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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask your advice regarding my degree?

124 replies

StudentInACrisis · 26/04/2015 02:03

Would be very keen to hear your advice and honest opinions.

To cut a long story short, I am studying for a dual language MFL degree at a RG uni. Currently in my final year, with exams starting imminently.

One of the languages has posed a huge problem to me since the beginning of this year. Actually, problems started to become apparent in my second year but I brushed them off and carried on as normal. It's worth mentioning that I achieved a 2.1 grade in my past three years of study btw, with occasional firsts in module marks.

Although I have tried to tackle the language this year, tbh I have found things quite overwhelming and actually buried my head in the sand about it, if I'm honest. This has impacted my other modules and I am on course to do a lot less well than I had hoped.

I feel that if I achieve a 2.2 this year (which is looking more and more likely), it would throw the past four years' work down the drain... This is going to sound childish but I did well in my A levels and GCSEs too, and I just feel like degrees should if anything represent an improvement on existing grades... Feel like if I achieved a 2.2 (and I honestly do think this would not reflect my potential) it would just undermine everything I've done so far :( BTW this is absolutely NOT a criticism of anyone who has this mark. I'm really not trying to sound snobbish, just trying to convey my current situation and the fact that I have tried so hard in other years...

I have been debating taking a year out (now it would only be a few months obviously) to focus solely on the language, and essentially re-start things, since the beginning of this year but something has always stopped me. My uni have confimed that it would be fine (although unorthodox) but I guess I'm most worried about people's reactions - would they feel as if I was 'giving up'? Would they judge me for the fact that I'm only doing this to improve my grades, as it's not like I have a 'real reason' i.e. a hospital stay? - as well as the fact that maybe later on I'll regret it.

WWYD???? I feel like it is even worse that I'm potentially choosing to do it now, ie just before exams, when I have actually finished all the relevant courses - I really wish I hadn't let it get this far. Obviously it is rooted slightly in exam panic but equally because I just feel deep down that this year as a whole has been terrible, and not representative of my true abilities at all. Am I being a coward?? Please please help, I literally have a matter of hours to decide

OP posts:
CloserToFiftyThanTwenty · 26/04/2015 02:04

Is it too late to pursue a single language degree?

Original poster
StudentInACrisis · 26/04/2015 02:05

Have spoken to family, friends and tutors about this btw, and although they have been supportive, I can't help but detect an undercurrent of judgment :( Hopefully this is just paranoia on my part though. I just feel like people will think I have an unfair advantage over students next year, and think I am bottling it... I just don't know what to do, I wish I had a crystal ball... :( :( :(

OP posts:
Original poster
StudentInACrisis · 26/04/2015 02:06

Closer - thanks for your reply Flowers It is unfortunately! I went to see the relevant people at the start of the year and they said it would have been too late after my second year. Instead of really focusing on my problems at this point, I tried to but just panicked about everything really and now am in a worse position than I was then

OP posts:
rootypig · 26/04/2015 02:06

Questions:

  1. why do you think you'd regret it later
  2. can you afford it?
Original poster
StudentInACrisis · 26/04/2015 02:09

Rooty, I can afford it in the sense that student finance would give me another year's loan. I guess I think I'd regret it because perhaps I'd feel the achievement was less deserved, given I'd essentially had two years to complete it (in theory)? Friends have tried to spur me in to complete this year using this as a reason and it's just made me feel even worse...

OP posts:
Original poster
StudentInACrisis · 26/04/2015 02:10

I think a lot of people probably think I am simply deferring the problem whereas I would actually like to address it, and ultimately complete the degree i signed up for (if I fail this language module, they will change my degree title)

OP posts:
Clobbered · 26/04/2015 02:14

If you have a realistic prospect of getting a 2:2 this year, I'd say get on with it and finish the degree and move on to the next phase of your life. In a few years time, no-one (including you) will care whether you got a 2:1 or a 2:2. Stop panicking, set yourself some realistic revision goals and make the best of the situation.
Have you any idea what you want to do next, after uni?

