# Why having a Bachelor's Degree is something to be proud of: **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 25, 2017, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778 "2017-02-25T21:18:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/21 "2017-02-26T19:27:00Z")
> [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](#): > > Last year I decided to try online dating again. A guy that seemed nice enough knew my first name and what I did for a living. We were supposed to meet on a Saturday. The Thursday before he texts me, “Do you like surprises?” Me," sure, I guess". > Imagine my huge surprise when he walks in 5 minutes later. To my office. That I didn’t tell him about. Turns out that my first name plus city plus job popped me up instantly on LinkedIn. Turns out, I learned a thing or two and deleted my LinkedIn. I have never used it professionally and don’t know if anyone that does in my field. > > So. Yeah, privacy. Thanks for pointing this out. I’ll bring it up with the HR folks work and ask the women’s networking group about it as well. Seems like a real concern, possibly for everyone, but realistically for a lot more women. I just looked up all the people in my department at work and only one of the women has a fully fleshed out LinkedIn page, while all the men seem to. ---
**Author:** ![Marcus\_Flavius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@Marcus\_Flavius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marcus_Flavius)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/22 "2017-02-26T19:32:04Z")
I recently acquired a Bach degree and I think nothing of it at all. In fact, if I had it with me I’d probably toss it into a burning trash can. I don’t feel like I’ve “accomplished” much at all by getting that degree. Right after I got my degree, I realized 3 things- 1.) No one gives a shit, 2.) I don’t know shit, and 3.) I have no “experience.” That’s when I realized that my degree was a near worthless “accomplishment” and that I wasted 5 years of my life pursuing it. ---
**Author:** ![blockhalf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@blockhalf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blockhalf)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/23 "2017-02-26T20:28:01Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > People have a right to be proud of whatever they want to be. > > But personally, I don’t think having a bachelor’s degree is that impressive of a feat for people from supportive, middle/upper middle class families, barring any physical or mental challenges. It’s an achievement worthy of a party and a high-five, to be sure. But I don’t really see why someone from a well-heeled background should necessarily feel proud of themselves for simply being able to acquire something that most people can’t afford. I mean, they are also more likely to create their own successful businesses and make six-figure salaries, too. Most people can’t even dream of having these things. But I don’t think they are that big of a deal for someone who has bee set up by their families to enjoy this level of success. I don’t see why the background matters. You yourself just said that most people can’t afford to get a Bachelor’s degree. The way you know if you should proud of something is if most human beings have not accomplished it. I don’t see why comping from an upper-middle class background makes it less impressive. It’s one thing if you don’t think getting a Bachelor’s Degree is impressive, but then you have to think it’s unimpressive if anyone does it. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/24 "2017-02-26T21:23:39Z")
> [@blockhalf](#): > > I don’t see why the background matters. You yourself just said that most people can’t afford to get a Bachelor’s degree. The way you know if you should proud of something is if most human beings have not accomplished it. Um, no. You can be proud of something without giving a flying fuck how many other people accomplish it. Pride is like any other emotion. It’s irrational. And yes, background definitely matters. It is not such an impressive act to graduate with a bachelor’s degree if at no point in time you ever had to worry about money. It is also not that impressive if your parents et al. provided ample emotional support the whole time. When people lack money and supportive family, navigating college is very challenging. But barring these challenges, it’s really not that hard to get through if someone wants to get through it. Especially if one is at a mediocre college and taking an easy course load. > [@](#): > > I don’t see why comping from an upper-middle class background makes it less impressive. It’s one thing if you don’t think getting a Bachelor’s Degree is impressive, but then you have to think it’s unimpressive if anyone does it. I choose to withhold my awe once I know all the facts about an individual. A college grad with a typical middle-class suburban background who has always attended all the “right” schools and been nurtured every step of the way deserves a different kind of “kudo” compared to a college grad from a socioeconomic disadvantaged background who has been neglected by family and society. But regardless, neither really _need_ any kudos. Presumably they went to college to get an education. Not to brag about how special they are. ---
**Author:** ![blockhalf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@blockhalf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blockhalf)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/25 "2017-02-26T21:58:18Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Um, no. You can be proud of something without giving a flying fuck how many other people accomplish it. Pride is like any other emotion. It’s irrational. > > And yes, background definitely matters. It is not such an impressive act to graduate with a bachelor’s degree if at no point in time you ever had to worry about money. It is also not that impressive if your parents et al. provided ample emotional support the whole time. When people lack money and supportive family, navigating college is very challenging. But barring these challenges, it’s really not that hard to get through if someone wants to get through it. Especially if one is at a mediocre college and taking an easy course load. > > I choose to withhold my awe once I know all the facts about an individual. A college grad with a typical middle-class suburban background who has always attended all the “right” schools and been nurtured every step of the way deserves a different kind of “kudo” compared to a college grad from a socioeconomic disadvantaged background who has been neglected by family and society. But regardless, neither really _need_ any kudos. Presumably they went to college to get an education. Not to brag about how special they are. I was always taking heavy course loads. And I worked on top of that. And I attended a cheap, crappy college with really bad advisement. