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??

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

What is a hobby degree? Is it one covering a subject like Knitting or Model Making or Jigsaws or something like that?

A degree you do as a hobby rather than needing it for work or ever expecting to do anything with it. A friend of mine in her 50s has just done a degree in criminology because she found it interesting. She’s not going to do anything with it.

Awe.
Not a degree to be seen here, academia to me is a foreign language, I just cannot get passed the first paragraph of academic papers.
It is way beyond my grasp.
I have tried but just don’t get it.

But I’m successful, I’m at the top of my game with room to progress without a degree.

People with multiple academic achievements I see as almost God like, amazing individuals.

I have 3. Undergraduate in relatively specialised area, MSc specialising in one aspect of that area and a PGDip in a different discipline but that gave me the additional skills so that I could get the career I now have in my area of specialism. So all relevant.

Undergraduate I had a loan, I worked for a year to earn the money to do my MSc plys I had a grant and credit card for accommodation. I then worked for 4 years before doing my PGDip and I had a part time job whilst studying.

I’ve got 2 undergraduate degrees in unrelated subjects, a masters, a postgrad diploma, various level 7 professional qualification short courses. Currently studying for another level 7 course.

I’ve been to six different universities. Dh always used to tease me and say I was an eternal student. But I’ve worked full time while doing all the post grad stuff.

I’ve got 3, a bachelors, masters and a postgrad certificate

I wouldn't say that was three degrees, and I also wouldn't say 'degree level' qualifications were degrees either.

I did an HNC while working full time and getting day release which was normal for that job at that time.

I didn't go to uni until I was in my 30s so it wasn't to do with delaying anything.

I've now got a degree, a Dip (HE) two teaching qualifications (one at master's level) and I have just about to start my third unit on a n OU degree.

I realised a couple of years ago that trying to work with variable but always crap health was not good for me.

Re the funding, if you already have a degree then you can be funded for a PGCE, masters, or a second UG degree in a STEM subject as long as it is part time study.

I'd probably wonder why they were telling me.

I have multiple, within the same or related field. I never once thought others have time to consider how many degrees I have

A Masters is more about time and money than intelligence' ???
I think education for its own sake is valuable.

To be honest, it’s that common for it to happen that I wouldn’t be overly amazed or think it’s anything out of the ordinary.
Sure, they’ve worked hard so yep, well done.

3 here -all for work. I don't need one -that was extra but the other two I had to have for my job.

I wouldn't assume someone with a load of degrees was more interesting or clever. Id assume they've had more opportunities, money, time and they are better suited to studying than someone who has none or one. I'm sure there's loads of people who don't have any degrees who could have got a load if they'd had the same opportunities.

@Smallsteps88

How are the people who’ve never worked funding all these degrees?

I did an undergraduate. I worked during it saved and invested in something that came through good. So I self funded another 6 years of education ( while working part-time). I decided not to have kids until later as I don’t believe in having children without being financially secure.

People are desperate to start a family and that limits what you do. So it depends on your priorities.

I think probably people think how can you be bothered studying and I agree! Right now I really couldn’t face gong back into education!

My husband has two masters in complementary subjects which makes perfect sense. If people are degree collectors then I don't think it makes as much sense

@Malachite234 that pp question obviously isn't for you then... you have worked

I think they are really lucky!! I would love to do loads of degrees but can't afford it.

Id assume they've had more opportunities, money, time

That would not be a correct assumption in some cases. I worked part-time alongside my full-time degrees to have money to live and to get experience and not step into the working world cold. I've had very little "time" and far less "money" than now. My parents helped in a limited way as they wanted me to achieve on my own and I've always been organised and hard working. I also had one scholarship. I disagree with the "more opportunities" comment too, the opportunities are there for everyone, but it takes interest, hard work researching the options available and planning it out, and hard work throughout.

@namechangeinamillion

But most people regard lines of jobs I have been in as “ not real jobs” .... waitress and other zero hour sporadic types of work. When people ask me that question I tend to find they mean “never had a career”. I could be wrong.

Depends on what it is. DH and I both have PG qualifications which are additional to those needed professionally. However, all are linked to the jobs we do and were completed while working (part time in my case as I was at home with young DS part time too).

My cousin has (at least started) loads as she keeps changing her mind and has studied everything from TEFL to screenwriting. Hasn’t held onto a job in 30 years, relies on her husband’s income.

I look at these example quite differently.

A lot of people in professional jobs require multiple qualifications, and it’s hardly ‘delayed adolescence’. Like many mine have been through work, I’ve never even lived as a student.
1st degree- qualifying law degree, funded by working in retail
2nd qualification-necessary with training contract to practice
(Then career change to child friendly teaching)
3- pgce
3- masters degree funded by work and required as senco
4- masters level through research in job and career as SLT, was part of work more than anything/ mental stimulation

All spread out, not a student lifestyle and worked through them all. Just needed them for career progression, I’m not really one for studying without a direct purpose and this was spread over nearly 20 years

But... I must add. I’m of a generation where I spent no money on my higher education. Even my pgce had a bursary and ‘golden handshake’ in my NQT year. The rest were funded. I was just lucky on timing. I’m not actually very motivated, I fell into it all really.
Those younger are in a different world now, and it’s far far harder

I think if they are all related to one profession, it makes sense to me and I admire them. If they are all random I assume either they don't know what they want to do or they are avoiding work and instead want to be a student forever (unless they are studying while working of course!)

Delayed adolescence and a reluctance to grow up usually

What a ridiculous comment.

Apart from my UG degree ( which was ultimately a stepping stone to the rest) all mine were specifically done to progress my career or were a mandatory part of my job role.

I've never considered myself particularly clever but I'm a grafter. I'm the only person in my family to have been to university and my family and friends don't even know about half the qualifications I have - they know I've got a PhD but that's it.

People are desperate to start a family and that limits what you do. So it depends on your priorities.

I've had the opposite advice...I've known 3 mums doing PhDs during the toddler or early primary years - because you can choose your own hours more than with a lot of jobs.

Generally I think they are the eternal student and did it to avoid work, different if wealthy snd don’t have to or retired etc,

What I do find rather odd is when people display their framed degree(s) on the wall of their office.

It might be acceptable in a public facing office e.g. solicitors but I've seen three people do this in private companies and they were all accountants (no offense).

I did think of framing my 'O' level certificate for Maths - but I failed that...