TheCatsFlaps · 26/04/2015 02:16

I would want a fair crack of the whip if I was in your situation. I got a first in law, but had one VERY bad year (dad was arrested and nearly sent to the big house) - I bit the bullet, put my nose to thd millstone, and was so glad I did. I even worked fulltime during my last year,

rootypig · 26/04/2015 02:19

I would do the extra year - I think a 2:2 does make a big difference these days.

But maybe combine it with something else - paid or voluntary work, to get a headstart on your career, and feel like you're pushing yourself. And as Cats says, promise you'll put your nose to the grindstone.

Forget what other people think, the only person you have to live with is yourself. I think you know, deep down, you couldn't live with a 2:2 - that's the panic.

Plarail123 · 26/04/2015 02:20

Degree marks don't matter unless you are getting a double first in law or maths from Oxbridge and hope to join Goldmans or Slaughter and May. Just keep going. Good luck.

knittingdad · 26/04/2015 02:29

Looking for a way to defer a deadline, or reckoning, after hiding from something sounds like classic procrastination behaviour writes someone with almost three decades of personal experience.

If I were you one of my worries would be that in one year I would be facing the exams in a similar frame of mind, always able to find good substantial reasons to think that I could have prepared more thoroughly.

A more helpful thing to think about for you might be what else would you be doing if you did take the exams this year, and so weren't spending the next year preparing for the exams. Are there jobs, or opportunities for further study, open to you with a 2:ii?

No-one will be asking what degree class you achieved when you're on your death bed.

Original poster
StudentInACrisis · 26/04/2015 02:29

For context, I have a job with a big 4 financial/accountancy firm this September. They have specified they are looking for a 2.1 but on their website it mentions that they allow graduates to apply with 2.2s. So hopefully (hopefully!) it wont be the end of the world in that sense

What I am more worried about it is if it affects me down the line. Once I (again hopefully!) have professional qualifications, will it matter?

Plarail, yes youre right. Obviously it's not going to happen now but I have had a straight A record until now (i.e. straight A*s at gcse, all As at A level, top 5 uni) and tbh I had always aimed to apply for somewhere like slaughter and may Blush it makes me feel a bit sick now that I have just written that off :(

OP posts:
Original poster
StudentInACrisis · 26/04/2015 02:33

Knitting, you are completely right. Tbh that is me all over Blush

i guess I'm just angry at myself and looking for a way to defer the problem... Just really hoping I don't end up closing any major doors by doing this, and clutching at straws really

OP posts:
rootypig · 26/04/2015 02:37

Well the job offer is a big piece of the puzzle Smile
Have you discussed deferring the offer a year with them, or whether they would accept you with a 2:2? you really need this information.

Agree with knitting to some degree, though I think if you commit to getting your arse in gear next year, you may well do it and feel substantially better for it.

Original poster
StudentInACrisis · 26/04/2015 02:37

Thanks all for your comment btw Flowers definitely food for thought :)

OP posts:
rootypig · 26/04/2015 02:40

And no a 2:2 won't matter with a professional qualification and 10 years of great work experience. But it does in the graduate job market, especially at firms like the big 4. It will certainly matter to Slaughter and May.

Are you planning to pursue law? if so, I would absolutely defer. Because academic grades are important and remain important, and because you need to find out next year if you're capable of the kind of discipline that you need for law.

sleeponeday · 26/04/2015 02:57

Does your job offer specify that they want a 2.1?

rootypig · 26/04/2015 03:00

Yes she says so, sleep.

'Hoping' that a 2:2 is ok is part of your problem OP, you need to get on the blower to their HR and sort it out one way or the other.

mugglingalong · 26/04/2015 03:44

I have worked in academia and there anything other than a 2i or higher is a bit of a disaster to be honest. Many masters will have that as a minimum requirement, there are so many other graduates out there. With the current climate it is a risky choice not to try to get a better grade, however the job offer does confuse things. Will they wait for you/ accept a 2ii?

What would you need to do in order to get a 2i? Do you need to redo course work or does it all hinge on the exams? Would you be able to move to the country in question for an extended period and immerse yourself in it?

