Were Jerry, George, and Elaine College Grads?

[Markxxx]

On the show Seinfeld, for some reason, I always thought George and Elaine had graduated from college. But yesterday I saw the episode where George quits his job in real estate and is discussing his future with Elaine and Jerry.

Elaine says "To teach something you have to have a degree," which may imply George didn't graduate college. Unless of course she meant you'd have to have a degree in that particular subject.

So my question is was it ever established if Jerry, George and Elaine ever went to college or graduated from college? I assume Kramer did not. Perhaps I'm wrong there

Thanks

[Simplicio]

Pretty sure I remember Jerry and George specifically referencing their time in college together.

Not sure about Elaine, but she seems to get the types of jobs you'd need a degree for.

[Least Original User Name Ever]

Elaine went to Tufts. "It was my safety school."

[randwill]

It'd be funnier if Kramer was the only one who graduated college.

[Krokodil]

To teach in most US public schools, you need a Masters in Education, or in the field you're teaching. (There are exceptions, but none of them would apply to George Costanza.) A BA in any liberal arts discipline wouldn't cut it, and I can't imagine George with any other kind of degree.

[YogSosoth]

To teach in most US public schools, you need a Masters in Education, or in the field you're teaching. (There are exceptions, but none of them would apply to George Costanza.) A BA in any liberal arts discipline wouldn't cut it, and I can't imagine George with any other kind of degree.

George would probably get the job by accidently killing the teacher, then sleep with the principal's daughter only to find out she's a student :D In the meantime, he'd try to teach architecture by telling the kids to write about his addition to the Guggenheim :p

[Markxxx]

It'd be funnier if Kramer was the only one who graduated college.

This is very true, the writers should've thought of that.

[TWDuke]

Apparently, Costanza (http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=111285&page=1) went to Queens College.

[mshar253]

I think, in the scene the OP is describing, Jerry said something along the lines of, "You have to have a degree in broadcasting for that." In the episode where George becomes a hand-model, I believe he, disgusted with his mom for suggesting he take a civil service test, states, "You want me to be a mailman? I'm a college graduate!" I will look for the transcripts of that to be sure, though.

[mshar253]

OK, that didn't take long at all. For one thing, the OP is right; Elaine, when discussing George's future, does say, "You need a degree." From this (http://www.seinfeldscripts.com/) website, here's the exchange:

GEORGE: Drink up. I like history. Civil War. Maybe I could be a professor,
or something.

ELAINE: Well, to teach something you really have to know a lot about it. I
think you need a degree.

However, like I said, in "The Puffy Shirt," this is said:


ESTELLE: Why don't you want to take a civil service test?

GEORGE: To do what?! Work in a post office? Is that what you want me to do?

FRANK: Would you believe when I was 18, I had a silver dollar collection?

ESTELLE: I don't understand. You get job security - you get a pay check every week..

GEORGE: I'm a college graduate. You want me to be a mailman?

Maybe Elaine meant that he needed a degree in history to get a job as a history professor?

[Justin_Bailey]

Maybe Elaine meant that he needed a degree in history to get a job as a history professor?

I'd assume so. George and Jerry's time together at Queens College was mentioned in a few episodes.

[Lamia]

In "The Marine Biologist" Jerry runs into a former college classmate while at an ATM. She mentions that she remembers his friend George but says she never sees him in the alumni magazine. (Jerry then claims that George is a marine biologist.) No particular school is mentioned, though.

Wikipedia claims that Jerry and George attended Queens College together, although it doesn't cite an episode. It may be that this is an assumption based on the fact that the real Jerry Seinfeld went to Queens and had a classmate with the last name Costanza, as TWDuke's link shows.

Based on what little information the show provided, the two definitely went to A college together and George probably graduated. (I say "probably" just because, knowing George, it's always possible he'd been lying to his parents for years about having graduated.) It's not clear to me that Jerry graduated, though. It's implied that Jerry was featured in his college's alumni magazine, but a person doesn't necessarily need to have graduated to be considered an alumnus and plenty of schools would be happy to play up a connection to a former student who became famous. Unless there's some quote where he says otherwise, it seems equally possible to me that Jerry graduated or that he dropped out to pursue comedy full-time.

