# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/41 "2017-02-27T16:17:43Z")
> [@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. Sounds like sour grapes to me. I know plenty of people from privileged backgrounds who either couldn’t do the work or chose to party their way out of college. Yes, not having to worry about financing school is a plus. But you still have to put in the work. Now as to whether working your ass off to become a mid-level functionary in a giant corporation making six figures should be considered the epitome of “success” is another story. ---
**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, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/42 "2017-02-27T17:14:14Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Sounds like sour grapes to me. No, it just means I only have a few fucks to give and I don’t feel compelled to clap my hands over every single achievement I hear about. I don’t have the same expectations for everyone. Graduating from high school is a major accomplishment for an individual, but for your average American youth, it is mundane, not a big deal. Graduating from a podunk state college by the skin of one’s teeth is not as impressive as graduating with honors from a highy selective university. Graduating from college after dicking around for six years isn’t as impressive as graduating in four years. Graduating from college when you’re the child of college professors isn’t as impressive as graduating from college when you’re the child of high school dropouts. If you think all of these things are equally impressive, then your personality has done a 180 fairly recently. If someone wants me to pat them on the back for having a college degree, naturally I’m going to want to know _why_ they need this kind of validation. I can understand wanting kudos and praise if college really was a strugle for that person–the coursework kicked their ass, they struggled with culture shock and loneliness, they had to support themselves financially the whole time, etc. But if all things considered, it wasn’t that tough? Why the hell does this person need me to be impressed? Why isn’t it enough that they feel pride in their own personal accomplishment? The OP reminds me of the sad sacks on reddit who feel entitled to a good job because they have a college degree. As if all college degrees are equal. As if a college degree automatically means you’re a better employee than someone without one. Nope, a college degree all by itself tells you nothing. Especially in this day and age of diploma mills and watered-down curricula. I don’t think acknowledging these things means I’ve got sour grapes. It means I’m frankly frustrated by this topic. ---
**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, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/43 "2017-02-27T19:04:17Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > No, it just means I only have a few fucks to give and I don’t feel compelled to clap my hands over every single achievement I hear about. > > I don’t have the same expectations for everyone. Graduating from high school is a major accomplishment for an individual, but for your average American youth, it is mundane, not a big deal. Graduating from a podunk state college by the skin of one’s teeth is not as impressive as graduating with honors from a highy selective university. Graduating from college after dicking around for six years isn’t as impressive as graduating in four years. Graduating from college when you’re the child of college professors isn’t as impressive as graduating from college when you’re the child of high school dropouts. If you think all of these things are equally impressive, then your personality has done a 180 fairly recently. > > If someone wants me to pat them on the back for having a college degree, naturally I’m going to want to know _why_ they need this kind of validation. I can understand wanting kudos and praise if college really was a strugle for that person–the coursework kicked their ass, they struggled with culture shock and loneliness, they had to support themselves financially the whole time, etc. But if all things considered, it wasn’t that tough? Why the hell does this person need me to be impressed? Why isn’t it enough that they feel pride in their own personal accomplishment? > > The OP reminds me of the sad sacks on reddit who feel entitled to a good job because they have a college degree. As if all college degrees are equal. As if a college degree automatically means you’re a better employee than someone without one. Nope, a college degree all by itself tells you nothing. Especially in this day and age of diploma mills and watered-down curricula. > > I don’t think acknowledging these things means I’ve got sour grapes. It means I’m frankly frustrated by this topic. Except I didn’t take 6 years. I took 3.5 years, with 1 graduate unit under my belt. My college has one of the lowest graduation rates in the country. ---
**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, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/44 "2017-02-27T21:27:02Z")
> [@blockhalf](#): > > Except I didn’t take 6 years. I took 3.5 years, with 1 graduate unit under my belt. My college has one of the lowest graduation rates in the country. Congratulations. Based on the information you’ve provided, I think congratulations is order. But this is what I always tell someone who has accomplished a major life milestone. Doesn’t matter if it’s a rare achievement or not. Are you looking for some other kind of response from me? Just curious. ---
