What am I supposed to do with this degree thing? Paper hat?

BigBouncyBall

agreed. Its a gold mine of info, the trouble is everyone uses it! Its not so good for finding a masters course. Go to https://www.findamasters.com (or https://www.findaphd.com for that matter) for that

Oldernotwiser

BigBouncyBall wrote: »

That attitude makes me explode with rage. Who the hell do you think you are making a judgement on how hard someone has worked over 3 years based on a number. A 2.2 to you with your 3 degrees maybe a complete failure however to someone at a top uni studying a very hard subject a 2.2 might be the best they can do and they should be justly proud of whatever outcome they get.



What on earth are you talking about?? Where can you get a degree in watching tv? Please tell me. I hope you've done your homework on that one, having 3 degrees i'm sure you know how to properly research a claim before you wildly band it around. A degree in Modern Culture and Society might well have a UNIT on the culture of television or celebrity's. It really annoys me when people claim you can get a degree in David Beckham studies or something equally stupid

I would think that anyone who's worked really hard for 3 years and still only got a 2:2 (these days), probably shouldn't have gone to university in the first place. It's may be laudable in terms of effort but hardly so in terms of achievement. Whatever fancy name you put to some subjects, when investigated, the academic content is often pretty low. As a general guideline (with exceptions of course), if the word "Studies" is in the degree's title; don't bother!

lady_fuschia

Bl**dy hell I really hoped this wouldn't turn into one of those slanging matches...

Back to the original post, I wasn't looking for tea and sympathy, I definetly don't "think the world owes me a living" and if you read what I wrote I am absolutely and utterly willing to do the legwork to find a job (I resent the implication someone made that I was lazy, considering I have a full time job and I do an MA and voluntary work as well! There's also a story behiond my 2:2 but I'm not going to go into it because I'll only get accused of "whining" again.)
Look, I'm sorry I went to uni when I'm obviously such a complete thicko, I'm sorry I have a useless degree, I'm sorry I'm too pathetic to not know exactly what I want to do and to dare to mention the fact, I'm sorry I'm such a terrible excuse for a human being but it's all done now I guess I'll just go kill myself because my very existence is so offensive....

What I was originally asking was that now I'm in this position I feel like I should start figuring out where I want to go and what options are available so that I CAN GO OUT AND START DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT!! Some people have been helpful, especially the weblinks, thanks for those. But I really resent being accused of being some moaning lazy workshy idiot who expects everyone to do everything for her. What I am asking is:

- Does anyone know what kind of options are available for someone in my position, and where I can find out more?
- What kind of things can I do to add to my CV to make myself more employable in the arts/ literature sector? Are there any training schemes that might be appropriate?

I AM NOT asking or expecting to be handed a perfect career on a plate: I don't know where that poster got that assumption from, I think I made it quite clear that I am absolutely willing to work hard. And at no point did I suggest that I ever expected just having adegree to be a passport to a brilliant job. I don't and never have - I didn't do it out of desire for a good job or high salary. My question wasn't a whine about the uselessness of degrees, it was asking for practical advice on a specific situation.

So I'm not sure what I want to do and I was asking whether anyone had any suggestions I might think about, or any advice about what the next steps could be. I didn't realise this was a crime.

I guess I won't bother asking anyone for advice about anything again because REAL people obviously just get on with it and do everything themselves without ever talking it over with anybody.

Katmc2k

Ianna wrote: »

People often feel better knowing that they're not alone and that there's nothing wrong with them. I don't think it's in her interests to lie or to cut and paste the usual bilge about the glory of degrees especially when it's clear from her post that she's heard it umpteen times before. But if it makes you feel better:

OMIGOD you've got a degree that is like sooooo awesome!!11!!!11!!!11!!!!1 My friend just like tried REALLY HARD and stuff and she got work!!!1!!!!! and then like, my relatives got like, passes and stuff and then like they've got really good jobs now!!!1!!!!! no degree is worthless and three years partying is SO GOOD for your CV!!!11!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There's fairies at the bottom of the garden and they're only able to do spells and stuff cos they've got DEGREES!!!!!1!!!!1!!!!!!1!!!!!

