Appealing a grade - sorta money saving

elisebutt65

Has anyone who is currently, or has been a student, ever done this???

I've got 1 day left to decide whether to appeal my dissertation grade or not. Other people have said why bother as I already got a 1st but the fact is that my dissertation grade (58%) is pitiful compared to all my other grades and I can't see much difference between the standard of work in it and my usual pieces of work.

I didn't do a typical dissertation - I didn't follow the usual format of lit review and then work through each bit step by step - I did it another way -like an extended essay with the literature reviewed as I went along, which is another approved method, although our college doesn't tend to endorse this method fully. My dissertation tutor did warn me that I may have my work marked by someone unfamiliar with the method and that my grade may suffer as a result but I've dropped nearly 20% from my usual grades!!!!

And it's there on black and white on my transcript and sticks out like a sore thumb to be honest.

I am still really proud of my dissertation and I definitely think it deserves at least 10% more than I did get.

However I now have to write up a letter of appeal with full justification and supporting information AND a goodwill payment that I only get back if I'm successful!!!!!!

Oh - I don't know what to do now!!!!

davetrousers

I think you said it when you said that your college doesn't necessarily endorse the method you used. Maybe the person who read the dissertation is an old fuddy duddy who is set in their ways.

Just take it on the chin and move on. You still got your 1st. I don't think too many future employers would look at individual components of a degree.

dmg24

I would look at your appeals procedure. There are usually only limited grounds for appeal, so the first thing you need to do is check that your reasons fall into one of these categories.

I am afraid that my initial thought was the same as that of davetrousers, you took a bit of a risk in using a less conventional format, and unfortunately this has not paid off.

Let us know what you decide x

melancholly

i wouldn't think it's worth the effort tbh.... you have your grade, and most jobs only require a degree certficate rather than a full transcript, so it won't hinder you at all. if they've already been through the external examiner process, then the chances of a change in mark are pretty slim anyway - so putting lots of effort towards something that is unlikely to pay off at the best of times may not be worth it.

if you also have to pay to get this done, the moneysaving bit would be to not do it! you have a brilliant mark anyway - so well done on that!

Savvy_Sue

Think, realistically, about whether anyone is ever going to want to look at your transcript. And if they're not, I'm with everyone else. If you're thinking of going on to do a PhD or anything like that, then it MIGHT be worthwhile, but do look carefully and see if you've got grounds before you waste time and money.

Congratulations!

elisebutt65

Yeah - I 've thought it over and I don't think I'll bother.

I will be going on to do a Masters at some stage but I have got my PGCE to get through first and I haven't really got any legitimate grounds for an appeal other than I think it should be higher -LOL My dissertation tutor also thinks it should be higher but ah well.......

DrFluffy

You've nothing to lose, and if you don't do it you'll always wonder 'what if...'

Bamber19

I'd appeal, you know the quality of your own work and it does seem that the mark has dropped considerably in comparison to previous marks. Well done on the first, you must have had some very nice marks over the year for other subjects (most people i know who've earned a first have had all close to the cut off grades and one lesser mark for one subject would have tipped them into 2:1'sville.

pboae

I've PM'd you :-)

There is another related thread (3rd degree...) a little further down which you might find helpful too.

Voyager2002

If you have any academic ambitions, then you should DEFINITELY appeal!

And your situation is completely different from that discussed in the 'Third degree' thread.

On the one hand, you do seem to have a strong case. You did something unconventional, but can document that your approach is permitted by your department. And your tutor has made supportive comments.

And if you ever want to do research, this will really matter. Getting funding for a PhD, or a pre-doctoral research job, is hugely competitive: everyone around me got a first, so they start looking at applications once they have confirmed that the person has a first. (Or see the old thread AHRC about a student with an Oxford First and master's degree who could not get PhD funding.) Your dissertation is in some ways the most demanding part of your undergraduate programme, and it is where you are given the greatest scope to express your own personality and approach. So anyone who cares about your academic and intellectual abilities will be very interested in this. After all, if someone cannot produce a good dissertation, their ability to remember things and do well in exams would not really be any kind of compensation if what is at issue their capacity to contribute to the state of knowledge in their chosen subject.

Anyway, well done on your First, but there is no scope for complacency.

MLC

I agree, you should definitely appeal. I'm guessing you submitted some kind of draft before your final hand in, or had some kind of lecturer input. If they were unhappy with your method it should have been brought up earlier. When I did my undergrad dissertation I was told (unofficially) by the head of my course to pick my title carefully as certain titles were linked to certain lecturers, some of which had a reputation for poor marking....it was a joke.