Would you date/marry a man without higher education?

[bunny85]

Just that really. If everything else was great, would it be a deal breaker for you? Let's say a man who only finished high school- no college, no uni. Would you?

Hmmm... Actually, the person's intellectual level does not depend on his degree only. He can be a very smart man even with a school education only. But, for me, intellect is important. I mean, I like men who are interested in different fields of life, including science. By the way, I truly recommend you to check out the article about the importance of math in our lives.

I have a university degree, my husband has a lower degree in IT (non-university). I love reading and languages, my husband doesnt. I love him like he is and he me, BUT, he has confessed many a time that he feels inferior to me, that I am more cultured than he is. I don´t really understand it, so what? Don´t see why it is important but he feels threatened at some level. Strange.

Yes. I think on average it is much more likely that I would be compatible with a graduate. And it might be an easy quick screen if I needed to reduce a stack of "applicants" (ha!). But I definitely wouldn't rule someone out on that basis. They can still be smart, interesting and open minded without a degree.

(and I'm a Uni Lecturer)

I feel conflicted about this.

I'm uni educated myself and I would agree that a lot of the time, people without uni education don't have as much understanding or interest in conversing on an intellectual level about a lot of topics e.g. politics/Government policies, science/public health. I've found that people with more basic academic education only think about or can talk about these things on a very simplistic level e.g. X is good, Y is bad. It doesn't mean they're necessarily less intelligent per se but being less academic, they often don't have the nuance or interest to critically assess information and absorb it. They may just believe what they think based on extremely limited information, and crucially have no interest in broadening their horizons or recognising that a single newspaper article they've read has its own biases (which most people know, even if they themselves agree with the particular bias). This may offend some people but that has genuinely been what I've seen and I'm sure others have found the same.

Some uni educated people don't have interest in more intellectual topics or deeper conversations and just want to live a simple life with their head down, so I would imagine someone without these skills wouldn't bother them at all, which is more than fair enough and understandable.

The reason I feel conflicted is because I know they'll certainly be people who are not uni educated but are well read and can do all these things uni educated people can do, and even better. Plus some people have non academic reasons why they didn't go to uni e.g. being a carer. Therefore I certainly wouldn't rule out dating someone without a uni education, it would depend on the individual. Also, I'm more than aware that a lot of people going to uni nowadays are not even studying more academic subjects, so I'm not saying uni educated people are universally better than others at all. I'm just thinking about it in terms of myself, and the sort of topics and interests I would sometimes want to be able to engage in with a significant other.

I think it's horses for courses really as who we choose to date is a personal choice.

@GreenlandTheMovie

Yes. I married one. He's now a 6 figure salary earning director of a large company. Also got 100% on one of his further maths a level papers.

How predictable. So many millionaire genius men in one thread!

You would not believe the amount of people that have in the past automatically render him useless as soon as he mentions no degree. Ridiculous.

Clearly not on here. There are enough millionaire genius entrepreneurs to form a small army.

Still wouldn't want one though. I'm honestly more inspired by hearing about all these women who earn 6 figures as company directors despite having no qualifications, who are supported by their husbands, and do something more than boast about how much their husbands earn. Does marrying a man with no qualifications do this to them? A need to constantly prove their man is good enough?

Had to laugh at this post. Very strange there's lots of rich, high flying no-degree men coming out of nowhere and all apparently happen to be married to people who just so happen to post on this thread?! Of course rich men who are not degree educated exist but the reality is that the majority of wealthy, high flying men, do have degrees because having a university education is also linked to other societal privileges.

Yes I married one and I have numerous letters after my name. He is intelligent, witty and has life experience. Qualifications do not keep you company or warm at night

My ex had a higher education than me (I only have an undergrad). He constantly told me I was wrong about things (including about things i spend all day working on...). He had a worse job than me end hated my success. Current parter has no degree, doesn’t try and tell me how to do my job and has a better job than me.

Every man is different and a degree means very little in practice especially as nearly everyone has a degree these days anyway...

Yup. Married one and turned out he ended up earning more than me.

When it comes to love these things shouldn't matter. And if they do then I'm not sure that is a good basis for a lasting relationship.

For me personally I don't care about 'official' education, by which I mean whether someone did A Levels or went to uni, but I couldn't be with someone who wasn't intellectually curious. Not necessarily about subjects that are academic on paper, but about things that require critical thinking and passionate opinion. I couldn't be with someone who didn't have a thirst for always finding out more about stuff they are interested in / finding new stuff that grabs their attention. That's what I find attractive far more than the traditionally academic people I dated in my early twenties.

@youvegottenminuteslynn

For me personally I don't care about 'official' education, by which I mean whether someone did A Levels or went to uni, but I couldn't be with someone who wasn't intellectually curious. Not necessarily about subjects that are academic on paper, but about things that require critical thinking and passionate opinion. I couldn't be with someone who didn't have a thirst for always finding out more about stuff they are interested in / finding new stuff that grabs their attention. That's what I find attractive far more than the traditionally academic people I dated in my early twenties.

This is spot on.

Why on earth not?
One of the brightest people I've ever met left school with no qualifications whatsoever and couldn't read or write.
He had a head for business however and progressed his career through hard work and through his inventive way of thinking. He actually taught himself to read and write in his twenties and went on to own one of the worlds most recognisable brands and is now a billionaire living in the US with a dream life.
He came from a very poor background and schooling in his area was lacking to say the least. He clearly had so much potential.

I have personally known several people who had degrees yet for want of a better words were thick as fuck.
A degree is not a measure of intelligence, it's proof that someone stuck at something for 3-4 years (which is still commendable!)

My husband left school at 17. I bc went to uni, he outwards me and is well read and articulate , I am scatterbrained he gets things done.

The smartest person I know has no formal qualifications at all. He grew up with a alcoholic dad and didn’t go to school very often as he struggled with dyslexia bc had little help. It was different 30!years ago.