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2017, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/26 "2017-02-26T22:16:38Z")
> [@blockhalf](#): > > I was always taking heavy course loads. And I worked on top of that. And I attended a cheap, crappy college with really bad advisement. I don’t know why you’re sharing this information. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/27 "2017-02-27T02:31:29Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > People have a right to be proud of whatever they want to be. > > But personally, I don’t think having a bachelor’s degree is that impressive of a feat for people from supportive, middle/upper middle class families, barring any physical or mental challenges. It’s an achievement worthy of a party and a high-five, to be sure. But I don’t really see why someone from a well-heeled background should necessarily feel proud of themselves for simply being able to acquire something that most people can’t afford. I mean, they are also more likely to create their own successful businesses and make six-figure salaries, too. Most people can’t even dream of having these things. But I don’t think they are that big of a deal for someone who has bee set up by their families to enjoy this level of success. For God’s sake, just STFU for once about how white, middle class people have everything handed to them. Most of the people who got bachelor’s degrees had to work damned hard for them, even if they had some advantages. No reason for you to come in and shit on their accomplishments just because there are others who have it worse. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/28 "2017-02-27T02:33:49Z")
> [@blockhalf](#): > > That’s funny. Almost everyone I know did it in 4 years(or less). At any rate, 24 is still younger than 25, so we can still safely assume that the majority of people in the study will never get Bachelor’s Degrees. I graduated from college less than six weeks after I turned 22. But only about half the people I know also finished within four years, even back in the late 90s/early 2000s. ---
**Author:** ![blockhalf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@blockhalf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blockhalf)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/29 "2017-02-27T02:41:13Z")
> [@bump](#): > > For God’s sake, just STFU for once about how white, middle class people have everything handed to them. Most of the people who got bachelor’s degrees had to work damned hard for them, even if they had some advantages. > > No reason for you to come in and shit on their accomplishments just because there are others who have it worse. +1000 You can take a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. ---
**Author:** ![blockhalf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@blockhalf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blockhalf)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/30 "2017-02-27T02:51:18Z")
> [@blockhalf](#): > > +1000 You can take a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. And also, this study says that even among white people, only 40.4% have a Bachelor’s Degree. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/31 "2017-02-27T03:08:45Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > I don’t know about the resume fraud being widespread, but I know that in my various job searches over my lifetime, not once was I asked to show my college diploma (although that makes me wonder, is there a way for employer to check with the university whether such and such graduated with the degree he claims?). Anecdote: I taught English in Japan for a while after college, and a college degree was a requirement of the work visa. They wouldn’t accept a transcript as proof, I had to send my actual diploma TO JAPAN. (Which seemed especially weird since I think I could fake a convincing-looking diploma more easily than I could an official transcript.) It took a really long time to get it back too, because somehow it got sent to Germany (!) by mistake, then had to be returned to Japan before finally getting mailed back to me in the US. So my diploma is pretty well traveled even though I’ve never taken it abroad with me. I went on to get a graduate degree in the US, and for grad school my undergrad transcript _was_ proof enough. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/32 "2017-02-27T03:27:54Z")
> [@bump](#): > > For God’s sake, just STFU for once about how white, middle class people have everything handed to them. Most of the people who got bachelor’s degrees had to work damned hard for them, even if they had some advantages. > > No reason for you to come in and shit on their accomplishments just because there are others who have it worse. Well, I don’t think _you_ should feel very much pride in your education, since apparently you don’t know how to read. And you apparently have learned nothing from my posting history. I’m perfectly entitled to talk about the the benefits of emotionally supportive middle class families since I’m a product of one. I made it through college with a lot of sweat and tears. I am proud of my BS. But I don’t think my BS is proof of my work ethic or exceptional moral character. All it proves is that my support network was successful. So my pride is tempered somewhat. And this means that when I meet others who come from a comfortable background, I don’t necessarily assume they are remarkable for having a college degree. I use other factors to determine whether they are impressive. Simply having the financial and cognitive means to graduate from a university, when that’s the norm in your family and everyone else around you? I will give you just one scoobie snack. Maybe two if you dealt with some shit like mental illness or trauma. Regardless, you can feel as proud as you want. No one can take that feeling away from you. Perhaps graduating from college was a big deal for you since your jerking knees probably kept you from paying attention in lecture. I hope someone can give you the ego-stroke you sorely need. But you aren’t going to get it from me. (By the way, no one mentioned white people except for you. You conservatives do slay me.) ---
