How are third and pass degrees regarded these days?

David_Brent

I don't think it matters where your degree comes from a degree is a degree, you put the same effort in where ever you do it either cambridge or slough college (dont know if that exsists - slough is a lovely place ). I certainlly won't judge someone from which university they attended and if an employer does then sorry but they are a poor employer and not worth working for in my opinion.

talksalot81

Mellancholy, it isnt so much different rules, but the presence of a large stretch of water makes things difficult and difficulties cost money to work around!

D_e_n_i_s_e

I graduated with colleagues who got thirds and passes.
This was in 2000 most of them are now doing really really well.

My take on it is as follows
If you going into a field where there is going to be potentially a lot of candidates for one position (for example a computer engineer typically 34 applicants to one post). Then the recruiter will want the cream of the crop - the person with the most experience, and the highest academic grades ie 2:1. your third with no matter how much work experience will sort of pale into insignificance and even more so if that thrid wasnt from one of the 10 ten UK Universities.

thats not to say you wont get the job - but ul really have to work harder to get it than somebody with a first.

Now saying that, i have colleagues that got a third and got a job straight away. one is a dentist the other a optometrist. shortage of both at the time (and even now) meant that the profession had no choice. The bottom line - its all about supply and demand.

In my experince almost 95% of what i studied at uni, i never practised - never had the need to. i should imagine this probably applies to most graduates. My manager studied American History she practices 0% of what she was taught!

charts

Heth wrote:

Of course, in fact if everyone got a first then the system wouldn't be working, just like with so many school leavers getting a grades it is hard for employers/universities to distinguish between the students.

(of course I am not saying grades, whether at school or degree level, or the only thing that shows ability by any means).

That's a good point, but I fear universities are going the same way to some extent. Practically speaking, the number of degrees at first or 2:1 level has gone up a lot at many institutions in the last few years. I'm sure that the reasons could be debated ad infinitum, but I think that at least part of the reason is that universities are acutely aware that the number of 1-2:1 degrees is an important metric in lots of league tables. Remember also, that unlike A-level exam boards, universities have a lot more freedom to revise grade descriptors as they see fit.

tr3mor

pavlovs_dog wrote:

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 agree entirely with pavlovs_dog, if you're going to devote 3 years of your life to something, you should at least try to do it properly.

I think many students are too young and too immature when they begin uni, they're used to being at home and living off Mummy and Daddy. When they get to uni all they want to enjoy is the freedom of being able to do what they like.

You're spending thousands of pounds, think what it's gonna be like looking back at a wasted opportunity in 20 years time!

Obviously everyone needs to have some fun, but first and foremost Uni should be about making the most of yourself, not making the most of cheap drinks

talksalot81

tr3mor wrote:

I think many students are too young and too immature when they begin uni, they're used to being at home and living off Mummy and Daddy. When they get to uni all they want to enjoy is the freedom of being able to do what they like.

Spot on! I am the first to admit to this. I started uni away from home and went absolutely insane and was a complete idiot. It took me a few months, but I twigged to the fact that 'student' was frequently a polite word you could use in place of 'alcoholic' and I am not tee-total for several years.

It took a life changing event for my realisation and most students do not have (suffer) that and may not realise for many years the error of their ways (or may never reach a point where they can). It isnt the fault of the students though. You get to Uni and you immediately have freshers week where you are openly encouraged to get drunk stupid... it is hard not to take something away from that week of first impressions! As I have said a few times, the learning seems to come in second, something you do when you have recovered from everything else, if you have time.

Ultimately I think it is unresolvable. As long as you have huge numbers of young people together, the behaviour will remain. With the drive to totally remove the exclusivity of Uni, matters can only get worse.

marksward

thirds/pass IMHO are a polite way of saying you turned up and did nothing really wrong and nothing usefull either. I treat candidates with thirds and also those candidates who don't list the classification on their cv with suspicion.

My advice is treat Uni like a 9 to 5 and everything gets done, you also get plenty of time to enjoy student life as well. Surround yourself with people who give a damn, not those who can't get out of bed and organise themselves for a 10am lecture. Uni is a good life experience, but remember with student loans etc those three years take a lot of paying back - so get something useful out of it

lisa_75

tr3mor wrote:

I agree entirely with pavlovs_dog, if you're going to devote 3 years of your life to something, you should at least try to do it properly.

I think many students are too young and too immature when they begin uni, they're used to being at home and living off Mummy and Daddy. When they get to uni all they want to enjoy is the freedom of being able to do what they like.

You're spending thousands of pounds, think what it's gonna be like looking back at a wasted opportunity in 20 years time!

Obviously everyone needs to have some fun, but first and foremost Uni should be about making the most of yourself, not making the most of cheap drinks

I agree. I am a mature student and there is no way I would be getting the grades I am now or putting the same effort in if I was as 18. It is bizarre in a way as I look t all the 18-20 year old on my course with no, kids, husband or a house to run and wonder why they cannot find the time to dedicate to their work. I suspect they don’t have the discipline to say no to endless nights out and they don’t have to be up at 7.30 every morning to get the kids to school.

I like a drink myself and uni has given me a great social life, but you have to remember why you are there and spending thousands. I think many young people don’t have the maturity to realise that. Uni is a great time in your life, but it is not about getting legless every night. That piece of paper matters and if you get a 3rd in my opinion you may as well have not bothered.

Toothsmith

D_e_n_i_s_e wrote:

Now saying that, i have colleagues that got a third and got a job straight away. one is a dentist the other a optometrist. shortage of both at the time (and even now) meant that the profession had no choice. The bottom line - its all about supply and demand.

Don't know about optometrist, but dental degrees in this country aren't graded.

You either pass or fail them.

If you score consistently high marks over the whole 4-5 yr course, then the degree is awarded 'with honours', but there are no 1st, 2:1, 2:2 etc.

talksalot81

marksward wrote:

My advice is treat Uni like a 9 to 5 and everything gets done, you also get plenty of time to enjoy student life as well. Surround yourself with people who give a damn, not those who can't get out of bed and organise themselves for a 10am lecture.

That makes it sound like a job... dont forget alot of young people are at uni specifically to avoid getting a job!