Page 17 | How did DD get a third? Anyone who works at uni know?

greensofas · 2023-07-23T21:33:34+00:00

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?

goodbyestranger · 03/08/2023 10:23

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

goodbyestranger · 03/08/2023 10:26

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

goodbyestranger · 03/08/2023 10:28

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

mumindoghouse · 03/08/2023 20:18

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.

Walkaround · 04/08/2023 09:08

SarahAndQuack · 29/07/2023 13:32

It's not invariably about being articulate, though. Different subjects have different 'house styles'. It is important to learn to use these. Quite often, parents 'help' by telling their adult children what they think. Sometimes it's genuinely helpful (and correcting spelling/grammar properly would always be helpful). But quite often the issue isn't just whether a student can use 'their' and 'there' correctly. It's learning whether or not the convention is to use the passive or not, whether to write in the first person or not, etc. Students who don't pick up on these things often (IME) struggle with larger concepts, because they haven't understood the perspective they're meant to be writing from.

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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.

thatsn0tmyname · 04/08/2023 09:12

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

Walkaround · 04/08/2023 09:12

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.

DaisyWaldron · 04/08/2023 09:14

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

SarahAndQuack · 04/08/2023 10:14

Walkaround · 04/08/2023 09:08

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.

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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.

RampantIvy · 04/08/2023 10:52

Walkaround · 04/08/2023 09:12

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.

Absolutely this ^^

HedgehogB · 04/08/2023 11:02

KnickerlessParsons · 23/07/2023 22:50

No one ever asks what classification you got. Employers are just interested in whether you have a degree.

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.

Teateaandmoretea · 05/08/2023 08:59

HedgehogB · 04/08/2023 11:02

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.

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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.