AIBU to still regret getting a 2:1 instead of a first?

[onedayillmoveon]

It’s been 10 years since I graduated from university and I still can’t shake off the regret that I got a 2:1 and not a first. I know that a 2:1 is perfectly fine for the vast majority of jobs and nothing to be ashamed of, my more and more people have gotten firsts for the past 20 years or so. When I graduated in 2016, about 33% of humanities graduates from my uni got firsts. I just felt so stupid, incapable, inadequate….. I know people say that grades and numbers can’t define us, but I sort of did let it.

I still can’t shake off this horrible regret that I didn’t get one. I got a high first in my second year and was so pleased, I genuinely loved my subject and had applied myself. In my final year (which largely determines degree class where I went), I became quite depressed and stressed. I could never focus and never really adequately prepared for my exams. I just can’t stop wishing that I had pulled myself together in some way.

Some of you, if you read this far, might think, “well if you have a decent job, nobody gives a damn what degree you got”, and yes, fair. Yet there are certain supposedly ‘elite’ jobs where a first is strongly preferred, and I think not getting one ruined my chances of those.

Anyway, if anyone else has ever felt the same way, or knows someone who does, and wants to share ideas or experiences, maybe that will be helpful.

I got a 2:2. totally capable of getting a first. I was a single mum to a toddler and a baby and working nights and studying law. It was hard. I proved my abilities, nobody asked my result after my first graduate job. I just worked my way up using my intelligence and drive. I now am a COO in tech with with a 6 figure salary after becoming g a lawyer. All this to say, it doesn’t bloody matter. You know you’re good. Go out and prove it. Beyond the early roles nobody cares. Nobody even asks for references for me anymore. Be kind to yourself.

I do think also it's not great to fixate on one negative thing that happened it your life. I think most people have events in during the course of their life which mean they don't perform to their potential at one time or another. My sister died when I was 15. My husband was adopted, My friend's parents got divorced. Another got pregnant and had a child at 18. Another one's mother got cancer and died. It's not that unusual. These are just average people, nothing special. You can't expect to live a life free of negative events. The important thing is to achieve what you can despite them.

You could also consider maybe those people who managed to stress and got a First are a better fit than you are for those jobs than you are. There's a reason they want people with a First and it's to do with performing under pressure as well as intellectual ability.

Never did the Bar course, because I didn’t want to spend that amount of money with what seemed like unlikely prospects of getting pupillage. I did have a scholarship but it only covered about half of the course fees, and I couldn’t afford the rest anyway.

@ wingwalk I did the GDL

If they're not fresh graduates, it does look desperate.
Experience and soft skills like a pp said matter much more than grades for seasoned professionals.

@onedayillmoveon not many people can say they went to Cambridge, let alone get a 2.1 from it.

When I started at LSE, I initially had envy i wasn't at Cambridge. Eventually I realised LSE was the place for me and I'm so grateful for my time there. I got a 2.1 and not a first but I learnt lots and grateful and proud I can say I went to LSE

My DSis and I both got 2.1s (in different subjects). The difference is, I scraped mine and she missed out on a 1st by a tiny percentage. Whilst a 1st would have been great, I suspect I'm happier with my grade than my DSis is with hers.

That was years ago, though, and I think the last time someone asked me about my degree was in a job interview in 2017! Very few people are interested.

Oh OK. What professional qualification did you do? Good call on not doing the bar course if you didn't think you'd get pupillage. It's not very transferable and a huge waste of money if you don't go to the bar (and tbh not a great use of money even if you do). Although you can apply for pupillage during the GDL. It sounds like you weren't sure what you wanted to do anyway so perhaps better not to choose such a specific career. Which btw is not exactly "glitzy"!

@Wingwalk sorry to have been confusing, by ‘professional qualification’ I meant GDL. I was originally avoiding giving too much information about myself, but then decided that the chances of being identified are pretty low 🙃To be honest, if I’d gotten a first I probably would’ve applied for pupillage during the GDL, but then as you say I still wouldn’t have been guaranteed one. And not glitzy? I thought it was one of the most high flying careers 🙂

I left university with a 2.1 in 1983- at that time only about 10% of students got a first. I can say though that despite getting a good degree from a good university no perspective employers ever asked about it or looked at it- it made no difference whatsoever.

