# How much education have you had? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 16, 2011, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084 "2011-05-16T13:42:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084/21 "2011-05-16T15:30:34Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Typical mind set of the academic elite. An inability to educate yourself is nothing to be proud of. WTF are you talking about? He said nothing about an inability to self-educate. He just wondered if people who have less formal education would be less likely to vote. There’s even an option for the self-educated. ---
**Author:** ![Silvorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Silvorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silvorange)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084/22 "2011-05-16T15:31:26Z")
Trade/vocational school and “school of hard knocks” really ought to be separate categories. I’m the only “other” so far. Some college and vocational school. I am a licensed practical nurse. ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084/23 "2011-05-16T15:32:57Z")
> [@Silvorange](#): > > Trade/vocational school and “school of hard knocks” really ought to be separate categories. Jeez. There’s one in every crowd. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084/24 "2011-05-16T15:44:48Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > WTF are you talking about? He said nothing about an inability to self-educate. He just wondered if people who have less formal education would be less likely to vote. > > There’s even an option for the self-educated. Why would people who have less formal education be less likely to vote? As I clearly stated, his statement is typical of the academic elite. Formal education is not a virtue. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084/25 "2011-05-16T15:49:02Z")
Some College (which I’m now in the very slow process of completing part-time.) My lack of degree hasn’t hindered me in my work thus far. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084/26 "2011-05-16T16:03:35Z")
Two Bachelor’s degrees, about half of the coursework for a Master’s. ---
**Author:** ![classyladyhp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5ac83/32.png) [@classyladyhp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/classyladyhp)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084/27 "2011-05-16T16:08:35Z")
I have 2 university degrees. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084/28 "2011-05-16T16:18:23Z")
I picked ‘College Graduate’ but it feels weird to pick ‘college’ when I went beyond College to _University_ ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084/29 "2011-05-16T16:57:36Z")
> [@Silvorange](#): > > Trade/vocational school and “school of hard knocks” really ought to be separate categories. > > I’m the only “other” so far. Some college and vocational school. I am a licensed practical nurse. I have three diplomas from technical colleges to go along with my partial university degree, but the poll did not allow me to enter in both categories, so there are at least two of us. 🙂 ETA: And I agree that trade school and the mythical “school of hard knocks” should be separated out, as well. It speaks to the dismissive academic attitude towards more practical schooling. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084/30 "2011-05-16T17:38:40Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Typical mind set of the academic elite. An inability to educate yourself is nothing to be proud of. You find my comment condescending? That’s the only interpretation you can think of? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084/31 "2011-05-16T18:33:34Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > You find my comment condescending? That’s the only interpretation you can think of? No, and I apologize :o If I was not naturally a pain the ass I would have posted this: Is that because you think people with less formal education wouldn’t be interested in the thread? Unfortunately your words remind of those from people who have a condescending attitude towards others with less formal education. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084/32 "2011-05-16T18:44:39Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > No, and I apologize :o If I was not naturally a pain the ass I would have posted this: > > Is that because you think people with less formal education wouldn’t be interested in the thread? Unfortunately your words remind of those from people who have a condescending attitude towards others with less formal education. No, it is because people could conceivably be embarrassed to admit their lack of educational accomplishments. You hope not, but you never know. I happen to think that, whatever their educational accomplishments, people on the boards are more interesting than average. Of course, any voluntary poll has a self-selection bias built in. That’s why pollsters try to get responses from everyone they randomly select. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084/33 "2011-05-16T18:44:46Z")
My apologies to you too **BigT**. Your criticism was justified. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084/34 "2011-05-16T18:47:20Z")
I have a teaching certificate on top of a bachelor’s degree. I wouldn’t consider that “graduate school” so I chose bachelor’s. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084/35 "2011-05-16T18:51:17Z")
> [@Winston\_Smith](#): > > I’ve been thinking about getting an MBA. How is it going? There are a few MBA types on the 'Dope, myself included. If you are looking for input, I am sure either a search for an existing thread or a “So, MBA Types, what do you think of your degree?” type thread would get you some insights… ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084/36 "2011-05-16T19:36:44Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > I picked ‘College Graduate’ but it feels weird to pick ‘college’ when I went beyond College to _University_ In the United States there really isn’t any functional difference - they’re virtually synonyms\*. - Just to be clear there _can_ be differences, but only relative to the set-up in a particular school or school-system. Overall there is no _consistent_ difference. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084/37 "2011-05-16T19:39:16Z")
Masters, Petroleum Geology. For the type of work I was interested in a Masters was required, although a PhD really was only necessary if you were interested in teaching or research. Or just really liked the whole higher learning experience. I couldn’t wait to get back out to the business-driven practical application. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084/38 "2011-05-16T19:46:06Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > No, and I apologize :o If I was not naturally a pain the ass I would have posted this: > > Is that because you think people with less formal education wouldn’t be interested in the thread? Unfortunately your words remind of those from people who have a condescending attitude towards others with less formal education. To be honest, your post did make me wonder why I asked the question. But what I was thinking is that the more time and effort a person has invested in their education, the more likely they are to mention it. It is a more significant portion of their life experience than someone who has chosen a different path. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084/39 "2011-05-16T20:27:55Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I have three diplomas from technical colleges to go along with my partial university degree, but the poll did not allow me to enter in both categories, so there are at least two of us. 🙂 > > ETA: And I agree that trade school and the mythical “school of hard knocks” should be separated out, as well. It speaks to the dismissive academic attitude towards more practical schooling. Thirded on the ‘other’ category. I guess I’d have what an American would call trade school/vocational training, but it feels a bit like an Associate’s to me. Plus I got a couple of university classes. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084/40 "2011-05-16T20:30:20Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Masters, Petroleum Geology. For the type of work I was interested in a Masters was required, although a PhD really was only necessary if you were interested in teaching or research. Or just really liked the whole higher learning experience. I couldn’t wait to get back out to the business-driven practical application. I’ve heard this is what it’s like in a lot of physics and engineering fields. An ex of mine was MS, Hydrogeological Engineering, working in a civil engineering firm that had landed lucrative and stressful contracts to do new floodplain maps for Indiana. She was adamant that she’d never go for a PhD (and was far more concerned about getting a PE). She said that not only would a PhD be unnecessary for her work, but it would make her unwanted in the business she was in, and she’d rather not work in academia. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-education-have-you-had/582084.md?page=3)