# Benjamin Bolger

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For the professional rugby league footballer from England, see [Ben Bolger](/source/Ben_Bolger).

**Benjamin Bolger** (born 1975) is an American [perpetual student](/source/Perpetual_student) who had earned 16 [academic degrees](/source/Academic_degree) as of March 2022.[1][2]

## Biography

Benjamin Bolger was born to Donald, an engineer with [General Motors](/source/General_Motors), and Loretta, a schoolteacher, and was raised in [Grand Haven, Michigan](/source/Grand_Haven,_Michigan). At the age of two, his parents were both seriously injured when the family was involved in a near-fatal car accident caused by a [drunk driver](/source/Drunk_driver); Bolger says that this encouraged him to make the most out of his life.[1][3]

In first grade, he was diagnosed with [dyslexia](/source/Dyslexia). [Special education](/source/Special_education) programs did not help him, and, in fourth grade, his mother began [home-schooling](/source/Home-schooling) Bolger, while undergoing a divorce.[4] At the age of 12, Bolger began taking classes at [Muskegon Community College](/source/Muskegon_Community_College), graduating with an A.A. by the age of 17. He then transferred with those credits to the [University of Michigan](/source/University_of_Michigan), majored in [sociology](/source/Sociology), and graduated *[summa cum laude](/source/Summa_cum_laude)* with a 4.0 grade point average.[5] From there, he took an internship with the [Clinton Administration](/source/Clinton_Administration) with Press Secretary [Mike McCurry](/source/Mike_McCurry_(press_secretary)).[6] Bolger's mother moved with him to each college and university that he attended and helped him by reading his assignments to him aloud.[3]

In 1995, when Bolger was 19, he entered [Yale Law School](/source/Yale_Law_School) to study for a [JD](/source/Juris_Doctor), but dropped out when he was unable to compensate for his dyslexia.[6] After receiving additional training for his dyslexia, he enrolled at [Oxford University](/source/Oxford_University), thus beginning his quest for degrees. His mother accompanied and supported him through much of his education to help with his work, from Ann Arbor to Oxford.[3]

After accumulating several master's degrees, he received his first doctorate in 2008 at the age of 33, from the [Harvard Graduate School of Design](/source/Harvard_Graduate_School_of_Design).

He has also studied, but did not ultimately complete graduate degrees at the [University of Pennsylvania](/source/University_of_Pennsylvania),[7] [Georgetown University](/source/Georgetown_University),[8] and in 2004 at [Boston College](/source/Boston_College)'s [Lynch School of Education](/source/Lynch_School_of_Education) towards an MA in [higher education](/source/Higher_education).

Bolger worked as a [visiting professor](/source/Visiting_professor) at the [College of William and Mary](/source/College_of_William_and_Mary).[8]

As of 2022, he was working remotely toward a 17th degree, in writing performance, from the [University of Cambridge](/source/University_of_Cambridge) in England.[1]

## Degrees

- 1992 – [Muskegon Community College](/source/Muskegon_Community_College) ([Associate of Arts](/source/Associate_degree))[5][6]
- 1994 – [University of Michigan](/source/University_of_Michigan) ([Bachelor of Arts](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) in [sociology](/source/Sociology))[3]
- 1997 – [University of Oxford](/source/University_of_Oxford) ([Master of Science](/source/Master_of_Science) in [sociology](/source/Sociology))[5]
- 1998 – [University of Cambridge](/source/University_of_Cambridge) ([Master of Philosophy](/source/Master_of_Philosophy) in [sociology](/source/Sociology) and politics of modern society)[5]
- 2000 – [Stanford University](/source/Stanford_Graduate_School_of_Education) ([Master of Arts](/source/Master_of_Arts) in [education](/source/Education))[5]
- 2001 – [Teachers College, Columbia University](/source/Teachers_College,_Columbia_University) ([Master of Arts](/source/Master_of_Arts) in [politics of education](/source/Politics_in_education))[5]
- 2002 – [Columbia University](/source/Columbia_University), [Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation](/source/Columbia_Graduate_School_of_Architecture,_Planning_and_Preservation) ([Master of Science](/source/Master_of_Science) in [real estate development](/source/Real_estate_development))[5]
- 2002 – [Harvard University](/source/Harvard_Graduate_School_of_Design) ([Master of Design](/source/Master_of_Design) in [urban planning](/source/Urban_planning) and [real estate](/source/Real_estate))[3]
- 2004 – [Brown University](/source/Brown_University), [Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs](/source/Watson_Institute_for_International_and_Public_Affairs) ([Master of Arts](/source/Master_of_Arts) in [developmental studies](/source/Development_studies))[5]
- 2004 – [Dartmouth College](/source/Dartmouth_College) ([Master of Arts in Liberal Studies](/source/Master_of_Arts_in_Liberal_Studies)) ([liberal arts](/source/Education))[1][5]
- 2007 – [Brandeis University](/source/Heller_School_for_Social_Policy_and_Management) ([Master of Arts](/source/Master_of_Arts) in [coexistence and conflict](/source/Peace_and_conflict_studies))[5]
- 2007 – [Skidmore College](/source/Skidmore_College) ([Master of Arts](/source/Master_of_Arts) in [Humanities](/source/Humanities))[5]
- 2008 – [Harvard University](/source/Harvard_Graduate_School_of_Design) ([Doctor of Design](/source/Master_of_Design) in [urban planning](/source/Urban_planning) and [real estate](/source/Real_estate))[3]
- 2014 – [Ashland University](/source/Ashland_University) ([Master of Fine Arts](/source/Master_of_Fine_Arts) in [creative writing](/source/Creative_writing))[9][10]
- 2016 - [University of Tampa](/source/University_of_Tampa) ([Master of Fine Arts](/source/Master_of_Fine_Arts) in [creative writing](/source/Creative_writing))[11]
- 2016 - [West Virginia Wesleyan College](/source/West_Virginia_Wesleyan_College) ([Master of Fine Arts](/source/Master_of_Fine_Arts) in [nonfiction](/source/Nonfiction))[12]
- 2017 - [University of Georgia](/source/University_of_Georgia) ([Master of Fine Arts](/source/Master_of_Fine_Arts) in [screenwriting](/source/Screenwriting))[13]

