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

[Anonymous]

Actually OP, my company paid for both my graduate degrees and I did them while working full time. Thankfully they value education more than you do.

I don't think I'm smarter though - in fact, I'm not very smart. I am more educated and valuable to an employer though.

[Anonymous]

Yes---especially because it is in a STEM field.

Nah. I just see grad degrees as more work---not necessarily bestowing greater IQ points. DH has a BS from Hopkins and is brilliant--perfect SATS, speaks 3 languages fluently (all American-no foreign parents), etc. He started his own business in a complicated, High tech field and out earns me by a bazillion.

Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, etc... don't even have undergrad degrees. I think we can agree they are no dummies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, until you prove otherwise. I have a Phd.

The only thing you know for certain about somebody with a Ph.D. is that they stuck around in graduate school long enough for somebody to decide to grant them a Ph.D.

-I have a Ph.D. too.

Where the fuck did you get your Ph.D.? I worked my ass off for mine, and, based on how I have performed compared to my peers at all stages of life, I am confident that I am smart. I don't go around saying that in daily life, but anti-education threads like this are annoying and tedious.

OP, if you really were all that, you would not need to bash others to elevate yourself.

You did, and so did many others. But not everybody does. And not everybody with a Ph.D. is smart.

[Anonymous]

No, having a graduate degree does not make me smarter than you are, but it does say something about my ability to delay gratification and about my work ethic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, having a graduate degree does not make me smarter than you are, but it does say something about my ability to delay gratification and about my work ethic.

I worked and went to school. Best of both worlds - especially since someone else paid.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, until you prove otherwise. I have a Phd.

The only thing you know for certain about somebody with a Ph.D. is that they stuck around in graduate school long enough for somebody to decide to grant them a Ph.D.

-I have a Ph.D. too.

Well I have a Ph T - putting hubby through and I am smarter than you because he earns a ton and I don't have to work. Before the what if he dumps you questions, I was smart enough to take care of that too.

[Anonymous]

You must be fairly young or stupid OP. When I was in school, it was expected women who wanted to work as professionals needed professional degrees. Without one, we wouldn't have been hired for high level jobs.

[Anonymous]

I think I'm smarter than most people I meet, but not because I have a graduate degree. It's because I'm naturally arrogant.

[Anonymous]

I have no idea if I am smarter than you but there's a good chance I make more money than you thanks to my MBA, which puts me in the top .5%. But maybe you have a more meaningful job and are doing more good for society. To each her own. Own your choices and be proud of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You must be fairly young or stupid OP. When I was in school, it was expected women who wanted to work as professionals needed professional degrees. Without one, we wouldn't have been hired for high level jobs.

That doesn't answer OP's question at all. The question is: do you think you are smarter than someone who doesn't have a grad degree?

I would say there are plenty of people that don't have degrees at all that are plenty smart, as someone noted: Mark Zuckerburg, Bill Gates, etc..

As a general rule, you would think people who have graduate degrees would be "smarter" than those that don't, but I think it really depends on the field.

[Anonymous]

One of my PhD friends definitely seems to think that people with PhDs are smarter than people with other graduate degrees or without graduate degrees (unclear whether she extends this to MDs). I find it amusing and annoying all at once, especially since we went to college together and I had higher grades and more awards/honors but chose a different path.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, until you prove otherwise. I have a Phd.

The only thing you know for certain about somebody with a Ph.D. is that they stuck around in graduate school long enough for somebody to decide to grant them a Ph.D.

-I have a Ph.D. too.

Where the fuck did you get your Ph.D.? I worked my ass off for mine, and, based on how I have performed compared to my peers at all stages of life, I am confident that I am smart. I don't go around saying that in daily life, but anti-education threads like this are annoying and tedious.

OP, if you really were all that, you would not need to bash others to elevate yourself.

You did, and so did many others. But not everybody does. And not everybody with a Ph.D. is smart.

I would agree that not everyone with a Ph.D. is brilliant, but they are more likely to be above average compared to the general population than not, and they are more likely to be hard workers than not. Obviously intelligent people without graduate degrees exist, as do people with graduate degrees who are less than impressive. This is news to someone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You must be fairly young or stupid OP. When I was in school, it was expected women who wanted to work as professionals needed professional degrees. Without one, we wouldn't have been hired for high level jobs.

That doesn't answer OP's question at all. The question is: do you think you are smarter than someone who doesn't have a grad degree?

I would say there are plenty of people that don't have degrees at all that are plenty smart, as someone noted: Mark Zuckerburg, Bill Gates, etc..

As a general rule, you would think people who have graduate degrees would be "smarter" than those that don't, but I think it really depends on the field.

Mark Zuckerburg and Bill Gates are exceptions. That's what makes them notable.

[Anonymous]

The OP has put forth an inflammatory question without bothering to define "smart". What exactly is your definition, OP? Based on your question and subsequent responses, I doubt you would fit any definition of smart, other than "smart-ass". You sound envious more than anything else.