Does anyone else unintentionally lie about graduating college

[James Bond]

I'm 22, so I'm just beginning my career. I went to a university for 3 years, then ended up taking my fourth year off to study for certifications and work at an entry-level position.

Now that I'm done with all of that, I have moved back to my home town and began my "life". Whenever I go anywhere and people ask me what I'm doing with my life, I usually tell them that I'm done with school, and now working on my career. People *always* assume that that means I went to a university and graduated, and they reply with, "wow, good for you!" etc.

People get really excited about this. I started off by correcting people, informing them that I didn't actually graduate, but lately I have just gone with the flow and given details about my job.

Anyone else do this? It just feels like a huge hassle to explain what actually happened.

 

[middlehead]

I did graduate, but I can completely understand your impulse.

 

[Canun]

Didn't graduate, but do the same thing. If they assume I graduated, I let them because it is much easier than explaining all that happened.

 

[Platypus]

Why didn't you finish?

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: Platypus
Why didn't you finish?

The school wasn't teaching me what I wanted to learn. I felt like it was all filler and no substance.

 

[BrownTown]

You should go and take the final credits or something at night somehow, a college degree means alot even if you already know all the material its the piece of paper that matters. In response to your question I haven't graduated *yet*, but am currently pursuing a degree, but I do similar things in other areas where people might assume something which isn't true. Like for one thing I am a twin and often people would call me by my brothers name and if it was just some random person I would just play along and not tell them they got my name wrong.

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: Tizyler

Originally posted by: Platypus
Why didn't you finish?

The school wasn't teaching me what I wanted to learn. I felt like it was all filler and no substance.

So transfer your credits to a better school that is more your speed?

Also, hate to burst your bubble but you don't really learn a whole lot from your undergrad, it's just part of the game to get your ticket for the next series of games. You should just finish it and be done with it.

 

[Queasy]

Guy at my first job got hired without completing college. Of course, he also got hired on the condition that he complete his degree. He never did and the company never held him to it (it was kind of bass-ackwards there). He eventually left for another company but told them he got his degree. One day, two large gentleman showed up at his cube to escort him out of the building.

 

[nakedfrog]

I didn't even go to college. I have some college credits from tech school in the Air Force, and my resume gives the impression that I have an Associate's from the CCAF
So I usually make cracks like "Oh, a college boy, eh?"

 

[Fritzo]

I never actually graduated. I'm like 20 credits away, but I took this job because they couldn't hold the position (and it was exactly what I wanted to do). I may finish one day.

 

[pulsedrive]

An Education isn't just about learning specific skills that will be identifiably valuable to you. It is about becoming an educated person, well rounded and knowledgeable. If you just want specific skills don't go to college, go to a technical school like ITT, ECPI, etc.

 

[moshquerade]

if you lie, it's not unintentional.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: pulsedrive
An Education isn't just about learning specific skills that will be identifiably valuable to you. It is about becoming an educated person, well rounded and knowledgeable. If you just want specific skills don't go to college, go to a technical school like ITT, ECPI, etc.

Of course, you can also attain that education minus the piece of paper on your own
The degree itself is more about proving you can hack it, really.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
if you lie, it's not unintentional.

Well, would you consider what he's doing lying? It's a simple omission of truth.

 

[pulsedrive]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: pulsedrive
An Education isn't just about learning specific skills that will be identifiably valuable to you. It is about becoming an educated person, well rounded and knowledgeable. If you just want specific skills don't go to college, go to a technical school like ITT, ECPI, etc.

Of course, you can also attain that education minus the piece of paper on your own
The degree itself is more about proving you can hack it, really.

There is some truth there. The degree is about proving you have follow through. Proving that once you put your mind to something you finish it. This is something employers are ALWAYS looking for in potential employees.

 

[pulsedrive]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: moshquerade
if you lie, it's not unintentional.

Well, would you consider what he's doing lying? It's a simple omission of truth.

