Are cosmetologists/hair dressers considered ';college graduates?';?

On my Myspace page I have my pet peeves listed. One of my pet peeves is when people claim to hold advanced degrees that they have not earned. I used cosmetologists as an example. I also stated that I find it irritating when people claim to have gone to graduate/professional school when they have not. An example that I have seen recently with this is with someone that went to culinary school. I'm not trying to be haughty or arrogant and I certainly don't want to act superior to others.



Feel free to view my page in the ';about me'; section. A friend of mine, a cosmetologist, was quite insulted by my comment. She does feel that she is a college graduate because she is licensed by the state and put in hours and took out loans to complete her program. Bridget's comment is located in the comment section of my Myspace page.



http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fus/a>



So, my question to you is, ';Are cosmetologists college graduates?';Are cosmetologists/hair dressers considered ';college graduates?';?
No. College implies a 2-year degree at the least, and usually means a 4-year degree. A graduate or professional degree means you have a masters, PhD, JD, MD, or DDS. 'Graduates' of beauty schools and chiropractors and chefs are not considered college graduates. That's more like a technical degree, like a plumber or mecanic.Are cosmetologists/hair dressers considered ';college graduates?';?
Cosmetologists hold a vocational certificate that enables them to ply their trade. They are not college grads unless they have actually GRADUATED COLLEGE. Does your Friend hold a degree (BA, BS, MA, MS)? If not, she is not a college graduate. This may feel bad to him/her, but if it does, she/he is welcome to go to college and earn the title of college graduate.
Not by a long shot. It's your friend who's acting haughty. I have the same pet peeve, only as to people who think if they have a career that makes them professionals. The legal definition of professional confines that term to law, medicine, accounting, dentistry, engineering, and architecture--that's it. The list does not include teachers for example, yet you hear a lot about the teaching profession. A teaching credential is a minor degree requiring no advanced education.