I want to tell people I have a 1st class even though I don’t?

[plieddried]

It bothers me so much to see my actual degree classification. On my cv I don’t even bother to write my degree classification but I still feel embarrassed. I want to start telling people (and myself) that I graduated with a 1st class honours even if it’s not true. It makes me feel happier to tell myself I got a first class. It also makes me feel more confident and secure in my ability to work. It makes me feel accomplished. Wondering if AIBU?

@Piglet89

I also notice people putting for example “University of Oxford” as the lead institution at the top of their LinkedIn profile when they’ve just done a two week summer course in tech there and their actual undergrad degree (you know, the place they spent an extended period of time studying) is buried in the rest of their profile.

So disingenuous.

Yeah I see that, or when people went to Oxford brookes but conveniently miss out the brookes part when asked 🤣 I got a 2:1 from the University of Lincoln and despite the Inbetweeners giving it a bad name 🤣 I'M PROUD OF THAT! none of my parents or grandparents have degrees or even came close to having a chance of getting one!

Nobody will remember or care that you got a first. They will remember and and care forever that you are a liar.

Namenic I liked your words of wisdom!

@cam22 both an ancient and Russell group

OP, speaking as someone without a degree, but who is confident in my intelligence and abilities, I think you've got issues. Maybe work on those rather than lying about yourself.

[quote KeyboardWorriers]@cam22 both an ancient and Russell group[/quote]
Really? People can - and do - say anything here.

Go for it hun, fake it until you make it!

Not harming anyone if you're just telling them in a social context.

I don't think I have ever been asked my degree classification since dm asked after I received the results by post.

I don't think I know anyone's degree levels other than dh and a few others who I can guess as it's been obvious by what they went to do afterwards

Op for the last to positions I have had, they have asked for a copy of my degree certificates.
Why lie about some thing you have not earned

Very broadly OP, what kind of field do you work in?

@Raskolnikov84

I've got a first class degree, and a Ph.D, and work in a non-academic setting.

While I am senior now, for a while I would see others with neither a first class degree, nor a Ph.D, be promoted to more senior levels than me.

And to be completely honest, I was absolutely fine with that, because career progression is about SO MUCH more than qualifications. Personality, resilience, drive, willingness to work long hours, networking ability, self promotion, people management, ability to juggle 100 things at once - all of these things are hugely consequential, and once in a job, take on far more importance than one's qualifications, in which few people will have any interest.

I don't even include "Dr." in my email signature, and sometimes get asked about this. I reply that the moment I do this is the moment I write something exceptionally bone-headed in an email, making the embarrassment all the more acute given the juxtaposition with this supposed-to-be-oh-so-clever title.

Unless your qualification is actively holding you back, I would suggest that you don't give this issue any further thought.

Agree. I don't use "Dr" in any capacity at all, other than it has somehow made its way onto my NHS records. So doctors always ask me what my specialism is, and are surprised when I tell them.

I call myself "Mrs".

its a bit pathetic OP

Are you Oregon from Fresh Meat?

You peaked at school

That's fine

Don't lie about your degree

Bonkers.

Plus it's untrue & being found to lie would wreck your reputation.

I have a 2.2 & a 1st, both first degrees. I don't run around telling anyone about them, I'm exactly the same person, very strange.

Guess that was just the experience of people who took my course in the mid 90s where 3 people got a 1st (highly rated degree at a Russell Group university😁)

How odd. You cannot tell any employers/potential employers that you have a first.

I have a first class Master. The only people who know I have a first is my parents and possibly my brother (quite likely has forgotten). People have often asked me what my Degree and Masters are in but never ever have I been asked the grade (bar in job interviews).

Likewise I have never felt the need to share the information with anyone who doesn't need to know (employers or potential employers).

YABU. You can't lie about a degree classification, especially on a CV.

I got a 2:1. I was capable of a first, in ideal circumstances I'd have got a first, but during my degree, both my parents died and my marriage broke down and I did the last 18 months as a single parent with a rapidly progressing, then-undiagnosed neurological disease.

Frankly, I'm less bothered about the near miss off a first and more bloody delighted and proud that I finished my degree and hit a professional qualification in such difficult circumstances. .

@plieddried I worked my socks off to try to get a 1st...and got a 68.9%, at the time I was gutted. In hindsight I did the wrong degree and I was forcing myself to do something that didn't really play to my strengths. So I can emphasise with what you are feeling. But would lying really make you feel better? I'm sure others have suggested maybe some counselling to explore this and build your self-esteem rather than embarking on a doctorate. I did subsequently do a very challenging masters at a prestigious university and this was partly me wanting to prove my academic capability. But I wouldn't just fling yourself onto something like that, not least the time and money investment.

last line in my post should say except

@cam22 true. But why would I bother? You asked the question so I answered it.

@JohnDee007 how would you know how hard someone did (or didn't) work? People might have assumed I was working really hard just because of the grades I got- the reality was I juggled playing a sport at high level, volunteering, and dealing with a serious bereavement. I doubt they stalked me round the university. In my experience a 2:1/First take the same amount of work.

Lying only makes you look bad when the truth comes out. It tends to do so.

@JohnDee007

Guess that was just the experience of people who took my course in the mid 90s where 3 people got a 1st (highly rated degree at a Russell Group university😁)

That's not a very convincing sample size.

In the past, out of an Honours Course of say 60, there would be 5 or 6 Firsts.

shrug

Pretend your parchment is on a par with theirs if you wish. But it’s not.

Firsts are handed out like consolation prizes these days.