University. One to two marks off a first? Experiences?

onlyroz

Buzzybee90 wrote: »

You can get a BA in geography, but it's not an arts subject.

At Cambridge you can get a BA in Natural Sciences. Also, with geography I think there are two "flavours" - i.e. you can get a BA if you study the more sociological and cultural aspects of geography, and you can get a BSc if you study the more geological aspects.

GoldenShadow

pleasedelete wrote: »

The university is just as important than the class. a 2.1 from a Russell Group in an enabling subject will way outweigh a 1st from a former poly or HE college.

Again even with a 2.1 from a 2nd or 3rd rate uni you wont get onto a blue chip graduate scheme.

Location, location, location or uni, uni, uni

A 1st can actually count against you from a 2nd rate uni- it raises questions as to why you didn't access a better uni (so shows possibly lacking vision and ambition).

pleasedelete wrote: »

If you wanted to join a graduate scheme with a city or international company- almost no chance.

I find it really interesting when people discuss this type of thing. I have a First from Anglia Ruskin (in Business). I got good grades at A Level (two at A*) and originally went to Aston Business School. In year one, my accommodation costs were £5200, and my maintenance loan was £4,500. So, in essence, I was going to have to do as much paid work as possible with still little to no guarantee that I could afford to stay there. I dropped out six weeks in because finding paid work wasn't very easy and it looked quite certain that I was going to be financially crippled. There was little doubt that would have a knock on effect on my grades.

I am sure for some subjects employers do care what uni you went to twenty or thirty years down the line, but it doesn't appear very common in my sector. My brother works for one of the big four and aside from grad schemes they don't appear that fussed with regards to uni choice. I got offered a place for both the Boots graduate scheme and the NHS one (going with the latter), so they obviously weren't fussed. I would have expected the uni I went to to hold me back from the likes of PWC/KPMG and so on but then I didn't want to join their grad schemes anyway.

IMO it is largely about the kind of person you are and what else you have on offer. There are loads of people who did my degree and got a 2:1 who have got nowhere with grad jobs. I made a point of making myself stand out from this huge sea of people all after the same thing.

I'm glad I took the 'safe' option and dropped out like I did. Being a dropout (and technically unemployed for 2.5 months) was probably the bravest thing I have ever done. Character building, for sure!

Sierra7891

pleasedelete wrote: »

The university is just as important than the class. a 2.1 from a Russell Group in an enabling subject will way outweigh a 1st from a former poly or HE college.

Again even with a 2.1 from a 2nd or 3rd rate uni you wont get onto a blue chip graduate scheme.

Location, location, location or uni, uni, uni

A 1st can actually count against you from a 2nd rate uni- it raises questions as to why you didn't access a better uni (so shows possibly lacking vision and ambition).

Lots of blue chip companies do recruit from former poly universities. I am graduating (from an ex poly) this summer after being sponsored for two years by a blue chip company, starting a 'direct entry' role rather than a graduate scheme next week.

I chose a course that was right for me, that I expected would provide good opportunities and has done so.

Responding to the OP be critical, succinct and read the mark scheme. With respect to your dissertation (assuming you will write one), listen to your mentor/academic connection. As well as this, I found refworks a useful tool which definitely helped with my work (references) and dictation software called Dragon dictate.

samtoby

Hi I just wanted to say thank you for all your comments. I have taken them on board and am currently having a look at the reading list ready for going back to Uni in a couple of weeks.


I am dreading that I won't improve on the grades I have got, but I have got a lot notes written on how to make my work better so I am hoping that I will be able to use these while writing.


I have my sons maths tutor's wife to proof read the spelling etc and that essays read well. All but one of my essays were proof read by her last year.

squirrelchops

I don't know if this has already been said but if you are getting marks in the 60s in year 1, they generally say this equals marks in the 50s in year 2 if you don't improve on what you have done so far. This sounds harsher than I mean! Just that as others have said expectations go up in years 2 and 3 and you need to work hard to get a first.

I had similar grades to you in year one - perhaps a couple of assignments in the 70s.

I got a first but was only 0.5% over the bar so very close. That was with getting over 80% on 2 occasions too.

Southend1

samtoby wrote: »

Hi I just wanted to say thank you for all your comments. I have taken them on board and am currently having a look at the reading list ready for going back to Uni in a couple of weeks.


I am dreading that I won't improve on the grades I have got, but I have got a lot notes written on how to make my work better so I am hoping that I will be able to use these while writing.


I have my sons maths tutor's wife to proof read the spelling etc and that essays read well. All but one of my essays were proof read by her last year.

Just to say that if you are using a proof reader this may need to be acknowledged in your work. Also your university may require that you only use proof readers who are on an approved list. You should check with your institution about their proof reading policy, if you haven't already done so.

Best of luck with your continued studies and I hope you get the outcome you are working towards

sazaccount

Hi,

I don't know is this has already been said, but in quite a few courses your 1st year doesn't count towards the final mark! when I was doing my undergrad all of my friends, geology and earth related courses, english lit, physiology law sociology etc it was the same all you had to do was get at least a pass (40%) to be able to progress until the 2nd year

Well done on your marks though!!
Also you said that you are dyslexic do you receive DSA?? I'm dyslexic and recieved funds for 1 on 1 support to teach myself how to spot my own mistakes and received a laptop with special programs to help