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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

504 replies

plieddried · 01/12/2021 03:56

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?

OP posts:
iglpgl · 01/12/2021 07:28

@thinkingaboutLangCleg

OP, no one cares what class of degree you got. But they don’t like being lied to.
Was about to type exactly that!

Employers are going to care about integtrity far more than a slightly different degree class.

grapewine · 01/12/2021 07:28

This is so bizarre.

user0176 · 01/12/2021 07:28

How old are you? Have you recently graduated? Seriously no one cares what you got in your degree. Assuming you got at least a 2.1, no employer will give a flying fuck.

PinkMochi · 01/12/2021 07:29

Stop lying. It’s not only embarrassing, but it’s fraud if you’re lying to employers. Did you get a 2:1, 2:2 or 3rd class degree?

Tal45 · 01/12/2021 07:29

I think you need to stop seeing your worth only in terms of your academic qualifications - were you brought up by very pushy parents who only seemed to value you for your ability at school? I can't understand why you would think being a liar would be better for your self esteem - that is some very messed up thinking right there. I think you need to reassess what is important in a person.

iloveheater · 01/12/2021 07:31

I don't think the question comes up very often, so to tell people you have a first, you'd have to artificially insert it into conversation. Which just makes you seem arrogant, not smart.

Someone will eventually call you out on lying about your degree, and it won't end well for you. Rather than be labelled smart, you'll be labelled a liar, and that's a pretty nasty description.

Whatever classification you got, own it. If you don't feel like your degree reflects how intelligent you are, do some more studying for your own development.

Piglet89 · 01/12/2021 07:31

It makes me feel better because my academic record was good. Flawless even straight A all the way through my schooling, top grades all the time - apart from that degree.*

Most of the people I know who studied with me at Cambridge are in this boat. That’s part of how you get in: the flawless top grades. Most (all?) of them (myself included) don’t feel the need to lie about 2:1 classifications.

Really odd you even consider for a second that you might be entitled to. It doesn’t reflect your ability? Your ability is what you were adjudged capable of on the days of the exams, I’m afraid. Tough, but that’s life.

CityMumma78 · 01/12/2021 07:32

Of course you can’t lie, it makes you sound completely unhinged!!!

SpiderinaWingMirror · 01/12/2021 07:32

Sounds like you learned everything but resilience.

lescompagnonsdeloue · 01/12/2021 07:33

The jobs where it matters- where it's a recruitment factor, they will check, the jobs where it doesn't, they don't care. I guess you are very young for this to still matter to you.

Subbaxeo · 01/12/2021 07:33

You have better self esteem by lying?

lescompagnonsdeloue · 01/12/2021 07:34

And you say it doesn't reflect your ability, but actually, this is not a smart idea, so perhaps your degree does, in fact reflect your ability?

Subbaxeo · 01/12/2021 07:35

Btw, I do have a first class degree, but the only time I would ever mention it is a job application. I’d feel like a right knob if I went around telling people (apart from mumsnet)!

midlifecrash · 01/12/2021 07:36

@EnjoyingTheSilence

Yabvu and will make yourself look stupid and untrustworthy if and when you’re found out
This
claymodels · 01/12/2021 07:37

I just feel like I’m smarter than what my degree classification shows.

I beg to differ.

TheKeatingFive · 01/12/2021 07:38

Honestly OP, I think you could do with some therapy.

Your idea of your own self worth is totally messed up.

And for the love of god don't do a PhD to 'fix' this.

TheKeatingFive · 01/12/2021 07:39

The jobs where it matters- where it's a recruitment factor, they will check, the jobs where it doesn't, they don't care.

Basically this

HousethatChunkbuilt · 01/12/2021 07:40

Smart people don't talk about how smart they are. I had known my friend two years before she dropped the news she had a masters in biochemistry. I thought she'd always been an accountant.

Lemonsandlemonade · 01/12/2021 07:41

You need to look deeper at making yourself happy with yourself.

Lying about how smart you are is not a good thing and is a bit concerning to be honest.

I would be so annoyed if I found this out about someone partly coz I worked very hard for my 2:1 degree but because you were not truthful.

Howshouldibehave · 01/12/2021 07:42

@iloveheater

I don't think the question comes up very often, so to tell people you have a first, you'd have to artificially insert it into conversation. Which just makes you seem arrogant, not smart.

Someone will eventually call you out on lying about your degree, and it won't end well for you. Rather than be labelled smart, you'll be labelled a liar, and that's a pretty nasty description.

Whatever classification you got, own it. If you don't feel like your degree reflects how intelligent you are, do some more studying for your own development.

This!

The only people I know who got a first are people who I knew when they actually graduated, ie-I remember them telling me at the time. There may be other people I now know who have a first but as it never comes up, they don’t mention it!

What job do you do now? You sound like you have quite a chip on your shoulder-could you retrain?

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

Wouldn’t you just be forever looking over your shoulder stressed and waiting for someone to find out the truth??

Disfordarkchocolate · 01/12/2021 07:42

I've had to provide by degree certificate several times in the last 10 years. Don't lie.

Newhorizon21 · 01/12/2021 07:44

I noticed recently that an old flatmate of mine changed his degree classification on LinkedIn from a 2:1 to a 1st. It read 2:1 for over 15 years. He's very successful in his line of work, & well liked, I think it's sad that he felt the need to do this

Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow · 01/12/2021 07:45

This is one of the most batshit things i have ever read

SameToo · 01/12/2021 07:47

People lying about grades makes a mockery of those who achieved the grades. If you can just lie about why bother going to uni!

For every job I have had I have been asked to present my degree certificates. What would you do in that situation?

HappySonHappyMum · 01/12/2021 07:47

When I was at Uni the day before our results were published the Professor of our course got us all into a lecture to tell us that our degree classifications were just a snapshot of this moment in time. They were a reflection of now. But that education wouldn't stop when we left Uni and that learning is a lifelong experience. It made me realise that I had lots to still achieve and that my final grade would not define me. That lecture was the most important lecture I ever attended - he was right. You can't lie though - focus on what you can do going forward - once you're inthe real world experience counts for far more than a grade on a sheet of paper. And do some work on your self esteem - grades do not define a person - qualities like kindness count for much more in my book.