Degree-less Loser

[lovelife]

My mom & I had to present a memorial scholarship today and that part was great. The conversation with the higher up from Admin at that table? Not so much.

I think he thought I was one of the recipients when he sat down. He asked what we were going to school for. The girl who was receiving the scholarship answered and then he turned to me, “What

Comments

[featherweight]

Oh my dear. I really don't think that's what they meant. Not have a Bachelor's does not mean that you are a loser. I suppose you work in a university environment, so it seems like the norm--but you already HAVE a degree don't you (an Associates is this a degree of some sorts!)? Unfortunately, we live in a world that is obsessed with credentials. However, I think that if you are smart and capable, then that will show. I do think a Bachelor's will certainly help though, if at least to get a foot in the door, but it shouldn't be a requirement.

A somewhat different story, but still somewhat applicable (I hope). In my old job, my manager (who is in her late 30s I believe) had a Bachelor's...but everyone else on her staff, including me (the administrator), had Master's degrees. But nobody questioned her abilities, her judgement, etc. She was really good at her job. I hope that's what matters.

[lovelife]

Here an Associate's is the degree before Bachelor's. I work for a contract non-profit that works through a community college. Do they have community colleges there?

I know he didn't mean I was a loser but he certainly made me feel like one. He is our interim college president until our new president starts and I would've taken it differently if it had been in a different time/place. It was completely unprofessional of him to do it there and in front of the person we were giving the scholarship to. He also kept dismissing that I did have a degree bc it wasn't a Bachelors. Kind of sad considering only degree possible at community colleges IS an Associates and he works as a president at a community college.

The way society is about degrees now is BS. I've been working in an Administrator position for 10 years and have never felt disrespected for a lack of degree by anyone I work with....maybe because minus the ones I work with at the college, very few of my coworkers have any degrees.