Oh, when Kramer appeared in a bachelor auction it was established that he was not a college graduate. Elaine introduced him as a high school graduate, but he corrected her and said he in fact had a GED.

ETA: If George wanted to be a college professor and not a schoolteacher then he'd almost certainly need at least a Master's degree or more likely a Ph.D., not just a Bachelor's degree. That may have been what Elaine meant.

[Krokodil]

Maybe Elaine meant that he needed a degree in history to get a job as a history professor?

To be a professor, you need a doctorate. To be an adjunct, you need a Masters. I see no evidence George has either.

[Claire Beauchamp]

For some reason I think that Elaine even had a Master's, but I don't recall a specific episode. She definitely would have had to have had at least a B.A. for the job she had in publishing when the show started.

[Markxxx]

So we assume Geroge graduated, do we know if Elaine graduated? Or did she just attend? Jerry says he never had a "real job." But I know he sold umbrellas before getting his break in comedy. So Jerry may or may not have graduated.

Is this correct?

[mshar253]

So we assume Geroge graduated, do we know if Elaine graduated? Or did she just attend? Jerry says he never had a "real job." But I know he sold umbrellas before getting his break in comedy. So Jerry may or may not have graduated.

Is this correct?

I'm almost positive Elaine graduated (like someone said above, it seems unlikely she would have gotten the job at Pendant Publishing without a degree), but no proof springs to mind like it did with George.

[hajario]

To teach in most US public schools, you need a Masters in Education, or in the field you're teaching. (There are exceptions, but none of them would apply to George Costanza.) A BA in any liberal arts discipline wouldn't cut it, and I can't imagine George with any other kind of degree.

Not for High School and below. In California all you need is a teaching certificate which takes about a year after a BA or BS. It's definitely not a Masters Degree. My aunt used to teach in New York and I think that it's the same there.

[Justin_Bailey]

Not for High School and below. In California all you need is a teaching certificate which takes about a year after a BA or BS. It's definitely not a Masters Degree. My aunt used to teach in New York and I think that it's the same there.

New York state began requiring a Masters Degree for high school teachers sometime in the 90s.

[hajario]

New York state began requiring a Masters Degree for high school teachers sometime in the 90s.

OK. My aunt would have been grandfathered. She retired in the late 90's with twenty years in.

[Lamia]

Searching the Seinfeld Scripts (http://www.seinfeldscripts.com/) site, I see that Elaine refers to herself as being a college graduate in "The Parking Garage". Claire Beauchamp, a woman Jerry was dating in the episode "The Van Buren Boys" says she has a Master's degree from the Sorbonne, so you may have been thinking of her instead of Elaine.

Wikipedia specifies that Elaine studied French Literature, but I can't find any reference to that in the scripts.

Searching on the word "college" shows that Jerry, George, and Elaine all mention their college days several times, but Jerry doesn't seem to have ever mentioned graduating. Elaine appears to be the only one who mentions which school she attended (Tufts, as stated upthread).

[Markxxx]

I'm almost positive Elaine graduated (like someone said above, it seems unlikely she would have gotten the job at Pendant Publishing without a degree), but no proof springs to mind like it did with George.

George also had a job there, remember he got let go for sleeping with the cleaning woman.

[Covered_In_Bees!]

George also had a job there, remember he got let go for sleeping with the cleaning woman.

Was that wrong? Should I not have done that?

[gonzomax]

You don't think the Yankees would hire someone without a degree, do you:?

[borschevsky]

In "The Marine Biologist" Jerry runs into a former college classmate while at an ATM. She mentions that she remembers his friend George but says she never sees him in the alumni magazine. (Jerry then claims that George is a marine biologist.) No particular school is mentioned, though.

