Orlov (IM) has a degree in chess training.
WC and contenders would be like Nobel Prize winners.
Super GMs highly respected doctorate holders.
Regular GMs PhDs.
I'm tempted to say that the rest can be ignored but I may someday get that MFA and would like to feel good about it just in case.
Well, my degree cost about 48 thousand dollars, and I'm a waitress, so how much for a GM title? 
Well, my degree cost about 48 thousand dollars, and I'm a waitress, so how much for a GM title?
I could be dating myself, but tuition for 16 units was 200 bucks. How on earth could you possibly spend 48 grand? Did you by all sorts of fluff? 
It's just what my loans came to after four years. School and living expenses.
48k is a bargain. I'm looking at about 70 grand- just for tuition. I eat acorns and live under a bench- I can't afford a waterfront property under the bridge down by the river.
It's just what my loans came to after four years. School and living expenses.
Dang! 48 grand makes my head spin. If you could go back in time, what car would you buy with that much cash. I'd buy the fastest Corvette with the upgraded racing motor, have it shipped over to Germany and do some time trials at Nuremburg. My buddy lets me drive his, and going from 0 - 100 mph in just the first three gears is a rush. 
Wait a minute! This is a chess site. Why am I talking about cars? Vroooom!!
48k is a bargain. I'm looking at about 70 grand- just for tuition. I eat acorns and live under a bench- I can't afford a waterfront property under the bridge down by the river.
48k is a bargain. I'm looking at about 70 grand- just for tuition. I eat acorns and live under a bench. I can't afford a waterfront property under the bridge down by the river.
For 70 grand, I hope you have an endgame in mind, like making tons of money and living on a waterfront property.
My hope and dream is to live in a van down by the river.
It's just what my loans came to after four years. School and living expenses.
Dang! 48 grand makes my head spin. If you could go back in time, what car would you buy with that much cash. I'd buy the fastest Corvette with the upgraded racing motor, have it shipped over to Germany and do some time trials at Nuremburg. My buddy lets me drive his, and going from 0 - 100 mph in just the first three gears is a rush.
Wait a minute! This is a chess site. Why am I talking about cars? Vroooom!!
I don't know why you're talking about cars
I did a couple years ago- they tripled tuition. But now that its 2 whole years later and everything's Obama's fault now I might apply again.
^ No wonder you get faculty who can't use turn signals when you start with people like that.
Anyway, GM = PhD etc. is spot on - both clueless about how to operate in the real world.
God, I had one advisor who would drive 4 blocks, and then give me the keys to the car because she was unsure how left turn signals worked. I'm not joking.
Hilarious!
^ It would save a lot of money though.
I'm glad I went to college a million years ago.
Cars. Hmm. Well at least I'm not talking about waffles with...oh no...now I'm hungry!
"My hope and dream is to live in a van down by the river." - ivandh
Becoming a GM would be a lot harder than a lot of PhDs.
CHESS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COLLEGE
You get a break in Hyde Park. You don't want to turn down the wrong street in South Chicago.
That's a little further south.
Thinking of the time invested, what would you equate a Grand Master title to be in college terms? A Bachelor’s Degree? A Master’s Degree? A Doctorate Degree? Higher?
You can get a college degree in philosophy. I’m not knocking philosophy. As in philosophy, much deep thinking is required in chess.
What do you think about a college degree in chess?
This sounds like a start -
Obtaining a college degree while improving your chess.
SPICE (Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence) at Texas Tech University was founded by Grandmaster Susan Polgar in 2007. This is the first chess institute of its kind in the world.
LINK http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/2010/08/obtaining-college-degree-while.html
My college, the University of North Texas, was the first to offer a Bachelor’s program and recently a Master’s program in jazz studies. I received a Bachelor’s of Music and my major was Jazz Studies.
There is an old joke about a degree in Underwater Basket Weaving.