# Were Jerry, George, and Elaine College Grads? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 14, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737 "2009-06-14T16:11:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737/21 "2009-06-14T19:47:52Z")
> [@mshar253](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737/22 "2009-06-14T19:51:46Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > 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? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737/23 "2009-06-14T19:54:37Z")
You don’t think the Yankees would hire someone without a degree, do you:? ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737/24 "2009-06-14T20:47:39Z")
> [@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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737/25 "2009-06-14T20:51:45Z")
For what it’s worth, the real Jerry Seinfeld got a BA from Queens College, so I assume his TV alter ego does, too. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2009, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737/26 "2009-06-14T21:18:43Z")
> [@borschevsky](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2009, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737/27 "2009-06-14T21:33:16Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737/28 "2009-06-15T03:06:26Z")
> [@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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737/29 "2009-06-15T03:11:28Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737/30 "2009-06-15T03:15:40Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > 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.) ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737/31 "2009-06-15T03:52:06Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737/32 "2009-06-15T05:49:46Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![VanLandry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/eb9ed0/32.png) [@VanLandry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VanLandry)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737/33 "2009-06-15T12:58:42Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Hippy\_Hollow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hippy_hollow/32/4841_2.png) [@Hippy\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hippy_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737/34 "2009-06-15T16:01:13Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > 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… ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737/35 "2009-06-15T17:09:37Z")
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.” ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737/36 "2009-06-15T17:54:38Z")
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.” ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737/37 "2009-06-15T18:29:40Z")
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.” ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737/38 "2009-06-15T18:33:45Z")
> [@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.” 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”. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737/39 "2009-06-15T18:40:06Z")
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.” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737/40 "2009-06-15T20:37:57Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > 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. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/were-jerry-george-and-elaine-college-grads/499737.md?page=3)