How are third and pass degrees regarded these days?

tomstickland

I believe that a first is still held in some regard by employers, with a 2.1 seen as boringly acceptable. I've got a good friend who received a pass degree due to his laziness, but he has a good job doing software consultancy for a large bank, so his abilities mean that noone really cares about the degree anymore.
Still, I think it sad to "aim" for a 3rd or pass. Better off stopping. You said in another thread that you're not happy anyway. I can sympathise - I had a really miserable time when I started on a PhD. I gave it up, best thing I ever did.

studentphil

pavlovs_dog wrote:

sorry to get on my soapbox here (you may want to go make a cuppa, this could be long :rolleyes: )...

ive never understood the mentality of people who go to uni purely for the social life. granted, i am an old fart trapped in a young body, and my approach to academia the exception rather than the rule.

that said, if daddy can afford for you to spend three years cultivating sclorosis of the liver well then thats all well and peachy for you, but it really gets my goat then when these people have the audacity to look down their noses at the weirdos who (god forbid) have gone to uni to get a DEGREE :eek: ! what an "old fashioned" idea :mad:

its these people who invariably turn up to seminars and tutorials having never been to a lecture (or at least, attended in a concious state), do no reading, and make no contributions. the time 'wasted' on such people could be much better invested assisting the people who have gone to uni to better themselves in the face of great challenges, be that a physical disability, or learning disability. i read the thread about dyslexia with interest, recognising the situation all too well from what goes on amongst my peers. those who really need help get nowt, whilst the uni throws good money after bad helping those who have no intention of doing work, or scrape through on the bare minimum

im a great believer that education is for all, and everyone should have access to it. but i vehemnently disagree with blair and his 50% must go to uni plan, because it is killing the academic vibe that unis need to flourish. not everyone is suited to the uni environment.

if a desmond (2:2) is the best classification you can get because that is the best of your ability, then well done to you for going for it. but the people who get 2:2's because they never went to lectures, never did any work, and spent their uni careers doing the stereotypical things that has given us the reputation we have should never have gone to uni in the first place.

if you're going to go to uni nowadays, you have to make it count. with so many people out there with that scroll of paper, you need to stand out from the rest. if you're not going to invest your time and attention to your degree, you'd be better off working and gaining experience, so you can impress that way. from what i gather, the only thing worse than a 'poor' degree is a complete lack of experience. im certain as an employer, when looking at CVs i would generally favour limited experience over a poor degree classification, as to me (unless there are extenuating circumstances, such as those i have already touched upon) a poor degree class screams lack of motivation, which is not a quality i'd look for in an employee. granted, that may change in interview, but first impressions still count for a lot...

I have got a 2.2 average at the moment and I have been to all lectures and every tutorial near enough. I have spent a long time revising and thinking before exams, so sweeping judgements that all people with less than 2.1s I could take offence at.

studentphil

tomstickland wrote:

I believe that a first is still held in some regard by employers, with a 2.1 seen as boringly acceptable. I've got a good friend who received a pass degree due to his laziness, but he has a good job doing software consultancy for a large bank, so his abilities mean that noone really cares about the degree anymore.
Still, I think it sad to "aim" for a 3rd or pass. Better off stopping. You said in another thread that you're not happy anyway. I can sympathise - I had a really miserable time when I started on a PhD. I gave it up, best thing I ever did.

I am not aimming for a third or a pass myself. I am sure I have my heart set on doing a masters just to prove I can and that years ago when I was told I would never do a masters they were wrong. Sadly a degree requires far more reading and essay writing which I am very weak at but I far more intelligent than any of my grades would make you think.

pavlovs_dog

studentphil wrote:

I have got a 2.2 average at the moment and I have been to all lectures and every tutorial near enough. I have spent a long time revising and thinking before exams, so sweeping judgements that all people with less than 2.1s I could take offence at.

phil, please read what i said before going on the defensive...

pavlovs_dog wrote:

...the time 'wasted' on such people could be much better invested assisting the people who have gone to uni to better themselves in the face of great challenges, be that a physical disability, or learning disability...

pavlovs_dog wrote:

if a desmond (2:2) is the best classification you can get because that is the best of your ability, then well done to you for going for it.

tazz233

I got a 2.2 and worked really hard for it. I didn't really enjoy my course towards the end- the third year was very hard work. I aimed for a 2.1 and was disappointed to have got a 2.2, but its not the end of the world. Some of my friends have graduated with 2.1's but can't find a job! I took a science degree so there was a lot more reading and lectures than many of my friends on other subjects. I have been told that employers look at what your degree was in, s well as the grade. I get quite annoyed when people say that a 2.2 is not worth anything! Im a bit like you Phil- im weak at essays but I don't think im any less intelligent than someone with a 2.1.

tomstickland

but I far more intelligent than any of my grades would make you think.

How's that then?

studentphil

pavlovs_dog wrote:

phil, please read what i said before going on the defensive...

I know what you said, but my reply was more a more general point, below a 2.1 does not make you lazy or stupid.

CarolnMalky

I had to drop out of my honours year, and have a BA...never lost any sleep over not having a first, or any other as I acheived the best I could at that time and I am very proud of acheiving that against the odds!
As long as you have tried your best thats all that matters.In my opinion anyway!!

studentphil

tomstickland wrote:

How's that then?

I am more intelligent than people with better grades than me, but they are more skilled at essays and exams I do admit.

tomstickland

Yes, I can agree with that to a certain degree, but if you're more intelligent than them, and not lazy, why can't you do what they do?