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

[eggandeggy]

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.

I've got a 1st, a Master's and a PhD (all STEM) but I have been rejected from 2 jobs based on my A Levels

I have a 2:1 degree and a PhD, but at the age of 40 something I was rejected for interview based on my A Level grades. I had taken them off my CV as no longer relevant, but the company in question obviously thought they were highly important.

I got a third three years ago.

I got rejected from a couple of grad schemes - probably applied for a lot more.

However what I wanted to go into (not that related to my BSc) I had lots of relevant experience.

During the interview for my previous position (Degree was needed preferably at a 2:1) I was asked “what have you done in the last five years?” And I answered with internships/volunteering I had done with ‘and completed my degree’ and that was all I was asked about my degree. 40k for ‘And completed my degree’

I’m now doing my masters in the field I went into after my graduation. I didn’t submit any written applications until I had spoke to the course leaders as I wanted to know if they would take a third. During the first phone call I listed all my work experiences/volunteering/internships and then answered when asked about my degree (bad MH, had full time caring responsibilities and mitigating circumstances).

I do wish I had sorted out my final year of my undergrad as I just gave up and submitted any old thing. Life would have been a lot easier if I had even a 2:2.

Film production graduate with a 2:2 here. Now a civil servant in an entry level role. Would like to do an MA but no one will take me with a 2:2.

I got ill in my final semester and had to retake it, with a cap on the grade I could get. Honestly, it makes me sad to think about. Couldn't use the degree anyway as I can't drive due to disability and all the entry level jobs demand a full licence, but I still wish I'd done better.

I got a 2:2, got on a very reputable grad programme straight from university in the financial services industry nine years ago and have not been held back at all. I do appreciate this might be luck and a lot of hard work after university though. I have since hired a 2:2 grad in my team and they are fantastic. I do also know a few others at my firm who got a 2:2 and they have all been on the normal trajectory (promotion wise).

I would say that I was definitely capable of getting better grades at university but my brother passed away in my first year and my head wasn't in it. I definitely wouldn't advertise it pride of place on my CV but am proud of managing to overcome the 'failure to do well' at uni as do agree there is a risk it could close doors in some industries.

That being said, I have heard that quite a few companies are now not asking for grade classification as they don't find it makes a difference.

Scraped a 2:2 (STEM) and hid it with a master's in a topic I really enjoyed 😁. Found a graduate scheme that just looked at my Masters and then moved to another company that never would've accepted me as a grad after I got a few more years experience. Now earn a very good salary and just don't mention the Desmond if I can help it...

DH has a 2:2 and is now earning 60k as a military officer. They paid for him to do a Master’s too.

I got a place on a civil service (Not Fast Track) graduate scheme with a 2:1 but they advertised saying 2:2s and above and quite a few people had a 2:2.

I got a 2:2. I was horrendously lazy at uni.

I can't say whether it has hindered me, it's certainly not something that helped - I got my job in a contact centre after being made redundant and have worked my way to a project management position.

I graduated in 2006 and stayed in the NW. There wasn't much available. I think had I moved back down to London I might have found it helped with something.

@LollipopViolet

I’ve just finished a Masters and my undergraduate degree doesn’t even have Honours, so lower than a 3rd.

Keep looking at different universities - my work experience boosted by application.

I got a 2:2 but had to work 20-30 hours a week in term time and full time during holidays to afford rent and living expenses, I think if I'd had more time to study I would have achieved more as I got all As at GCSE and A-Level. I did joint honours and one poor subject choice pulled down the one I excelled in (50% average grade vs 76% average). My DPs were separated but not divorced so their joint income was considered for grant purposes, and couldn't help me out, I'm just grateful fees weren't a thing when I went.

I got some lucky breaks with my first two grad roles and it hasn't held me back since then, I'm now at that stage where my last two jobs came about from networking and what I've done work wise, no-one tends to ask about qualifications and a lot of the people I work with don't have degrees, or work in different professions than they originally qualified for. Having said that, I have picked up an extra couple of Masters along the way, mostly because I was single and skint after I bought my first house, there was only so much telly I could watch, and work paid a large contribution towards fees.

lollipopviolet I agree with PP.

Keep trying if you want to do a masters, speak to course leaders directly and explain your circs. Also make every bit of work experience count in your application. I am currently at a decent uni doing a MSc with a 2:2 but was also accepted to 2 top unis in the field and one very good one (went with this one due to the extortionate fees elsewhere). the entry requirements were 2:1 for all but I don't think this is always strictly fixed.

I know loads of people who have got onto Masters courses without a 2:1.

Not sure how long ago you graduated but did you appeal against the grade cap? I was ill during finals and was offered an uncapped resit.

Thanks everyone, I graduated in 2012 so not that long ago really. I'm really enjoying my current role and would like to do something to help me progress in my career - I bounced round jobs after uni and have only in the last 18 months really settled. My first civil service post was a fixed term contract in another department, this one is permanent so after probation I'm going to have a think and discuss my options with work.

DH got a 2.2 (and a distinction in his MSc)
He works for tfl as he loves trains, worked his way up from a station assistant.

Agree with pp. I interview people for a masters course at my uni and what we are looking for mainly aptitude and a good understanding of what the course involves (ie that they won't drop out)

I got a 2:2. I blame it on getting pregnant and becoming a single mum during my degree!
I went on to do an MSc and now, 13 years later after finishing my bachelors, I'm in a senior role directly related to the subject I studied.
I don't feel like anyone ever cared how I did in my degrees, just that I got them. But that's the industry I'm in.

OP I do quite a bit of recruitment for a relatively small (50 staff) charity.

I don’t know if not having a degree myself gives me a different perspective but I’d see that you’ve cleaned your way through Uni and I’d be impressed. If you’d written a good application (which is another thread altogether!) then I’d be much more likely to give you an interview than someone with a first and no life experience.

That said - obviously try and haul up your marks because I know people do still make initial shifts based on qualifications.

Good luck OP.

Graduated 2011 with a 2:2 from Oxbridge. Civil service graduate scheme (not the fast stream). Qualified last year and now I can't see anyone ever being bothered about my degree qualification again.

Mrskeats antipodalpizza My son was accepted on a PGCE course starting September. He has a 2.2

I got a 2:2 and I'm a Primary School Head teacher. Qualified at 22, Rose quickly through the ranks was Deputy Head by 29 and Head by 36.

I graduated with a 2.2 in 2011. I was the first of my friends to start working in a graduate job, I was also working within my field. I took a temp job, initially a 3 month contract but ended up staying for 18 months. I also had a long commute. I realised I would have to work harder than my counterparts with a 2.1. I completed a masters on a part time basis during my first few years of working. 9 years later, I’m one of only two people from my friendship group still working in my field. Most never actually managed to get into their field. My salary isn’t great (not terrible, just average) but that’s due to the industry I’m in and my employer. I’m in a niche field and I’m on the worst wage compared to the rest of my industry (it’s a small industry) most roles in my industry start at £10k higher (I haven’t questioned my salary because I’m considering retraining as a teacher in a few years and I won’t have to take too much of a pay cut).

DH also graduated with a 2.2 in 2011. He entered the workforce in a different field, on a training salary and did further qualifications paid for by his work. He earns a good salary.

I don’t think a (relatively) recent 2.2 has held either of us back. However, we knew that we weren’t going to be accepted on graduate schemes and had to look elsewhere.