How did DD get a third? Anyone who works at uni know?

[greensofas]

Bright DD, AAB at a level (covid results but all essays marked at that level) got her Russell group uni of choice in a topic she had studied at A level. Worked hard at uni, tons of library time and going to lectures/study groups. Has struggled all the way through with ups and downs in results even though she has enjoyed subject. In final year found it all very hard and ended up on antidepressants and therapy. Still worked like a Trojan though (competitive with herself)
Just graduated with a third. I know she is depressed with result and after googling and coming on mumsnet, everyone seems to say 'only the lowest get thirds these days' or 'only the ones that didn't even try'
She doesn't seem to be either of those things. I feel so sad for her. Any advice or words or wisdom?

PumpkinSoup mathsanxiety hasn’t said they had no family help, but clearly both can sustain a mortgage/ top up any deficit. Big difference between giving a a deposit for a first home and buying the entire house

And perhaps they had no help at all - for the 27yo in particular to be on a second house after graduating without a bit of help on the first would be surprising - need at least a few years even on a big salary to save a deposit, finish the probationary period of a grad scheme etc to satisfy a lender etc

But you know, big difference between parents helping with a deposit on the one hand for hard working kids and funding a nomadic lifestyle for an aimless kid

It’s always what you do next that counts.

my DS1 graduated with a 2:1, got a part time job whilst looking for post grad work, but was made redundant (retail) and much post grad in his field has been overtaken by leaps in AI, and to my anxiety but DH’s relative equanimity is trying to forge his own business. He’s fully subsidised by us and living at home. But it’s either going to work or he’s going to have to smell the coffee even as I wring my hands.

So I wish your daughter every success. A degree grade doesn’t need to define her.

Yes, I’m sure it would be good to be given a brief summary of expectations, but if students are not regularly reading examples of the required house style as part of their degree, then what on earth are they doing with their time? Isn’t it a bit concerning that a student would be tone deaf to that? Three or more years is a very long time to fail to notice whether or not academic work in your subject is written in the passive voice.

I got a third. I was called in for a viva as I was borderline 2:2 and 3. To be honest, at that point I'd lost interest in my degree. It was very heavy on the chemistry and it was biology I loved. I felt wretched afterwards. I took three years out working with children, trained as a teacher and have been happy ever since. Carol Vorderman and Hugh Laurie got thirds. It doesn't mean your life is over. X

With regard to the OP’s dd, depression and anxiety have a massive impact on the ability to concentrate and retain information. You may be able to force yourself to sit in front of the textbooks, but not necessarily translate the words on the page into coherent thoughts.

I got a first. My best friend and my DH both got thirds. They each earn around 3 times more than I do.

IME it's harder than people think, and harder for some students than others. It's still a common comment from academic peer review, so not something basic.

Absolutely this ^^

Not true. I work for a ftse company 2:1 is the expected standard and is checked. Went to Russell group myself (Exeter). I think OP’s child should have had a break from the final year due to MH issues as it’s doubtful all the studying was effective. With mh issues it’s normal to avoid the truly valuable interactions like seminars and tutor time . Saying she had ‘no reason’ to lie isn’t true, depression characteristically can lead to a burial of the truth which doesn’t make her a liar as such, it makes her unwell. I’d forget studying, work in something unrelated for a year or two, then come back a) well b) realistic and c) not pinning so much on a degree in the first place. She didn’t cope, being clever at A level doesn’t prepare you for uni on its own- it’s a shock.

I also work for a FTSE 100 company that has an recruitment policy to promote D&I and this isn’t the case.

Different companies have different policies, amazing stuff.

This post is a couple of years old now but I had this experience back in 1982 while studying for a Zoology degree at a Russell group university.

One potential problem with the more prestigious universities was that senior lecturers were more concerned about maintaining their research reputations than the outcomes of the degrees of their students. This may have changed somewhat now that students are having to pay tuition fees.

In my case I was persuaded to rewrite a library project which took me almost up to the dates of my finals.

You can do very useful and responsible work even with a third class degree; I found doing a 3-4 months long TOPS course on COBOL programming more useful than a degree in getting such a job. Unfortunately however TOPS courses are now long defunct, highly demanding though they were.

So far as remedying having a third class degree to pursue a career in the subject that the degree was in however there are very limited but not no options.
Birkbeck College, London University, might allow students to do another degree at bachelor level but only in related subjects to that in which the student got their first degree. The Open University is far more accommodating although the course work involves a very long slog. The tutor marked assignments (TMAs) are easier to complete now however with everyone now having some form of word processing.

I got a 2.1 in Natural Sciences with Biology with the OU having had to write my assignments by hand using an automatic pencil in the 1990s. I would have liked to have got a first but employers are not very sympathetic to people doing OU degrees, particularly in subjects unrelated to their work. Unfortunately though I never actually gained stable employment in the field of Biology, to some extent perhaps because of the age that I was at by the time I had finished my OU degree (43).

I hope that this helps.

I know it isn’t want you asked, but she’s got an Hons degree from a RG Uni. I’m not sure the class matters. It’s like A Level results, they matter to you more than anyone else. Well done her for hanging on in there, despite the ups and down and depression and finishing. That tenacity is worth more than a class higher IMO.

I’ve honestly only ever been asked if I have a degree, never the result. It’s served me well, she’ll be fine

She might have only been a few marks off a 2:2. She has a degree in something she found difficult but worked hard to achieve. That’s something to celebrate. If she was my daughter I would not be allowing her to talk her way out of her achievement here. She didn’t quit something that was hard and that is something to be proud of.

Future studies may be easier to complete if they are more suited to her skill set and interest.

Tell her she has learnt that she is someone who doesn’t quit when things are hard. Celebrate her achievement and let her overhear you talking about how proud uou are of her because what you think will mean the world .

This. Maybe it was the subject . Did she ever talk to her personal tutors on how to improve . For support.
dd2 got a 2:2 ( joint honours degree at RG uni) one of the subjects was just not for her and brought her grade down despite her best efforts ( should have dropped it en of first year but persevered). Then did her masters at an RG uni in a specialisation of the subject she did enjoy at uni and got the very first distinction on that course ( had been running 5 years ). Some subjects naturally suit some students better.

Your DD should have her transcript- it usually comes out at the same time as the classification. Did she apply for mitigating circumstances? If she didn’t and has evidence (e.g. from GP) she could possibly apply to repeat the final year. I’d get her to talk to her tutor in the first instance and seek their advice on next steps. I agree with PP. It’s hard to get a third these days and I suspect there’s something she’s not telling you but it possibly means she has skipped classes, missed deadlines or otherwise not studied effectively.,

I know two people who got thirds.

One didn't work particularly hard but started a business to do with his hobby and is now a millionaire.

The other just really struggled with his subject. He's such a lovely man. Became an excellent teacher who could really understand why his students might not understand. They love him.

I also know someone who was expecting a First but got a much lower grade initially because she'd argued in one essay against the theory the lecturer marking it supported. It was overruled on appeal and went back up to a First.

Given that OP posted 3 years ago, hopefully her daughter has since got over the initial disappointment and moved on.