**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, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/45 "2017-02-27T23:16:40Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Congratulations. > > Based on the information you’ve provided, I think congratulations is order. But this is what I always tell someone who has accomplished a major life milestone. Doesn’t matter if it’s a rare achievement or not. > > Are you looking for some other kind of response from me? Just curious. Thank you for your kind words. I was never looking for a response. I just wanted to put my opinion out there. ---
**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 28, 2017, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/46 "2017-02-28T05:05:06Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > 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. Here in Texas it’s the same thing… on paper, anyway. It can very well be that a specific department at (state) university is superior or have different specialties to a similar department at (other state). For some jobs this might not matter, but in other jobs it can. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/47 "2017-02-28T15:34:21Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > No, it just means I only have a few fucks to give and I don’t feel compelled to clap my hands over every single achievement I hear about… I guess the way I look at - once a person actually applies to, gets accepted, and then completes a bachelor of science degree in engineering from a top 30 or so school, at that point I might care whether they think it’s an accomplishment to be proud of. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2017, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/48 "2017-02-28T16:45:13Z")
So someone who went to West Bumfield State College and gets a BS shouldn’t be proud of this? Even though they had a horrible childhood, was repeatedly told they’d never make anything of themselves by teachers, had no one in their family to help them let alone ever went to college themselves, and had to work 2 jobs to pay for their schooling? Yeah, what a horrible smug person for being proud of that, right?:rolleyes: But if you come from a wealthy family of multigeneration Yale alums and get degree from Yale, now that is worth bragging about. I … don’t … get … it. I’m an ex-college prof. I’ve seen a lot of people who couldn’t finish a degree. Those that did accomplished something. They set a hard, long term goal and eventually achieved it. Meanwhile we got millions of people who can’t stay on a diet for a day. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/49 "2017-02-28T16:50:38Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > So someone who went to West Bumfield State College and gets a BS shouldn’t be proud of this? > … > But if you come from a wealthy family of multigeneration Yale alums and get degree from Yale, now that is worth bragging about. I don’t understand what the argument is about. Anyone can be proud of anything for any reason whatsoever. And anyone else can either support that pride or not. Agreed? ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/50 "2017-02-28T18:14:55Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I guess the way I look at - once a person actually applies to, gets accepted, and then completes a bachelor of science degree in engineering from a top 30 or so school, at that point I might care whether they think it’s an accomplishment to be proud of. I don’t care what illiterate butthurts care about. Only an illiterate butthurt would ignore my repeated assertions that graduating from college (or any other personal accomplishment) is something a person is entitled to feel pride in. You have made my point for me, actually. You think graduating from a Top 30 engineering institution is a special accomplishment, correct? Or else why would you have gone there with such a remark? Well, I think it’s special too. I think this kind of accomplishment is impressive, especially for someone who comes from ordinary or mediocre circumstances. I don’t think graduating from a low-caliber school is that impressive, especially for someone who is equipped with above-average means. So I wouldn’t blame someone who fits this description for not feeling the same way as someone in the former situation. I don’t know why I’m bothering explaining this to you, though. My opinion doesn’t matter to you and yours doesn’t matter to me. I guess if you want me to clap for your engineering degree, I will. I’m all about providing encouragement to those who need a little boost to their self-esteems. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/51 "2017-02-28T18:21:33Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > I don’t understand what the argument is about. Anyone can be proud of anything for any reason whatsoever. And anyone else can either support that pride or not. > > Agreed? I’m confused too. I could have sworn the last time we did this kind of thread, the consensus opinon was “Of course a college degree is something one is allowed to take pride in. But it’s not a brag-worthy achievement, especially among the middle/upper middle class.” Now suddenly this is the unpopular view. I guess I missed the memo. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/52 "2017-02-28T20:27:24Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > I could have sworn the last time we did this kind of thread, the consensus opinon was “Of course a college degree is something one is allowed to take pride in. But it’s not a brag-worthy achievement, especially among the middle/upper middle class.” I don’t recall any consensus on the second sentence. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/53 "2017-02-28T21:38:34Z")
