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?

In saying that I don't have a degree either so make of that what you will! I do have other professional qualifications though.

Yes. My DH left school at 16. Worked his way up in a company and is now running it. He’s a hard worker and I’m really proud of what he’s achieved.

How ridiculous, I know quite a few people working in the city without any degree earning over £250k/year. They are highly intelligent. On the other hand you can have people with a degree in media or social science.. Does it hold any value?
Degree doesn't necessarily mean either intelligence or successful career

Oh also I only did an NVQ at college & now run my own business which I love & it’s doing well.

I am doing! I have a STEM degree and a very senior corporate position in the pharma industry. He has a few O-levels. However he is intelligent, interesting and owns his own IT company. He is pulling a 6 figure salary same as me and we have similar challenges in our work lives. Out of work he is techy and has a passion for electrifying old vehicles which is a new hobby-business he is setting up with a friend.

I couldn’t be with someone I didn’t find interesting and that goes with intelligence. However intelligence is not only measured by academic qualifications.

Blimey, never occured to me not to.

Married a man who left school at 15 (family and migration reasons) with no academic qualifications at all, who has worked his way 'up', is highly intelligent and an all round great guy. I do occasionally wonder where he would be now if he had been able to follow a more academic route, but that's just out of interest really.

Yes I married one. This was a while back when fewer people went to uni, my dsis didn’t either and she’s very intelligent.

However part of the reason the marriage ended was xh had no drive. In his case he just left school and became a cocklodger to a series of women... I don’t know, for him, maybe not going to uni was a sign of no ambition. But more accurately, nevet getting a proper job and trying to pay his way in life was the clearer sign.

Why would you be so judgemental? If the relationship was good, would that really matter?

Genuinely shocked at this thread! I didn't even know this was a thing? Why does lack of higher education matter? Surely it's about chemistry,
conversation, intelligence, work ethic, ambition, achievement, sense of humour, kindness, compassion - that sort of thing and you don't need a degree for any of those!?

I wouldn't. My entire social circle is made up of people from uni and post grad, and someone without a degree would likely feel out of place

Lol. I can’t imagine only being friends with people exactly like me. How dull. I work with lots of guys who I don't think have degrees. A lot of them are clever, hard working funny and very very good in a crisis - they out earn me by a long way. They don’t seem to have any problems attracting women. I personally wouldn’t be able to date / marry someone less intelligent but I don’t automatically equate that with a degree.

There are some bonkers replies on this thread. I left uni in my second year and am intelligent, well read and otherwise well educated.

Those of you who wouldn't dream of it - wow. Snobs.

turnthebiglightoff There are some bonkers replies on this thread. I left uni in my second year and am intelligent, well read and otherwise well educated.

I think you're missing the point that university teaches you skills, including the ability to elucidate an argument beyond calling something "bonkers" and insulting people's choices who are different to yours.

@GreenlandTheMovie your description of the successful bankers you've met could not be further away from my husbands character (trust me ,I have met those sorts too!)

You would struggle to meet a kinder , more thoughtful gentleman. Much of his success has been down not just to his intelligence but his likeable personality. I count my lucky stars everyday that I met him and get to spend my life with him.

His drive to succeed in other areas ( writing and some TV and radio work linked to his writing ) has made me very proud of him indeed. He's done very well for a boy from a comprehensive school.

It's up to you if you want to discount people based on their lack of a degree - I just feel that you may miss out on meeting many wonderful and interesting people in your life.

Yes! Not going onto higher education or Uni doesnt mean you can’t be intelligent or interesting!

AngelsWithSilverWings I have no doubt. But I'm describing my preferences and I find it really sad that this thread is full of women with degrees who constantly state that my "DH doesn't have a degree but earns far far more than me" without questioning it. Women don't get directorships through being kind and thoughtful - they get them through dogged determination and being better than nearly everyone else. And how many more of us women would have a drive to succeed if we had such high chances of well paid jobs?

It's up to you if you want to discount people based on their lack of a degree - I just feel that you may miss out on meeting many wonderful and interesting people in your life.

I haven't discounted anyone from my life. I have no issues with friends from all backgrounds but I because I do a hobby where I meet a lot of people, including men, from completely different backgrounds, I have been plagued by men whom I have nothing else in common with assuming that the moment I'm single, I must be desperate for a man and therefore I must want to date them. Even though I find them irritating, annoying and unattractive. It is honestly quite baffling how they cannot read the signs. I think its because I have quite good manners. Perhaps I should just tell them to fuck off.

So, no, I'm not "missing out" on dating men I find irritating, annoying and unattractive. I'm repeating that bit because its entirely different from being friends with the same people. There are plenty of interesting, thoughtful men from the same background as myself - its not a quality reserved to those who haven't been to university.

Loving the idea that people without a degree, wouldn't be able to keep up conversationally. I trained our graduate entrants, in a previous job. Sometimes it is painful.

Are you going to assess the quality of the degree in the marriage application too?

Yes of course. Wouldn't occur to me not to. A degree/higher euducation doesn't equal intelligence

I wouldn't. My entire social circle is made up of people from uni and post grad, and someone without a degree would likely feel out of place

Or be made to feel our of place you mean.

I wouldn't. My entire social circle is made up of people from uni and post grad, and someone without a degree would likely feel out of place

Or be made to feel our of place you mean.

Christ, I have no idea of the educational status of most of my friends!

And my non-degree DP does out-earn me these days, purely because I've taken the kids hit. If you scaled up my hours from the freelancing I do so I have the flexibility to enable him to do the job he does now, then actually we'd still be on a par. The sole reason he out earns me is because I do the child-care, so it's absolutely a thing.

Why would you even judge someone on their education, or lack thereof? I married a man who finished at GCSE. He's very intelligent and has more common sense than most. I have a degree but that doesn't make me better than anyone who doesn't!
Formal education isn't for everyone. I absolutely hate this idea of "everyone should go to university". Why? Not every career requires a degree! In fact, the people I know who have the best jobs/earn the most didn't finish school.

Absolutely would, however I wouldn't date someone without drive. ( come to think of it wouldn't date them if they couldn't drive either 😉)

Yes, if they are intelligent. University isn't for everyone, and my partners mum was on her own and quite poor and didn't see it on her kids radar.
Partner dropped out of colleague and started work for an company, worked his way up in IT and is on the brink of owning his own company at 35. His brother didn't go to uni and studied on the job at a law firm and is now a successful solicitor.

Boris Johnson has a degree.

Let that be a warning to you.