Can you have TOO many degrees?

[Captainrekt000]

at what point are you educated enough that you don't need a professor to assign you work ?

go to a bookstore and buy some books, read them                    
go to the great courses website and buy some videos                      
subscribe to professional magazines              
attend conferences              
if somebody is doing a hobby they can spend the money other ways, often more productive ways than doing an in-person or online degree            
 

why the hell do you need a
Kairos MA Leadership            
if you're going to get an
HAU MBA            

is there anything in the MA Leadership program that the MBA program isn't going to teach you and that you couldn't learn from 5 books purchased from Amazon ?


it juts shows poor judgement              
and poor ability to manage money, time, goals and desires

If you can get someone to pay for your degrees, then what I said doesn’t matter as much. The only real consideration is time and effort at that point.

The company I work for is extremely generous. The housekeeper all the way up to the CEO gets $7000/yr in college tuition reimbursement with no limit (they don't really care what major/classes you take either). We also get another $1000/yr for "professional development" for more college courses, Coursera, presentations, MOOCS, Udemy, etc.  For some reason they keep accepting my tuition reimbursement claims. I'm pretty sure I have the record for, "most tuition reimbursement dollars used".

HR says that for whatever reason MOST people at the company don't use any of it

[MichaelGates]

The fear that you have too many college degrees is often referred to as "degree inflation anxiety".

A fear of people with college degrees can be called "intellectophobia". 

Go ahead and take as many degrees as you want and ignore the naysayers.  If you are not neglecting something or someone, you are fine. Get a psychology degree to better understand those who say you should stop. People are always telling me I am wrong on a subject and that I should prove that I studied an area. I can show the diploma, which I cannot do with a book, even though I still read many books outside the degree programs. I like the structure that comes with a degree program. I have no family and I enjoy the activity. I have many degrees and doing a great deal more degrees is my plan to fill my days in retirement. I find that many people feel you have too many degrees as soon as you have one more than they do.

[Mint Berry Crunch]

I had a family member voice their concerns about me and told me I have too many/working on too many degrees and my head is going to explode.

This raises a few real questions: "Can you be too educated or have too many degrees?" How big of a red flag is it to have 4 associates, 5 bachelor's, and 6 masters to employers? For most of us, it's mostly an expensive hobby.

As long as they're all regionally accredited, and we have the cash, what's the harm? Is there any benefit to getting a nationally accredited master's when you have at least 1 RA BA/BS and 1 RA MA/MS?

I considered adding the $900 ML from Patten U and the $3000 HAU MBA but would there be any pros/cons to having the NA Patten U degree on my resume/LinkedIn?

For context, I come from a low-income family where I'm the only one with any type of college degree (AS+BS+MS)

I don't see the problem with that. I completed many degrees and I'm doing just fine. I was in the same situation you find yourself in with coming from a lower-income family. My parents couldn't afford to send me to college, so I went into the military for a steady paycheck and great benefits. Many of which I have payed out of pocket for. Though, many I have done through employment benefits. I think having more degrees is more beneficial than having less degrees. Pick and choose what you want on your resumes. If one job falls through or you don't like it, having a degree in a completely different field may open up that chance to engage in that field. For me, I value the fun I have in learning and I feel satisfied completing each degree. Many people do it solely because they want a job and that's it. I do it because I believe in diversifying my experiences. I must say that having done this has greatly aided me in adding refreshing perspectives to my classes and engrossing conversations. Plus, I believe that since schools and businesses value individuals with broad and general education backgrounds, I should learn about as many fields as possible.

[ifomonay]

I had a family member voice their concerns about me and told me I have too many/working on too many degrees and my head is going to explode.

This raises a few real questions: "Can you be too educated or have too many degrees?" How big of a red flag is it to have 4 associates, 5 bachelor's, and 6 masters to employers? For most of us, it's mostly an expensive hobby.

As long as they're all regionally accredited, and we have the cash, what's the harm? Is there any benefit to getting a nationally accredited master's when you have at least 1 RA BA/BS and 1 RA MA/MS?

I considered adding the $900 ML from Patten U and the $3000 HAU MBA but would there be any pros/cons to having the NA Patten U degree on my resume/LinkedIn?

For context, I come from a low-income family where I'm the only one with any type of college degree (AS+BS+MS)

I think your family member may be right. Based on the very little information I know about you, it seems you want to be a physician (per your signature). And to that end, you're doing the biology degree which will be followed by the DO (equivalent to MD). And the other degrees you're doing, that's mainly to hedge your bets. If I am right, then what is your backup career to being a doctor? You seem to be interested in software/coding. You can try to get a part-time job doing web design etc. That's better use of your time than doing degrees that isn't aligned with your career goals. Otherwise your head is going to explode.

[Captainrekt000]

I think your family member may be right. Based on the very little information I know about you, it seems you want to be a physician (per your signature). And to that end, you're doing the biology degree which will be followed by the DO (equivalent to MD). And the other degrees you're doing, that's mainly to hedge your bets. If I am right, then what is your backup career to being a doctor? You seem to be interested in software/coding. You can try to get a part-time job doing web design etc. That's better use of your time than doing degrees that isn't aligned with your career goals. Otherwise your head is going to explode.