**Author:** ![blockhalf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@blockhalf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blockhalf)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/33 "2017-02-27T03:36:03Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Well, I don’t think _you_ Simply having the financial and cognitive means to graduate from a university, when that’s the norm in your family and everyone else around you? I will give you just one scoobie snack. Maybe two if you dealt with some shit like mental illness or trauma. Regardless, you can feel as proud as you want. No one can take that feeling away from you. > (By the way, no one mentioned white people except for you. You conservatives do slay me.) Why just compare yourself to your family? I think you should compare yourself to the entire country, if not the entire world. Why just stick with your family? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/34 "2017-02-27T04:22:09Z")
> [@blockhalf](#): > > Why just compare yourself to your family? I think you should compare yourself to the entire country, if not the entire world. Why just stick with your family? Why should I compare myself to anyone? But if I absolutely MUST compare myself to someone, why would I bother comparing myself to people who have enormous obstacles and stumbling blocks that I can’t even imagine? Why would I compare myself to people who have enormous advantages over me? Doesn’t it make more sense to compare myself to folks with similar life circumstances, so that that way I know the playing field between us is even? I mean, let’s say your peak annual salary ends up being $20K (USD). How much consolation do you think you’ll get knowing that this is puts you in the global middle class? Probably not so much. If you are a halfway normal person, you’ll define “success” based on the standard of living your family raised you under. You don’t compare yourself to all humans, but rather the humans that are the most like you, who live right next to you. But I would recommend against comparing yourself to anyone, if you can help it. Life isn’t a race. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/35 "2017-02-27T06:05:48Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > Thanks for pointing this out. I’ll bring it up with the HR folks work and ask the women’s networking group about it as well. Seems like a real concern, possibly for everyone, but realistically for a lot more women. > > I just looked up all the people in my department at work and only one of the women has a fully fleshed out LinkedIn page, while all the men seem to. I know that it’s easy enough for any random person to find out where I work, but this scenario really creeped me out. Overall, I just found LinkedIn to be a joke. People “endorsing” me that have no idea of my qualifications (were they even endorsing or did LinkedIn make that up), people linkining in that seemed to be scams. What’s the point? Anytime I’ve looked for a job it’s always been through word of mouth. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/36 "2017-02-27T08:08:45Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I don’t know how it is now, but when I was hired by the Dept of the Navy in '85, I had to have a certified copy of my college transcript sent to them by the university. They wouldn’t accept my copy or my diploma. I had to do the same waaaay back when I was applying for teaching jobs. I’d imagine it’s the same thing now. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/37 "2017-02-27T13:14:47Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > My friends in HR tell me that LinkedIn is making things awkward for many people. When they hear that an applicant does not have a complete LinkedIn profile for “privacy reasons” they are really starting to wonder. Does “privacy” mean they don’t want Mom’s friends asking why Junior’s undergrad degree on linked is just says “University of Pennsylvania” rather than the more complete “Kutztown University of Pennsylvania” where he went to night school all those years. It can also make it relatively easy to find that someone’s CV is curiously similar to someone else’s. Same schools, same exact experience in the same exact words, gee… are you conjoined twins? ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/38 "2017-02-27T15:33:57Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > I don’t know about the resume fraud being widespread, but I know that in my various job searches over my lifetime, not once was I asked to show my college diploma (although that makes me wonder, is there a way for employer to check with the university whether such and such graduated with the degree he claims?). Yes, people can get college information pretty easily if you give them your identifying information and sign a form giving them permission. And if you don’t give that information, you don’t get a job, so it’s rare to resist. No one is going to ask for you to carry in a paper diploma, that would just be silly, and is absurdly easy to fake. ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/39 "2017-02-27T15:51:12Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > Does “privacy” mean they don’t want Mom’s friends asking why Junior’s undergrad degree on linked is just says “University of Pennsylvania” rather than the more complete “Kutztown University of Pennsylvania” where he went to night school all those years. Does it really matter? Some state university systems are unified. I can’t speak for Pennsylvania, but in Maine, the State Universities are quite unified. A class from one campus will always be accepted at another. The campuses don’t all have the same majors, so it is common for online students to use testing centers, libraries, and other campus resources from the campus to nearest them, rather than the one they actually attend. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/40 "2017-02-27T15:59:40Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > It’s very easy to verify you went to the schools you say you graduated from and worked at the companies you say you worked at. It depends a lot on the kinds of companies someone worked for. I worked for a small firm for six months about 20 years ago, and I believe it went out of business about 10 years ago. it had 3 initials for a name, didn’t keep great records (got into tax trouble for not properly withholding), and now there are several businesses around with their old name. Then I worked for a better organized company that from a quick google search looks like it went out of business or changed its name. Then I moved and went to work for a startup that had one name, then a name change, then went out of business, then someone bought the name and rehired some people, then went through at least four acquisitions/mergers. So verifying my employment at any of those three could be rather difficult - two of them I don’t think exist and don’t know how to find contact information for now, and the other one exists but I don’t know if the employee records made it through all of the changes and time. If you have only worked for large companies that stay in business, it’s easy to verify employment, but smaller companies that don’t exist anymore, or private businesses that don’t keep really good records can be a lot harder to track down. > [@](#): > > But FYI, no one looks at resumes and checks them off against some list of qualifications. Unless maybe you are looking for a government job. I’ve heard it’s really common in tech jobs at large companies for the HR department to filter resumes looking for specific keywords. So it can be important to get the words they’re likely to search on in a resume if you want to pass the screening process, even if they’re not really relevant to the job you’re applying for. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778.md?page=3)