To ask what you would think about someone that had masters degrees from both Oxford and Cambridge?

[Zorbing]

That's the question!

Its not me, obvs. But I am wondering what assumptions, if any, you might make about someone like this (justified or otherwise).

Would you think they were highly intelligent / had a strong work ethic? Or just lucky and privileged?

Would you think that they're probably a bit of a dickhead?

Its a woman incidentally, not sure if that makes a difference.

I'd think she was clever and very hard-working. I know how hard Master's are.

I don’t agree that someone with 2 masters is de facto indecisive. Some people use both masters or have one career then another. Anecdotally, I know someone with a masters in chiropractic and another in toxicology. She is no longer a practicing chiropractor but uses much of what she learnt during the MSc chiro.

Why are some judging this woman to have feelings of inadequacy? She sounds privileged for sure. Why not do this if she could? How lovely to study at both universities. The thought sounds really interesting. Some people want to scale Everest. Others want to live on the dole. Horses for courses.

Totally agree with @Mummyoflittledragon. I don’t see why someone with two masters is indecisive. They may be very decisive if they they wanted to change career and therefore actually took the plunge and got a new qualification to do so?! For me, that would be showing more initiative than someone who stayed in the same field for years for no other reason except that was what they had studied at the age of 18.

@Mummyoflittledragon

I don’t agree that someone with 2 masters is de facto indecisive. Some people use both masters or have one career then another. Anecdotally, I know someone with a masters in chiropractic and another in toxicology. She is no longer a practicing chiropractor but uses much of what she learnt during the MSc chiro.

Why are some judging this woman to have feelings of inadequacy? She sounds privileged for sure. Why not do this if she could? How lovely to study at both universities. The thought sounds really interesting. Some people want to scale Everest. Others want to live on the dole. Horses for courses.

Agree, agree, agree!

Women in higher education need to be celebrated surely.
Women are in the majority in UG these days. That's probably why degrees aren't as highly valued as they used to be.[cynic]

That she needs to get some work experience and become a tax payer.

[quote Zorbing]@mam0918 45k!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds like an executive MBA[/quote]
Its an MSc (medical specialty) that wasnt offered at other universities 6 years ago when I was looking so they had the monopoly on it.

I have just looked it up out of curiousity and another university has now started offering it too but for only 15k per year, I have my hands full with small children right now though so in no place to start a masters.

Maybe in the future I will get to study it.

Depends what they were like as a person. My immediate thought is that it seems a bit of a waste of money if they think it’s going to get them a better job at the end of it (unless super niche) and therefore I’d think they were a bit clueless… but if it’s just that they have loads of money and just like studying then hey ho lucky them.

I’d think, good on her, three degrees equals some degree of intellectual curiosity. Ignore the inverse snobbery about Oxbridge. You would if you could. Meet her and decide if she’ll fit your workplace.

I'd think "wow how fortunate that you can study for so long without having to get a job"

@KateTheEighth

I'd think "wow how fortunate that you can study for so long without having to get a job"

Or on the other hand further investment to challenge intellectual capability and subsequent far track to more fruitful senior positions of responsibility requiring a higher level of education.

Why would they be a dick head?

I'd think they were academic but didn't have the socials skills needed to secure a job, and so chose to study further.

None of the people I know (bar one) who went to Oxford or Cambridge as undergraduates are high fliers, so I wouldn't expect someone with a masters to be any different.

@Pixxie7

That she needs to get some work experience and become a tax payer.

You're assuming she didn't work while studying.... All my PG degrees (including my PhD) were done while working full time.

Pg self funded masters courses are so much easier to get into than UG, most people I know who did them were people who threw money at it and were just putting off getting an actual job...

@KateTheEighth

I'd think "wow how fortunate that you can study for so long without having to get a job"

How do you know she wasn't working? 🤷🏼‍♀️

I wouldn’t really think anything as long as they were down to earth.

If I had to think about it, I’d assume they weren’t daft and they must be pretty intelligent.

I would wonder perhaps why one isn’t enough? Why two? Have they got an inferiority complex and need to show they have a masters from both?

I would wonder if they didn’t have an undergraduate degree from either one, as they’re regarded with more prestige (I’m led to believe, whether it’s true) so is this them trying to compensate.

I worked full time while studying for both my postgraduate degrees (one full time masters, one part time postgrad certificate) so if anyone made a comment to my face about "enjoying being a student too much" they'd get a very short reply.

Having said that, I tend not to admit to the postgrad certificate in real life, because it was job-specific to a job I didn't go on to do, and I think it makes me sound like a ditherer. I could explain it in an interview though - maybe see what she has to say about it?

I honestly wouldn't think anything at all. I'm not academic myself so it really isn't something I care about.

"Postgraduate courses are far, far, far, far easier to get onto at Oxbridge than undergraduate courses. I don't think this demonstrates that they're any more skilled or qualified than anyone else with a degree of that level/discipline from a respected university. In fact, depending on the discipline, they'd be far better off with a postgrad from a different university. Oxbridge prestige is largely only applicable to undergraduate degrees."

Well, I didn't know that and I presume I'm not the only one, in which case having a master's from Oxbridge will open doors for them.
I would have presumed they were very intelligent, but also privileged, whether privileged before they went there or not, they are now.

@SesameOrangutan

Postgraduate courses are far, far, far, far easier to get onto at Oxbridge than undergraduate courses. I don't think this demonstrates that they're any more skilled or qualified than anyone else with a degree of that level/discipline from a respected university. In fact, depending on the discipline, they'd be far better off with a postgrad from a different university. Oxbridge prestige is largely only applicable to undergraduate degrees. I don't think they're a dickhead?! Why would I?! It also doesn't cost any more money to go to Oxbridge than other universities (and due to the wealth of the universities there are many scholarships and bursaries available too) so not sure why there's an assumption that they're rich from PP.

This - regarding the prestige of an undergraduate degree compared to masters level. You’ve confined what I though @Sesame

In my area two masters might mean a first degree and MSc in an unrelated subject and a conversion MSc.

The degree and MSc in the unrelated subject wouldn't mean much, other than they had worked for and attained the qualification. The conversion Masters I wouldn't count as a full Masters. I'd be more likely to employ someone with a relevant first degree and experience.

@Cocomarine

You are so unprofessional 🙄

Yes, this whole thread raises some alarming questions about the efficacy and professionalism of your recruitment procedures.

I have an Oxford undergraduate degree, an MSt and a DPhil, as well as a related MA from another university. I am from a WC background have never paid a penny for any of my degrees— scholarships are available. Also not an asshole.

There was a woman on my course who was on I think her third or fourth masters (also while working full time). The course wasn't in any way related to her career, she was just interested in the subject and at the time fees were cheaper. She's now doing extremely well in her career and appears on the news talking about her specialism, so it certainly didn't do her any harm.

@Summerfun54321

Gosh this all makes for a depressing read. So much negative judgement. Who knows if she’s privileged or worked her arse off despite all odds to achieve what she has. Women in higher education need to be celebrated surely.

Yes, but also OP didn't explain enough. Were the two masters straight after each other or with work in between? It's very common now to do bachelors then masters and to do a career based masters later on. I can't see why anyone would query that. Where I live, the more degrees the better. It would never be seen as a negative.

@Pixxie7

That she needs to get some work experience and become a tax payer.

Why's that? Its not obligatory to work and contribute to the tax system.