<p>Seriously though, I need to ask for some help. I am trying to construct a sentence in a formal letter, and it contains reference to the degree formally titled “Diplom-Kaufmann”. I’m trying to decide if I should refer to it as graduate or post-graduate or even terminal. Word on the street is that it’s the equivalent of an American MBA. </p>
<p>Unfortunately, throwing it into google isn’t really working for me because the results are all in German (what a surprise), and the translations are suspect (when I choose “translate this page”). </p>
<p>For example, wikipedia translates it as “diploma purchase woman”. That doesn’t make the slightest bit of sense to me. Why would anyone name a major or degree such a thing? Uh - actually I’m trying very hard not to burst out laughing on the offchance that this is a very serious and highly respected major. But surely there cannot really be a degree that seems to refer to buying women, right? </p>
<p>Anyway, does any one here know how this degree actually translates, what it is, and if it should be correctly expressed as “graduate” or “post graduate” or something else altogether? </p>
<p>Also, am I correct to assume that the designation “gut” translates to something like cumme laude? </p>
<p>Thanks in advance for helping, sorry if it’s a lame question, and very, very doubly sorry if I’ve offended anyone who holds this degree, it’s not intended.</p>
<p>As I recall, “kaufmann” is German for “Salesman”, or in this case probably more properly “Businessman”. So it does sound like it’s a business degree of some sort.</p>
<p>Every time I read the wikipedia definition (translated) I just laugh so hard because it refers to a “puchase woman degree” and alternatively “purchase woman plan” (part of academic strategy?) - anyway, I came back here to check for responses and of course saw TheDad’s post and laughed so hard I thought I broke something. </p>
<p>Seriously, though, DMD, thank you for the link; given the sentence structure I’m using, would you consider this a terminal degree, or a graduate degree, or (???). </p>
<p>It’ll be my luck that ten regulars on this forum hold this degree and worked very hard for it, if so, please accept my sincere apologies but this is really very funny.</p>
<p>BB, I have the right to remain silent and TheMom, who often tells me that I’m cute but not as cute as I think I am, would undoubtedly advise me to exercise that right.</p>
<p>warblersrule - thank you very much - but - wait! I assumed “post graduate” referred to the progression of study between “graduate” (masters) and terminal (PhD). </p>
<p>To confirm, you are saying this degree should be called “post graduate” and not “graduate”?</p>
<p>Thanks very much for translating the translation, I appreciate it!</p>
<p>Berurah your post made me laugh even harder. Why didn’t I think of that? </p>
<p>I am very greatful for the tolerant people on this board. Without this resource, I likely would have called the office of the exec in question - or worse sent him an email directly, and said something like "please explain what your degree is in - I just don’t get this “purchase woman plan” thing.</p>
<p>Whereas I would have just inquired about payment options. TheMom says marriage “…no money down, the rest of your life to pay.” With a wink, with a wink…</p>
<p>All kidding aside (this thread is better than a “Fawlty Towers” rerun), the mistake would be in assuming that the German educational system mimics our own. It doesn’t. For example, a German “Gymnasium” is not the equivalent of our high schools, exactly (and certainly not our gymnasiums). Not all college students in Germany attend a "“Universitat” (university); engineers don’t. The system is changing, so the person in question may have been granted one of the older degrees.</p>
<p><em>lolololololol</em> Probably because your mind is productively employed with IMPORTANT things as opposed to mine which, having been spared college app. stuff this year, is typically thinking all kinds of things it shouldn’t be…<em>blush</em> ~berurah</p>
</p>
~berurah</p>