DS got a third after struggling at uni, how limiting is it?

[Misthios]

DS started uni in 2021 and for the first year his studies were entirely online. DS has significant challenges with neurodiversity - properly diagnosed dyspraxia and ADD, almost certainly autism too. His mental health was very poor and I was very pleased he was living here at home as he simply would not have coped otherwise. He finally crashed and burned after his third year (4 year degrees in Scotland) and was placed in academic suspension for a year. We had the most awful year with him trying to get him formally assessed and medicated for his ADD, he started on anti depressants, found a tutor to help in the subject he struggled with, and finally got through and into his final year.

This year has also been a struggle, the support from uni is just not there, funding in Scottish unis is a massive issue and he was not having check ins with tutors or disability support or anything. It was all very hard for him but long story short he has had his degree results today and got a third.

He is very upset. We have told him how proud we are of him for sticking at it and going back to finish his degree and the class of thart degree doesn't matter. He does not want a high flying job. He just wants to work in a lab. I am just worried that with the very competitive jobs market that he is going to struggle to get anything and will end up thinking that uni was a waste of time.

And I thought the pre-school years were the hard ones.

Depends what he wants to do. I won't lie, a third is almost worse than no degree.

This can’t have been a surprise though, unless he was borderline for a 2:2 in which case can he appeal? I knew by the start of my final year that I was going to get either a 2:1 or 2:2 just by how many assignments I’d completed at what grades by that point.

What are his other qualifications like?

Does he have any work experience in the area he is looking at?

Does he have the option to retake any of the modules and possibly increase the grade? DS got a 3rd, retook and ended with a 2.2.
It hasn't held him back AT ALL.
He is probably a different personality to your son, but he has never not got a job he has interviewed for. Including ones that ask for a 2.1
He's 31 now, so no one is interested in his degree classification nowadays, just his track record.

You are right to be proud of him and it’s still a great achievement especially given all his struggles . Previous poster saying it’s worse than no degree is not true and frankly a horrible thing to say. Focus on next steps and look at what jobs he’s interested in. I’m sure he’ll find a route that works for him . He has persevered and succeeded, that is something.

We had hoped he'd scrape a 2:2. I don't think he wants to go down the appeal route, he's just glad it's all over, which I understand. Uni has not been a pleasant time for him, academically or socially. I am also not sure whether failling a whole year means his total grade was capped. But anyway. He has a BSc (Hons) which is something, despite the "helpful" feedback that no degree at all is a better outcome.

what were his plans anyway?

It isn’t always worse than no degree! In context, shows a lot of positive traits - eg a family member lost their parent literally as they were about to start their degree (a fortnight before). They completed the degree with a 3rd which showed so much determination (as in your DS’s case)
As they’d also been active in some other activities, their cv focused on those, too.
Obviously job hunting is tough for everyone atm, OP, so your DS needs to relax a little, lower their expectations and find ways to enrich their own cv. Volunteering, community & so many more activities are the way forward for now.

Tbh I think you have to manage your expectations.

Getting a job after uni was always hard and it’s even harder now. I got a 2:1 and never used my degree and that was 10 years ago.

At least now everyone is in the same boat but I would be explaining that it’s very hard to get the job you want after uni so he might have to go for jobs he doesn’t really want.

Straight A student at school.

No work relevant work experience, but not for the want of trying. Has been involved in a science-related extra curricular over the last couple of years. Has good skills in things like data and IT/programming. Driving licence.

Is currently applying for anything and everything lab-related, things which require A-levels/Highers as well as HND, HNC or degree level qualifications. Also things like call centre work to tide him over.

Also I have a relative that got a third and now earns 6 figures so certainly didn’t limit him at all .

What subject? You say he wants to work in a lab - maybe look at technician roles? Experience with a good reference would be very useful - did he work in a lab for his dissertation?

How are his social skills? A lack of social skills might hold him back more than grades IMO.

He might find it a snag if he wants to do a Masters Degree at any point (or a PGCE), but he has passed - that's a success!

He really wants to work in a laboratory. Doesn't really matter what - pharmaceuticals, drug development, sample processing, anything. He is not motivated by money and does not have an expensive lifestyle. Agree that finishing shows resilience and determination and we have said this to him!

Sorry cross post with your last post. He sounds very motivated, I really hope he finds something soon. If he has evidence of data / IT ability, he could apply to entry or training roles in those fields as well. Maybe even level 3 apprenticeships and then work your way up - having a degree may then become relevant / useful for progression at some point together with the experience regardless of classification.

Most graduate scenes are looking for first or 2:1 but if entry level jobs are available and he is good at interviews it shouldn’t be an issue.

Well done on your boy @Misthios, ge has overcame massive struggles with your help, so well done you too
💐💐

No intentions of doing either! I think the academic experience has scarred him for life!

And yes, social skills are an issue. He is a lovely lad but is not good with social cues but is very comfortable when he finds his tribe. He needs structured work and expecations which is why he is looking at lab work which is very process led, or something like call centre.

My DH got a 3rd in engineering. He just put that he had a BSc in xxxx Engineering on his CV . He started in an entry level low paid job in software testing and has worked his way up, moved companies every 2-4 years and earns well.

If your son is prepared to work his way up, he should be ok. Depending on the work he wants, I'd strongly recommend temping, taking temporary contracts and relevant volunteering for experience. He needs to dive in.

Maybe also look at food technologist or quality control. They work in a lab as well, though not pharmaceuticals related, obviously. I'm not familiar with this field but keep reading that it is a growth area. There are also level 3 apprenticeships in this area - no idea how competitive these are, but his A-levels are very good and presumably in the right subject (biology, chemistry).

Not A levels, Scottish Highers. Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Computing plus French.

He could make some contacts at your local NHS diagnostics lab / hospital perhaps? Maybe a chat or two with someone there could give some pointers, and then perhaps applying for entry level jobs? Good luck to him, he's already done really well finishing his degree.

My brother got a third in his degree and appealed it as he has diagnosed dyslexia (severe) and the university had committed to a support plan which they didn’t follow through on. They adjusted it to a 2:2.

Hi, his best bet would be to sign up to a lab staff contract agency (eg. SRG) - plenty of analytical lab positions out there. He should be able to get an entry level placement, then with 18 months experience under his belt he will be fine. Once you have some experience, no one cares about the degree class.

He stuck at it and got a degree. Far better than showing no resilience and dropping out.