Man has 24 GRADUATE degrees!!!

That's right!! No typo.

… and I thought having six was bad. Now when I hear it from the family about having too many degrees, I just have to point them to this guy. TWENTY of the degrees are in a subject within education.

http://nathantallman.wordpress.com/

http://chronicle.com/weekly/v54/i41/41a01501.htm (requires login)

 

The way I am going, I may reach to 12 degrees!

 

Old-timers will remember Dennis Huber who has something like 18 degrees total, but they're all in varied fields; religion, theology, business, and law.

This guy seemed to set out to amass as many degrees as possible simply to get into the record books.

 

I guess he has no life, just go to school for his entire life.

 

At least he has a hobby...

 

I'm jealous!

 

Something about this story makes me suspect psychiatric problems. What surprises me most is that credible universities are letting him do this.

I seem to recall that the California State University system used to reject masters degree applicants if they already had a masters degree. I think that they eventually got rid of that rule, but they still take a dim view of people just collecting masters degrees for no purpose. Admissions committees take it into account.

I don't think that there's any limit to how many classes non-matriculated non-degree students can take through open-enrollment though. So while they won't award students unlimited masters degrees, students can apparently take individual classes (on a space-available basis) indefinitely.

 

Big Business!

It just goes to prove that higher education is big business and institutions love to take your money... or your borrowed money.

 

What record book would record it?


Guinness World Records

That you claim to have the most degrees, professional qualifications or best examination results?

This is not something we can accept as a new record as each country has its own education system and within each country, each academic institution has its own methods for awarding qualifications. This also applies to professional qualifications as each governing body has different criteria on which their awards are based.

In addition we no longer monitor nation-specific records and therefore records that relate to a particular country’s education system.

With this in mind, there can be no fair and justifiable standard upon which to base a world record.

Examples of proposals we would not accept:
Most law degrees
Most Masters degrees
Most A-levels at A* grade
Youngest person to pass their High School Diploma

We do accept:
Oldest graduate
Most graduates in a single family

 

From the article;

He regularly sent transcripts to Guinness World Records, despite its decision to discontinue the serial-student category out of concern over diploma mills.

 

This seems weird. Looking at some of these, they seem like duplicates-
1990
Master of arts, Western Michigan University. Major: special education

2001
Master of science in education, Indiana University at South Bend. Major: special education

2003
Master of education, Oakland University. Major: special education

I plan to continue my education after I complete the PhD but I would not get a DBA in BA/Management just to add another degree. I may get an MBA in Finance, and an MS in Risk Management, and a EdD in Organizational Leadership, and a....

 

I'd be more impressed if he had one or two degrees and was actually using them productively. As it is, he's more like a guy whose goal is to collect the largest ball of twine in the world. Interesting in a demented sort of way but totally useless.

 

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa well said!!!! Totally useless!!!! He must make a lot of money as a security guard to be able to afford so many degrees!

 

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Exactly- I think it said he had a job....once.....long ago.

I caught flames for my response to a similar thread last year, when I called a multi-dozen-degree-holder's credentials indulgent, BUT, this situation is a bit different. I think world records are cool. Is there any reason to have the world's most tattoos or longest hair? No, but people like to stand out and get attention. It's harmless. I don't think there is any misconception about this guy's purpose- simply to have "the most" so it is what it is. Shouldn't someone tell this guy he won't make it into the book?

 

...and as was mentioned before, several of his degrees are in the same discipline...

 

Maybe, but maybe not. Seats in graduate programs are often competitive, and if someone got bypassed so this guy could put another piece of parchment into his Guinness World Book application (keep in mind the school gets free publicity), that's just wrong.

 

Hi Jennifer - He may (yet) make it into the book. What someone should tell him is that this is not necessarily a positive thing.

 

And he's rich too...

 

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LOL! I'm thinking "positive" isn't part of the criteria.

 

Considering that some schools allow what, 1/4 of your courses by credit hours. Then add, related research for doing papers. It's possible...a friend of mine takes 3 college courses per term (he teaches at the school and they have huge course selection).

My best guess is that he doesnt have much time for family!