Changing Course But No Finance

melancholly

when you reported it at the time, did you go through the official extenuating circumstances form or just informally mention it (not that it really matters though, it's just too late)? i get that you want to claim it as an extra year of funding - but i don't think you have a cat in hells chance!

(as it goes, i don't know of a single university that doesn't use negative marking in essay based subjects!)

slummymummyof3

Perhaps you have reached your natural ceiling! What was the success rate for the particular university course that you claimed had poor teaching? If it was significantly below benchmark, then perhaps there is an issue with the teaching......however, I suspect you may have already reached your academic potential and a degree course may be beyond your capabilities. Sorry if that sounds blunt.

Oldernotwiser

juno wrote: »

You have another option: complete year 1 with the OU and transfer for the last 2 years. Actually, I managed to get a place in the 2nd year at NTU based on only completing 70 credits with the OU, but I do have work experience and good A Level grades. But if you completed 120 credits with the OU you'd be in a good position to apply for 2nd year entry at most unis.

If the OP has already successfully passed the first year there should be no need for him to do this. He just needs to find a university who will let him transfer his credits and start in year 2.

Oldernotwiser

melancholly wrote: »

seriously, i'm going to be harsh (sorry!) - in my degree if you repeated the lecture notes word for word you might have got a mid 2:1. .

Good grief! Even more evidence of how low educational standards have sunk.

melancholly

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Good grief! Even more evidence of how low educational standards have sunk.

well obviously i can't be sure, since i did so much extra reading, i never really knew lol

charlishae

Are you doing a similar course at this new uni?
Why not transfer into the second year instead, then you will receive tuition fees and your previous time at college will have been for something?

TheLostProphet

Lol.

To slummy mummy, well put it this way... Practically everyone who got in has 4 A's at A-Level. But the average % marks at the end is about 54%. That means they must be doing something fishy for everyone to be getting such low marks, since they start out with well qualified candidates.

Of those people who do very well, it comes with a lot of sacrifices. Apart from the stuff listed above (extra reading etc.) they also come in at 7am and leave around 9pm to do extra lab hours. Quite a lot of people start out on a 4 year course, but I don't know a single person who didn't change to 3 years because it's so hellish.

I couldn't get in to 2nd year because of 2 factors: massively increased application numbers and places being cut. That made this year incredibly hard to get in compared to previous years.

There's that and the fact most unis are used to people going up the prestige ladder rather than down... The admin staff at my old uni say that their 2.2 is worth a 2.1 from anywhere else, i.e. we are all shifted down 1 class. But funnily enough no other admissions staff thought so. So my 2.2 was turned away and 1st year was my only option.

My subject is math based with numerical answers... So you could have 90% of a question correct but the final answer would be wrong. 0 marks. They don't do that anywhere else other than Oxford, including the place I'm at now.

Anyway thanks for your replies. I will look into the OU as an option and will keep your posted.

Oldernotwiser

TheLostProphet wrote: »

Lol.

To slummy mummy, well put it this way... Practically everyone who got in has 4 A's at A-Level. But the average % marks at the end is about 54%. That means they must be doing something fishy for everyone to be getting such low marks, since they start out with well qualified candidates.

This is more an indication of how far A level standards have sunk than anything else. It's obviously a good thing that your university is insisting on high standards, even if it makes it difficult for you personally.

MrsManda

4 As at A-level doesn't mean you will be able to cope with university level work, that's why admissions tutors pay attention to personal statements, references and interviews as well as grades when considering giving a place. In many cases getting high grades at A-level can be a hinderance because there is an expectation by the student that they'll be able to get equally as high marks by doing the same amount of work they did at A-level.

Almost everyone on my course got 4As at A-level or the equivalent. My course mates were shocked when they realised that I'd only got BBCC and the Bs were for Religious Studies and General Studies - I'm studying a science degree.Yet I passed 1st year with a high 2.1 whereas a third of the students on my course failed their first year.

TheLostProphet

That's interesting, what course and uni were you at?