Graduation - Did you go?

[Deleted User]

Person_one wrote: »

Not the case at my uni. If you need to resit (and there aren't exceptional circumstances which mean are granted another 'first attempt') then the maximum score you can get is a 40%. That's your 'punishment'. If you do well enough in your other modules that you can still average above 70 even with that 40% dragging you down, you can get a first.

Buzzybee90 wrote: »

Yep, also there's one way (at my uni) that you can be awarded the classification by getting a certain number of credits in that classification.

First year marks don't count and you can base your classification entirely on your third year if you so wish (which I did).

Just incase anyone wanted to know a bit more about what it's like now

Hi,

Thanks for letting me know. Things have changed since my day...does that mean I am getting old?

Anyway, I have hi-jacked the thread enough now.

Good luck OP. Fingers crossed for a good result.

Cottage_Economy

Person_one wrote: »

How long is it since you graduated? You do really need to let it go, stop beating yourself up and convince yourself properly that a 2:1 is fine. Use a bit of CBT on yourself! You don't want to be one of those people who dwells on a perceived injustice for years, or always makes sure everybody knows just how close they were to a better grade, like people in their twenties or thirties who still talk about how unfair their GCSE or A level grade was!

I wanted to get a first when I started my current degree. Got one with my first degree so thought I could, and was on track to until the end of second year. Then third year came along, and a few disappointing grades later its looking like a 2:1. That's fine, things change, maybe I'm not good enough to get a first on this course, maybe I could have worked a bit harder, but that's life. Nobody will care about my classification once I'm working, in fact I've been offered a great job and haven't even been asked what I'm predicted to get!

There are people on my course who will celebrate, get out the champagne and be delighted if they pass with a 41, for various reasons. Complaining about a 2:1 really feels like an insult to them, I wonder what they think if they read these sorts of comments?

I honestly couldn't give a toss what other people think. If they're so insulted by my genuine desire to achieve massive milestones for myself and expecting the very best of myself then they're the ones that need CBT not me.

And I doubt very much if you'd have the same opinion when it comes to the standard of achievement held by, let's say, a medical student who has a desire to become a surgeon? When you're on the end of their scalpel one day, I'm damn sure you hope they wouldn't be saying: "That's fine, things change, maybe I'm not good enough to get a first on this course, maybe I could have worked a bit harder, but that's life. Nobody will care about my classification once I'm working"

There are certain careers where the highest standards of achievement are expected.

Person_one

Cottage_Economy wrote: »

I honestly couldn't give a toss what other people think. If they're so insulted by my genuine desire to achieve massive milestones for myself and expecting the very best of myself then they're the ones that need CBT not me.

And I doubt very much if you'd have the same opinion when it comes to the standard of achievement held by, let's say, a medical student who has a desire to become a surgeon? When you're on the end of their scalpel one day, I'm damn sure you hope they wouldn't be saying: "That's fine, things change, maybe I'm not good enough to get a first on this course, maybe I could have worked a bit harder, but that's life. Nobody will care about my classification once I'm working"

There are certain careers where the highest standards of achievement are expected.

Never heard the old joke?

Q. What do you call somebody who graduates bottom of their class from medical school?

A. Doctor.

You'll never know how well your surgeon did in their exams, only that they passed them. Its completely true that nobody cares about their grades once they're qualified and working. Medical degrees are pass/fail anyway aren't they? No firsts, 2:1s etc.

marisco_2

It sounds as if your experience of university has been a negative one. Your parents can still have their proud moment and a photo of you, in a way and at a setting where you all feel happy and at ease. Definitely celebrate your achievement with them, but that doesn't have to mean attending the graduation ceremony.

Tiglath

I did for my BA (mainly because of my mother) but didn't bother for my MA. I'd really moved on by that point.

Cottage_Economy

Person_one wrote: »

Never heard the old joke?

Q. What do you call somebody who graduates bottom of their class from medical school?

A. Doctor.

You'll never know how well your surgeon did in their exams, only that they passed them. Its completely true that nobody cares about their grades once they're qualified and working. Medical degrees are pass/fail anyway aren't they? No firsts, 2:1s etc.

There are levels within the medical training. Every medical school will have a different way of doing it.

I think pre-clinical classes are based on the same system as a normal university grading system, but once you go into the clinical stuff it is pass/fail. However, there are gradings. You can pass, pass with merit, pass with distinction and if the school offers it, a good performance throughout the training could get a pass with honours but you have to be in the top of a specific percentile. I think. It's bloody complicated.

Armchair23

When my son graduated we went for the full graduation & photo presentation experience. It has to be said it's as dull as ditchwater however proud you are. But we had a big laugh and drink afterwards so overall it was fine.

My Daughter REALLY didn't want to to do it, but as her Dad was dying she felt she had to. Honestly, it was totally tedious , well run, but a soulless experience. The few photos say it as it was.

If it means a lot to your family and you can cope with the day all well and good. But please don't torture yourself if you don't feel up to it.

Oh and CONGRATULATIONS very well done X

cte1111

I didn't go to my graduation ceremony, I've never regretted this decision. I was so relieved when I finished my exams, I'd already started to move on mentally and didn't want to go backwards. Like some other posters, my time at university was mixed and I was glad to have finished studying and started on my working life.

I did talk to my Mum about it, she was happy for me to do what I felt most comfortable with. My parents both did degrees later in life and had been to each other's degree ceremonies, so perhaps that made it less important to them. If it had been important to my parents, then I think I probably would have gone to the ceremony but I was glad that they were happy for me to choose.

System

I don't feel bad for getting a 2:2 (even if bf has annoyed me recently by telling me what a waste of time it was) because tbh I wasn't even expecting to pass. I remember telling my mum I was sorry if I'd let her down but she told me I should be proud of myself as I'd actually had a lot to deal with (undisguised and unmedicated bipolar) and she was just happy I'd survived it in general. If I hadn't if been ill I'd like to think I could have done better but I also hated my course and the fact I got through it is good enough for me

(Though I do understand how it feels to be a few marks short of something, my best subject at a level was media and I was actually 1 mark off an A grade! This still annoys me today )

Pechow

Person_one wrote: »

Not the case at my uni. If you need to resit (and there aren't exceptional circumstances which mean are granted another 'first attempt') then the maximum score you can get is a 40%. That's your 'punishment'. If you do well enough in your other modules that you can still average above 70 even with that 40% dragging you down, you can get a first.

I wish it worked similarly within modules too-I got no less than 96/100 on all of my assignments for the modules for programming, but in the exams I panicked (didn't have to go and sit it in an exam hall but wanted to try) and got under 50 both times (if I remember rightly). The overall result was based on both assignment and exam scores, but you couldn't get a higher pass grade than what you achieved on the exam-so pass grade 3 for me despite the almost perfect assignments. Which in turn has dragged my overall degree result down.