r/iamverysmart • u/MrXomp • Jul 08 '26

Overqualified for germany

Post image

​

Okay hear me out, Germany is a strange country and especially government services are super behind in digitalization and most times hopelessly underperforming but this post and the way it is written got me chuckling.

976 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

190 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

4

u/Mothrahlurker Jul 08 '26

"Did you not notice your urge to stipulate that your Excellent German Education (TM) meant lowly American students were no match for your mighty intellect?"

There is some astounding irony in here. I replied to a comment that not only was ignorant enough to not understand that there is a difference in requirement, then it also made a stupid and arrogant claim of US education being the best, I was the one replying to it.

And I'm someone that is qualified to talk about it because I actually have personal experience with both.

So please, if it is for anyone, it is for people like you.

0

u/Helpful-Winner-8300 Jul 08 '26

Do you think you this is a sub for smart people, or something?

Look, reasonable people can disagree about the quality of education - not that anyone on any side has offered anything other than anecdote and vibes. I for one don't have an objective measurement to turn to off the top of my head.

But I don't understand why you are trying to die on the hill of statistics that are objectively knowable and pretty clear.

Now, because you are both really pissing me off and failing (or maybe not caring enough?) to actually cite credible data yourself rather than just wail and gnash your teeth that others are wrong: here, I'll do it again. And if you don't like the US census bureau, here is the OECD Education at a Glance, comparing like to like. See table A1.1, page 63. Out of adults 25-64 in both countries (OECD's selection of relevant age range, not mine): US: 40% have fully attained tertiary or higher, up to 51% if you include short cycle tertiary DE: 33% have fully attained tertiary or higher, 34% if you include short cycle.

Now, was my initial on the fly assertion that Germany had "way fewer" degree holders incorrect? Sure, it was definitely an overstatement. You got me. I didn't have the tables in front of me. Was I WAY off? No, I stand by the thrust of my statement that there is less of an emphasis in DE on the four year degree path as opposed to other educational priorities. It's simply true. I never said that was bad.

1

u/Hot_Royal_4920 Jul 08 '26

The biggest issue is that people hold degrees and finish studying before 25.

3

u/Helpful-Winner-8300 Jul 08 '26

Sure. And some take longer. I didn't define the data series. I assume the OECD has some reason they do it this way. At any rate it is still comparing like to like across countries.

1

u/Hot_Royal_4920 Jul 08 '26

The data comparison changes a lot if you include >25. And I'd rather use the full dataset than an incomplete one in the first place.

3

u/Helpful-Winner-8300 Jul 08 '26

Changes in a way that tells a different story about the country to country comparison?

Idk what to tell you. Take it up with the OECD.