I originally came to degreeforum to find a cheap and easy way to get my GPA up to apply to medical school. I got rejected a few times before I learned about postbaccs and special masters programs (SMP/any master of science in hard science).  I got an MS Biomedical Science GPA of 3.8+ because it was the only one that accepted me. 

Still got rejected from medical schools because of my super low undergraduate GPA and lowish MCAT 

I stared taking a ton of online RA credits I found here. I started taking Sophias and other cheap ACE/NCCRS credits for fun. I ended up with 400+ RA/ACE/NCCRS credits. I thought,  "What the heck, might as well get a couple of degrees out of it while I'm at it"

I recently got accepted to a 5-year MS to DO program that noticed the amount of work I put in.

I believe that if you're a medical professional and you don't have a basic understanding of coding, IT, and AI, you're going to be left behind. For example, I always see doctors and nurses fall behind because they can't figure out how to use the medical charting software. Medical AI models will be a huge thing when I'm done with school. 

Getting an MBA/ML is mostly an extension of me liking business admin after the TESU ASBA and UMPI BABA (I do see myself getting into a leadership or teaching position when I'm old as shit 30-40 years after medical residency)  

It would be cool if I could transition to a remote health data analyst position or something like that but I have zero relevant work experience (other than working with medical charting systems). I do have the Google DA, PM, DM, IT, all TEEX CYB freebies, and almost done with the ASU AWS Mastery Cert/ASU Business Analytics Mastery Cert/Google UX.  





(I finished with a 3.0 after high school and a 2.2 overall GPA in my first college (5yrs) because I sucked at studying. As a teenager/in my 20s, some HS teachers/college professors/family members called me dumb, lazy, and a person who will never amount to much academically. Now as an adult, I love education and have figured out the best way I personally study)

[xspect]

You hit the nail on the head. Medical professionals without basic knowledge of coding, IT, and AI risk falling behind, as seen when many struggle with medical charting software. AI's role in healthcare will only grow, making this knowledge essential.
You're right—this is often overlooked. Instead of waiting for tailored solutions, some, including myself, develop custom, cost-effective AI models that work in real-time and meet specific needs without unnecessary features.

[Pats20]

I agree with bjcheung77 that I would only put relevant education on a job application, in the case of multiple degrees, certifications etc.

Personally, I see absolutely ZERO harm in having multiple degrees if that is how you like to spend your time, you have the funds to do so, and it isn't hurting anyone.

Sure, you could spend your money in another way as bluebooger suggested and buy books, attend conferences etc. but if you prefer to learn new things by taking courses, go for it! There are many reasons why someone might prefer to earn a degree instead of simply reading books, consuming videos etc. I'm also willing to bet that if you are earning a degree, you are likely also seeking out additional resources like books, videos, magazines etc. anyway.

You mention you have the cash, so that doesn't sound like you have a "poor ability to manage money" to me. I agree with you, that it could be considered an "expensive hobby" but there are plenty of people in this world with hobbies that are equally as "expensive" and nobody takes issue with those hobbies. For example, if you took the same money and bought a sailboat to take up that sailing as a hobby, I bet nobody would consider it showed "poor judgement" etc.. As long as you're taking care of yourself, how you spend your discretionary funds is nobody's business but your own!

This ^^^^^^^ 
To each his/her own. Have fun !!

[newdegree]

I say go for it. You are doing no harm to anyone. It's your money and your time. I choose to study to keep myself busy. I have plenty of hobbies, but when I do not study, my brain becomes lazy. There is no such thing as too many degrees. Now, when applying to a job, only apply for the ones that are relevant to the job. My parents never went to college, and my sister, the first female to graduate college on both sides of the family, only made it as far as a bachelor's degree in finance from St. Johns University. The sky is the limit, and if it makes you happy, continue forward. Just ensure you don't accumulate unnecessary debt you can't pay, as you don't want to take on more than you can chew.

[michaeladsmith2]

I had a family member voice their concerns about me and told me I have too many/working on too many degrees and my head is going to explode.

This raises a few real questions: "Can you be too educated or have too many degrees?" How big of a red flag is it to have 4 associates, 5 bachelor's, and 6 masters to employers? For most of us, it's mostly an expensive hobby.

As long as they're all regionally accredited, and we have the cash, what's the harm? Is there any benefit to getting a nationally accredited master's when you have at least 1 RA BA/BS and 1 RA MA/MS?

I considered adding the $900 ML from Patten U and the $3000 HAU MBA but would there be any pros/cons to having the NA Patten U degree on my resume/LinkedIn?