Either way it isn't unintentional.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: moshquerade
if you lie, it's not unintentional.

Well, would you consider what he's doing lying? It's a simple omission of truth.

an untruth can be classified as a lie, but i see why he's chosen to do what he is doing.
still, it's not "unintentional".

 

[imported_LoKe]

Never went, never claimed to, never claimed to graduate, either.

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: moshquerade
if you lie, it's not unintentional.

Well, would you consider what he's doing lying? It's a simple omission of truth.

an untruth can be classified as a lie, but i see why he's chosen to do what he is doing.
still, it's not "unintentional".

You got me there I'm not embarrassed about not finishing, I'm extremely happy with my new job and what's going on in my life. I just don't like explaining that one, small, detail

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: pulsedrive

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: pulsedrive
An Education isn't just about learning specific skills that will be identifiably valuable to you. It is about becoming an educated person, well rounded and knowledgeable. If you just want specific skills don't go to college, go to a technical school like ITT, ECPI, etc.

Of course, you can also attain that education minus the piece of paper on your own
The degree itself is more about proving you can hack it, really.

There is some truth there. The degree is about proving you have follow through. Proving that once you put your mind to something you finish it. This is something employers are ALWAYS looking for in potential employees.

i agree. i have a BA, nothing i couldnt have taught myself with some time and energy on the intarwebz tho. the paper is just going to tell future employers that i had the wherewithal to complete the program. ill go back for a masters or something later on when my kids are older tho. sounds fun.


edit:

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: moshquerade
if you lie, it's not unintentional.

Well, would you consider what he's doing lying? It's a simple omission of truth.

an untruth can be classified as a lie, but i see why he's chosen to do what he is doing.
still, it's not "unintentional".

its called a lie of omission, so im pretty sure its still a lie. i would probably do the same after explaining it a dozen time tho, just easier that way. but i wont try to con myself into believing its not lying.

 

[Platypus]

If you're happy with the way things are then good for you but ask yourself will it always be this way? Ask yourself what would happen if you decide not to stay at your current company or if you get laid off, etc. Do you have a backup plan? A degree is a nice safety blanket to fall back on. I was offered a few jobs prior to graduating that were really tempting but I am glad I stuck it out.

Do what's best for you, don't worry about explaining yourself to anyone.. but make sure you CYA

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Platypus
If you're happy with the way things are then good for you but ask yourself will it always be this way? Ask yourself what would happen if you decide not to stay at your current company or if you get laid off, etc. Do you have a backup plan? A degree is a nice safety blanket to fall back on. I was offered a few jobs prior to graduating that were really tempting but I am glad I stuck it out.

Do what's best for you, don't worry about explaining yourself to anyone.. but make sure you CYA

It's true I did miss out on one job because the other candidate had a degree... but he also had more experience.
And I got a more enjoyable job with better pay in the end

 

[LS20]

well, according to chase bank, i am a doctor, and it raises comments when i use my card anywhere.

american airlines recognizes me as a Prince, but thats another story

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: Platypus
If you're happy with the way things are then good for you but ask yourself will it always be this way? Ask yourself what would happen if you decide not to stay at your current company or if you get laid off, etc. Do you have a backup plan? A degree is a nice safety blanket to fall back on. I was offered a few jobs prior to graduating that were really tempting but I am glad I stuck it out.

Do what's best for you, don't worry about explaining yourself to anyone.. but make sure you CYA

It's true I did miss out on one job because the other candidate had a degree... but he also had more experience.
And I got a more enjoyable job with better pay in the end

Yeah, there's definitely no silver bullet in these cases.. mostly luck of the draw. I've seen a lot of candidates get turned down simply because they didn't have a degree and another, most often less qualified one did. It's a stupid game but it's a game you have to play sometimes

 

[Steve]

I say ambiguous things like "When I finished college..." because I was done going there but didn't graduate.