All That College…And For What??!?!
Below is an excerpt from an email conversation between myself and an individual interested in an educational program. Basically, this program requires a specific list of several ( >5 <10 ) classes to be completed within a specific period of time to be eligible for consideration. I’ve cleaned up any identifying info. Why am I blogging about this? Because it’s important that we all understand that having all those letters behind your name does NOT:
- Make you better than the rest of us
- Put you above the policies the rest of us must adhere too
- Necessarily mean you are more intellectually talented than the rest of us.
I like a quote from Fight Club: “Sticking feathers up your butt does NOT make you a chicken.”
Genius:
I am very interested in applying for your program, I have:
* __ years’ of global work experience in [highly regarded industry]
* Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from [highly regarded] University in [a highly regarded science];
* No doubt that I will score very highly on the [required aptitude test] – my last IQ test result was [ >170] (apparently meaning this individual is intellectually talented…FAIL.);
However, looking at your website, I’m not sure if I would be eligible for the program, since:
I graduated in 199_, but your website says that candidates must have graduated in the last [less than the time since Genius' graduation] years;
I have not taken any of the required classes …
TreoBenny:
Having completed none of the required courses, you might look at our [different] program.
Genius:
does this mean that even if I took all [the] classes, I could not be considered for the … program?
TreoBenny:
… eligibility is very straightforward; if you completed the courses, you would be eligible. [I again explain the other program is better, since none of the courses are completed.]
Genuis:
Are you saying that if I completed the courses, then I would be eligible despite having graduated more than 7 years ago?
TreoBenny:
… eligibility is solely comprised of the required courses within the required time frame. Any other studies are irrelevant.
I just have one question: Why do all your intellectual talents stop working when you realize you aren’t eligible? You obviously understand the policy, yet you can’t understand that you don’t fit it. My dad used to say “a fool is known by the multitude of words he uses.” Basically, we don’t know how stupid you are till you say something that tips us off…
I’m currently in college, seeking my first degree (AS in Web Design.) I’m not knocking college in any way, nor am I discouraging advanced degrees. However, I am 110% against the concept that any combination or quantity of degrees or other certifications mean that you have “arrived.” The true geniuses of history and today, in their pursuit of knowledge, discovered not how much they know, but how much they don’t know and strive to remain teachable, not haughty.
