize that might not be the case if you're a very interested hobbyist!

FWIW, I'm a "trailing spouse," and so I hang out with a lot of professors and other Ph.D.s. So far, I've only met one person who thinks I'm inferior because I "only" have an MA...me! And I get over that pretty quickly. (My social anxiety plays a part in the initial feelings.)

[Anonymous]

I don't have one but have several friends who do and yes, some of them constantly mention they have one. It's especially annoying when they think every job they've applied for, they should automatically get it because they have one.

I've also worked with some who couldn't explain a simple concept regarding our subject matter yet they'll be the first to say they have a grad degree.

I could go get one to but really don't want to. At this time in my life, I don't think it's worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It took me 12 years to get my bachelors. I hated school and was lazy. I finally got my stuff together and started over when my daughter was born. Last year, I completed my masters program. I'm very proud of my accomplishment. Considering how much I felt like people looked down on me for not having a bachelors, I'd never turn my nose up at someone for not having a masters. The only person I think I'm superior to is the old me who always gave up.

Love this. (Also am completing my bachelor's next year at thirty.) You're an inspiration!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think I'm smarter. I do think I am more accomplished.

That's tautological, in the sense that people with graduate degrees have accomplished something (namely, a graduate degree) that people without graduate degrees have not.

On the other hand, a graduate degree is not the only possible accomplishment. Which means that a person without a graduate degree could well be more accomplished than a person with a graduate degree. What have you accomplished besides getting a graduate degree?

--Got scholarships for undergrad and a full ride to grad school paid for by my employer
--Steadily climbed career ladder from undergrad on, and now make six figures and set my own hours
--My byline has appeared numerous times in The Washington Post
--Two beautiful, healthy children, and a wonderful husband
--Homeowner
--Works of fiction published in literary journals
--Presented at an international literary conference
--Overcame a serious health issue for which I received a pretty grim diagnosis, and am healthy and happy
--Volunteer/donor
--Active member of my church

We good?

Oh, wait! You forgot to mention how humble you are.

NP: You didn't mention how jealous/insecure YOU are...but it shows.

I'm not so insecure that I need to list my accomplishments to a bunch of strangers on DCUM, but okay.

[Anonymous]

Wow! Such bitterness. Seek help OP. It can't be healthy to have this much anger and hostility towards people.

[Anonymous]

OP sounds bitter, insecure and possessed of a serious inferiority complex.
Focus on your own life and stop trying to take offense at what others do. No one cares about what you think, I promise.

[Anonymous]

Masters or PhD?

[Anonymous]

OP is probably just venting after coming across this situation multiple times. I'm not OP btw. But, I have come across this situation, too. There were a bunch of contractors, myself included, at a well known company. The company wanted to hire me, courted me for a few years, but not the other contractor that had the advanced degree (I don't have one). This person kept saying to our manager, "You know I have an xyz advanced degree, right?", like that alone should make him a catch for the company.

[Anonymous]

I have graduate degrees but I really couldn't care less.


To me it is the opposite. If you have a bunch of degrees but all you have managed to do is ring up a bunch of debt and are now underemployed, that to me is a complete waste of time and is frankly not all that smart.

I really don't care where anybody went to school, or where their kids went to school. I say this as someone who works in a place where we love to hire based on pedigree and favor those with a fancy degree over most others. Tons of people with those fancy degrees and pedigrees disappoint. You are either productive or you aren't.

[Anonymous]

Once I studied karate I truly understood the significance of grad school. I always thought black belts were such high level experts that very few could actually achieve it. Then I realized that some of the black belts I met had just committed themselves to studying martial arts and eventually achieved black belt due to persistence even though they weren't high level athletes. You had to have a certain level of athletic ability but what really counts is persistence and determination.

Same with most grad programs. You don't have to be brilliant or even sharp but you need to have some intelligence and you absolutely have to have good work habits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You come off as angry and bitter.

I have a measly Associate Degree and always feel intimidated by those who have their Master's and Doctorate's.

