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Am I not bright? 3rd in my degree.

315 replies

OnTrain · 06/01/2019 21:32

A thread kind of about a thread. More about a post in a thread! Someone slagging off Carol Vordeman because she only got a third in her degree. Saying she wasn’t bright.

I got a third, tbh I’m just glad I passed but I also thought I was bright! Do I need a reality check? Am I a thicko?!

OP posts:
SarahAndQuack · 06/01/2019 22:12

A degree isn't an infallible measure of intelligence.

Membership of MENSA is even less of a reliable measure of intelligence.

You clearly are bright or you wouldn't be doing well at what you do.

FWIW, yes, sure, Oxbridge degrees are probably tougher than degrees from universities much further down the rankings for the subject in question. But a third from Cambridge is not, in fact, something you'd strive for and get even if you were bright, unless there were something awful going on. Oxbridge have huge amounts of effort put into making sure students do not get thirds. Much more than other lower-ranked universities have typically put in. When Vordeman did her degree, the days of a 'gentleman's third' were long gone, and she would have been given a lot of pushing and a lot of supporting to get her away from the third class. Thirds are rare. By contrast, at some lower-ranked universities, they are more common.

My hunch when I hear of someone with an Oxbridge third is that either something catastrophic happened, or that they were lazy as fuck. There isn't much middle ground. I've never heard of or met a student at Oxbridge who was genuinely not capable of better than a third (or a low 2.2., for that matter). So, I'd actually be more inclined to wonder about someone with a third from Oxbridge, than someone with a third from a university that has fewer resources to dedicate to those who struggle.

The main thing is: do you know what went wrong? Brightness isn't about getting everything right, IMO, it is about learning efficiently from mistakes. My DP got a 2:2 from a very low-ranked university but knows why, and subsequently she's worked at Cambridge in a job where many of her colleagues had postgraduate degrees. At the other end of the spectrum, I have taught students who came to me with first class degrees and great references, who were actually all style over substance and did not do well at subsequent academic work. Your undergrad degree is never the be-all and end-all.

OnTrain · 06/01/2019 22:13

Thanks brecon

OP posts:
treehugger13 · 06/01/2019 22:14

IME, a 'third' is classed as quite poor, even a fail in some places sorry OP. A first is fab, a 2:1 is very good, but a third, some class as a fail.

I agree that many people with a 'third' are bright enough, and many people withOUT a degree are bright too. But a third is not something that will win you any favours, career advancement, great jobs, or compliments.

Namedrama · 06/01/2019 22:14

You got 64% overall? That’s usually graded as a 2:1

firstbrightday · 06/01/2019 22:15

64% is a 2:1 OP??

GinIsIn · 06/01/2019 22:15

But 64% is a 2:1?

BoomBoomsCousin · 06/01/2019 22:16

I got a third too, OP. 20 years later I did another degree and got a first. I would say I actually had a much better handle on the material of the subject I got the third in but at the time I was atrocious at exams (my mind would go blank in them) and I spent a lot of time partying so didn't always hand in the assignments. 20 years and a lot of confidence and maturity later, that was no longer the case and I found the first reasonably easy. I wasn't any cleverer than when I got the third, though.

The third was a fair indication of the work I had marked though, and that work was pretty poor and did not generally show a great grasp of the subject. So if your third is a fair indication of your grasp of your subject I wouldn't say you were thick, but I wouldn't say you were that bright either.

OnTrain · 06/01/2019 22:16

Thanks sarah yeah it’s definately a mix of my having to work really really hard in order to get an average grade, plus unplanned pregancy (with my now husband, not some random student!) and my personal tutor commiting suicide Sad

OP posts:
OnTrain · 06/01/2019 22:17

Argh, sorry! 54% Blush

OP posts:
poppiesallykatie · 06/01/2019 22:17

I have a bachelor's degree in one 'subject/field' that earned me a third. I have still achieved a successful career out of it. I have a second bachelor's degree and MSc in another completely unrelated subject area in which I achieved a first and distinction respectively. I have a higher diploma in a third completely unrelated subject area, which would be the similar to achieving a second level degree if it were to progress to a degree (ignoring the fact that I haven't a clue what I am doing 'airy fairy' Grin;) the point is maybe you have not found the right place or area of study for you? I worked my ass off for all of them and I was gutted with my third, but you mentioned it was a humanities subject and some subjects are harder to mark objectively than others. Maybe you have not found the right place for yourself yet?

SoyDora · 06/01/2019 22:18

54% is a 2:2?

GinIsIn · 06/01/2019 22:19

54% is still a drinker’s though, not a third?

PurpleDaisies · 06/01/2019 22:19

How can 54% be a third? That’s a 2:2. Confused

Littlechocola · 06/01/2019 22:20

You were accepted to study at degree level. You completed your degree. You are far from a ‘thicko’.

OnTrain · 06/01/2019 22:20

My uni course ranked 17th during my time there

OP posts:
TigerTooth · 06/01/2019 22:20

Honestly? I would have been devastated with a 3rd.
We only had one on our course (BEd Hons with QTS) who got a 3rd - I still remember her name 20 yrs later!

OnTrain · 06/01/2019 22:21

It’s definately 54% and says 2.11 on it.

OP posts:
firstbrightday · 06/01/2019 22:22

That's a 2:2 OP. Not a third 🤦🏽‍♀️

GinIsIn · 06/01/2019 22:22

2.11 IS a 2:2

GinIsIn · 06/01/2019 22:22

Please tell me it wasn’t a maths degree?!

SoyDora · 06/01/2019 22:22

Why would 2.11 be a third?!

MarthasGinYard · 06/01/2019 22:22

Bloody hell

NotUmbongoUnchained · 06/01/2019 22:23

Maybe you are a bit thick Grin

GinIsIn · 06/01/2019 22:23

Yup - I retract the part were I said you weren’t thick! Grin

SoyDora · 06/01/2019 22:23

Are you having us on OP?