Parent Field/Child Field named the same - How to Access

I need to compare the value of the Career at the degree level to the value of the degree at the header level.

<?if:ACAD_CAREER=ACAD_CAREER?><DESCR_FORMAL><?end if?>

How do I identify the correct level/absolute path?

Sample Data

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<G_HEADER>

  <STUDENT_ID/>

  <ACAD_CAREER/>

  <NAME/>

  <ADDRESS/>

<Degree>

        <CONFER_DT/>

        <DESCR_FORMAL/>

       <ACAD_CAREER/>

        <RANK/>

<Degree/>

<Degree>

        <CONFER_DT/>

        <DESCR_FORMAL/>

        <ACAD_CAREER/>

        <RANK/>

<Degree/>

<Degree>

        <CONFER_DT/>

        <DESCR_FORMAL/>

        <ACAD_CAREER/>

        <RANK/>

<Degree/>

<G_HEADER/>