3rd degree, what do I do now? [Considering Appeal]

melancholly

BigBouncyBall wrote: »

You 3 can come out of the corner and play again if you want.

i never made it in there......... forgot the tissues so wept on my own

dellfanatic

Thanks again BigBouncyBall has a point that I'm trying my best to secure a better future by appealing... the fact, though, is that my marks are below, albeit just below the threshold for a 2:2

I have to decide whether an appeal is worth it; from above I notice that sadly, it can screw up the reference which carries a lot of weight. As I mentioned before, my reference so far is better now than I could ever have asked. The guy who's writing my reference is not my personal tutor and as such would probably not be aware of any extenuating circumstances (no form was filled in nor does the academic handbook mention any form for this and I did offer evidence but my tutor said it wasn't necessary and I can't check whether it was discussed). He was in charge of my project however and is so much more switched on than any of the other academics! He also saw me at work in the lab and my organisational ability to keep a tab on what I had/hadn't done each day.

I also accept the point about launching into further study when my marks this year are low. I don't know whether a uni would take me on because I could be promising, or solely because of the fees they'll be raking in. Yet I also feel I wouldn't want to work for an employer who is so shallow that they think only 2:1's and above are 'worth it' (well with a third, I couldn't work for them anyway!). There is so much more to a person than how much they can remember for a 90-minute exam.

Re: the rubbish lecturer, everyone knew this, as I said one of his colleagues said so after the guy retired. However, the head of dept and this lecturer were at uni and then started research and teaching here together, we tried to complain to the office and nothing happened as we were told he would be gone by the end of our 1st year thus nothing to worry about. Not the case.

Hey Mandarin, I know, it sucks doesn't it? Your average is so close, how could they not give it a little prod into a 2:2?! :wall: I don't know whether like me you've got someone willing to give a good reference that would help. I think I'm going to mention an appeal in my email to him so he knows I've considered it, but in reality I'm probably not going to. I guess you should look in detail at exactly what a masters consists of, I've done that and it changed my thinking, the course really isn't a walk in the park. However a research masters, that's different.

I've looked into graduate positions, I'm looking through Monster and Prospects at the moment and found a local 'internship/temporary/permanent' position, whatever that is. It's an admin job though the permanent one has a training scheme. As you may tell I'm darting between different ideas, appeal, masters, job application, request for resits. I'm going to email the lecturer now and ask his advice firstly for an appeal, and also for doing a masters with my record. He's already said many times though that with my high marks in the reserach modules I have nothing to worry about with a research masters. I'll email him anyway and ask, I don't want to rush into anything now. The idea of a job now is appealing as that's how this thread started and having read back through it, there are so many positive accounts from people without degrees/low classes. A huge thank you again for all the replies it's a massive help!! :beer:

dmg24

df,

Could I ask what uni you were at? I just can't imagine that their extenuating circumstances procedure is not in writing x

dellfanatic

They do have it in writing, but it states only that the student should make the department aware of it (as I did when I told my tutor) and that any supporting evidence, e.g. medical certificates, are presented and will be handled by the "Extenuating Circumstances Committee". Not once have I heard of this committee but I did make it known to my tutor and it is also in writing in his reply to me when I emailed him too.

dmg24

dellfanatic wrote: »

They do have it in writing, but it states only that the student should make the department aware of it (as I did when I told my tutor) and that any supporting evidence, e.g. medical certificates, are presented and will be handled by the "Extenuating Circumstances Committee". Not once have I heard of this committee but I did make it known to my tutor and it is also in writing in his reply to me when I emailed him too.

Definitely a good sign that you have something from him in writing, rather than it just being your word. In that case, I would say that you were ill advised.

If the panel decided that you did have extenuating circumstances, but only offered you the option to retake the whole year, would this be an option for you?

My advice would be that, any conversations you have with your uni from now on be in writing. Even if these conversations are by email, just make sure you have a record of it.

Have you contacted your Students Union for advice over this? Mine are pretty useless, but yours may be better?!

studentphil

You know really when you look at a CV one word or two numbers for your degree class is the most tiny part of your application. So with all your other skills and qualities your degree class is lost in all that.

BigBouncyBall

studentphil wrote: »

You know really when you look at a CV one word or two numbers for your degree class is the most tiny part of your application. So with all your other skills and qualities your degree class is lost in all that.

Are you going to listen to your own advice?? Somehow i doubt it - I can see that post coming back to haunt you

[Deleted User]

SP - that's claptrap... degree class is looked at as a major factor in employment, especially in your first job. It's an indication of your ability and graft consistently over 3 years.

I got a 2:2 because i didn't work hard enough. Simple as that. I went out 3 nights a week and thought I was able to get a good grade as well - I wasn't able to. Now, I've done an MSc (average mark of > 70%), i've got 2 1/2 years of academic research experience, 2 years of corporate IT experience and STILL i feel that the 2:2 is dragging me down - especially now I'm applying for better paid jobs 'In the city'.

To the OP - be determined, work as hard as you can in your first job and try to build a career of it. Personally, i'd say avoid IT (personal experience) and head towards something vocational like accounting where your degree class won't matter anymore. Good luck

studentphil

BigBouncyBall wrote: »

Are you going to listen to your own advice?? Somehow i doubt it - I can see that post coming back to haunt you

I have always thought that a degree is a huge achievement regardless of class. It is just that all the rest of world goes on about it must be a 2.1 and it does make you start to doubt yourself.

studentphil

ringo_24601 wrote: »

SP - that's claptrap... degree class is looked at as a major factor in employment, especially in your first job. It's an indication of your ability and graft consistently over 3 years.

I got a 2:2 because i didn't work hard enough. Simple as that. I went out 3 nights a week and thought I was able to get a good grade as well - I wasn't able to. Now, I've done an MSc (average mark of > 70%), i've got 2 1/2 years of academic research experience, 2 years of corporate IT experience and STILL i feel that the 2:2 is dragging me down - especially now I'm applying for better paid jobs 'In the city'.

To the OP - be determined, work as hard as you can in your first job and try to build a career of it. Personally, i'd say avoid IT (personal experience) and head towards something vocational like accounting where your degree class won't matter anymore. Good luck

All I can say is the city just can not see a good employee when they see one.


When I look at my CV the degree class is the most small part of the CV and I can not see why as soon as an employer reads all the other things I have one there that one number counts because I messed some second year exams up in a subject that is not related to the job.