Wikipedia claims that Jerry and George attended Queens College together, although it doesn't cite an episode. It may be that this is an assumption based on the fact that the real Jerry Seinfeld went to Queens and had a classmate with the last name Costanza, as TWDuke's link shows.That former classmate tells Jerry she's Diane from Queen's College when he doesn't recognize her right away, so I think that's where Wikipedia gets that Jerry & George went there.

[astorian]

For what it's worth, the real Jerry Seinfeld got a BA from Queens College, so I assume his TV alter ego does, too.

[Lamia]

That former classmate tells Jerry she's Diane from Queen's College when he doesn't recognize her right away, so I think that's where Wikipedia gets that Jerry & George went there.The name of the college isn't included in the script on the Seinfeld Scripts (http://www.seinfeldscripts.com/TheMarineBiologist.htm) site, although that could be a mistake.

[borschevsky]

I was going from memory. They do have it included in this (http://www.seinology.com/scripts/script-78.shtml) script, I'm pretty sure it's right.

[The Second Stone]

To teach in most US public schools, you need a Masters in Education, or in the field you're teaching. (There are exceptions, but none of them would apply to George Costanza.) A BA in any liberal arts discipline wouldn't cut it, and I can't imagine George with any other kind of degree.

Back in the latter part of the last century the Los Angeles Unified School District (or whatever their name is) sent me a completely unsolicited offer to use my upcoming BA in the poly sciences to get an emergency credential teaching in one of their schools.

[Hippy Hollow]

I have some Seinfeld commemorative guide somewhere around here that links Jerry Seinfeld the character to Queens College. In fact, in the episode where Kramer sends him to Joe's grocery for fruit after being banned, he's wearing a Queens College sweatshirt.

However, I don't think George necessarily graduated, though he did go - as others have mentioned there are references to their experiences in college in the series.

[The Second Stone]

To be a professor, you need a doctorate. To be an adjunct, you need a Masters. I see no evidence George has either.

When I was in college, lo these many years ago at UCLA, I had a Professor (assistant to be sure) who was a mere Juris Doctor teaching a computer science introductory course. He was quite clear in his lectures. We learned Pascal, a language of simple beauty. We called him Dave. He definitely did not go by "doctor". (FTR, a JD who goes by "doctor" is at least twice as much of an ass as most lawyers.)

[interface2x]

Further evidence Jerry and George at least attended college:

Pam: I hope you're both happy.
Jerry: I'm not happy.
George: Me neither. I've never been happy.
Jerry: I mean I'm happy sometimes, but not now.
George: In college, maybe. Those were fun times.
Jerry: Yeah, college was fun.

[BetsQ]

Wasn't Sue Ellen Mischke (the heir to the O'Henry candy bar fortune!) Elaine's college roommate or something along those lines?

I'd assume that Elaine graduated, given her jobs and her background. I'd also guess that George graduated, but probably most of his coursework was absolute crap. I bet he was that kid who'd go see the TA/prof the day before the final with a lengthy sob story about his many difficulties that semester to make a case for extensions and/or lenient grading.

[VanLandry]

I remember a scene where George's mom was recommending that he take the civil service test and he said he didnt want to be a mailman 'cause he was college grad.

[Hippy Hollow]

To be a professor, you need a doctorate. To be an adjunct, you need a Masters. I see no evidence George has either.

Not at all; life experience is sufficient in a lot of fields to be a professor. Think of former politicos, business leaders, etc. that lecture as adjuncts without post-baccalaureate degrees. But of course, the point about putting George in front of a college classroom stands. I wouldn't go for it...

[Acsenray]

In context, it's pretty obvious that when Elaine says "you need a degree" she doesn't mean "you need any old bachelor's degree." She obviously means "you need a specific degree that you don't have."

[DooWahDiddy]

In "The Bris", Jerry says, "Oh, poor Elaine. Look at her. Attended the finest finishing schools on the Eastern seaboard. Equestrian competitions. Debutante balls. Well, look at you now. Interviewing mohels."

