# The Educated Doper **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 2, 2011, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-educated-doper/573275 "2011-03-02T23:13:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-educated-doper/573275/1 "2011-03-02T23:13:06Z")
Inspired by [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=599094) I thought it might be interesting to find out the general level of education among this august company. The poll reflects the various levels of the American educational system (the one I’m familiar with), I realize there may be some differences in levels and terminology in other places. Please try to fit your answers to the available catagories if possible. Thank you for the responses. Poll to follow. SS ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-educated-doper/573275/2 "2011-03-02T23:27:37Z")
It’s interesting you didn’t put in a category for other professional doctorates such as JD, MD, DDS, PsyD, DPharm, Ed. D., D. PT. etc. ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-educated-doper/573275/3 "2011-03-02T23:37:30Z")
I have a Diploma but I’m not sure where it fits in with this poll - it’s from an “Institute of Technology”, it’s in Music (Business). It doesn’t sound like that would be a “trade school diploma” and I don’t know what a diploma mill is. As I always say, you can get a Diploma, but the doesn’t mean you’re smart enough to figure out what that means within the context of an internet poll. ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-educated-doper/573275/4 "2011-03-02T23:39:11Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > It’s interesting you didn’t put in a category for other professional doctorates such as JD, MD, DDS, PsyD, DPharm, Ed. D., D. PT. etc. :smack:oversight…should have said “doctorate”. or “doctoral equivalent” or something. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-educated-doper/573275/5 "2011-03-02T23:42:50Z")
I voted for MA/MS, but it’s not really accurate - I have an MPP. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-educated-doper/573275/6 "2011-03-02T23:57:43Z")
I have a B.A. and in two months I’ll have a Master’s degree. ---
**Author:** ![Heckity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Heckity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heckity)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-educated-doper/573275/7 "2011-03-03T00:04:13Z")
The ink has only just dried on my Masters ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-educated-doper/573275/8 "2011-03-03T00:21:04Z")
I’m an “other”. Three-year Technologist diploma from college; some experience of university. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-educated-doper/573275/9 "2011-03-03T00:31:35Z")
I picked ‘other’. I’m a high school drop-out with no GED, never experienced any other formal education. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-educated-doper/573275/10 "2011-03-03T00:52:39Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > It’s interesting you didn’t put in a category for other professional doctorates such as JD, MD, DDS, PsyD, DPharm, Ed. D., D. PT. etc. And how about “schooled on the streets”? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-educated-doper/573275/11 "2011-03-03T01:30:44Z")
JD here, so I can’t vote in the poll. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-educated-doper/573275/12 "2011-03-03T01:31:23Z")
A lot more people seem to have answered the poll than posted here. BS with professional certifications, here. I keep warning my younger friends and relatives that they will need a masters at a minimum to succeed professionally. My parents needed high school diplomas for good jobs, but some how - I don’t know how - made it clear I would need a college degree. When I graduated, in my field a masters was typically viewed as a consolation prize for those who couldn’t get a PhD, so I quit while I was ahead. However, it appears that a masters is the minimum degree for a professional now, although working on it part time while employed is a common practice. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-educated-doper/573275/13 "2011-03-03T01:33:58Z")
Just a BA. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-educated-doper/573275/14 "2011-03-03T01:44:25Z")
I put myself down for MS/MA, in order to contribute to the poll but actually I have a JD. ---
**Author:** ![Chief\_Pedant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Chief\_Pedant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chief_Pedant)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-educated-doper/573275/15 "2011-03-03T01:44:38Z")
MD with another 5 years of “apprenticeship” aka Specialty Residency. Couple of American Board certifications. While I agree the board has some folks like me with lots of formal book learning, my observation is that (like life) some of the brightest people here aren’t necessarily ones with formal degrees. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-educated-doper/573275/16 "2011-03-03T01:46:28Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > It’s interesting you didn’t put in a category for other professional doctorates such as JD, MD, DDS, PsyD, DPharm, Ed. D., D. PT. etc. I’d actually lump the JD in with the MA/MS rather than the doctorates, even though the name would suggest otherwise. The program is really structured more like a master’s program than a PhD, and lawyers in the US are _never_ addressed as “Doctor” on the strength of their JD. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-educated-doper/573275/17 "2011-03-03T01:47:30Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > I put myself down for MS/MA, in order to contribute to the poll but actually I have a JD. Same here. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-educated-doper/573275/18 "2011-03-03T01:48:19Z")
JD–voted other. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-educated-doper/573275/19 "2011-03-03T01:54:26Z")
I put trade school, but also did an apprenticeship. Classes at the trade school were part of my apprenticeship requirements. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-educated-doper/573275/20 "2011-03-03T02:07:56Z")
I picked “Unaccredited degree/life experience degree/diploma mill”-- not sure if that really describes the extensive training on telecom switching equipment and central office experience I got with Pac Bell. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-educated-doper/573275.md?page=2)