> [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](#): > > Here in Texas it’s the same thing… on paper, anyway. It can very well be that a specific department at (state) university is superior or have different specialties to a similar department at (other state). For some jobs this might not matter, but in other jobs it can. Wasn’t always that way… back when I was at A&M, they had a sort of cross-reference table of what “commonly numbered” courses offered at community colleges, junior colleges and other universities corresponded directly to A&M courses and transferred without question. Without exception, they were all freshman/sophomore classes, so it did definitely make a difference where you graduated from- the implication was that if you went to A&M (or I suppose UT and every other university) that even if your prerequisite courses were from all over, your coursework in your major was definitely from your graduating school. ---
**Author:** ![blockhalf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@blockhalf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blockhalf)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/54 "2017-02-28T21:48:01Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > “Of course a college degree is something one is allowed to take pride in. But it’s not a brag-worthy achievement, especially among the middle/upper middle class.” No, it’s not a brag-worthy achievement among upper-middle class families, but among the country, it is. Even more so among the entire world. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/55 "2017-02-28T23:43:06Z")
> [@blockhalf](#): > > No, it’s not a brag-worthy achievement among upper-middle class families, but among the country, it is. Even more so among the entire world. Even if what you say is true, do you honestly see yourself bragging about having a college degree? Either in real life or on the internet? Would your college degree be the first thing you’d mentioned if asked what’s the most laudable thing about you, or would you mention something that is more specific and meaningful to your goodness as a human being? If you told a random person that you have a college degree in a braggadocious manner, do you think they’d be impressed? Or do you think the random person would likely ask for more information before cosigning your brag? Because if someone stepped up to me and said “Hey, I have a college degree! I’m so awesome!” I would not agree with them without knowing more. Do you think this is fair? ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/56 "2017-03-01T00:19:36Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Most people can get through high school by just showing up for class. Pay attention, take notes and you can pass. > > College requires actual hard work. The professors pile on the assignments. You’re up night after night studying. > > I’m very proud of my college degree. I worked my butt off for it. My high school handed out far more assignments than my college did. And since I had to take more math and science courses there (not my strong suit) it was more difficult, at least for me. Not that I slacked off in college, though. ---
**Author:** ![ToughLife](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@ToughLife](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToughLife)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/57 "2017-03-01T12:45:01Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > I also could swear it’s been posted before, like word for word. Like a year or more ago. I thought it was a zombie. > **[What is it with the idea that getting a Bachelor's Degree is nothing to be...](https://www.city-data.com/forum/education/2664610-what-idea-getting-bachelors-degree-nothing.html)** > > On other forums, I've seen people talk about how getting a Bachelor's Degree is nothing special, and that being college educated is nothing to boast ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/58 "2017-03-01T17:15:19Z")
> [@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. To get a work visa for Angola I was required to provide a certified copy of my highest degree. Needless to say, it was buried in the closet at my mothers house. With a bit of work mom was able to extricate it from it’s hiding place and send it. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2017, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/59 "2017-03-01T22:17:32Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > I don’t understand what the argument is about. Anyone can be proud of anything for any reason whatsoever. And anyone else can either support that pride or not. > > Agreed? It’s a response to some posts where people indicated that if you got a degree from a top school then _that_ was an accomplishment. I consider that _possibly less_ of an accomplishment. And it’s not about supporting someones pride or not. It’s putting down entire groups of people without knowing anything about their circumstances. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2017, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778/60 "2017-03-01T22:42:37Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Because if someone stepped up to me and said “Hey, I have a college degree! I’m so awesome!” I would not agree with them without knowing more. Do you think this is fair? I wouldn’t agree with no matter what their circumstances if that’s what they opened a conversation with. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-having-a-bachelors-degree-is-something-to-be-proud-of/780778.md?page=4)