How are third and pass degrees regarded these days?

studentphil

I think in a lot of cases the system is set up wrong because a lot of people take until the third year to start getting strong and good at their subject and because your marks from your 2nd count too that second year learning curve drags peoples averages down so and their average does not always represnt their full ability.

derry_kerry

I gained a BA Ord twenty two years ago at a Teacher Training College. Keith Joseph axed most of these during his time in office. I am ashamed to admit that it was through laziness and too much scrumpy that I arrived at this result. However, there were many many others in the same position, and most of us went on to have fulfilling, successful careers. Not all in teaching I might add.

At the time only 3% of the population had a degree, and there wasn't the same pressure and competition that exists today. I really admire all those young people who battle through the education system now and also have to take on a large debt before they start work. We had a grant system and all we had to worry about was paying off an overdraft usually due to over indulgence down in the student union bar.

abisnail75

Sorry if I'm going over something someone's already said but I really couldn't cope with reading 10 whole pages of this before answering.

Anyway, as an employer now (that make me feel old but it's only 9 years on) I look at the degree, the level and the institution it was taken at along with all the other info on a CV before making a decision on whether to interview someone. After that, it's fairly irrelevant I think as interviewing is often about firstly getting past CV screening, proving that you come up to your CV in interview one, then about company fit if you get to interview two.

Personally I think a 2:2 is fine. I know many people who worked very hard and only got this and it doesn't reflect their abilities. Perversely my friends who got 2:2s (I got a 2:1) have done better in their careers as I think they had more to prove to themselves. As for a first, it's great but I would have reservations about interpersonal skills hence the need for interviews. I suppose it depends on the job and the qualifications needed though.

Does this help at all?

Vodkatie00

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. 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.

Thats why people seem to unfortunately regard a 2:2 now as a "drinkers degree."

I rememeber during my 1st degree, I didn't always want to attend lectures, but I did most of the time. If people aren't going to attend lectures and then not work to their full potential then they shouldn't waste their time. Too many people are going to university now because its the next thing to do after school..... why not do it because you want to learn more and gain a greater depth of knowledge in one area, otherwise they should do something more vocational. I admire mature students, juggling family life and studying, and they appreciate being able to do so.

LittleStar

I didnt realise how hard it was to get a 1st or 2:1 at uni ... i didnt think it was gonna be easy ... but i got quite good GCSE results and okayish A'Levels and have always been classed by my teachers as one of the brightest students ... but when i started uni, the lecturers were constantly saying 'well you want to be aiming for a 2:2' ... and I was like :eek: OMG is that it!! lol ... but it is bleeding tough ... im in my final year now and im studying BSc hons Psychology and my average last year was 68% ... top 2:1 which im chuffed about ... i just hope i can keep it up this year cos i worked my socks off to get that ... I really do think that businesses/companies etc expect to much from students ... it really isn't easy to get much better than a 2:2 ... i think that they should just appreciate the fact that us students are dedicated enough to try and persue further education and make something of ourselves, no matter what degree we finish with ... instead of being a low life lay about chav

anyways ... good luck to everybody who is doing a degree!! xx

talksalot81

LittleStar wrote:

I really do think that businesses/companies etc expect to much from students ... it really isn't easy to get much better than a 2:2 ... i think that they should just appreciate the fact that us students are dedicated enough to try and persue further education and make something of ourselves, no matter what degree we finish with ... instead of being a low life lay about chav

But why would an employer want to expect less? It isnt as if they have a shortage of applicants in general!

LittleStar

talksalot81 wrote:

But why would an employer want to expect less? It isnt as if they have a shortage of applicants in general!

What I'm saying is that they expect too much ... places i've looked at applying to are asking for a 2:1 minimum ... even a first ... which I think is crazy seeing as its so hard to even get a 2:2 ... I know they want the best out of a bad bunch but i think that everyone should get a chance ... not purely as a result of their achedemic ability.

melancholly

LittleStar wrote:

What I'm saying is that they expect too much ... places i've looked at applying to are asking for a 2:1 minimum ... even a first ... which I think is crazy seeing as its so hard to even get a 2:2 ... I know they want the best out of a bad bunch but i think that everyone should get a chance ... not purely as a result of their achedemic ability.

the problem is that employers have to pick people somehow - they get so many applications that at least half of them need to be rejected outright - you can't invite 100 people to interview for 1 job! they wouldn't want to spend the time and resources. academic achivement is very highly correlated with IQ, not perfectly so you can get very bight people with low grades and vice versa, but on the whole, it works as a way of getting good applicants.
it may not be great, but i think it's unavoidable.

talksalot81

And employers want people to work... by your very arguement, someone with a higher grade is more likely to have worked harder... hence are more what the employer wants.

Everyone cant just get their chance. Some people are simply better than others at certain tasks. It is a tough world out there and you have to fight to stay ahead. If the competition have first class masters degrees, you shouldnt in your wildest dreams expect to get a look in with a third class bachelors.

Elliesmum

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.

I too got a 2:2 twenty years ago and worked very hard for it. It was very different then. A Desmond (as I fondly call it too!) wasn't seen as a lazy degree that was mainly left for thirds and passes. So if they were regarded poorly then, I'm sure they are regarded even more poorly today. By the way I'm back at Uni this year - what fun!