[ftg]

Most, if not all, of the women in "The Baby Shower" were friends of Elaine's from college. It was one of the rare times that Elaine was shown amongst a group of female friends. There was another such grouping but I can't recall if they were also college friends. I vaguely recall they were discussing the usual stuff: having babies and moving to CT. Ring any bells?

"Elaine, you know, I was watching you tonight, and I realized something. You're just like you were in college."

Searching the scripts site gives some more data:

Seth was an old college buddy of Jerry's in "The Chicken Roaster". (As well as Moochie.) That's not gonna be good for anybody.

Jerry was a size 31 waist since college. (Not!) From "The Sponge".

Susan and Sally Weaver were friends from college. Would Susan date a non-college guy (or gal)?

Barry, "The Sniffing Accountant" went to college with Elaine.

In "The Bris" we find out that some other "unmodified" guy was George's college roomate.

In "The Barber" George claims that his college nickname was "the little bulldog" but he could have been lying.

Cousin Jeffrey also went to college and stays in touch with his botany prof.

Elaine had bunny slippers aka bacteria traps since college in "The Apology."

[DrCube]

In context, it's pretty obvious that when Elaine says "you need a degree" she doesn't mean "you need any old bachelor's degree." She obviously means "you need a specific degree that you don't have."

Wasn't that a fairly early episode? Like the first season or something? Maybe the writers just didn't have the characters' back stories settled yet. In context, it certainly seems to me like "you need a degree" = "you don't have a degree".

[Markxxx]

George lies a lot but I would assume since he said "I'm a college graduate," to his parents he wouldn't lie to his parents who would know or not if he graduated. Though it's certainly possible George lied to his parents about graduating.

My favourite George quote: "It's not a lie if you believe it."

[Acsenray]

Wasn't that a fairly early episode? Like the first season or something? Maybe the writers just didn't have the characters' back stories settled yet. In context, it certainly seems to me like "you need a degree" = "you don't have a degree".

George was basically the Larry David substitute and I think Seinfeld and David intended to write about characters that were just like themselves. They were certainly writing in their own element, so to speak. I think it's safe to say that it's assumed that George went to college.

And "you need a degree" is pretty common shorthand for "you need some kind of specialized degree or higher degree in this specific subject." Among certain types of middle class people (including in my social circles) it's pretty much assumed that everyone has a bachelor's degree (someone who doesn't have one would stand out as unusual). So "do you need a degree?" or "you need a degree" never refers to a plain old bachelor's degree.

[Green Bean]

To be a professor, you need a doctorate. To be an adjunct, you need a Masters.You're quite incorrect. I was an adjunct professor. I was in the PhD program, but I do not have a Masters.

[Acsenray]

He's not "quite incorrect." He should have said that, generally speaking, one needs to hold a doctorate to get a regular faculty position at most respectable universities. This was less true in the past, but these days it's very difficult for someone without a Ph.D. to find a faculty position.

Adjunct faculty are treated very differently. At most universities, adjunct positions are offered to people with practical experience in a field, and it's usually considered a sideline, not a first job. It's not common for people to work as adjunct faculty as their primary source of income.

[Jonathan Chance]

Not at all; life experience is sufficient in a lot of fields to be a professor. Think of former politicos, business leaders, etc. that lecture as adjuncts without post-baccalaureate degrees. But of course, the point about putting George in front of a college classroom stands. I wouldn't go for it...

I back this up. I, with a humble BA, am an adjunct professor at the local college teaching journalism and business courses.

I work cheap. But it gets me new freelancers.

[Stephe96]

Off topic, but I'm still a bit upset that Kramer and Newman never got their own show!

[HeavyDuty]

Wow, that's a random question but one I never knew the answer to. I guess it makes sense since they were pretty much employed in jobs that needed college degrees.

[teela brown]

In the episode where both Puddy and a co-worker of Elaine's kept hinting how dirty Elaine was, Elaine pointed out that she had had her grubby old bedroom slippers "since college".