Page 5 | I want to tell people I have a 1st class even though I don’t?

NewModelArmyMayhem18 · 01/12/2021 06:51

It also depends how old you are and when you 'theoretically' got your first. With nearly a third of students gaining firsts these days (depends on the university and course, obvs), it's no longer the prestigious academic accolade it once was, although clearly it's still awesome to get one!

FWIW, I am sure many of us could say we could have got XYZ amazing academic results had it not been for XYZ circumstances.

I know someone who was really poorly (but not hospitalised - just stayed at home in bed for a week) before they did their finals. Their Oxbridge degree (2:2) does not reflect their fierce intelligence. But back in the day 'extenuating circumstances wasn't really a thing to exonerate from less than stellar academic achievement in finals, so it's there for eternity on their CV.

Practicebeingpatient · 01/12/2021 06:53

I was a big fan of Danny Baker the DJ when he had a regular show on Radio London. It's been off air for over 10 years now and I still miss it.

What I don't miss is him constantly mentioning how well he did at school. . It seemed a bit pathetic that a middle-aged man with a very successful career should need to keep reminding strangers that he had been a clever boy.

Presumably DB was telling the truth about being this. It would be even more pathetic if, like the OP, he was making it up.

HugeBowlofChips · 01/12/2021 07:00

I got a First. No one gives a shit. Seriously. Never has it once come up in a single job interview/ real life conversation. I have a friend who totally tanked his degree and scraped a pass because he spent the entire three years playing video games and doing a lot a lot a lot of drugs. He now has an incredibly senior job in the gaming industry and earns shed loads.

BayesianBlues · 01/12/2021 07:00

I have a PhD and I promise you it is no sign of intellect. It's a mark of persistence and (my husband would say) stubbornness. Very different to what you do at uni for undergrad. So I really wouldn't bother doing a PhD for academic kudos!
Also the 1st depends on what uni you went to. A 1st from Oxbridge is quite different to a 1st from Uni of the Southern Whereeveritmaybe

cookiemonster2468 · 01/12/2021 07:00

I do get it and it sounds frustrating that whatever you were going through at the time might have affected your grade.

But you can't just walk around lying about it because it makes you feel better.

I wonder if it's worth thinking about why you feel the need to do so. Do you have a bit of a perfectionist streak and where is that coming from? There is no need to lie about it but for some reason it is making you feel inadequate, why?

MeanderingGently · 01/12/2021 07:02

Bonkers. No-one gives a shit about the class of degree. The fact is you've done a degree and received the qualification, which will enable you to go for degree level jobs.
In all my working life (and I'm in my 60s now) no-one has asked about the class of degree I received, they're not bothered. Mine was an 'ordinary' degree because in my day, my subject expected a 4th year to have a degree classified and I didn't have the means to stay on for a fourth year. It has never held me back.

I'm sure you can think to yourself, if circumstances had been different, I would have achieved a first....that's fair enough. But to pretend you actually did, that's unnecessary and you're wasting too much emotional energy on it....get on with living life now instead. You really are worth more as a person than your degree classification!

Platax · 01/12/2021 07:03

I just feel better saying I had a first class to people if they ask

But how often does anyone ask? I don't think it's a question anyone ever asks other than on job application forms, and you can't lie on those.

Heathofhares · 01/12/2021 07:03

I kind of get you OP. I also didn’t get the degree result I knew I was capable of. Again I lost a couple of years of my degree to personal difficulties and that I managed to achieve what I did was a success.

Still it did bother me (and to be honest limited job options) so I went back to uni and did a masters degree - part time whilst I was working and finally did myself justice.

YaBVU to lie about it OP.

Vari757 · 01/12/2021 07:03

I don't think degrees mean anything in the workplace any way, or certainly not much.

I've just had to let someone go before their probationary period was up in my team as they couldn't complete even the simplest of tasks in a timely manner despite hours of training and help from other team members. This individual had a first class degree and then a masters in a very "high brow" subject. After this experience, degree classification/subjects no longer impress me. Attitude and kindness does.

onelittlefrog · 01/12/2021 07:03

FWIW, I am sure many of us could say we could have got XYZ amazing academic results had it not been for XYZ circumstances

Yes.

You're not the only one in this situation. Lots of people who didn't get a first could say "I would have if it wasn't for X".

You got the grade you got and it's in the past. Put it behind you and move on with your life.

