To be slightly disappointed by my uni results

[Horsewithnoname97]

Hi all. Name changed for this. I'm a second year chemistry student, going to go into my third and final year in September. I am really enjoying the course although finding it challenging!

I just got my second year results back and, although I didn't do terribly at all, I cannot help but feel a little disappointed.

Out of five modules, I got firsts in three and a high 2:1 in another which I'm happy about. But unfortunately I didn't do very well in another module, only got 45% which is still a pass but only just. Because of this one bad grade I will be going into third year with a 2:1 rather than a first.

Since lockdown in March all of our classes had moved online to a virtual classroom. I found this tricky as I have a toddler DS (I'm a mature student) so could only catch up on lectures, study, and revise when he was in bed. I have also found the content itself to be much trickier than first year, but of course it's going to be!

I worked so hard this year and put myself under a lot of stress and worry, so to 'only' come out with a 2:1 overall is a little disappointing. I know a 2:1 is not bad at all, but it is a bit galling to know I could've gotten a first if it wasn't for that one shitty module!

I may still be able to graduate with a first if I worked my arse off in final year, but it'll be a close thing!

I don't know, my DH says I'm being silly and way way too hard on myself, but can anyone else understand my disappointment? I know a 2:1 isn't a bad grade, but I was so close to a first!

Apologies if I come across as trying to secretly gloat ect, I'm really not. I'm genuinely a little disappointed although I know it could've been a lot worse.

Thank you

For those talking about being/not being offended by the op comments, why is it even a thing. Why get offended when someone talks about their own ambition to get a first. It isn't minimising your efforts/grades just because someone else really wants to do the very best they can.

I'm doing a part time masters at the moment. My last grade in my first year was 70% and I was gutted. I've averaged 79% throughout the year and this grade has reduced that overall average. It's not dissing anyone else on my course who has scored less if I think that. Just my own personal aim.
People get 'offended' by the smallest things nowadays, drives me mad.

I understand your disappointment but you can definitely still get a first. I started my third year with a 2:1 and gave it one last push and got a first so don't give up! Sounds like you're really motivated so hopefully it will happen for you. 2:1 is still great and loads of people would be delighted with it but if your personal goal is to get a first then I'd say try and put your disappointment to one side (it's done) and look forward and give this last year a big push and go for your goal! Good luck!

Also, I work in HR and we just ask for a degree/postgrad degree for our roles and so I'm fully aware that the mark doesn't really matter. I just want to do the best that I can.

in order to really stand out in the job market you'd need a first

Not really true, my step son got a first a few year back and found that to get all the graduate jobs, the employers had so many with good degrees, they went back to A level and GCSE results to help determine who they were going to hire. This happened with everyone the applied for.

Its a degree level education they're after, as well as other skills, some may have a first yes but they are competing for the jobs who have a first, straight A's, work experience, a particular work ethic or style and may be other skills and qualification's too.

Keep perspective its not just the grade you get, it helps yes, but its only part of someones story.

I was thinking the same Flev. Both of my friends who initially studied Geography have very good jobs. One is now a professor who, as well as her tenure at a university, travels the world educating politicians, other professors, those involved in planning cities, the Olympic Committee, even the Disney Corporates etc in various extremely important subjects regarding infrastructure that I don’t fully understand but I fully realise you can’t be “thick” or have done a “colouring in” degree to produce the data and research papers she has. She’s extremely fucking intelligent!

Well I just came on to say bloody well done for doing a chemistry degree with a toddler! Chemistry is a really challenging subject (I have a DS who has just completed A level and is off to do biochem).
A first is definitely still achievable. Good luck with your third year

@Twickerhun what on earth is wrong with geography as a subject?

Agree. There are a lot more "mickey mouse" subjects than geography.

Anyway, I graduated many moons ago and out of my cohort of about 500 who all graduated on the same day from teh Arts faculty, there was 1 first. One. Few more in subjects like Engineering where the maths element meant it was easier to get 100% in exams. Throughout my entire time at Uni I don't think I EVER saw an essay or assignment graded at over 78% in my faculty. Just didn't happen.

But then again, I needed BBBB in my Highers to get onto a course which is now asking for AAAAA. Grade inflation is a thing.

[quote Flev]@Twickerhun what on earth is wrong with geography as a subject? It means students graduate with a mixture of mathematical and writing/researching skills, as well as detailed knowledge about a whole range of topics. It doesn't filter you directly into a specific career, but it's certainly not just "colouring in" as some people like to joke.[/quote]
I was thinking the same! Geography is a core subject isn’t it? I can’t imagine it’s an easy option.

If you are going to do a masters I really wouldn't worry. I got a 2:1 and a masters and I'm doing really well career wise so don't worry OP, I know you are disappointed but outside of uni life it really doesn't matter (not being flippant but in a few years it really won't, I promise)

I had this experience in my undergrad too, I got a C in one exam in my penultimate year where I had only ever had As and a sprinkling of Bs for everything else. The tutor was so surprised he actually got my transcript out and rechecked it. But I'd just done badly 😂 I worked hard and still finished with a comfortable first. Keep plodding on!

I'm a mature student and my marks have been sky high all year - apart from one assignment which I'd started prior to lockdown and the schools closing, and had to complete while juggling school learning, childcare, the shops being stripped for panic buying etc.

