Why do people look down on those who hold Associates Degrees?

Question

Hi,

I have an Associates in Information Technology and a job I love, however I've been seeing a lot of people look down on me just because I "only" have a 2 year degree. I got my degree from a really good local tech school, it was really expensive and I worked VERY hard for that degree and like I said I have a job i love now. Why should spend more money and more time just so I can have a "real" degree?

Answer 1

I must admit that I am one of the snotty / snobby individuals who have done that on more than one occasion, and, speaking for myself (and maybe many more than just me), I think it comes from our having to work at least 4 years for a college "degree", whereas you can claim having one with only 2 years work. Some of our snobby-ness I think comes from the simple pride or "snootiness" that comes with the "achievement" of getting that 4 year degree. It's an American "icon", if you will. I must admit, however, that with my three college degrees, and many years career, and now having two children, ages 22 and 23, I can see the value of having an Associate of Arts degree, or Associates Degree, and wish I hadn't wasted two years of my life learning literature and other subjects that had absolutely NOTHING to do with my career field, and have come to admire individuals, such as yourself, who, for one reason or another, have proven to be smarter than to waste valuable time in their life on some liberal-arts college campus just so they can get a B.A. or B.S. or M.A. or M.S. or Ph.D., etc.. The importance of college is to teach you a usable skill for earning a living, not how to identify Shakespeare stuff or Keats or whomsoever. Congratulations to you, and my two kids. Ya'll have made your ways past useless American processes to achieving the icons of success (4, 6, and 8 year liberal arts degrees) when it only takes 2 years to get the job done. Efficiency in action! The future of America!! God Bless you all!!

Answer 2

Most people don't look down on the Associates degree if the person goes on for a Bachelors degree. However, the norm in society has changed over the years and people are requiring more education just to do the same level job they would have had in the past. We keep hearing now that a bachelors degree now is the equivalent of a high school diploma a generation or two earlier. That would make an associates degree less than what a high school diploma was then. If you are happy with what you are doing, and you think you will be able to continue doing that for a significant amount of time (that is one of the biggest problems with a technical degree), then don't worry about what other people think.

Answer 3

Some people are elitists and they look down on everyone. Ignore those people. I had someone comment about the quality of my Alma Mater only to find that she had a degree from ----- ready? ---- oh! she didn't have a degree at all.

If the associates meets your needs then great - if not do more. But remember, there will always be someone who has a higher degree or more degrees or what-have-you and there will be those who have no degree but don't value yours. In the end, it's only you that has to be happy with it.

add: "when it only takes 2 years to get the job done. Efficiency in action! The future of America!! God Bless you all!!"

for some of us - it's about way more than a job. Anyone can learn a job, anyone. I think, therefore I am; you do, therefore you are. Either is fine. Education doesn't have the same meaning or purpose to everyone. [I suspect that it will be mostly those with a liberal arts education that will truly understand what I just wrote - others will ask "but what job can you get"] ☺

Answer 4

Most people don't look down, but often times a 2 year degree isn't enough for some majors. I am studying to be an mechanical engineer and there is no 2 year degree to be and engineer. If a 2 year degree is all you need, then you shouldn't do anymore since it would be a waste of time.

Answer 5

I can only say that I held an associates and then a bachelors degree, the only difference (which you have already passed) is the initial requirements as some businesses require a Bachelors or better to meet the minimum educational qualifications. As you have a job that accepted your associated degree as a minimum qualification, you are ahead of you peers. A Bachelors, Masters or Associates makes no difference once you get the job. if you are making the same salary or more that those with a BS or better, I would just smile knowing that I have it as good as they do and got there with less expense and time than they did you. Life is good...and you are either smarter than they are have skills superior to theirs. Enjoy your career knowing that others ignorance is no substitute for you own satisfaction.

Answer 6

Associates degrees in Information Tech are very desired in the world of work. Four year college degrees are TOO LONG in the world of info tech. People with bachelors degrees I don't think take to time to realize this. But employers know this...because:

By the time someone graduates with a bach degree in anything remotely similar in info tech, the computer classes they took 4 years ago are out of date.... this is how employers look at it... just be sure to stay up to date in your field and always learn. You'll be fine.

Answer 7

These days the more education you have, the higher potential salary you have. There are people out there who go through eight years of schooling! There are quite a few successful people in my family in the computer field and they all have master's degrees (which is why they are where they are). So when they see people who only went to school for two years, they perhaps think "I did so many years of schooling...and that's what it takes for me to get paid."

Answer 8

The AA is usually meant as a preparation for a BA or BS.

But to see why people might look down on it, consider two people who take two years of college courses. One goes to a community college, gets straight Cs and gets an AA. The other one goes to Harvard, gets straight As and leaves school.

One of those people can call himself a college graduate, while the other is called a college dropout. Who has the better education?

The reason that people look down on people who only have an associates degree is because they consider them to be college dropouts.

I'm not saying it is right. But I am saying it is true.

Answer 9

some people are egotistical like that. I'm about to get my 2 year and some people have told me that I'm a quitter and not good enough for a 4 year. There's nothing wrong with a 2 year, if you're happy with what you have, fine. Right now i'm at a community college and some family members have asked me, "when are you going to a "real" college." when they say that, it hurts, but as long as i get to where i want in life, fine.

Answer 10

because some people think that people that get Associated Degree got it because they weren't good enough to get a Bachelor's Degree...which is totally untrue.

Actually some times "2 year" programs are actually tougher than "4 year" programs because a lot of the classes needed to get a 4 year degree are general courses with simple information.

IT degree is tough and people shiyuld actually look up to you for getting it because it is a tough program to get through.

Some people get 4 year degrees while missing over 50% of their classes and never studying because they blackout every night...is that something to look up to?