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AIBU?

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Original poster

University results - u certicate

87 replies

getrunningirl · 21/07/2024 15:23

Found out this week offspring got a u certificate for degree. Got good Alevels though - covid version, but went to good grammar school.Knew it existed, never heard of anyone that actually got a U. ABU to feel more worried than cross,which is how I feel and am struggling to think how I 'should' feel. Perhaps expectations managed by failing 2nd year, but believed it when told knuckled down and turned round. Thoughts?

OP posts:
Zanatdy · 21/07/2024 20:21

It’s a lot of money to repay to not even have a degree. My son dropped out after year 2, I tried to help him but he ended up not rejoining for year 3 (after initially pretending to go). 10yrs on he regrets it and is starting open Uni degree whilst working full time. Things have turned out ok, and he’s a lot more mature now, certainly capable of getting a degree

Maray1967 · 21/07/2024 20:20

missshilling · 21/07/2024 20:13

What he has got is better than a diploma.

Show quote history

Only if the U is a pass degree. Ours are reported as ‘pass’ not U. He needs to check.

cestlavielife · 21/07/2024 20:19

Well it shows he stuck it out and completed 3 years study. So not all lost. Can he talk about how he learned something from the 3xyears?
He needs to apply for jobs and take it from there. Maybe degree apprenticeship and redo some modules?

Hankunamatata · 21/07/2024 20:17

OK so disappointing. What does dc want to do as a career or job? I'd be focusing on that

MumApril1990 · 21/07/2024 20:16

Did you fund them OP? I would be cross if so otherwise just feel sorry for them

missshilling · 21/07/2024 20:13

getrunningirl · 21/07/2024 20:05

That's worth looking into thanks @Maray1967

What he has got is better than a diploma.

Original poster
getrunningirl · 21/07/2024 20:12

@mojomoon surprisingly the career's advice from the uni have said can't have an appointment as not a student. I expected them to be more helpful. I might check this myself.

OP posts:
Original poster
getrunningirl · 21/07/2024 20:05

That's worth looking into thanks @Maray1967

OP posts:
AgnesX · 21/07/2024 20:04

Crosc · 21/07/2024 16:22

Sorry, despite being having two degrees O have no idea what a U is. Is it below a third?

Unclassified so an ordinary degree I think.

In Scotland its different.

Original poster
getrunningirl · 21/07/2024 20:04

Thanks @aligirlbear I do think Covid had an impact, but that also feels like a bit of an excuse too.

OP posts:
Maray1967 · 21/07/2024 20:00

If he’s passed 240 or more credits (full 3 year is 360) he might be entitled to a Diploma in HE. If so, his results message should make that clear.

Original poster
getrunningirl · 21/07/2024 19:59

@heronwatcher am indeed focusing on priority to earn money. I don't understand why I'm not more pissed off though.Disappointed. Sad. Bit embarrassed. Worried.But not pissed off or cross. And that's why I was asking what others think about how they would feel. Hope others don't have to feel it though.

OP posts:
TheSquareMile · 21/07/2024 19:56

@getrunningirl

Something which might be possible might be to derive credits for their previous study and have them credited to a new degree.

Original poster
getrunningirl · 21/07/2024 19:55

@Igotu- Thanks that's so heartening g to hear 😃

OP posts:
TheSquareMile · 21/07/2024 19:54

@getrunningirl

What plans does he/she have now, OP?

Original poster
getrunningirl · 21/07/2024 19:53

Sadly not.

OP posts:
Original poster
getrunningirl · 21/07/2024 19:52

Yes - a 3rd is the lowest pass u can get. U is fail

OP posts:
Heronwatcher · 21/07/2024 17:51

I think it all depends on the reasons. Mental health, other illness, other circumstances beyond their control when they were trying really hard I would understand, put it down to experience and move on.

But a bright child that didn’t try, went out too much etc, I’d be really pissed off.

Either way though I guess she has to find a way to move on- I think if I were you I’d be leaving it all to her but making it clear that she will need to start earning some money and supporting herself after a certain period (a month?).

123sunshine · 21/07/2024 17:20

Igotu · 21/07/2024 16:24

I've name changed for this. I got an unclassified degree i.e. without honours, not due to lack of ability but because I was too busy enjoying myself. It's not necessarily the end of the world. I worked in lower paid jobs in the area I was interested in and by age 25 i'd been accepted into a postgraduate course because I had relevant experience. I was more mature, more committed and did so well they asked if I'd like to convert to a masters. Fast forward a few decades and I'm now a senior academic.

Wow! That’s some turnaround. Anything is possible!

KreedKafer · 21/07/2024 16:45

I’m not quite sure what you’re actually asking. Your ‘offspring’ failed their degree. There is nothing they can do about it now. You can worry as much as you want, but they’re not a child. They’re a grown adult in their 20s. Their future is up to them to sort out now.

MojoMoon · 21/07/2024 16:36

Why do you think you should feel cross?
They are an adult and it is their life and studying is their responsibility.

What subject were they doing? Perhaps there are other routes into the sector - higher level apprenticeships etc.

My cousin got an unclassified degree (much tutoring during GCSEs and A levels, never really learned to study independently, wasn't really very interested in studying that subject but wanted a uni life).

She got a fairly low level job in an insurance company to pay the rent, the company ended up a year later paying for her study part time along work as part of a higher level apprenticeship and now she has a specialist qualification in something to do with financial fraud which is a well paid and growing area to be in.

His university career service is worth talking to - can discuss next steps. They will usually continue to provide support for a year or two after graduation

TheSquareMile · 21/07/2024 16:28

getrunningirl · 21/07/2024 16:11

See my response @igivein - it's in the UK, at Nottingham Uni. They did progress to the 3rd year. In hindsight maybe that wasn't a good thing. Seemed like it at the time.

@getrunningirl

Which subject, OP?

Igotu · 21/07/2024 16:27

Crosc · 21/07/2024 16:22

Sorry, despite being having two degrees O have no idea what a U is. Is it below a third?

It's unclassified and means without honours. 300 credits as opposed to 360 for a degree with honours.

Crosc · 21/07/2024 16:27

OP, university wasn’t for your child (well more specifically the course at this time in their life). Something else will be. My family member got a third from Manchester - not really worth the paper it was written on. He went on to join the RAF and now lives in the ME earning mega bucks (tax free).

Just comfort your dc - people put an awful lot of pressure on themselves when it comes to academics. Really stress that an alternative path is out there. Life is long. Your dc has plenty of time.

Aligirlbear · 21/07/2024 16:25

Sadly failures in year 2 and 3 have not been unusual for the “Covid generation” who got their A level results based on assessment rather than exams. My DN failed year 2, resat modules and failed again so had to leave. At least 7 others on his course did the same and 2 of their cohort scraped through year 2 and failed year 3. Unfortunately because of Covid a number of teenagers ended up at university when they weren’t prepared due to lock down etc. and or perhaps should never have gone because they weren’t suited to further education but didn’t realise due to online learning and assessment rather than exams so didn’t develop the skills needed or realise it wasn’t for them.

Very sad for a number of young people caught up in this. A neighbour works at a Uni and says it’s been very tough with the Covid generation.

Time for you and your DC to assess options : perhaps an apprenticeship, get a job or rethink whether they want to go back to uni to do another degree with the benefit of experience. Not a time to be angry with him. I know that’s a tough ask but it’s one to chalk up to a life experience, learn from it and move forward.

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