@onedayillmoveon you achieved an upper second-class honours which could have been just 1% off a first. You did very well, even though depressed. Stop beating yourself up and just enjoy you managed to get yourself a degree which opens up many work opportunities for you.

These are people who already have decent jobs.

OP have you ever worked? It sounds like you’ve spent all your time in Education - that’s not good for confidence.

High flying to me does not equal glitzy 😂
I would see the latter as something where you get to wear great clothes and go to award ceremonies. Not an itchy wig and spend all night and every weekend reading endless disclosure.
Anyway, given that you didn't even apply for pupillage, it sounds like you liked the sound of the job but weren't actually that motivated to do it, and so you probably saved yourself a few tens of thousands on the bar course and a lot of stress. Try to find something you actually enjoy, if teaching isn't that. And stop thinking about your degree, it's ancient history (or, more likely, classics).

I got a 2:1 and honestly I was pleased because I managed to work hard and play hard and had I only spent the minimum time studying that I could get away with 😂, and I feel that I got the right balance so I’m proud of myself - it’s how you frame it all really! And as you know, your degree is a mere first step into the career ladder, what you do afterwards is waaaay more important ❤️

Not one student got a 1st on my degree course in 1993

Wait a second I got a 2:2 should I be totally mortified at myself for that?

Looking back (1980s) I originally went to uni to get a bit of paper to prove how smart I was. I had always envied graduates (most of whom had a 2/2 in those days and 1sts were vanishingly rare. Then I decided I wanted to be an academic and a 1st was more or less necessary to get the postgrad funding. I can honestly say I worked my ass off to get a first I was very political, networked like mad, and had a supervisor set up for my masters before the results were even out. It was being political as much as my own abilities that got me a 1st and opened my route to post grad study.

The reason so many students get 1sts now is dumbing down of the system. Any academic will tell you how the grades have deteriorated since the 1880s and 1890s. There is no comparison between a 1st now and one 20/30 years ago.

Stop looking in the back mirror. It was 10 years ago. Put the wipers on for a minute then look at clear road aheadp

A 2:1 BSchas made no difference to my career at all. I chose a pathway and a career and did very well in it. I did the best that I could. I don't dwell on things that didnt happen. I do my best and move on.

You couldn't have got a first if you were depressed and stressed, you did well to get a 2.1. You did the best you could do at the time.

seeing your updates - you could easily have gone into law (solicitor or even the bar) with a 2.1 from Cambridge and a first in a masters..? Only the very top commercial barrister sets may have been more out of reach (and tbh they still would’ve been even with a first) but otherwise.. kindly, I think you’re using your degree as an excuse here when other factors (like resilience, confidence and mindset) are having a much more serious impact.

When I went to uni the general consensus was that those with a 1st often lacked other essential skills that employees valued more than academics. Communication, emotional intelligence etc. now no idea if this is true to all sectors but to mine a 2:1 is typically preferred for these reasons.

Yeah this is kind of nonsense. it's true there are a small number of first class graduates who are like this, but most excel in all areas and are extremely well rounded.

It's also true there are some outstanding 2:1 students. I currently have a PhD student who got a 2:1 (and merit for MSc) and she is outstanding. I also had an undergrad RA who was tracking 2:1, and she was also brilliant. Her reasoning was she would rather spend the time it would take her to get a 1st on extracurricular activities.

Anyway don't sweat it OP - you can't do anything about it now.

Unfortunately nasty comments from people in positions of power have a horrid habit of sticking around and having quite a big impact.

I had a lot of stress and MH problems in 2nd and 3rd year at uni and have been very proud of my 2:1 and it hasn’t held me back at all career wise. It sounds like your confidence and self esteem are the things to spend time on building, a 2:1 is a great achievement. I’d rather employ someone with a 2:1 and life experience than someone with a 1st who’s been privileged by wealth and good health. A 1st isn’t just about working hard.

I was one of three in my cohort who got a first.

I was homeless for the first year of my son's life and started university when he was 2 and a half; I commuted by train to another city every day with him and he attended the university nursery; I had zero family support. (I certainly didnt come from a background of wealth and support!).

So, yes, getting a first was a huge personal achievement but made absolutely no difference to me career wise.