Is too many degrees a bad thing?

That's something considering the entire site radiates nerd awesomeness.

Best,
ITJD

 

I love that, "nerd awesomness," that's great.

 

True, it should probably be on a splash page entering this site.

Something like "Welcome to Nerdvana" with a splashy logo, while Mike Meyers yells "Nerd Alert" at the top of his lungs.

 

One of those was a slip of the tongue.

 

I am honored. Maybe I should request that my user signature be changed to Nerd of Nerds, Nerd of the land of Manerd or Das Wundernerd?

 

So simply dismiss Obama’s 57-States as a slip of the tongue; all right. In comparable fairness, shouldn’t Bush’s erring also be just as conveniently dismissed?

 

Interesting take, since I didn't say which one. I think you've answered your own question, but not in the way you expected.

 

As a hiring manager, I'm not concerned about people that spend a lot of time in school. There are many more destructive--and insidious--uses of one's time.

How many of us have, during the courses of our careers, migrated away from what we originally prepared to do? Doesn't it make sense, as one's career continues, to choose to re-educate? This isn't always done with degree programs, of course, but in this day of the available degree, why not?

When I chose to start my Ph.D., I was 26 and thinking I would carve out a career in what we quaintly called "nontraditional higher education." At Union, I was able to shape a degree around that concept. But when I finished I was 43 and decidedly not on the same career track. I've been (mostly) in learning and development for 30 years, despite having no degrees in that area. (Hmmmm.....)

There was a time when someone might be accused of being a "professional student," but if someone wants to spend some of his/her off-work time pursuing higher education, how is that a bad thing?

Of course, I've always been an advocate of the focused, not comprehensive, resume. Thus, I'd recommend omitting degrees that do not support your present goals. Remember, a resume is a sales too--a brochure--for you, not an affidavit. Don't lie, of course, but you don't have to include every irrelevant fact.

When I was at Union, there was a learner who was also a faculty member. She had a Ph.D. in psychology, and she was pursuing another Ph.D., this time from Union. She was already phasing out psychology learners from her slate, looking to re-establish herself in her new field. Would she be wrong to omit her first Ph.D. from a job application? How many doctorates are too many? (Just asking....)

 

You’re correct in that you didn’t specifically state which individual (Bush or Obama) you were expressing inference. And of course your non-specific wording would provide an out. So noted! I was presumptuous in my remark. Inadvertently, I had based my response on some of your prior politically leaning postings which haven’t necessarily been worded so non-specific. Please accept my explanation.

 

Hmm. Which seven states just got admitted to the Union while I wasn't looking?

 

Considering the collegial and group orientation of the site, along with the occasional argument, I'd go with some word play and become "Nerdus Maximus"

That stated, Das Wundernerd is pretty cool

ITJD

 

Teddesse
Tedsylvania
Uted
Rhode Heiksland
Heiksachussetts
Contedicut
New Heiksure

 

Well played

 

This about sums it up. Who's buisness is it really if one choses to get 75 degrees if one should so choose? Especially considering that the same person could take up World of Warcraft as a passtime and spend just as many hours doing nothing fruitful.

 

Weighing in on grammar

While one of the respondents provided a good analysis of the grammatical construction of the question, I would like to pose an alternative. Wouldn't the purpose be served by framing the question as "Is it possible to obtain too many degrees?"

Hence, one could answer positively or negatively as the context of the response dictates.

Kindly,
Steven King
* About to enroll in a principal add-on course of study.

 

Since you disparage World of Warcraft, I will second your post. Had you derided Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, I might have launched into a litany of substantiation of video gaming technology in general.

Kindly,
Steven King
BA, MBA, MEd

About to start a principal add-on program...then, if I get hired as a principal, begin a doctoral pursuit of K-12 Higher Learning.

 

Good one. Although I may have argued in favor of the gramatical correctness of "Is too many degrees bad?" I don't think it is poetically correct. I much prefer your alternative.

 

Maybe it was near lunchtime and Obama was just hungry and thought of having a dish with one of the Heinz 57 sauces (maybe ketchup!).

 

Actually, a high level WoW character could have more financial value than a lot of degrees that we discuss in this board...

 

Only if... I'm so glad I got out of that game.. Only wish I did it sooner...