I don't agree that your past A grades etc should mean that you would find university level study an improvement on already great academic record. I have 3dc, two of them have really struggled and battled to learn to read, despite being intelligent. The third has just picked it and everything else up really easily, nothing is a major challenge. That isn't to say that he doesn't put the work in - he will spend hours reading, but it isn't hard for him to do it. He encounters the odd word he doesn't know or can't decode but he doesn't go through the pain and anguish the other two have put themselves (and us) through. When they ask why he finds it so easy I tell them that he has learnt to read, but they have learnt to persevere. They have learnt the skill of knowing when something is hard how to manage their feelings of frustration and to assess their progress. The oldest one is getting towards the end of primary and I can see the evidence of her early struggles - she knows the intrinsic rewards of battling on and achieving despite any difficulties.

I think sometimes (and I am not saying that you are in this group necessarily), it can be hard to do a degree if you have always found studying quite straightforward. A degree is harder, less structured and you don't have so many people fighting your corner as you do when you are younger. You have probably had to learn to live independently with fewer rules and parents reminding you and advising you. You can't just Google the answers, put in an extra few hours. Grades are somewhat random - have an essay question which you don't interpret the same way, or an exam which doesn't have your favourite topic and you can loose marks, drop a grade. Your natural abilities are less important than your sheer perseverance and study skills.

I personally would redo the year - it's not cheating - any of the other students could choose to do the same. I think that whichever route you choose you will come out a stronger person for having persevered, for having learnt how to recognise when you are struggling and formulating an appropriate action plan. My only concern though would be the impact on your job offer. I think that the fact that you have realised your position in time to do something is a really valuable opportunity.

If you think that there is no chance that you will pull off a 2i on the day then I would ring your future employer, discuss it with them, talk to the uni and careers advisors there - they want you to do well, they want you to be a success. Good luck with whichever path you choose.

Goodmum1234 · 26/04/2015 03:49

A tricky one. From my point of view I would say a 2.1 is preferable so do what you can to achieve it. I scraped a 2.1 eighteen years ago and recently looked into doing a masters at a RG university. A 2.1 was a must. So, in some circumstances it is a necessity.?good luck in whatever you decide z

UncleT · 26/04/2015 04:10

Bollocks to marks not mattering. Plenty of jobs specify 2:1 or better. It makes a difference. Whether it makes enough of a difference to pursue such a radical plan as you suggest is a different question. It does sound like you'd be bothered in the long term, so if you can afford it then do it if that's really how you feel.

Otterwa · 26/04/2015 04:26

The grade does matter - it didn't used to so much but these days jobs are scarce and 2:1 is often required. And it's definitely required if you want to go on and study further.

But you have a job offer. If that's the field you want to stay in and they will accept a 2:2 (you really need to check this) then it might not be as important. Any professional qualifications you go on to get will take precedence over your degree.

Ignore any judgemental looks/comments, you get one chance at your degree grade and and then it stays with you. If you think you may need the higher grade later on then retake then year.

I think you are being very brave at speaking out and looking at the bigger picture now (even though you are late in the day!) rather than getting to results day and wishing you had done something differently.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

HouseBot · 26/04/2015 05:03

Degrees are much more commonplace now than, say, 20 years ago when much fewer people went to university. In today's job market, a 2.2 is not worth having - ten a penny, regardless of the university. So defer - people interviewing will only see the result, not how long it took to get you there.

chrome100 · 26/04/2015 06:51

I did a double MFL degree. Didn't you have a year abroad in third year? I thought that was standard. That year was vital for me to get my languages to a higher level.

Murphy29 · 26/04/2015 07:10

I'd speak to the company you plan to join - I'm in an accountancy firm and we rescinded an offer after results came out as the candidate got a 2:2. However, would the offer still be there for the next year or would you need to interview again? If so, they might look for a 'better' reason for the deferral.

Sadly some grades do continue to matter, a friend of mine had the same degree as me from the same uni but failed to get an interview with my firm as their higher English mark wasn't good enough! However now we have a CA no one would care so I would definitely speak to their hr and if they'll take you with a 2:2 plough on this year and it'll be forgotten once you get your professional qualification.

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