Hanging diplomas

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My ivy league diploma is rolled up in its original tube somewhere. i thought about framing it years ago but never got around to it and now it seems pretty irrelevant.

Well, you know it makes a difference if the diploma is from an ivy league school or not. Maybe we should advise OP what we suggest based on where the diploma is from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:very tacky.

why, when in a home office?

do you feel they should be hung somewhere else or no where at all?

Not in a home office that is open to the rest of the house (as described by OP). I think it's gauche unless you've graduated in the past five years or so. (I think it's fine in a home office that is private and not seen by anyone but you and your spouse/kids.)

On the other hand, I know lots of people who have other cool things hanging like photos with presidents and other dignitaries, travel memorabilia, recent prestigious awards, etc. These are the sorts of things that reflect the person's life and loves and accomplishments. It's like filling a room with these great experiences - unlike a paper diploma.

Anyhow, only my two cents. But I've never seen diplomas hanging in the homes of very accomplished people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:very tacky.

why, when in a home office?

do you feel they should be hung somewhere else or no where at all?

Not in a home office that is open to the rest of the house (as described by OP). I think it's gauche unless you've graduated in the past five years or so. (I think it's fine in a home office that is private and not seen by anyone but you and your spouse/kids.)

On the other hand, I know lots of people who have other cool things hanging like photos with presidents and other dignitaries, travel memorabilia, recent prestigious awards, etc. These are the sorts of things that reflect the person's life and loves and accomplishments. It's like filling a room with these great experiences - unlike a paper diploma.

Anyhow, only my two cents. But I've never seen diplomas hanging in the homes of very accomplished people.


Oh please. If you worked hard for something, paid for it and/or are proud of it, there is no reason they cannot be displayed. A nice framed diploma is not "gauche".

[Anonymous]

Eh, I didn't work all that hard to get my undergrad or grad degree. Mine are tossed in the closet somewhere. I figure if I ever need proof I have them the school can verify it for me.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on where you went to school. DH and I each have 2 ivy league degrees, but never tell people unless specifically asked because we've found people make all sorts of incorrect assumptions about our income, intelligence, snobbiness. I would never want to advertise our school affiliations because I would feel like other people would take it like us advertising "look how important/special I am". Displaying an Ivy degree feels tacky unless you're trying for a kitsch vibe (with sports penants and so forth).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:very tacky.

why, when in a home office?

do you feel they should be hung somewhere else or no where at all?

Not in a home office that is open to the rest of the house (as described by OP). I think it's gauche unless you've graduated in the past five years or so. (I think it's fine in a home office that is private and not seen by anyone but you and your spouse/kids.)

On the other hand, I know lots of people who have other cool things hanging like photos with presidents and other dignitaries, travel memorabilia, recent prestigious awards, etc. These are the sorts of things that reflect the person's life and loves and accomplishments. It's like filling a room with these great experiences - unlike a paper diploma.

Anyhow, only my two cents. But I've never seen diplomas hanging in the homes of very accomplished people.


Oh please. If you worked hard for something, paid for it and/or are proud of it, there is no reason they cannot be displayed. A nice framed diploma is not "gauche".

Ummm. Okay if it makes you feel better, then get some "nice frames" and put them up. There's nothing wrong with it; it's just not something that you want in your living room or kitchen or home office that's part of your family room.

[Anonymous]

Why don't you buy some art instead?

[Anonymous]

Do whatever you want to do, OP. I'd rather see a person's home be a reflection of them than some "appropriate" but sterile environment that has no soul.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it depends on where you went to school. DH and I each have 2 ivy league degrees, but never tell people unless specifically asked because we've found people make all sorts of incorrect assumptions about our income, intelligence, snobbiness. I would never want to advertise our school affiliations because I would feel like other people would take it like us advertising "look how important/special I am". Displaying an Ivy degree feels tacky unless you're trying for a kitsch vibe (with sports penants and so forth).

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/20/AR2009092001806.html?hpid=sec-education

[Anonymous]

I think some of the responses above are hilarious!! DCUM at its finest!

It's hard for me to see how it's tacky to display your diplomas in your own home. Whatever makes you happy, OP!!

[Anonymous]

I guess I don't see the point - what does it really show anyway? It's not THAT hard to graduate from college and grad school. I went to excellent schools, but my biggest accomplishment was competing for, and securing, a full fellowship that paid for my graduate school, and while in grad school, getting an article published.

For undergrad, I wrote an award-winning paper I'm very proud of. So, my diplomas don't really show what I'm most proud of anyway.

I would use the space to hang up more pictures of DD - she is by far my proudest accomplishment!

[Anonymous]

I think it's tacky because it makes explicit something that should be understood. We assume that you are educated. You should be showing your education through your actions, not a piece of paper. I don't see how putting up diplomas is any different than posting your investment account balance. After all, you worked hard to earn that money and make those investments, right?

I agree, though, that perhaps a recent grad could get away with it. That's more akin to sticking your report card on the fridge with a magnet. But we should outgrow the need for that particular kind of validation.

[Anonymous]

Do you think it is tacky to do it in your actual office? What if you are a Professor or Doctor?

[Anonymous]

I think it's required for medical professionals. And for professors, it makes sense because scholarly credentials have a lot to do with the people you studied under. Especially in the humanities, you'll hear a lot of "Prof So-and-So taught my 18th century lit class, which inspired my second book..." Sort of like a professional geneaology. Though my friends who are professors don't have theirs up anywhere.

[Anonymous]

I hung my Ph.D. diploma in my home office. I have it there frankly as a reminder, sometimes in the midst of diaper changes, cleaning the house and work, I forget I have a doctorate.