Those of you with a degree. Does it matter what grade you have? 1st, 2:1, 2:2 or a 3rd?

[WallOfSilence]

I am just wondering as when I started 3 years ago, a mature student with a very young family I knew I wouldn't get a 1st as I hadn't all time & energy it required of me. However I have enjoyed doing my degree & have today got some results in.

I finish in May & I have another set of exams & a dissertation to have done by then.

My average today is 52.. a 2:2. I would give anything for a 2:1 even.. but that's 8 more marks I need & I'm not sure how to do this in the next semester without throwing my life under a train & locking myself in the attic like a hermit.

Anyway, those of you who have graduated, did it matter what grade you got? Were you just happy to have gained a degree or were you disappointed if you didn't get a 1st class?

I am gutted tbh... I know I have worked hard and I also know I can put my all into this next term.. but will it be enough?

Do any of you know anyone who pulled it back in the last semester?

I got a First and no bugger has ever, EVER asked.

Unless you want to get a scholarship for a further degree, I don't think it makes any difference.

It mattered to me because I wanted to do a PhD straight after which I did.

A desmond or a 2:1 won't make diddly squit difference to anything! To employers you have a degree, that's all that matters. And as an extra you've done it part time on top of domestic responsibilities - THAT's what'll make the difference, not a few %points. If you want to do a PG course a 2:2 should be fine particularly as you are mature. Maybe if you'd just left uni as a 21 year old another uni may insist on at least a 2:1, but not as a mture student. And I speak as one who knows the system..... What's your degree in and where are you doing it (if you don't mind saying!)

Hey, morningpaper, what did you get in your degree?

Sorry... forgot the

All the best people got a desmond

oh Ellbell hi

Hmm what? Oh I got a first

HAHAHHAHAHAHA SUCKERS

What grade was that Mornin' ? Speak up

oh sorry did I not mention it

I got A First

So, are you v. clever or did you not have a boyfriend

It mattered for me when I applied to an accountancy firm to do ACA exams. They'd only take people who had firsts or 2:1s.

Depends how you want to use your degree I guess.

Hey everyone.

Thanks for all the replies, they've made great reading!

Morningpaper you clever arselicker girl!!

I have spent all day trying to convince some lazy gits of 17yr olds that they want to come to my university... I was put in charge of 3 of them & only left one behind one of them decided not to come back for tea!

I'd rather not say what uni I am at as I did send a link from here to my FANTASTIC (incase she's reading!) dissertation supervisor as she's got 2 kids & a great personality... I thought she's like it here... she seemed to already know about it anyway, so she may be here & I don't want her to know how rude I am!

I am making an appointment to see my course co-ordinator a day next week, I want him to explain to me when exactly I have to do to pull it up to a 2.1 & see if sucking him off he can give me any idea about whether or not I might be considered for their MA course.

Hadn't thought about a PGCE, I don't think teaching is for me. I'm not generally a liker of other people's kids. Quite often it bothers me to like my own.

Morningpaper.. did you really?

I think mine is gay

Right, well, had a chat with my course co-ordinator today.

He thinks I can pull this one up to a 2.1

He give me loads of advice re: my dissertation!

Thanks to you ladies who give me a boost of confidence too!

You Go girl I guess it depends on the subject, but in our department you could only do PhD with a 2:1 and certain masters degrees with a 2:1 but you could do a masters on a 2:2 no problem and then use that to move onto the PhD, my friend did that, he is FAR brighter than i am. Also, once you do your masters, no one will give a hoot what class degree you have. Which really grates my carrot

Agree that is really good idea to put everything you can into the coursework as it takes the pressure off when it comes to the exam hall. Use your tutor to bounce ideas off re your dissertation, i remember my undergrad project supervisor practically re-writing mine for me Hmmmm, You are going to have to name change again i think, cos if i see you on here too much again im going to nag your arse off

One of the things a friend and I used to do was (on account of masses of deadlines) was work out what proportion of the degree mark each peice was worth (Sad i know, but we would sit there drinking coffee with our calculators working out if something was worth 0.9 or 2% of the degree) and prioritise the amount of work we would put into each bit of coursework (he got a first - sad git!!).

My word, i do remember being stressed like noones business when i was doing my exams, but it is a sort of positive stress. My degree was very fact based which made the exams a little easier because so long as you could vomit the facts onto the page in some sort of coherant manner you were home and dry.

Another thing worth bearing in mind - its really common for students to go up a class in the final year.

Yay... that sounds great WoS. Go for it.

(I am still a bluestocking, btw - just got fed up of having such a long name!)

Ok. Who is Desmond and what has he to do with academia?

ASAP please. I can't go to bed until I know.

I am on 4th year of OU degree (fuck knows what level I'll end up with.. still too far away from graduation to care) and terminology STILL keeps biting me on the arse.

And yes Ellbell I still blame YOU! [points] finger]

What's with the blue stocking? More baffling terminology??!

Desmond Tutu = two two.
hence Desmond.

Have you been up all night?

Ah of course. Thank you Kathy

Yes I have indeed been up all night; said I couldn't go to bed until I knew!

LOL, Shiny. It is, indeed, all my fault. But you're loving it really, I know you are! And when you graduate, I'll be there with the champagne and chocolates...

I was briefly a bluestocking because someone started a thread asking if you'd consider it an insult if someone called you one, and I was trying to reclaim the term as something positive. But I got bored of having such a long name, so I've gone back to being Ellbell again.

I got a first class degree in English/Pyschology - I started when my ds was just 4 and did it over 3 years. It was extremely difficult as I also had about 90 minutes travelling a day, but it really meant something to me as a personal achievement. I am the type of person who, if I know I am able to do something, will damn well break my back to do it! In terms of employment - I'm now a teacher, and the PGCE required a 2:1 - most of the people on the course had this. I also feel that at some point in the future, I would like to go on to a Phd and know that a First will stand me in good stead.

Good luck with your degree!

I got a 2:2 with an overall percentage of 59% - story of my life!

I sat my finals 8 months pregnant with my eldest son. I was determined not to let this have an effect and worked harder in year 3 than year 2. At the time my family said I should appeal to get my 2:1 based on being pregnant (was quite ill for first 16 weeks of pregnancy). But I had a new baby that meant everything to me and my degree class seemed very unimportant at the time. I also postponed my PGCE as I didn't feel able to commit to it with a new baby.

Anyway, 8 years later I am finally doing my PGCE (I got on with a 2:2 but applied quite late). I do regret just missing out on a 2:1 especially as my sister - who is considered less capable scraped a 2:1. As for the PGCE, I am surrounded by other student teachers who got secure 2:1s and firsts but are really struggling on the PGCE. Sometimes experience counts for more than academic excellence.

I got a First and I have to say it has been pretty irrelevant for years now - I can't see potential employers being that fussed 10 years + after graduation. I was also unencumbered by any family responsibilities and with an agile brain, long since gone