What do you think of ppl with multiple degrees/qualifications etc?

[lapitup]

What do you think of a person when you hear they have a more than average amount of degrees/postgrads/masters etc and qualifications?

Do you think...good for them,they must be smart,have ambition, drive etc!

Or.

Do you think...god could they not make their mind up and/or stick to something??

I think lucky they have the time and money to self indulge.

@ToastyCrumpet

My, some of the people here have a chip on their shoulder. I’ve got a BA that I did from school, and an MSc linked to my then job. In the next job I did a degree-level professional qualification and a further qualification in the same field, at Masters level. I’m lucky in that I got support from my employer - but my employer also expected me to do these. They were hard work.

Quite the chips on the shoulders seem very large in some cases and I say this as someone with undergraduate degree with no intention of doing any others.

I would think nothing more than 'I wish I could do that/had the discipline/loved learning as much'

I think learning for the love of learning is absolutely fine and I also think being a 'jack of all trades' in the sense of doing a few undergraduate degrees in different subjects seems fine to me. In fact it appeals more to me than learning something in massive depth, though studying generally is not my forte

Some quite funny answers.

Almost all of my friends have at least two degrees. It’s entirely normal in my career. Not a single workshy flake amongst them.....

Mumsnet can be odd about educated people though. Some of the projection on a recent thread about someone with a PhD made for hilarious reading. So many chips on so many shoulders.

I'd think how jealous I was, and how much I would love to go to university again (even as things are now!)

I have one degree but would have loved to get my MSc in research methods then a PhD .. but the funds have never been there unfortunately!

I was the 'eternal student' for 12 years while I was working and was funded for my HNC, Degree and Masters. They were halcyon days for me, getting day release to go to Uni and getting paid to learn amazing stuff that made me realise HE isn't about learning facts. It's about stretching your mind and realising your potential that you'd never have known existed.

None of what I learned is particularly relevant now, because I studied different branches of technology, which are so quickly outdated and superseded by new tech, but it gave me a grounding in the basics of IT, plus how to research, how to write short, to-the-point essays and how to deliver to a deadline. Plus it increases self-esteem, confidence and powers of memory and recall.

It isn't for everyone, but it's a shame people who enjoy studying and gaining qualifications are pigeonholed and judged negatively.

I'd say it's nobody else's business and who gives a fuck what people think anyway?

@ktp100

I'd say it's nobody else's business and who gives a fuck what people think anyway?

Before reading this thread I hadn't even given it a 2nd thought, nor did I give a flying 4X what people think.

I think this must be one of those "only on MN" parallel universe moments

I think it depends. If the qualifications are linked and it makes sense in terms of job progression then I'd be impressed. It's it's numerous degrees in random subjects then I'd think they were bored and have too much money and time.

Absolutely good for them ! Not that I know anyone who does .

If they weren't also working for a substantial amount of time, I would consider these people to be self-indulgent eternal students who would shamelessly be happy to be bankrolled by someone else in order to have a plausible reason to stay out of the job market for as long as possible.

Kidults.

My sister says I’m an overachiever (not in a nice way). I just always need a project and love learning new stuff. I into did one degree full time - the rest were all part time (as will the next one I plan to start next year).

I know some people who have strings of qualifications and, with the exception of their first degree, they have been gained whilst working and to me they are a sign of being driven to learn and achieve and it's all very positive.

I also know people who have multiple degrees and it's because they think the world of work is beneath them, and they keep doing degrees after degree in order to prove how they are a cut above everyone else. But they actually just come across as having a bit of a chip on their shoulders.

@ToffeePennie

What’s an average amount? I’m 31 and have 5 degree level qualifications so far, currently studying for my 6th and am waiting a scholarship approval for my 7th. That might seem excessive but I don’t know. One of my friends is only a year older and she’s already studying for her 9th degree level qualification.

Why?

Do you work? How do you find time?

What’s degree level?

I don't have any preconcieved opinions.. people do multiple degrees for multiple reasons.

Definitely seems like a bunch of sour grapes on this thread. I've an undergrad, a master's and another masters. I got funding and scholarships for all of them and they are all related to my field of work. I never normally mention them except on my cv!

Having said that my last masters six years ago was an eye opener and I think education has changed a lot in the past 15 years and it did feel like the university was just cramming us in to make as much money possible. If I hadn't had ahrc funding and had to pay for it myself I'd have been a bit annoyed but still its what you make of it and I made it work for me. I was put off pursuing an mphil or phd though or any form of academic career.

I think they must like studying!

Just no need for it. Not impressed at all.

Nothing - my husband has 3. All in the economics/maths fields.

I have 1.

I honestly do think “how do you habe the time”. And sadly unless working in academia - it doesn’t mean a damn thing in the work place

@zurich09

why do you ask? Almost everyone around me has at least 3 - I have 4 but then I am an academic so thats literally how many you need to get the job. However, it doesnt make us any different from any other professions that have long degrees/professional qualifications.

To be fair - if I hear that someone is an academic - I just think poor....because thats probably the worst paid profession considering that most people have to do at least seven to eight years of higher education.

other than that it really makes no difference

Exactly. Another academic, too, and most people I know have PhDs. Completely unremarkable in academic life because they’re just what you need for the job, the way you might need A-levels for another type of employment.

I have four degrees, and am from a fairly deprived background — no one ever stayed in education past the age of 15, certainly no tradition of FE or HE— and I never paid a penny for any of them. I got an entrance scholarship from my county to get me to university, which could be rewon from year to year for the rest of my degree, and others from different sources to cover fees and maintenance for my postgrad degrees, though I always needed to do PT teaching and to teach on summer schools to make ends meet.

How strange that people consider that someone with multiple degrees is ‘being bankrolled’.

If it’s in their email signature: absolute bellend.

Otherwise, just jealous that they have the money and brain space to do it. I feel as though in the 25 years since graduating I’ve either been paying bills or raising babies.

I think I’m probably too old for studying now. I’d rather write a novel.

I read a friend’s MA thesis last week and was very surprised at how simple it was. I produce more complex stuff at work and get paid for it. I don’t see the point tbh.

@SerenityNowwwww

What’s degree level?

Plenty Of Fish - "I have studied accounting and English Literature to degree level' [opened a bank account and read a book] as well as studied languages at advanced level [shouted at a Spanish waiter] and will shortly begin my next degree level study programme in business administration [going bankrupt now the ex has found me and wants child support].

@bagelbaby

Just no need for it. Not impressed at all.

Gosh, I used to think ‘the English have a strong distrust for intellectuals’ was a baseless stereotype...

I have BA in Business, BSc in Psychology, PGCE and QTLS DH has BEng and CIMA. We both like learning new things and see education as a wonderful journey rather than a destination. To paraphrase R. S. Peters. We don't see why we can't learn for learning sake rather than just getting a qualification when needed to get a job.