Why does nobody on Mumsnet ever have one degree?

[BertrandRussell]

It’s either at least 2, possibly 3 and one a Masters probably from Oxbridge, or left school with one GCSE in home economics......

It doesn't matter at all! But it's interesting, is it not?

I’m working on my masters at the moment!
My undergrad was in Classics so I had to go back and do something that was actually relevant to a job

I only have one degree, but I am a third through my second.

I have none and only Cs and Ds at GCSE level I am taking an NVQ level 3 at the moment but that doesn't sound very impressive on here.

I've got one. But I NEED to find out how to comfortably fund another. It's been my ambition for at least 8yrs, while living in the back of beyond and working for very little £'s.
genuine envy.

I’ve only got the one!

Those of us with 3 are up to our eyeballs in debt with very little to show for it - humblebragging on mumsnet is the only time we get any joy out of them these days.

I think people are, quite rightly, proud of their degrees but are aware that it can sound twattish/boastful to bring them up in everyday life so they like to mention them anonymously online. This is especially true of Oxbridge graduates.

It's the same with the posters droning on with how intelligent their kids are. It's just knobbish to do it in real life other than to family so doing it online is a good outlet of all that parental pride. Have a read of the Higher Education threads if you want to see pointless boasting. They are hilarious. Sometimes it's relevant to mention how clever a kid is but generally the facts are just shoehorned into a post.

I don't have a degree. I went to a technical collage, did a three year course and have a diploma. It was for a specific job. Nowadays you have to have a degree to do it.

I’ve only got one! It’s a first class mathematics degree but still just one.

My husband has 3 so I could borrow one from him.

Haha, I have none!

I did a diploma and was offered and turned down (idiot) the opportunity to do a MA to have children. There's still time though and I do love learning.

The MA wouldn't have advanced my career or lead to a well paid job so finances won out.

I don't think i have ever noticed before. I have 2. Neither of which I use. In fact given how little I can remember from either of them, i always find it best not to mention it!

I have one degree but various certificates and diplomas, some degree level (PGCE) and others not so high level, eg the one in 'Cat behaviour' from Cats' Protection.

I was going to top up my PGCE to a masters but life got in the way so I'm currently studying with the OU so I'm going to be another with 2 degrees.

Maybe MN just attracts people who like to study.

Yes I have two.
My degree in Ancient History wasn't going to get me a job, fun though it was, so did an MSc to get a profession and then a PGDip in order to get a promotion.

I think it's an age thing...now nearly everyone I know does a masters. Used to be an honours degree was enough for most

That wa.s true 40 years ago when every Tom, Dick and Henrietta didn't go to on to university. An honours degree set you out for the crowd then, now you need a masters as well, preferably two.

A 2.2 was also the average grade then, now it's a 2.1.

I hadn't noticed that on MN. In my experience in RL I think it's the norm for most people in their early 20s - mid 40s to have one degree and not two, but that may change over the next few years with more people, like myself, doing Masters courses because of the Post Graduate Loan scheme that was introduced in 2016:

www.gov.uk/masters-loan

I think it's an age thing...now nearly everyone I know does a masters. Used to be an honours degree was enough for most

Perhaps, but IME a lot of people do extra degrees when they are older and want to re-specialise. I have three degrees, two of which are masters and some extra professional certifications but I changed career specialism. I know many others in their 30’s and 40’s that have done the same. It’s different to bashing out a load of consecutive degrees.

Plus you couldn’t get a student loan for a masters degree until somewhat recently so I imagine that explains why more people do them now. You could previously get a bank loan but it’s a hell of a bigger commitment. It’s very common to have numerous master degrees in countries where funding for them is generous.

So MNetters seem like they have a lot of degrees as they are mostly older and likely to have changed career track especially if their first choice became incompatible with having children.

My husband and I each have two degrees. The second degree only took an extra year, and we were both offered full academic scholarships, so neither of us had to pay anything. Several of our close friends did the same.

One of my friends has both a medical degree and a PhD - that really shows dedication.

I just have one degree! I have assorted other certificates i have accumulated over time too. If i had the funds i would do a masters.

I have a Bsc, MRes, MSc and PhD and no commone sense

Common even

I have one degree and professional qualification like most people i work with. Although in the last few years There have been a few with masters and more recently a few PhDs but a very small percentage of those overall. However, my DS and his friends all tend to have degrees, masters and PhDs but they are all his uni friends.

No degree here. 9 GCSEs, 3 A levels, a professional qualification and a post grad diploma.

I have 1 A level, achieved at adult education, in Art.

I almost had one but I dropped out before my last year of Uni. But they awarded me some kind of Diploma so I guess that places me somewhere between the one GCSE in Home Ec. and two degrees in being extra brainy.

BUT I have a Hot Work License so beat that! I'm allowed to work with things that spark and flame! I don't, but if I wanted to I could

In RL I don't know how many degrees most people have aside from close family and a couple of friends. It doesn't matter unless your looking for a job does it?