My feedback states that one half of the assignment was significantly stronger than the other - funnily it's really easy to guess which half! My uni are doing a zero detriment policy for the year where any assessments done after the shutdown and switch to online mode will not fall below the level of previous assessments taken under normal circumstances - there's some really intricate spreadsheets etc involved but our online learning switch was not the smoothest shall we say.

Yep I'm mildly annoyed at the half-assignment which wasn't the greatest and yep it ruined my streak of consistent firsts in everything all year - and I'm not ashamed I'm shooting for a first - it's revenge for me because my first degree aged 18 I missed a first by 2 fucking marks and I want it this time around! Not because I think it's a ticket to a better salary or anything (with what I'm doing being very tightly linked to a career with set salary scales it won't do that) but just because I know I can get one and I want to get it.

I wouldn't worry too much though - with the weighting between the years you can still do it anyway.

I was in your position at the end of my second year and went on to get a first. You can definitely do it.
It’s of little interest to anyone but you, except for postgraduate study if you are interested in that.
For me a big part of getting the first was to go through the available past papers thoroughly, just in case you didn’t do that this year.

I think in order to get a 1st, based on my own experiences, you will need to consistently get 1sts on all your 3rd year modules. Comfortable/high firsts.

With my MA the lowest mark I ever got was 67 with the rest much, much higher and I was 0.25 of a mark off a 1st with my final result, despite getting a good 1st on my thesis which was 40% of the final grade. The tutor that gave me my lowest mark hated my guts and made it clear, with his marks for me always being 10 marks lower than the other modules. Obviously it was him that gave me that pesky 67. And that’s how I kissed goodbye to my hopes of a 1st.

In all honesty, it’s not cost me any job that I got a 2:1 instead of a 1st.

I gained a 2:1 from an RG uni in 2004. Back then a first seemed pretty rare and for really exceptional people, most of whom seemed to have sacrificed uni life for complete dedication to their studies. First class degrees seem a lot more attainable these days...!

Somewhat OT but I'm curious how doing chemistry online worked re lab work - or lack thereof. Hopefully you'll be able to do third year projects or however yours is configured.

If it's any consolation, I got a first and no-one ever has asked me what grade I got , ever!

Wait, is geography not considered a decent subject?

Geography Is quite often the favourite subject of people who are very easy to wind up :)

It is also quite often put together with different subjects which are complete in there own right like geology.

strange that no one on mumsnet got a 2.2.... or (god forbid) a thi… thir… no I cant say it... one of those marks less than a 2....

How times have changed! When I completed my 2 degrees in the 1990s, only a handful of students in the whole year got first class honours and a 2:1 was considered a very good achievement. (I comfortably achieved 2:1 both times.)

A 2:2 was a reasonable degree then too. Students used to joke about achieving a 'Desmond' (as in Desmond Tutu ).

A third was considered unmentionable even then though.

I get your disappointment, though, OP. I didn't expect a first overall in my second degree (theology). One of the options was linguistics, though, which I did as part of my French (and Social Admin) degree before that. I always achieved first class results at linguistics. Then in my final year I had a car accident on the motorway and wasn't able to type my dissertation for over a month. I therefore wasn't able to complete it to my satisfaction and ended up with 68%. I was really frustrated.

I can’t tell you how many people we rejected who managed a 1st in uni. It’s about experience, a decent degree, personality. We won’t hire an arsehole with a 1st over a perfectly capable 2:1 who is a lovely person. Academic results are only part of a hiring process.

@hexmeginny No need to be quite so rude, not sure what I've said to offend you so greatly

Thank you all to everyone who replied with their advice ect. In terms of practicals ect we managed to do a fair bit of lab work before lockdown.

In terms of a no detriment policy, my uni did discuss implementing one but decided not to, which wasn't a popular decision They did lower the pass threshold for some modules though and removed the cap on resits.

I could only retake the module if I failed. I have looked at the feedback and whilst my lecturer says it was well written ect I just missed a lot of the assessment criteria. A genuine whoopsie which I hope not to repeat! I'll have to read, read, and reread the assessment criteria in future!

I totally get it when you work that hard. Just don't let one bad assessment stop you from going for it overall. You know you can do it, you wouldn't be disappointed otherwise.

I was awarded a 2:2 many moons ago and was totally gutted. I scored 59.5% - the assessor looked through my coursework and could not justify rounding me up.

I am not the most academic so knew a 1st was well out of my reach.

I was unable to apply for graduate schemes as they required a minimum of a 2:1.

I started full-time work on a low salary and it has taken years for me to 'catch up'. It still stings to this day and serves as a reminder that I am average at best.

I completely get where you're coming from - I finished with 69.5%.... Half a percent from a first!!! I did appeal but was rejected (apparently they double check ones on the border anyway) but honestly it never made a difference to my career, it was just frustrating at the time

Of course you can get a first!

Look up Nathan Ghann. He got a 3rd in second year (43%) and graduated with a first. It's absolutely possible.

Btw, I got a 3rd (49%) this year but want to work towards a 2:1. It's been near impossible to do exams with a 4 year old in the house. She's still driving me nuts right now as I finish off my student finance forma.