DorsVenabili · 01/12/2021 07:04

When I got my degree (2i) a school friend of mine asked me if i was embarrassed as it destroyed my perfect academic record- i'd never thought of it like that...i've certainly never lied about it but i did go on to do other qualifications so maybe that helped?
Degrees are weird- i don't think they are all equal so wouldn't necessarily think a first meant academic brilliance- it depends on subject/institution as well as how recent it is.
I do know people who have had great academic /research based careers based on 2ii degrees and even a third in once case so they don't mean much
I think though you need to consider why you think you are so defined by your academic performance

parrotonmyshoulder · 01/12/2021 07:06

I did get a first and feel very awkward about it if people ask - they very rarely do as it isn’t a typical topic of conversation! As it was 25 years ago, I don’t feel it reflects on me much now. In fact, the awkwardness I feel is probably down to the fact that I mostly appear entirely incompetent and wonder where that 21 year old went…

CovidCorvid · 01/12/2021 07:07

I assume you got a 2:1 if you only just missed out on a 1st. A 2:1 is still really good and something to be proud of.

You talk about getting published so I’m assuming you want to stay in the world of academia? Get your masters done.

Franklyfrost · 01/12/2021 07:08

What? No. Also people would probably not check but they might be surprised that your achievements don’t match your abilities. Getting a first is nothing like getting a A* in a levels.

Also, deliberately fabricating reality which you then believe is literally madness.

How long ago did you get your degree?

EmergencyPoncho · 01/12/2021 07:08

What?!! I got a 2:ii , one mark off a 2:i but I would never dream of awarding myself a 2:i! Few people get a first anyway. Oh and I definitely should have got a comfortable 2:i, I was just bloody lazy.

Peace43 · 01/12/2021 07:10

Does anyone ever ask? I don’t think anyone has ever asked my grade. I just put down my degree subject on my CV.

ThinWomansBrain · 01/12/2021 07:10

Maybe straight As at school just means you're good at rote learning?

Probably biased - I didn't do brillisntly at school, or have the opportunity to do a first degree, but did get a distinction when I did my MSc.
Can't think of anyone that's asked about it though.

ReturnfromtheStars · 01/12/2021 07:10

Your only solution OP is to do a PhD. Noone will care about your undergraduate degree after that.

Gilmorehill · 01/12/2021 07:11

@plieddried

I understand, I just feel like I’m smarter than what my degree classification shows. I don’t believe it’s representative of me and my academic ability. It’s not an excuse (although it kind of is) but I was going through a lot of things at the time of my degree and it messed up my accomplishment. If I had sat the same exam I would have gotten a first. I wish I submitted extenuating circumstances at the time because it’s stayed with me since then.

That’s just weird. I got a first and I don’t think I’ve ever used it in a job application. I only used it when applying for post grad courses.

Peccary · 01/12/2021 07:11

I'm currently recruiting for a graduate role, all I check is that they have a good degree in the relevant subject, a decent number of the applicants have firsts so it doesn't really make them stand out. I pay more attention to work experience/voluntary work with skills I can use.

Honeymint · 01/12/2021 07:11

YABU
I know how you feel because I myself was a straight-A/A* student. Then right when it mattered I ended up in hospital for over a year. I didn’t get any A-levels.
However upset I am about it I’d never dream of lying to people. I know I would have done better if I hadn’t been unwell but that’s life and you have to embrace it.

I did later go on to get a first class degree and I worked so hard over those 4 years that I never went out, barely made any friends and burned myself out completely.
The idea that someone else would lie about that really undermines my hard work. I’m retrospect I think I’d rather have gone out and got a lower grade bit, like you, I’d tied my self-worth to my grades.

I put my degree certificate in a drawer and it never comes up in conversation.

As someone who’s had a lot of therapy myself I really think this is a deeper issue and you should seek therapy for it. It will help, believe me.

AngelicaElizaAndPeggy · 01/12/2021 07:13

If you would be happier to identify as a liar with a first class degree, then crack on I suppose?

Perhaps best to tell your employer your preferences, though.

Howshouldibehave · 01/12/2021 07:14

What classification did you actually get?

Do a Masters or a doctorate if you want to prove your ‘cleverness’!

Tabbydancer · 01/12/2021 07:24

@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?

I don’t think anyone really cares unless you’re going for a job in academia in which case yoh are going to be found out if you lie.
Your thinking is like those men on o line dating sites who lie about their age and claim to be fifty when they’re 60 because ‘I don’t look or feel my age.’ Nor do I but I don’t lie about it.
You have no idea if you’d have got a first.If I didn’t have adhd I might have got a first rather than a 2.1 but I didn’t.

thinkingaboutLangCleg · 01/12/2021 07:26

OP, no one cares what class of degree you got. But they don’t like being lied to.