## Personal life

Bolger endeavors to sleep only 4–5 hours a night.[1] He has two children, a daughter and a son, both of whom are [home-schooled](/source/Home-schooled).[1][14] Bolger has an extensive photograph collection with "compelling and controversial" public figures. [15]

## References

1. Fergus, June K. & Weber, Graham R. (March 31, 2022). ["Benjamin Bolger Has No Post-Graduation Plans"](https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2022/3/31/benjamin-bolger/). *[The Harvard Crimson](/source/The_Harvard_Crimson)*

1. Bernstein, Joseph (2024-06-03). ["The Man Who Couldn't Stop Going to College"](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/03/magazine/benjamin-bolger-college-harvard-yale.html). *The New York Times*. [ISSN 0362-4331](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved 2024-06-04.

1. Dry, Rachel E. (February 27, 2003). ["Battle of the Bolger"](https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2003/2/27/battle-of-the-bolger-mc-hammer/). *The Harvard Crimson*

1. ["'U' alum, 19, overcomes challenges, heads to Yale Law"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070206025504/http://www.pub.umich.edu/daily/1995/09-27-95/news/kid.prodigy.pg3.html). *[Yale Daily News](/source/Yale_Daily_News)*. September 27, 1995. Archived from [the original](http://www.pub.umich.edu/daily/1995/09-27-95/news/kid.prodigy.pg3.html) on 2007-02-06. – via University of Michigan.

1. Lipka, Sara (June 6, 2008). ["A Perpetual Student Pursues Education to the Nth Degree"](https://www.chronicle.com/article/a-perpetual-student-pursues-education-to-the-nth-degree-870/). *[The Chronicle of Higher Education](/source/The_Chronicle_of_Higher_Education)*

1. Zagursky, Erin (June 9, 2008). ["Bolger overcomes dyslexia, earns 11 graduate degrees"](https://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2008/bolger-overcomes-dyslexia,-earns-11-graduate-degrees.php). *News & Media*. College of William & Mary. Retrieved 2020-12-01.

1. Snyder, Susan (June 7, 2008). ["For Penn student, a matter of (11) degrees"](https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/homepage/20080607_For_Penn_student__a_matter_of__11__degrees.html). *[Philadelphia Inquirer](/source/Philadelphia_Inquirer)*

1. Clark, Kim (April 15, 2010). ["You Can Work Your Way Through 11 Grad Degrees: Benjamin Bolger slept little, ate cheap, cold-called for TA jobs"](https://www.usnews.com/education/articles/2010/04/15/you-can-work-your-way-through-11-grad-degrees). *[U.S. News & World Report](/source/U.S._News_%26_World_Report)*

1. ["Ashland University MFA Graduate Sets Record with 12th Graduate Degree"](http://news.ashland.edu/ashland-university-mfa-graduate-sets-record-12th-graduate-degree). Ashland University. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 2020-12-01.

1. Strong, Rebecca (August 19, 2014). ["12 Graduate Degrees and Counting: One Student's Yearning for Learning"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140912164916/http://www.usnewsuniversitydirectory.com/articles/12-graduate-degrees-and-counting-one-students-year_14252.aspx). *[U.S. News & World Report](/source/U.S._News_%26_World_Report)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.usnewsuniversitydirectory.com/articles/12-graduate-degrees-and-counting-one-students-year_14252.aspx) on 2014-09-12.

1. ["Browsing by Author "Bolger%2C Benjamin B.""](https://utampa.dspacedirect.org/browse?type=author&value=Bolger%2C+Benjamin+B.)

1. ["WVWC Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing"](https://mfa.wvwc.edu/summer-2016-news/)

1. ["Inaugural class of MFA students graduate from Grady College"](https://grady.uga.edu/inaugural-class-mfa-students-graduate-grady-college/). 8 August 2017.

1. Bernstein, Joseph (2024-06-03). ["The Man Who Couldn't Stop Going to College"](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/03/magazine/benjamin-bolger-college-harvard-yale.html). *The New York Times*. [ISSN 0362-4331](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0362-4331). Retrieved 2025-01-22.

1. ["Benjamin B. Bolger: photos"](http://www.benbolger.com/photos.html). *www.benbolger.com*. Retrieved 2025-11-17.

## External links

- [Official web site](https://bolgerconsulting.com)
- Bolger, Benjamin. ["A Dartmouth Pedagogy"](http://www.bolgerstrategic.com/AdmissionsConsulting/Media.Bolger_TheDartmouthMALS_2005Sum.pdf). *MALS Quarterly*. Dartmouth College. pp. 23, 24, 28.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Benjamin Bolger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Bolger) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Bolger?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.