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

[Deleted User]

Frankly, i think the degree grading system is useless, there's not enough final grades. Could an employer compare my 2:2 (58.5%) with someone elses 2:2 (49.9% on appeal) ?

Wouldn't we be better off with more grades? It would also help out people who 'only just' fall into the 3rd category, as they'd still be above people who got a low 3rd.

Give everyone an A-F grade, that'll sort the men from the boys

EDIT: thinking about it, there are already 6 degree categories (1st, 2:1, 2:2, 3, Pass without Honours, Fail) - i need a rethink on the new scheme. Maybe an A+, A, A-, etc scheme

studentphil

For the job I got I know there will have been people with better A level grades and most likely PhD/PG students with far better degrees than me and I got the job because I had thought a lot about the skills and qualities the job required and the other candidates hadn't done as much as me.

I can honestly say I was never asked about degree class.

melancholly

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Frankly, i think the degree grading system is useless, there's not enough final grades. Could an employer compare my 2:2 (58.5%) with someone elses 2:2 (49.9% on appeal) ?

Wouldn't we be better off with more grades? It would also help out people who 'only just' fall into the 3rd category, as they'd still be above people who got a low 3rd.

Give everyone an A-F grade, that'll sort the men from the boys

EDIT: thinking about it, there are already 6 degree categories (1st, 2:1, 2:2, 3, Pass without Honours, Fail) - i need a rethink on the new scheme. Maybe an A+, A, A-, etc scheme

i know some unis abroad give percentages.... but that only works if you standardise it across the whole country........... i agree it is a bit rubbish atm!

[Deleted User]

I did once get turn down for a job I was ideally suited for once they found out I had an MSc, as they thought i'd be overqualified and get bored quickly

I wonder if that bias happens against people with 1sts also

studentphil

ringo_24601 wrote: »

I did once get turn down for a job I was ideally suited for once they found out I had an MSc, as they thought i'd be overqualified and get bored quickly

I wonder if that bias happens against people with 1sts also

It depends what the job is, if it is a job that is not vastly related to any degree subject then you can't really say someone with a first will naturally be best for the job.

NekoZombie

ringo_24601 wrote: »

I did once get turn down for a job I was ideally suited for once they found out I had an MSc, as they thought i'd be overqualified and get bored quickly

I wonder if that bias happens against people with 1sts also

Of course it does - so imagine what its like if you have a first AND an MA. I nearly did a PhD too... arggh, thank god I changed my mind on that one...

crank_girl

Hi - apologies as I read the first post in this thread and am now posting without having read the rest...but I figure the other posts will be similar to what I'm about to post...

I graduated in 1997 with a 3rd class honours in Psychology with physiology and pharmacology from a then third-rate university. I was a bit gutted to say the least but having struggled through university with various personal problems and illnesses I was amazed that I graduated at all.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, I'm 32 now and studying for my third degree. I did a few rubbish jobs after leaving uni then landed a job as a medical rep. From there I took a job as a medical information officer/writer for an agency. The owner of the agency was starting up an education charity in London at around the same time I was planning on moving there, so he asked me to work for the charity. I should mention that at that time I was studying for an MA in Social Sciences with the Open University and I'd persuaded my employer to pay for part of it.

Time passed, the charity work was no longer a challenge so I left with no job to go to, confident I would be able to get another. Soon after I started a temporary contract as a publications officer at the Royal College of Nursing, and stayed until I moved away from London to start my third degree, training as a homoeopath. I also work freelance as a writer/researcher and charge a nice but reasonable sum per hour for my skills.

Apologies if this comes over like I'm blowing my own trumpet - it's really not meant to at all. Unless you are going to try for a career in psychology or law or some other profession, your degree mark really doesn't matter.

I only got a third but I don't feel it has prevented me from ever getting a job that I wanted and I've achieved a really comfortable lifestyle by believing in myself and taking opportunities to demonstrate my competencies. If you can inspire others to be confident in you then the world will be your oyster. Good luck!