Do you loose respect for someone when you find out they don't have a college degree?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, from the flip side, I'd say that just because someone graduated from a particular school that tends to automatically garner respect (Harvard, Princeton, etc), does not immediately make them wonderful, good people. It is possible they are very snobby (have met one like that).

A friend's DH went to Princeton and he never lets anyone forget it. So very annoying.

Of my colleagues, the only one who somehow brings up her degree is the one who went to Harvard. Yes, we get it, you went to a prestigious school, very impressive...

[Anonymous]

No.

Most members of my family don't have a college degree. My sister and I were the first women in our family to get one. College isn't for everyone and you can be happy and successful without a college degree.

[Anonymous]

No, but I also do not respect people who are loud and proud about their ignorance.

You all probably know the type.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bill Gates didn't have a college degree. Neither did Steve Jobs. Or Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle. Or Michael Dell. Or Ted Turner or Kirk Kerkorian or Ralph Lauren or Roman Abramovich.

All of them are billionaires.

Therefore I believe there is more than one way to demonstrate intelligence, creativity, ambition, and dedication. Making it through four years of drinking/semi studying for B minuses pales in comparison to the accomplishments of these guys.

Abramovich? He just grabbed some former government-owned property that was up for grabs, for cheap, and the only reason he was able to do that is that someone in the government let him. So spare me the Abramovich tale.

And I am totally sick of seeing Bill Gates as an anti-college example. Yes, he is a genuis, but most college drop-outs aren't. People with college degrees, at least, have some sort of profession going for them, even if most of them aren't billionaires.

[Anonymous]

I don't care as long as you don't misrepresent yourself. I had a friend that constantly talked about college, but didn't tell me for 5 years that she only finished one year. I think the fact that he's open about it and has done really well without it is very admirable.

[Anonymous]

A college degree doesn't make someone smarter it will allow an idiot to articulate his stupidity more clearly.

[Anonymous]

I feel pretty self-conscious about the fact that I did not finish my degree. My reasons for not finishing are legitimate, but it bothers me that I am surrounded by (and probably prefer) highly educated people while I don't even have an undergrad degree. I hope I can finish one day. My job requires a degree, but thankfully I got the job despite my lack thereof. I am pretty good at what I am doing, and I don't think that the fact that I don't have a college degree is the first thing that popped into people's mind when they talk to me, but I am very much aware of it. So I can definitely relate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, but I don't have any respect for people who are willfully ignorant and wear their lack of formal education like a badge of honor, either. Kind of like, "I don't need no fancy book larnin'...". That's repugnant to me. Be a lifelong learner; expand your mind every chance you get.

Didn't finish degree and I absolutely agree. A degree doesn't make someone better than one without a degree, but it doesn't hurt and does open more career opportunities.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on the person. If the person doesn't value learning, then I would have a problem. I realize there are careers that don't need a college degree (military, some IT jobs, culinary, construction etc.) and I can see not having a four year degree. The types of things I would look at is if the person desires that their kids go to college and/or recognizes that not everyone can forge the same path without a degree. Also, is there a sour grapes sort of thing that if they had to look for a job that required a 4 year degree, that they would gripe how a trained monkey could do that job and it's crazy that a degree is required. Does this person keep up with topics of interest, could be politics, organic food, saving for college, latest technology etc. There is so much that changes and I love when I can get advice/learn something new from my friends.

All this said, in this area, I think people assume most people have a college degree, so I would think nothing of asking about colleges in the context of school sports or if I had a kid applying to college or was off to a college alumni weekend. So I can see an awkward situation in finding out someone didn't go to college. You don't want to give a backhanded compliment, like "oh I never would have guessed ..." You also don't want to assume someone didn't go to college and say in a shocked voice "you went to college". So, I guess the bottom line is not that I would look down, it is more the social awkwardness of feeling like I put my foot in my mouth. Sort of like when Biden said Obama was clean and so articulate. If your DH comes at it like people may not know what to say and he can figure out what is that one liner that puts everyone back at ease, he would see his real friends could care less and everyone moves on.

[Anonymous]

OP: I also did not finish college. I find a bit left out when people share college experiences. It seems that, for some folks, college gives them a sense of belonging to something bigger than themselves. It is a pride they carry that has grounding aspects that I do not share.
No self pity here! I am happy.

[Anonymous]

To be honest, I was going to make a funny comment about lose/loose too.

I don't care if someone went to college. I don't know many people who didn't, though - most of my peer group in DC has a degree, and at least half of them have a Masters, JD or other professional degree. But if the person was smart and an interesting conversationalist, it wouldn't matter if they went to college or graduated. I think it's cool when people are successful when they've followed a different path. (I have a BS and an MBA and a good job but should probably be paid more, given my degrees.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, but I do lose respect for people when they misuse lose/loose.

dcum is not friendly to edits

[Anonymous]

It doesn't effect me either way if someone has degrees or not. I guess I've been exposed to people of different educations levels - and they all can be financially successful or not. Often, jobs that need little formal education are a great value to society. On a pragmatic level a garbage man or plumber is more valuable to society than a lawyer or literature professor.

A while ago a new guy joined my circle of friends at a bar. Someone asked, "what do you do?" He said he works at Target and she said, "That's temporary, right?" The rest of us were so embarrassed. He actually handled it well. He mentioned he's been there several years and gets decent pay and good benefits. (I know a few of the girls hit on him, with hopes that he gets a discount.)

p.s. I was a decent speller before I went to college and got addicted to spell-check. I can't spell anything now. I didn't even notice the loose/lose mistake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, but I do lose respect for people when they misuse lose/loose.

PP, you are a jerk. OP, there are a lot of educated fools around, the above PP being one of them. Your DH sounds like a wondetful person and who has integrity and is honest. A college degree does not confer character with w a diploma.

And even less respect for those that double post or don't know how to use the quote function. It's not rocket science here, people.

Don't mistake the above PP for educated. Clearly an anal-retentive asshole.

Dang - no one on here has a sense of humor on here? lighten up.

BTW I only have an associate degree...so maybe that's why I'm such an ass! get it? ass-o-ciate. ass. ok, no.

[Anonymous]

When they otherwise accomplished something, no.
If they make in the 90 or 100k. And act like they have accomplished something when really they are a GS 14, yes.
But I also think those online schools are bull too.