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Original poster

If you have a 3rd/2:2 in your degree. What do you do now?

170 replies

eggandeggy · 18/05/2020 12:47

Has it ever held you back?

I've taken a break from studying (psychology) but going back and my second year results are terrible. A 3rd. Realistically I'm unlikely to boost it up to a 2:1 but don't want to throw away the chance to get a degree.

Any advice to start career planning now? Btw, I have no idea what field to go in to or where to start looking. I've been a stay at home mum, so have just got caught up I'm care and domestic stuff.

OP posts:
TimRigginsHasMyHeart · 18/05/2020 15:08

@serenada would you care to explain your post then?! And perhaps you could also explain how exactly my DH is raising his own profile at the expense of other people?

Nearlyalmost50 · 18/05/2020 15:08

OP- 20 years ago people might have become an actuary or solicitor or whatever, but you would really struggle to get into any of the professions with a low 2:2 nowadays and absolutely not with a third.

As someone else has said, these coming few years with corona will be a nightmare for new grads, as grad schemes are shrinking, jobs lost, there will not be a lot of recruitment anyway. Teaching, which did use to take people with a decent 2:2 on occasions, is also going to be highly competitive. Honestly, most of these replies are actually irrelevant to the current job market in the UK.

On that basis- how can you improve your grade? how can you get more time at home to devote to your third year- can this be the family priority this year? What does your husband/partner think (if you have one)?

I would not look for a 2:1 if you already have a third, I would be looking to move your grade firmly to a 2:2 and keep it consistently there. Have you got a personal tutor who oversees your academic work? Is there one lecturer you get on well with and might give you honest feedback? Could you see the module leaders in their office hours and get preliminary feedback on a draft essay? Are there study skills courses on how to write essays or stats?

You can't change the past, but you can do better this coming year, with the right guidance.

antipodalpizza · 18/05/2020 15:16

Transcripts are asked for for Masters entry as well

Not necessarily. I had 3 unconditional offers of a Masters places last year (Birmingham, Bristol and Glasgow) and none of them asked for a transcript.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Higher education
Nearlyalmost50 · 18/05/2020 15:22

antipodalpizza a lot of places are starting to move to transcripts though, so it's best to be aware that you could need them. Were you applying with a third or a 2:2? I would expect those unis to require a 2:1 minimum. Some unis will take lower if your referee writes a nice reference explaining why your grade was not as high as expected.

foxychox · 18/05/2020 15:22

I got a Third, now a director. What made the difference was that I was studying while working. I made bloody good use of every single networking contact that I could though...

tomatoesandstew · 18/05/2020 15:24

We were discussing this among my 40 yeah old friends the other day. After your first job it's irrelevant. My friend got a third in an obscure arts degree. He went into sales and it . He's now doing pretty well for himself. It's really not end of the world. You may not get on a grad programme but there are lots of options. Think about what barriers are. Is it personal circumstances, examtechnique , etc. Think about what drives you and your passions. The world will still be your oyster

HavelockVetinari · 18/05/2020 15:24

A modern 3rd is really poor, so unless you think you'll be able to lift your mark to at least a 2:2 I wouldn't bother going back. You can't go into teaching with a 3rd nowadays (a modern 3rd isn't comparable to one 30 years ago) or get onto a grad scheme. Much better to try for an apprenticeship or entry level position and work your way up.*

  • obviously not an option if you're aiming to be a teacher, nurse...etc. but doable for many professions.
Mrskeats · 18/05/2020 15:28

PGCE courses generally ask for a 2:1 minimum now though

serenada · 18/05/2020 15:29

@TimRigginsHasMyHeart

Because your husband has a 2:2 in an area that says it needs a 2:1. He should either be addressing the issue at work that says a 21:1 is necessary when clearly it isn't (as he got and does the job). This fact alone proves it is not essential.

He isn't challenging this and rejects non 2:1 candidates even though they would be suitable. (as he was/is)

He knows that if he points out that a 2:1 is not essential it will put the focus on his lack of one.

As others have pointed out there is a huge difference in generations and whether the applications he rejects are from new undergraduates or old undergraduates. This does make a difference but your post did not indicate this and it is entirely possible that old system graduates with 2:2s could be applying to grad schemes and competing with new grads, after a change in industry.

MyDucksArentInARow · 18/05/2020 15:36

From my CS course, anyone not getting a 2.2 average changed to the integrated masters to boost their grade. Those that couldn't, a few joined the military as they don't want degrees or are so desperate for engineers you can join with a 3rd easily. Others have tried to set up their own business or taken non-graduate roles. The only path closed to them is a traditional grad scheme. It is possible to boost your grade. Someone I know got a 1st with 68% which is a 2.1 grade. They just had enough modules at a 1st grade it got rounded up to a 1st. This principle applies to any of the grade boundaries. You uni will have a page describing how this works.

