What is your opinion of people who prominently display diplomas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just wondering.


To me it’s a display of pomposity and I think less of the person.


(FWIW I attended a T20 undergrad and a ‘good’ grad school, but I don’t know where my diplomas are and would not dream of mounting them on a wall. I did not attend any commencement ceremonies and paid my way through everything.)

As a younger Black woman in a field that was dominated by older White men, my diplomas stopped some ridiculous conversations before they started:

“When you get around to grad school, you’ll learn _____.” (I already had a master’s in the field. And that technique was two decades out of favor.”

“I didn’t know HBCUs offered _____!” (I didn’t go to an HBCU.)

“_____ is confident that you can handle this.” (Maybe our head thinks that because I have an advanced degree focused on this problem that I earned after field work through a leading university?)

In fact, it was my mentor, a White man in his mid 50s who advised me to hang them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Display where?

In their office - fine.
In their living rooom - weird

This. Certain professions and environments a diploma is not only OK to display, it SHOULD be displayed, such as lawyers, doctors, etc.

I guess it’s the norm but I don’t care about seeing my doctor’s diploma either. I admit, I’ve gotten nervous with young doctors and seeing the year on the diploma or old doctors. Age discrimination is real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Display where?

In their office - fine.
In their living rooom - weird

As long as they aren’t on a bedroom wall, no problem.

Why do you care? And why are you snooping in someone's bedroom? (I have my diploma in my basement in a box)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m always a bit surprised at things that others have opinions on and choose to judge others for. I do not display my diplomas but it’s not from any deep thoughts about it. It’s never crossed my mind to have an opinion when I’ve been in offices with framed diplomas.

This!

[Anonymous]

It is fine. DH and I have them in our home office.

[Anonymous]

I wish more school teachers would put up their diplomas. I think it's good for kids to see and encourages conversations about different colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just wondering.


To me it’s a display of pomposity and I think less of the person.


(FWIW I attended a T20 undergrad and a ‘good’ grad school, but I don’t know where my diplomas are and would not dream of mounting them on a wall. I did not attend any commencement ceremonies and paid my way through everything.)

I'm so glad you put this qualifier. I was thinking you went to a lesser educational institution and could not believe a state school grad would have the audacity to even mention this.

[Anonymous]

I’m a lawyer. I had my degree and bar admittance on the wall in my office like plenty of the people I worked with. Now that I’m no longer practicing it is on the wall in my home office. Not sure why anyone cares about this.

[Anonymous]

In their office? Fine.

In their dining room? Weird. (Based on a true experience)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a lawyer. I had my degree and bar admittance on the wall in my office like plenty of the people I worked with. Now that I’m no longer practicing it is on the wall in my home office. Not sure why anyone cares about this.

You are doing it right. It’s fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sister bought my kid an expensive university-logoed diploma frame for high school graduation. The kind she always wanted. It will probably get used.

I honestly believe this is the key difference in diploma hanging or not. Not whether or not you are pompous, but whether or not someone gifted you a $200 frame.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in a house where alcohol was present and often drunk. At weekends my parents would have a gin and tonic before dinner, then a glass of wine or two with their meal, and perhaps a cognac or a port after dinner.

So yes, you bet when I pass my “Cybersecurity in Five Minutes” course I am going to print out my certificate and pin it to my wall. No apologies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My ex-war-refugee husband, who remembers going hungry as a child, clawed his way to an MD and a PhD and probably doesn't even remember where he stored his diplomas. To him the ultimate achievements are living well and giving a great education, as well as a comfortable life, to his children.

But would he judge anyone putting their diplomas on the wall? Not at all. Neither would I. Do what makes you happy!

I married a woman from Scotland. Her father was an extremely well regarded specialist physician who treated heads of state around the globe. As such, his colleagues were all pretty much THE subject matter experts in their respective field.

Our wedding had many of these people present. One gentleman in particular had saved the life of various Princes and Princesses from a few different countries. At the brunch following the wedding, my mother was seated next to him and she point blank asked him what he thought his greatest achievement was. He replied:

"Easy. I'm most proud of getting my family out of X (his war ravaged, broken, country of origin) and raising my sons in America."

People need to wake up. They have no idea how good we have it here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish more school teachers would put up their diplomas. I think it's good for kids to see and encourages conversations about different colleges.

I’m way too practical and a HS teacher. All I can think of with that is all of the different tuition prices for a job that truly doesn’t care where you get your degree one bit. I like being a teacher and have stayed in this profession for 30 years but secretly think what a waste when I hear about those who went to expensive privates and work as a teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anywhere other than in the office is weird.

I am a lawyer. Every single one of my colleagues has their diploma hung in their office.