hi

I was offering words of encouragement to OP about her possibilities for the future and sharing my own personal experiences of success stories. I was in fact, making the same point as you, that is my brother and OH are now extremely successful but it was their clever approach to getting work experience that got them there. As OP is taking an MA in creative writing I thought I'd share the experience of someone I know who has had some success in this field. I'm sorry if me, sharing my experiences was offensive to you, warranting your sarcastic rampage. I thought thats what these boards were for (sharing experiences, not sarcastic rampages)

The reason I asked why you thought your negative attitude from the first post was helpful is because I am a few months from the end of my fourth year studying law, still have another three long years in front of me, and frankly need all the encouragement I can get... This is a student post and many of the users on here are current students looking for support.

Note: I merely asked why you thought it was useful I did not criticise, I'm not sure why you felt the need to be so personal and critical in your return.

However thank you for your useful reply and, I am glad I'm not the only one with fairies at the bottom of the garden...;)

[Deleted User]

ok, as i've previously stated, I have BSc Genetics, from Liverpool university (graduated 2001). I received a 2:2. What my degree grade fails to note is that I was 1% off the 2:1 boundary. It also doesn't show the grade distribution - i had a mark as low as 38% and one a few as high as 75%. I got a 1st for my honours project.

Yes, i partied hard. I went out 2 - 3 nights a week and drank lots and lots. I really enjoyed myself over the 3 years in my degree. I did the same on my MSc course and passed that with flying colours.

I would be pretty hard to say my subject was of low academic content, I personally blame my 2:2 on myself not being interested enough in the course content.

Its easy to knock the desmond... but there's often a reason behind it

BigBouncyBall

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I would think that anyone who's worked really hard for 3 years and still only got a 2:2 (these days), probably shouldn't have gone to university in the first place.

Why are you so quick to put everybody who's ever got a 2.2 into the same bracket. What you have written is complete nonsense and i really can't understand why someone would write such a thing. Probably shouldn't have gone to uni?!? Its not just a grade factory you know.

BigBouncyBall

what did you study oldernotwiser?

Oldernotwiser

I totally agree that it's not a grade factory. However, I do think that it's quite easy to achieve a 2:2 these days and if that's what someone gets after working really hard for three years then I'm not at all sure that university will have been the best way forward for them. (Unless they're going into a career where a degree is essential.)
What have I studied?
Late 60s - part of a Cert Ed for school teaching.
Late 70s - Degree in Literature
" Careers Guidance Diploma
Early 80s Teaching Certificate (FE)
Late 90s - 2/3 Degree in Foreign Languages
Experience of HE (as a student) over nearly a 40 year period gives you a wide perspective!

tr3mor

BigBouncyBall wrote: »

Why are you so quick to put everybody who's ever got a 2.2 into the same bracket. What you have written is complete nonsense and i really can't understand why someone would write such a thing. Probably shouldn't have gone to uni?!? Its not just a grade factory you know.

No it's not. But...

Everyone accepted onto courses are deemed to be intelligent enough to cope with the course.

If you end up with a 2:2 then you are either not as intelligent as the university thought you were or just plain idle!

No one who works hard at a course suited to their ability should be getting a 2:2.

Contrary to this - I do love people who come out of university with 2:2s or less; they make me look good!

lady_fuschia

tr3mor wrote: »

No it's not. But...

Everyone accepted onto courses are deemed to be intelligent enough to cope with the course.

If you end up with a 2:2 then you are either not as intelligent as the university thought you were or just plain idle!

No one who works hard at a course suited to their ability should be getting a 2:2.

Contrary to this - I do love people who come out of university with 2:2s or less; they make me look good!

See this is a problem for those of us who ended up with 2:2s for any reason - to a lot of people it's tantamount to introducing yourself by saying "Hey, I'm lazy, stupid or possibly both!"

The thing is, whatever the reason - whether circumstantial, whether going to uni was the wrong choice, or even if it was from too much drinking and not enough work - once it's done you can't do much about it.
It's a bit like getting sacked from a job, you may have made a mistake, but what you need is the best advice on how to make the best of a bad situation.