Failed University

unistudent2010

Dear all

I would really appreciate some advice. This is quite a complex situation, so I will try to explain it simply.

I obtained 7 GCSEs (mainly at grade C) ad a GNVQ in ICT (Merit) in 2005. In 2007, I got AAC at A-level in Double ICT and English. I began a degree course at my local Uni in 2007. In 2008, I decided to live on the campus, but experienced financial difficulties, so moved back home this year. As a result of these issues, I have repeated the second year of my course. I have just received notification that I am unable to process to the final stage of the honours degree. This is due to failing more than 60 credits (three modules out of six). As I failed 4 modules, I am not eligible to be reassessed. The board of examiners’ could have granted a repeat stage (where marks would be capped at 40), but this has not been offered. I have not even passed enough modules to be offered a place on the Ordinary degree. This means that my programme of study has been terminated with the award of Certificate in Higher Education. I do not have the funds to repeat the degree at a different University. I currently owe the SLC in excess of £17000.
I am interested in going in to ministry in the Church. As a result of already received government support, I will not be eligible to receive the Student Support Grant that people normally get. I will need to cover my own living expenses for two years whilst in the south of England. I am not sure I will be eligible to progress with the application, so have arranged to have a meeting with my minister to discuss the situation.

I have no work experience and am not able to claim Job Seeker’s Allowance until September. I have no idea where to go from here. There are no mitigating circumstances, so the grounds for appeal are limited. There are probably a number of reasons for my underperformance:

1. The second year modules are intended to be more difficult and have less of an introductory feel
2. The module choices may have been uncongenial
3. Poor time management in exams made it impossible to pass the module in some cases
4. My work does not address the question on some modules
5. I have a 60 minute commute to the University
6. I Plagiarised (bought internet essays) in the first year when I achieved 66%

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Many thanks

stevenhp1987

unistudent2010 wrote: »

1. The second year modules are intended to be more difficult and have less of an introductory feel
2. The module choices may have been uncongenial
3. Poor time management in exams made it impossible to pass the module in some cases
4. My work does not address the question on some modules
5. I have a 60 minute commute to the University
6. I Plagiarised (bought internet essays) in the first year when I achieved 66%

1. First year modules are introductory modules, second year are not. You are supposed to do some independent learning and thinking instead of getting spoon-fed information

3. Surely poor time management is your fault? You should try to start coursework and revision early to avoid disappointment.

4. Then you get low marks for not doing the coursework?

6. If you bought internet essays then I'm sorry but you deserve to be thrown out of university as you didn't rightfully earn your first year mark!

If the university knew about the plagiarism, you would have been thrown out a looooong time ago!!! It sounds like you are clearly going to get poor marks as you do not know the content and are instead getting others to do it or simply do the wrong topic.

Oldernotwiser

You bought internet essays and you want to go into the Ministry? Good Heavens!

Seriously, I think that you should accept the university study isn't for you and look for another way forward in life.

poet123

I posted on another thread recently that young people have been sold a myth that university is the Holy Grail, I think this post evidences my point. You may have had the academic quals to start a degree, but not the personal qualities to sustain the required effort needed. Travelling time of 1 hour is not excessive in any way, buying essays off the internet is also foolish from a financial and study perspective, aside from the moral aspect.

If the Ministry is your ultimate aim, then I suggest you get a job, work for the next 2/3 years and fund the training from work not loans. I suspect this is what your Minister will say, and like ONW I suspect he will be non too keen to see that list in the OP, it does not show you in a good light, although you seem to have been very honest here.

Take it as a wake up call, in later years you can always return to study if you feel a degree is necessary, but perhaps in a subject you feel passion for or one that will aid your ministry.

Taiko

Just as a side comment, there's no God.

On the main subject, this is all your own doing. Until such time as you're able to sort yourself out, it's best to stay out of HE.

GemJar_2

Taiko wrote: »

Just as a side comment, there's no God.

There was no need for this comment. Do you have proof that there is no God? Some people just can't keep their thoughts to themselves can they? If somebody wants to have a faith and a religion then that is their choice, and it is not for you to question.

Taiko

Faith is just the denial of observation in order to preserve a belief. There is literally no evidence to constitute the existance of a supernatural being. You really need to prove the existance, rather than myself prove it doesn't. Good luck with that.

dmg24

GemJar wrote: »

There was no need for this comment. Do you have proof that there is no God? Some people just can't keep their thoughts to themselves can they? If somebody wants to have a faith and a religion then that is their choice, and it is not for you to question.

We are all entitled to an opinion!

Meepster

GemJar wrote: »

There was no need for this comment. Do you have proof that there is no God? Some people just can't keep their thoughts to themselves can they? If somebody wants to have a faith and a religion then that is their choice, and it is not for you to question.

Nobody questioned anyones faith. People can believe what they want. All the OP said was there is no god. They didn't say you couldn't believe in god. In the same way that people can believe in Santa, the Toothfairy and the Easter Bunny, who also don't exist (but have more relevant and fact filled stories behind their existance)...

wssla00

OK..... getting back to the OP's original question. To me there seems to be no grounds for appeal at all as everything is your responsibility. It would also be wise to remember that going in to do a religious training requires the very same educational skills needed to obtain a degree, and in many cases need some kind of university training. I would concentrate on gaining these skills somehow. Open University do courses on a number of pre study information such as reading for university and writing essays. These would be the first building blocks. You would need to fund these yourself, so looking for work would be the next thing I would say. If you are committed to this, taking a couple of years out wont hurt, and depending on where you live you can sometimes claim student loans/fees etc once again after 2-3 years of not being in training.
Taking on a degree is not an easy way out, and I have seen so many people do so because they didn't want to get a job. That's not a good reason to do something and will eventually lead to the person not living up to their potential as their heart wasn't in it in the first place.
Good luck with whatever you decide, but remember, if you are going to try again, you will need a lot more commitment, time management and honesty than this time round. Buying essays is something that makes every other uni student angry. If everyone else has to write the essays so should you.

Danstar_2

If you cheated and got away with it. Well done. To have the guts to do it I think it was a good effort. I know people will look down on you for it but it's resourceful and I would never be brave enough to do it myself. I know I will get stick for writing this but ohh well.

Edit: the above post is intended to be sarcastic.

With regards to what to do. Take a few years out to work and earn some money to fund uni. I'd also ask the uni if you can defer resitting for 2 years.

With regards to there being no God. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs regardless of whether they're right or not. I was raised and christened a catholic and Im agonistic I won't argue either way and if religion helps people in dark times, as a crutch then rather that than alcohol or drugs.