I have seen this when a candidate is sitting at my interview table - degrees in disparate disciplines with zero experience in the field that they're applying for.... if you are sitting across from me with a stack of degrees and no experience, chances are I will pass you by for another candidate with less schooling and some experience. I don't have an issue with degrees or education but in my industry, there's much more than bookwork and I do not want the drama that comes from a candidate with a Masters or two and no experience wanting a manager position or manger pay. Having multiple degrees in disparate discipline does not equate to investing in oneself, it show the lack of commitment. I have three degrees; all in the natural evolutionary chain of my discipline - half of which GI Bill covered, the rest I got in loans which I am within the last 5% of paying off... even with two degrees and certs, I had to get a help desk gig at 15/hr to get the experience and network I needed to be where I am now.. the degree/cert will not work for you, you gotta get out there and work it; all these papers will do, is get you a phonecall. As for the cat in the article... it didn't specify if his degrees were all related, but it did mention parent-plus loans... that's on him; fuck any excuse outside of that. as for failing health and inability to work - taking on that debt was a choice, and an informed one at that. Fuck any excuse outside of that. Guess pop is gonna have to get a side-gig or three. He's got at twenty years before retirement, make 'em count!