I have just totally messsed up my final year assignments...

[Katkins1]

Hi

I have posted before- usually had lots of useful help. I have PTSD. my Grand father died on 1st Jan, and I'm a single parent. I'm in my final year of my degree, but I have somehow managed to mess up a (performance) exam, and there are so many mistakes in my supporting essay that I just can't pull it up. I used to be on a first, have an offer of an MA and everything... but now.....I've screwed it up, and all of my dreams are gone. Everything I've fought against; sexual abuse, neglect, bloody everything. All because of one stupid assessment. I had a couple of low 2.1's last year, and lots of firsts, but I just scraped the grades I needed. My tutor says they are 'superficially important' and that I will do what I want regardless.

But I won't now, not after this. One more rubbish mark and that's it, all of my dreams. Gone. That offer of the MA is just there, taunting to me, as to what my life could have been, what I could have achieved. I don't feel as though I care anymore. I used to have hope.

I've lived in a falling apart council house for 3 years, fought the tax credits mess ups, housing benefits mess ups, a diagnosis of PTSD, and this was meant to be my way out. As usual, I'm a total failure and my DD deserves better. I can't hold on to this and do it anymore.

Hi - sorry you did not feel that part of your course went well. It sounds like the whole course is not based on that particular bit though, so the fact you have passed other modules (2.1's) mean you should still pass your degree. It can be hard waiting for results and doubting yourself.

Do you need an MA to do the job and career you want to do? (I did not do an MA, that is why I ask, as many jobs do not need one) - and remember you do not know your final year mark yet. You sound very clever to be getting 2.1's and 1's though - lots of firsts sounds encouraging!

When you have finished your studies hopefully you will be able to secure a graduate job and then you can look forward to moving out of a council house and into a home of your own choosing. Is that a cause of hope? Degree graduate jobs plus whatever tax credits (maybe post in money area for advice) sounds really encouraging. You have done most of the hard work now, whether you do an MA or another course post-grad or start applying for jobs it is up to you what you do with your degree.

Can you make an appeal? I'm a university lecturer and there's scope to appeal directly to the Exam Board for mitigating circumstances to be taken into account when deciding on a final degrees classification. There's no guarantee, but where I am, we certainly look at different factors. Have you studied the regulations carefully? Some uni's aren't great about advertising the procedures and options that are in place. Find out about this now. Go beyond your tutor, who may not be aware of all the procedures.

Finally,can you still do an MA with a 2:1? That's possible where I am, although it makes getting funding harder. If you can do well in an MA, though, that can help make up for the 2:1 later on (if you want to go on to a PhD).

In the programme I teach in it is not at all unusual for a student to fail a module completely and still come out with a 2.1 or first on aggregate, in fact literally nobody gets 1st and 2.1 marks across the board. It sounds to me like you have plenty of good marks to balance out this setback, don't despair.

Have you made your tutor aware of the issues you are dealing with that are affecting your studies and are they making sure that these are taken into consideration when your grades are decided? I would be surprised if no allowance is made for a recent bereavement, but be warned that you may have to produce proof which can seem a very heartless request. A letter from your doctor about how you are affected will be useful. Make sure you get all the help you are entitled to.

Hi,

I can get on with a 2.1. I want to lecture, so I need an MA and PHD after. There were supervisors confirmed for that, I'm still thinking of applying (they were going to let me skip MA). I've been offered a conditional place on the MA I want, 2.1 or 1st entry. Its at a Russel Group as well, which would be brilliant for me. Not in a snobby way, I just think the uni has a good rep for what I'd like to do next.

My tutors are aware, I went to the exams people, who gave me extensions on the coursework, but I wanted to get it in before the funeral so didn't take them, and handed in on time. I was thinking of taking a career development loan for masters, anyway. And working p/t. Which I can do, given that the demands of that course are less than this current one.

My dissertation supervisor said to get a letter of proof in case I need it. they do know, and have been very helpful. After the exam, we also faced the additional issue of confronting graphic material with no warnings from our peers (rape, baby murder, suicide). I might out myself here, but it was performances. The students knew the content, and didn't warn us. I've told them how livid I am about it. I've had a complex life, so it totally threw me. I don't want to say too much on that, but I was sobbing and throwing up it effected me so much. It was a combination of very real grief, and the graphic descriptions. I was very lucky in that a supportive tutor talked me down.

I wont fail it, I went to every class (which some didn't), and handed in my essay on time . The tutor saw a draft and said the theory was a bit complex; so I guess my other option is that the essay pulls it up. Which I doubt after last year, but I'm pretty sure that I've failed it. I don't know about academic appeals- our uni is very , very secretive about those!