Graduate Jobs, is it worth applying ?????

melancholly

goggle wrote: »

So you're saying that some universities are better than others & that people who get a degree from one of your less-preferred establishments are less capable than your son & thus should be treated as 2nd class citizens?

not 2nd class citizens, but it is hugely naive to think that all degress from all unis are equal. in reality, as a general rule, they aren't. there are always individuals who buck trends but that doesn't change things - some degree subjects and some universities are thought of more highly than others (often with good reason - a uni that takes in students with AAA is more likely to produce great students in that subject than a uni that takes in EE; granted being great at a subject in lectures doesn't always translate to the workplace, but there have to be ways of picking between candidates quickly - and there are always exceptions, again). that's life.

whacks

Im not sure how the rankings work for Uni's? Is it based on how good the teaching is and how good the overall structure for learning is?

If so surely someone getting a 2:1 from a lesser University shows greater commitment/ability then someone getting a 2:1 from a top University.

MrsManda

To the OP, it may still be OK for your relative to apply to graduate schemes but as ONW said it depends on whether she's been making the most of her time at university to gain experience as well as studying.

Has she spoken to her careers service to see if they run assessment centre practises? as these may enhance her chance of getting on a graduate scheme.

And remember that if she doesn't get on an official graduate scheme it doesn't mean she won't get a good job. Most of the people I know who have graduated didn't go on a graduate scheme either because they didn't apply or didn't get a place and most of them are happy where they've got to.

poet123

goggle wrote: »

So you're saying that some universities are better than others & that people who get a degree from one of your less-preferred establishments are less capable than your son & thus should be treated as 2nd class citizens?

Some people from the less-academic unis have a better education than an Oxbridge grad - I have interviewed many graduates in my line of work & the best by far in recent years have been from Brunel, University of Hertforshire, Northumberland, Glamorgan & similar universities. The content of their degree is no less than somebody from Oxbridge (accredited by external professional bodies) & invariably more practical!

Some employers will only look at Russell Group Uni graduates, so where you go can be very important in certain fields, it is naive to think otherwise.

[Deleted User]

What field is it that your family member is hoping to go into?

If we know this it might help ues point her in the right place to look for relevant jobs. Or is/was she hoping to apply indescriminantly to graduate programmes everywhere.

Some graduate programmes only require a 2:2 - the government graduate training scheme for example - and they accept any subject as well (although I think the deadline's already passed for this year)

Has she been applying for graduate schemes already? The deadlines for starting this year tend to come along throughout the year, so many opportunities will already have passed.

Is she looking for non-graduate specific jobs as well?

atypical

SUPERMCNATURAL wrote: »

was looking at grad positions for her today, and to my amazement if she does end up with a 2:2 honours degree, there is next to no options for her.

I just did a quick search and came up with quite a few, and big names too: Tesco, Asda, RBS, Shell, the Civil Service and the SIS.

Have a thorough search, the Prospects site is a good place to start.

homerhotspur

I'm pleased to note that a few people have now understood the point I was trying to make. I honestly don't know how the exams are set for Universities. Are they moderated to be of broadly the same level? I would have to assume, however, that the very top Uni's would set tougher exams .

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

They are meant to be at the same level.

However, I have found that some universities give out distinctions for marks significantly lower than those I have to maintain for the Open University. I have to get an average of 85+. Which suggests that I have to be better than students at other universities to get the same result.

This is not an attack on the poster, but if I were applying for the same position as your son, how would it look to an interviewer?

- he went into a top university with an excellent education, a strong grounding in study skills and supportive parents. He then, despite all his advantages, has come out with a second class degree.

I went to a sink school and learned more about not getting beaten up than how to perform simultaneous equations. Nobody in my family stayed at school longer than the law demanded (and I was different from the rest in that I actually only missed a couple of days every year)

I come out of the long nights spent studying alone, with limited social opportunities, no practical support from anyone (other than an amenable ex who steps up with looking after our daughter when I have to go away for intensive courses), where I have to achieve an average of approximately 20% higher on everything to get the same mark and all my work is subject to detailed scrutiny, as is the standard of marking of the tutors, and yet still stumble out into the daylight with a higher class degree than your son -


Is it really the case that his degree is better than mine?

hippy-chicy

I think that an employer will also look at the actual degree that has been studied as well.

For example I am sure that an employer would consider a 2:2 in a degree such as Chemistry, neuoscience, biomedical science, maths ( some of the hardest degree courses) over a 2:1 in say something like media studies . Not that I am saying that isn't a good degree so please dont jump on me but in terms of academic content?? Also its not all about the degree classification anyway. Its the other skills the candidate holds.

fleagle21

Those schemes that do ask for a minmum 2:1 will usually take a 2:2 + masters (I know that doesn't help the situation currently!)