For context, I come from a low-income family where I'm the only one with any type of college degree (AS+BS+MS)

 IMHO, the answer is no. 
1. It's your life, your money, and your career. Ultimately, it's up to you to become a lifelong learner and find innovative ways to enhance your skills by pursuing additional education. 
2. Often a degree may become obsolete or outdated, as new technology, new ideas and new methodologies arise. What we thought was the norm in 2020, has made a significant shift in 2024, especially post-Covid. 
3. I'll use myself as an example. Now, don't get me wrong. I am in no way downplaying or marginalizing my recently earned DHA. This comment has NOTHING to to with VUL, it's 5 years of Alumni, or my fellow graduates. This is simply my experience and choice. Sometimes you get a degree, like my DHA, and you want to "upgrade" the degree with a more recognized PhD, solely based on my future plans to do research and work directly with the UN, WHO or a NGO. My DHA would be a bit difficult to justify as it's primarily used for Healthcare C-Suite positions of leadership and management, and not areas like research, Epidemiology, or other areas of Global or Public Health. As such, I'm pursuing a PhD in Public Health, starting in January 2025. The benefit is that they did accept several credits from my DHA that helped me cut down the completion time to 20-24 months. 

I do believe that having multiple degrees does give you an edge and ability to be versatile. It can definitely open more doors. And it gives you a host of skills to tap into, regardless of which specific degree filed you end up working in. 

Best wishes on your future endeavors and keep learning!

Full Disclosure NOTE: Above is my own written response. Since people have a problem with using ChatGPT. Below is the Re-written version from ChatGPT. AI helps with better Grammar, Concise sentence structure, and conveying my points cicinctly. 

Here’s a revised version:

---

In my opinion, the answer is no. Here’s why:

1. Your life, your money, and your career are yours to shape. Ultimately, it’s up to you to commit to lifelong learning and discover innovative ways to enhance your skills, whether through formal education or self-driven development.
   
   
2. Degrees can become outdated as new technologies, ideas, and methodologies emerge. What was considered standard in 2020 has significantly shifted in 2024, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
   
   
3. Let me share my personal experience. To be clear, I am in no way downplaying or marginalizing my recently earned DHA (Doctor of Healthcare Administration). This isn’t a critique of the program, its alumni, or my fellow graduates. It’s simply my perspective and the path I’ve chosen. Sometimes, after earning a degree, like my DHA, you might feel the need to "upgrade" to a more widely recognized credential, especially when it aligns better with your future goals.
   
   

In my case, my DHA is well-suited for leadership and management roles in healthcare, particularly at the executive level. However, it’s less applicable to areas like research, epidemiology, or global and public health—fields I plan to work in through organizations like the UN, WHO, or NGOs. With this in mind, I’ll be pursuing a PhD in Public Health starting January 2025. Thankfully, many of my DHA credits were accepted, allowing me to reduce the completion time to just 20–24 months.

I firmly believe that holding multiple degrees offers versatility and a competitive edge. It can open more doors and equip you with a diverse set of skills, regardless of the specific field you ultimately work in.

Keep learning. Best of luck on your future academic plans.

[Hotdogman1]

...I dont think anyone here had an issue with ChatGPT. Mr. GPT, please explain your habit to occasionally hallucinate.

"ChatGPT hallucination" refers to instances where ChatGPT provides information that is false, misleading, or fabricated while presenting it as factual. This phenomenon is common in AI systems like ChatGPT because they generate responses based on statistical patterns in their training data rather than accessing a knowledge database in real-time or understanding the content they provide. Here’s a closer look:

Why Hallucinations Occur
Pattern Matching Without Context: ChatGPT predicts the most likely sequence of words based on its training, not on actual "knowledge." If a query lacks sufficient grounding or relates to obscure topics, the model might fabricate plausible-sounding information to fill the gap.

Ambiguity in User Input: If the question is vague or open to interpretation, ChatGPT might generate a response based on partial understanding or assumptions, leading to inaccuracies.

Limitations of Training Data: The model is trained on a vast dataset but does not inherently know which sources are credible. It might draw from outdated, biased, or fictional information, causing factual distortions.

Lack of Fact-Checking Mechanisms: ChatGPT does not verify its outputs in real-time. It does not cross-reference external databases during the conversation, leading to a risk of confidently presenting falsehoods.

Examples of Hallucination
Fictitious References: Citing books, studies, or articles that don’t exist.
Misinformation: Giving incorrect dates, names, or events. For example, stating "George Washington was the first President of Canada."
Fabricated Processes: Describing non-existent techniques or procedures in science, medicine, or technology.
Misinterpreted Contexts: Combining unrelated facts into a response that sounds logical but is entirely false.

Mitigating Hallucination
User Verification: Encourage users to cross-check information with trusted sources.

Enhanced Training: Training models on more curated datasets to improve reliability.

Integrated Fact-Check Systems: Linking responses to verified knowledge bases or live information sources.

Prompt Refinement: Users providing specific, well-structured queries to reduce ambiguity in responses.

Hallucinations are a significant challenge for conversational AI and emphasize the importance of critical thinking when interpreting AI-generated content. If you'd like, I can assist in explaining strategies for detecting hallucinated content or improving AI reliability.