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

[Anonymous]

I get the impression from many posts on DCUM that people with graduate degrees thinks that this bestows on them some kind of superiority over those who don't.

Sure, I give you props for doing that studying, especially if you have a PhD, but it doesn't make you innately more intelligent than I am (without a graduate degree), just because you have that degree (though you probably have more specialized knowledge than I do in the one specialized area that you studied). I have worked with and known many people with impressive educational qualifications and rarely has their intellect blown me away. In fact, I regularly come across people with graduate degrees who don't learn particularly quickly or have very deep insight into whatever we are working on/discussing, or have extremely little knowledge of the world around them.

Basically the difference between you with your graduate degree and me, without one, is that you bothered to apply, pay a lot of money and study for an extra couple of years. I could have done that too. It wouldn't make me any better at my job. It wouldn't make me superior to my pre-grad school self.

Likewise, when I hire staff I am more impressed with solid work experience than graduate school.

[Anonymous]

I do not know you.

Have you always had an inferiority complex?

[Anonymous]

No, not at all. In fact, some graduate degrees are complete wastes. It is one accomplishment, the worth of which differs.

[Anonymous]

Gosh, no. Not at all. It just confuses me. It had never occurred to me until I started reading this here as a marker of superiority/intelligence.

And I don't mean "me" specifically, in case it's not clear. the question is about whether people with graduate degrees think that they are superior to those without, because often on this board they seem to suggest they are.

[Anonymous]

Just to preempt the grammar police, it is "smarter than I".

I don't think one person is smarter than another person because of a graduate degree. I do tend to think that the group of people who get graduate degrees are, on average, smarter than the group who doesn't. To be perfectly honest, however, I think those that are doing well financially without the graduate degree are the smartest of us all!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, not at all. In fact, some graduate degrees are complete wastes. It is one accomplishment, the worth of which differs.

Just wanted to add an example, I think most people who get law degrees from lower-tiered law schools are not too bright. Very poor financial decision.

[Anonymous]

Ok let's be clear, OP. You are talking about a very specific braggadocios douche nozzle type of person, with which our fair city is heavily populated. I don't think you have an inferiority complex. These people are annoying. However, since you asked, yes I am pretty confident I am smarter than you, although unless we were really close friends you wouldn't know I have a phd in physics.

[Anonymous]

No, I have a graduate degree, and I can confidently say that getting a grad degree is just going through the motions. Grad school was a whole lot easier than undergrad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just to preempt the grammar police, it is "smarter than I".

I don't think one person is smarter than another person because of a graduate degree. I do tend to think that the group of people who get graduate degrees are, on average, smarter than the group who doesn't. To be perfectly honest, however, I think those that are doing well financially without the graduate degree are the smartest of us all!

100% agree with this!!!

To OP, what an oddly defensive post. Don't worry about other people. Worry about yourself. "Slamming" people with graduate degrees for "not learning particularly well" puts you in the same category you're complaining about.

[Anonymous]

I think I'm smarter than people who paid for their own graduate degrees.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not know you.

Have you always had an inferiority complex?

+1.

OP, why do you even care?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not know you.

Have you always had an inferiority complex?

+1.

OP, why do you even care?

In OP's defense, this comes up all the time in my field... "we are looking for someone with at least a Masters degree in" blah blah blah... Really?!?! When right in front of your own eyes you have employees with Bachelors degree outperforming those with doctorates. I agree that I don't understand the emphasis on these degrees over experience and competence. I have coworkers who did night school and earned a Masters degree working along side better performing employees who didn't bother and no change was noticeable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, I have a graduate degree, and I can confidently say that getting a grad degree is just going through the motions. Grad school was a whole lot easier than undergrad.

agree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just to preempt the grammar police, it is "smarter than I".

I don't think one person is smarter than another person because of a graduate degree. I do tend to think that the group of people who get graduate degrees are, on average, smarter than the group who doesn't. To be perfectly honest, however, I think those that are doing well financially without the graduate degree are the smartest of us all!

100% agree with this!!!

To OP, what an oddly defensive post. Don't worry about other people. Worry about yourself. "Slamming" people with graduate degrees for "not learning particularly well" puts you in the same category you're complaining about.

Not slamming ALL people. Just saying that I have met many with graduate degrees that don't learn quickly. Having a graduate degree is not the be all and end all. All it means is that you studied for a couple of years. It might mean that you are extremely accomplished, but it may not. And you could just as easily be exceptional without a grad degree. Hell, the smartest, most accomplished two people I know, didn't even go to college and they'd run rings around many of those who did.

Also don't have an inferiority complex at all. Quite the opposite, on this topic, at least. (I already responded above but didn't make it clear it was me, the OP). I find it astounding that anyone would imply that a grad degree in and of itself made them superior, but I regularly see it implied here (on this site) at least. Much less rarely in real life, but I figured people's real views come out in an anonymous forum!

Also, to clarify again, I'm talking generally, not specifically about myself (though I realize my OP didn't make that clear as I used myself as the example) about people who believe that they are superior because of their grad degree to those who don't have one (not me specifically).