If someone has a 2:1 English literature degree , would you say they are very intelligent/academic?

[Curiousss]

Just basically this question, curious to know what people think.

Why do you want to know?

I have a 2:1 English lit from Exeter. No, not especially intelligent.

I've got a 2-1 in English from a Russell Group uni.

I'm a genius 😉

Considering the average reading age in this country is 9-11 for adults, I’d say they are intelligent. They’ve read and understood complex text. Lots of people putting themselves down on here.

I've got one from York.
I am pretty smart I think but only in some ways and not others.
Certainly no genius

I have a 2:1 in English from the early 90s (from a 1960s uni). At that time only 10% of graduates got a first and only 20% of 18 year olds went to uni.

If I got the same qualification from the same uni now I wouldn't consider it a massive achievement (but my daughter just got an offer from Cambridge for English).

I would say I am academic.

No, not unless it was from a very good uni. It’s a bit of a Mickey Mouse degree. I’d expect somebody of high intelligence to do something more employable.

No. That's a result I'd associate with someone of average to slightly raised intelligence but not someone particularly smart or a natural academic.

Yes probably, but I suppose I'd have to consider it in the wider context. Very academic compared to the whole British public? Yes. Presumably they achieved three A's at a level or thereabouts. Very academic in the context of all graduates? Probably not, although it depends on the university.

It depends, some people are able to apply themselves well academically, some are better in more practical situations. My friends husband an electrician and whilst he isn't very bright academically, he is amazing at what he does.

English is not a Mickey Mouse degree.

Which university and when.

2:1 Eng Lit from Manchester Met , I'd say I'm emotionally intelligent, I love reading, and I'm quite a good writer 😄I did start a Masters at Manchester Uni but had to quit as it was too hard 🤣

Well, they'd hopefully be better at English than someone who only did A Level...but unfortunately degrees aren't what they used to be, so I now think the really clever ones have to pay more to get to MA or PhD to show they are actually a cut above. It's all become very expensive for student and hard for employers to differentiate people who can write (many can get degrees despite not being able to formulate paragraphs well) by relying on the fact they managed to get a degree.

Snob

haha echo above poster’s horror that English Lit is a Mickey Mouse degree.

@SlaveToAGoldenRetriever you philistine!

I’d also argue that it makes you more employable than some of the STEM graduates in the age of AI. Creativity, nuanced communication and critical thinking isn’t as easily automated.

No not really. I'd expect them to be reasonably bright and capable if learning, but not necessarily well educated in anything else. It's a moderately average degree.
Very intelligent for me would be someone working at PhD level, research, scientists etc.

I’ve got one from a Russell group uni. I would have got a first had I not completely messed up my second year with my shit mental health. My husband has a Desmond in physics and is much smarter with things like quizzes and he can do the kid’s maths homework 🤣. I have better intuition than him and am much better at reading people and situations.

My DH was born in a time when IQ tests were a thing. 146 at 7 (I've seen the proof!)

Hated schoolwork, quite disruptive in a fairly benign way because bored, left at 16 but went into journalism because it was the times when you could (and his father was a journalist)

I've got a decent degree from Ye Olden Days but he is much more inherently intelligent than me (although he manages to hide it well quite a lot of the time😂)

Not necessarily, I got that quite easily, I'm bright, not a genius by any means.

And again… stop.
Raging snobbery

Of* 😬

Having so many people achieving similar does devalue the achievement somewhat.
But yes above average skills are needed and it is an academic subject.

I don't think a degree is necessarily a sign of intelligence. I almost got a first and I don't particularly think I'm intelligent academically. I would consider someone with a PhD academically intelligent.

I think having a degree shows they are of good intelligence, are able to analyse, research, think critically.
Of course it proves a certain level of intelligence