What was the greatest educational disparity in your relationships?

StormRider

Diamond Member
Mar 12, 2000
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Do most "successful" couples have similar educational backgrounds? How many of you are in great relationships but you have wide educational disparity? For example, she might have a PhD in math but you only have a high school diploma and are working in retail?
 

NTB

Diamond Member
Mar 26, 2001
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Not much experience with this personally (My last girlfriend was a college student, like me), but I know one of the proffessors here is married to one of the Janitors. No clue what his - the janitor's - actual education level is though.

Nate
 

Red

Diamond Member
Aug 22, 2002
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Income or education shouldn't have anything to do with love as long as both partners contribute equal amounts of love in the relationship. As long as both are educated enough to communicate and reciprocate feelings they should be good to go.

One of the most loving couples I know doesn't even speak the same native language! The woman is from Venezuela so English is her second language, and the guy is from Morocco and English is one of his second languages as well, so they speak English too each other even though it's not perfect.
 

BeauJangles

Lifer
Aug 26, 2001
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Originally posted by: Red
Income or education shouldn't have anything to do with love as long as both partners contribute equal amounts of love in the relationship. As long as both are educated enough to communicate and reciprocate feelings they should be good to go.

One of the most loving couples I know doesn't even speak the same native language! The woman is from Venezuela so English is her second language, and the guy is from Morocco and English is one of his second languages as well, so they speak English too each other even though it's not perfect.

I think the OP is trying to get at the fact that people (generally) seem attracted to similarly educated people... not that two diferently educated people can't have a relationship.
 

Isla

Elite member
Sep 12, 2000
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My mother has her MA and my father has his high school diploma.

My father worked as a firefighter and then as a general contractor. My mother taught elementary school (academically gifted students).

Because they are both highly intelligent people who basically motivated to work at improving the community, it was never a problem.

Some people with PhDs are total idiots who are just good at jumping through hoops, while some people who don't even graduate from high school are geniouses who aren't very good at fitting into the mold.


Edit: I do think people of similar intelligences tend to link up. But that doesn't mean they could put up with (or afford!) the same amount of education.
 

NTB

Diamond Member
Mar 26, 2001
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Originally posted by: Isla
Some people with PhDs are total idiots who are just good at jumping through hoops, while some people who don't even graduate from high school are geniouses who aren't very good at fitting into the mold.

:thumbsup::D

Nate
 

CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
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I agree with Isla on this... but for the most part you do normally see somewhat equal levels of intelligence in relationships on average.
 

Encryptic

Diamond Member
May 21, 2003
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I only have an HS diploma and some college time under my belt, but I'm doing well enough for myself at this point (steady job at a small software company doing tech support and web design, as well as doing web design work on the side).

Whereas, my wife has two degrees in molecular biology and journalism. Our education levels are disparate, but I wouldn't say that we're on different levels intellectually. We complement each other rather well because we've got strengths in different areas.
 

DeeKnow

Platinum Member
Jan 28, 2002
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i would say it makes a big difference... to begin with it certainly increases the odds that you will have interesting stuff to talk about when you meet... I mean - what could i say to a janitor after the first minute???

My wife is a grad, but i still sometimes gets frustrated cause she can't tell a floppy from a CD... or a Merc from a Chrysler... I can't imagine what it would be like with someone who hadn't gone to university !!
 

Red

Diamond Member
Aug 22, 2002
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Originally posted by: DeeKnow
i would say it makes a big difference... to begin with it certainly increases the odds that you will have interesting stuff to talk about when you meet... I mean - what could i say to a janitor after the first minute???

My wife is a grad, but i still sometimes gets frustrated cause she can't tell a floppy from a CD... or a Merc from a Chrysler... I can't imagine what it would be like with someone who hadn't gone to university !!

Yeah... because going to university has a lot to do with how much a person knows. And janitors surely aren't able to strike up more than one minutes worth of conversation. Get a clue.

I won't be too harsh though; I can tell you're not from around here when you say "gone to university".

In my personal experience, I've had equally exciting chemistry and stimulating conversations with people with all levels of education. And just as boring / uninteresting talks with those people of all levels of income/education. You need to get out and talk to more janitors, bookworm.
 

jordank32

Member
Jul 12, 2004
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i feel like intellect is a much more important factor than educational background. I'm not sure if I believe in IQ tests, but I read somewhere that studies have shown that most people do not get along with people who have an IQ difference of more than 10 points from theirs.
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
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I went out with a senior in high school when I was a junior in college... it was just really awkward sometimes. I always kinda felt like I had to talk down to him.
 

Spamela

Diamond Member
Oct 30, 2000
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mrs. spamela & i were married while i earned a BA, a BS, and a graduate degree.
she has a couple of years of college, but it's not an issue between us.