I just do. In reality, these higher ups have studied much longer than I have so it is assumed they are much more educated and intelligent than I am.

Whether or not they posses better common sense remains to be seen.

I always thought of George Bush as a talking idiot.

Stop feeling intimidated by them. You are just as good as they are. They may have more specialized knowledge than you but there is no reason to be intimidated.

[Anonymous]

What a ridiculous thread.

Should we also have a thread by someone who didn't finish high school asking if people who have diplomas feel superior?

It takes time and effort and commitment to finish a degree -- undergrad or grad.

I don't think there is anything wrong with people feeling pride at seeing something through to completion.

In hiring, a degree shows that a person follows through. It doesn't mean that other people who don't have degrees or don't have graduate degrees aren't as intelligent, but it is a way of showing that someone makes the effort to start and finish something that requires time and money and commitment.

Also, most graduate programs also involve more group work than undergrad programs and a thesis project. Completing an independent thesis project shows that a person is able to work independently on long-term projects and complete them.

Again, that doesn't mean someone who hasn't gone to grad school can't do that. But having a grad degree demonstrates that you can and eliminates that uncertainty.

Stop thinking in terms of inferiority and superiority. If you feel like it has hurt you in your career not having a graduate degree, then get one. If it hasn't hurt you, then I'm not sure what your problem is that you feel so outraged that other people have them and are proud of their accomplishments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP is probably just venting after coming across this situation multiple times. I'm not OP btw. But, I have come across this situation, too. There were a bunch of contractors, myself included, at a well known company. The company wanted to hire me, courted me for a few years, but not the other contractor that had the advanced degree (I don't have one). This person kept saying to our manager, "You know I have an xyz advanced degree, right?", like that alone should make him a catch for the company.

OP here. Actually I rarely come across this in real life. I've mainly noticed it here on DCUM. In real life I see a preoccupation with younger co workers (millennials) with grad school. In some cases it helps them get an edge, but mostly, to me as an employer,i prefer to see solid work experience. It's just something I've noticed in discussions here again and again, people touting their educational qualifications as if they have something to prove.

In real life, I'm the person that friends (or co workers) come to for advice and expertise- on many topics, and as this is DC most of those people have grad degrees (though my friends and I are removed enough from that time if our lives that it's rarely discussed). I've always been like that, since I was in kindergarten (and also an academic high achiever with a bachelor's from outside the US which is as specialized as graduate level study here in the states). I also work with many people with doctorates. They certainly are experts in their fields but they too consult me for expertise on other topics. They don't have superiority complexes, but in my experience many younger people do, thinking, it seems, that a graduate degree gives them the right to be hired even if they have zero common sense and no work experience. Gives me the impression that anyone can get most graduate degrees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP is probably just venting after coming across this situation multiple times. I'm not OP btw. But, I have come across this situation, too. There were a bunch of contractors, myself included, at a well known company. The company wanted to hire me, courted me for a few years, but not the other contractor that had the advanced degree (I don't have one). This person kept saying to our manager, "You know I have an xyz advanced degree, right?", like that alone should make him a catch for the company.

OP here. Actually I rarely come across this in real life. I've mainly noticed it here on DCUM. In real life I see a preoccupation with younger co workers (millennials) with grad school. In some cases it helps them get an edge, but mostly, to me as an employer,i prefer to see solid work experience. It's just something I've noticed in discussions here again and again, people touting their educational qualifications as if they have something to prove.

In real life, I'm the person that friends (or co workers) come to for advice and expertise- on many topics, and as this is DC most of those people have grad degrees (though my friends and I are removed enough from that time if our lives that it's rarely discussed). I've always been like that, since I was in kindergarten (and also an academic high achiever with a bachelor's from outside the US which is as specialized as graduate level study here in the states). I also work with many people with doctorates. They certainly are experts in their fields but they too consult me for expertise on other topics. They don't have superiority complexes, but in my experience many younger people do, thinking, it seems, that a graduate degree gives them the right to be hired even if they have zero common sense and no work experience. Gives me the impression that anyone can get most graduate degrees.

Then go get one.