Glendora · 18/05/2020 15:37

Rather ironically, I'm now an academic. But my 2.2. was from Oxbridge. I then went and worked in the 'real world' for quite a while before going back to do my masters and then a PhD (for which I received full funding, so my undergrad result wasn't an issue there) and did very well at those, hence going on to a career in academia.

The caveat is that all this was quite a while ago now (undergrad degree in late '90s). The world, and its expectation of degree outcomes (plus a lot of grade inflation) means it's a somewhat different landscape now.

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 18/05/2020 15:50

Dh is a civil servant with a 2.2, though he was lucky to get his original grad scheme. I got a 2.2 at the same time but I've since retained and have a second degree which is a 2.1. Having said that, my second degree gives me a professional qualification and nobody has ever asked me what classification I got.

CHIRIBAYA · 18/05/2020 15:52

My husband got a third but he's done very well in life. It might prevent you from doing some things but there will always be plenty of employers who will be looking at a lot more than the final grade!

Brunelofbrio · 18/05/2020 15:53

I got a 2:2 due to illness in the 90s and found it didn’t allow me to do the jobs I wanted. I was frustrated that this didn’t reflect me so I went back as a mature student and studied for an MA part time (very successfully). I’m a teacher now but mostly I just feel that I finally achieved the outcome I was capable of.

bumblingbovine49 · 18/05/2020 16:00

@ElizabethMainwaring
I am very old. I went in the the early 80s. I graduated in 1986 but grade inflation didn't really start until the late 90s when a larger proportion of students started going to university and it is only in the last 10 years that the grade inflation has become ubiquitous across all universities . Even the very best ones. I'd say most employers are looking for at least a 2:1 nowadays. This is in real contrast to when I left university when a 2:2 was absolutely fine and a 2:1 was a bonus

So in response to the op. It may make a difference .

weegiemum · 18/05/2020 16:04

I trained as a secondary teacher.

Now disabled and can't work in school but do admin for a small but growing charity and tutoring for exams (not this year!!).

BeingATwatItsABingThing · 18/05/2020 16:09

I know several people who got firsts in our teaching degree but didn’t continue into teaching. I got a 2:1 and have been teaching since I graduated in 2016 in the same school. Teaching isn’t for everyone and people should really consider the actual job before just rushing into a PGCE or similar.

The ability to write an assignment doesn’t make you a good teacher but having good subject knowledge (either in your specific area or in all the main areas if you’re looking at primary) is important. I work with people who have a terrible grasp of Maths and English and their class suffers because they get taught wrong.

Thirtyrock39 · 18/05/2020 16:13

I was a secondary school teacher (was told couldn't do primary without a 2:1 but know loads of 2:2 primary school teachers so clearly was given wrong info) now work in a job that doesn't need a degree and isn't well paid but I really enjoy it.

serenada · 18/05/2020 16:34

@BeingATwatItsABingThing

The ability to write an assignment doesn’t make you a good teacher but having good subject knowledge (either in your specific area or in all the main areas if you’re looking at primary) is important. I work with people who have a terrible grasp of Maths and English and their class suffers because they get taught wrong.

Yes, I would echo that.

hotcrossbun4321 · 18/05/2020 16:38

A friend got a 2:2 from a RG uni 10 years ago and now earns over £200k a year working in tech. Very confident, good at sales pitches.

I got a 2:2 due to undiagnosed mh issues and it has stopped me applying for grad schemes etc, but then I'm not a confident person.

okiedokieme · 18/05/2020 16:48

I'm an operations manager, 2:2 was common them though, they didn't give out as many 1sts and 2:1's as today

antipodalpizza · 18/05/2020 16:48

@nearlyalmost50 a high 2:1

Bubbletrouble43 · 18/05/2020 17:00

My brother, clever and lazy, shocked everyone by getting a 2:2 ( top of his class at private school, 3 As at Alevel with minimum work etc) which he confessed to me ( but not our parents) was down to discovering acid at uni and suddenly becoming attractive to girls ( he was late to all this) went on to do a pgce and is now a very respected teacher. He absolutely loves it.

Mrskeats · 18/05/2020 19:03

I wish people would stop going on about teaching
You can't get onto a PGCE course unkess you have AT LEAST at 2:1

doctorboo · 18/05/2020 19:07

I graduated in 2008 with a 2:2 and am currently a p/t TA in a school.

My third year was a mess study-wise; I couldn’t cope with juggling a paid job, family upheaval (parental Illness and their talk of divorce) and supporting younger friends through some traumatic times as the only ‘adult’ around.

University wise, I did a Applied Science foundation year while still working for the Civil Service...I soon realised Forensic Science would be a massive struggle and switched to an English BA at a different university.

I finished university and went into a job that paid ££££ less than what I was earning pre-English degree. Did 18 months in that role before I left bullying and, after having my children, am now in a school setting which I actually love and I miss being with the pupils.