The older I have gotten the less I have cared about his degrees. When I was in my 20s I would never think of dating someone that didn't have at least a bacherlors degree, since I had one and thought they had to have one to be on the same level. As I have gotten older I have meet many guys that don't have degrees but are accomplished at what they do. I prefer to date someone that is happy with their job and can support them selves then some one that makes a ton of money but hates their job.

And by support themselves I am not meaning lavishly, but able to afford their bills and not living on credit.

None of my friends care about a man having degrees/education. They care mostly about how he makes her feel.

They do, however, care about him having a job. They also care, to a degree varying woman by woman, whether or not he has ambition. For example, some of my friends don't care if a guy works a low level job and is happy doing that for the rest of his life. Some of my friends don't mind if he has a low-level job now (because maybe that's where he is right now) but if they are not, together, able to currently acheive an acceptable standard of living she expects that he (just like she) is ambitious enough to pursue it.

Booksmart means nothing....absolutely nothing. Give me a man with a GED who loves me passionately and unconditionally, and I guarantee I will be one happy woman!

I too thought growing up I would marry a man who wore a suit and tie everyday. But the older I got the more I realized it is about the man, not the money. As long as he has a job, does not need me to support him, and he can pay his own bills, I am cool with whatever he does. He just has to be happy with himself, and what he does. As long as he loves me and treats me well ... I am good as gold.

Not suggesting women are gold diggers but is there an inherent equalization in a ladies mind to his job position or accomplishments with his desireability to them?

In a word: NO! :bigsmile:

Not suggesting women are gold diggers but is there an inherent equalization in a ladies mind to his job position or accomplishments with his desireability to them?

I prefer a guy to have a degree or some college under their belts, however most of the guys I date don't have that. I care more about them being employed and being in a career they love or in a job that will get them that career. However, I am still young and several of the men I date are still in school (part time) or figuring out their career paths so I focus more on a potential match with a lot of exceptations to my preferences, besides the employed- that is a must!

If a guy is lazy and stupid and too much into himself, I wouldn't care to have a relationship with him. I like men who are intellectual, well read and thinkers - that doesn't have to translate into an advanced degree - anyone can choose to read a book, study or just read the newspaper (other than just sports / comics). I'm not sure Carl if you had a negative experience with a woman, but I think most people want someone they can relate to on more than just a physical level.

Good degree => good job => good money => decent intelligence => decent conversation

Well, to some extent it tells: you can finish something, you are an achiever, you potentially pay your own bills and don't live at your parents anymore, you have interesting things to say (maybe), you have had enough intelligence to finish your degree.

Sure, there are people without degrees who have got the same qualities, but most people with degrees will have at least some or all of these qualities (which is a start already).

A degree is a safe bet.

You're only at a disadvantage (though) if you don't possess any of the above mentioned qualities, or if you just tell us you do possess those qualities but cannot show us you do (a degree sort of implies those qualities. Sort of. Safer bet.).

I think as I've gotten older I've worried about checking boxes less. I went on a date with a guy last night who has a degree (in IT, for those of you who remember my track record), yet I can tell you I heard some red flags during dinner that tell me that he may be educated but not the same passionate hard working person I am. (Yes, it took me hours of overanalyzing to come to that... well, that and a fellow MFPer cutting through the mud to ask if I wanted to make out with the guy as my decision point):bigsmile:

Bottomline, he's job hopped, gotten let go and laid off, even shared that his parents expressed frustration about how unsettled in his job he was, he talked about wanting to get out work early, and no desire to do anything more. None of things individually have to mean bad things, but all together tells me there is likely a difference in our priorities and decision making. His education is equivalent to mine though.

Eh, I'd rather worry about whether we can hold conversations (and whether I want to make out with the guy) than think about his education level, hehe...

A college education doesn't mean much these days, it just makes it easier to find a "good" job. I barely use anything I learned in college at my job or other aspects of my life. So if someone else was able to find a way to manage a good career without spending the extra time or money on an education, then more power to them. I just don't want to date anyone with no direction or ambition in their life.