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what can you do with a 3rd class degree?

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A 3rd is still a pass. Many, many people fail. Just look at the failure rates on some website. Quite a few of these people still end up becoming successful. I'm sure a 3rd after your three years at uni will stand you in a better (albeit marginal) position than many others who go onto become successful.
Be optimistic and do not be afraid to try and use a 3rd classification to get you a job, just don't rely on it. This also applies to people getting a 1st from Oxbridge.

Reply 41

TheCareersGuy

A degree grade is one thing but employers are also interested in more. What skills did you learn/develop whilst you were there?

Reply 42

Quady

Original post by Nia Okz

A little pick me up:

My mum studied part time, with 3 kids and a full time job and a part time job - as a result of that and a few other things going on in her life, she got a third. She's currently doing a masters at kingston uni.The person that interviewed her valued her determination and experience in the field. She too lacked confidence because she got a third and English isn't her first language but we pushed her to apply and as a result shes halfway through her masters and her grades are good.

Basically - Not saying it'll be easy, but whatever you want to do, don't lose hope. Persevere.

Is she self funding the masters?

Reply 43

TheCareersGuy

Original post by Quady

Is she self funding the masters?

Inspiring stuff.

Reply 44

Quady

Original post by TheCareersGuy

Inspiring stuff.

I didnt find it too inspiring.

The question of the thread is what can you do with a third.

The poster said 'more study' which is not quite what the OP meant. They also said how the interview really helped, I suspect it was the income stream.

Reply 45

Elisabetev

Hey! Not really the perfect place to ask this but I guess all of you can help me out. I'm just wondering... I did not study in the UK but I'm looking into graduate jobs and I honestly cannot find a conversion table for grades in other countries vs. grades in the UK (there are some out there, but on some I have a 2:1, others I have a 2:2) So for example, a 2:1, a 2:2 or a third stand for what percentage exactly? How do you calculate your final grade?

Hope this makes sense :smile:

Reply 46

Emememily733

Original post by maryamzahid

as the title says. Usually people prefer at least a 2:1 or 2:2 in a degree so what can you do if you get the lowest grade?

I actually know someone who failed uni, as in, did so badly in their second year that they couldn't continue.. that's worse than a 3rd..

Reply 47

maryamzahid

Original post by Emememily733

I actually know someone who failed uni, as in, did so badly in their second year that they couldn't continue.. that's worse than a 3rd..

ouch and they paid 9k a year for that? :frown:

Reply 48

TheBallWinner

If you haven't started Uni yet, don't even think about getting lower than a 2:1...

Reply 49

iloveteddy14

Really anyone who gets a 3rd should really of considered non academic courses or simply get a job

Nightworld1066

Reply 50

mostcivilised

Original post by maryamzahid

as the title says. Usually people prefer at least a 2:1 or 2:2 in a degree so what can you do if you get the lowest grade?

Not much. Most employers will conclude that you are either not very clever, or lazy

Reply 51

mostcivilised

Original post by RVNmax

A 3rd is still a pass. Many, many people fail

It's far from "many, many people" who fail. It's more like 15% fail.

Most employers will conclude you are stupid or lazy.

Now Christopher Hitchens got a 3rd class degree, but most people aren't Christopher Hitchens

Reply 52

Quady

Original post by iloveteddy14

Really anyone who gets a 3rd should really of considered non academic courses or simply get a job

Nightworld1066

I know someone who got one and is about to get a PhD in chemistry from Bristol.

Reply 53

maryamzahid

Original post by mostcivilised

Not much. Most employers will conclude that you are either not very clever, or lazy

can you explain to the employers why you got that classification if you have mitigating circumstances?

Reply 54

mostcivilised

Original post by maryamzahid

can you explain to the employers why you got that classification if you have mitigating circumstances?

What are your mitigating circumstances? Your mitigating circumstances should have been taken into account when you were doing your degree so you were able to resit, etc

Reply 55

maryamzahid

Original post by mostcivilised

What are your mitigating circumstances? Your mitigating circumstances should have been taken into account when you were doing your degree so you were able to resit, etc

no, I don't even go uni yet, it was a general question (sorry should have made it clearer), but I do have some people say that they will explain why they got that degree classification to their employers to get a job.

Reply 56

mostcivilised

Original post by maryamzahid

It's a difficult proposition. If someone was sick during a term, they should get resits so they are not disadvantaged. So overall, proferring mitigating circumstances as an excuse for a particular degree classification often won't cut it.

And many firms, when they are recruiting, have a specific degree class cut-off, so your reason for getting a third is completely irrelevant to them. If you didn't get a 2:1 or 1st, you won't get an interview

Reply 57

maryamzahid

Original post by mostcivilised

its a tough life aint it?

Reply 58

RVNmax

Original post by mostcivilised

Well I don't know the exact figures. I would have thought a lower amount would have failed their degree (as in ordinary degree), but a much higher amount if you include all those who dropped out/failed to get even an ordinary degree.

Nevertheless, 15% is quite a lot. If we include 3rd classifications in that I think it's safe to say that there are plenty of people each year who in at least as bad of a position as the OP describes. A lot of these people still go and achieve something in their lives. Although, as I said before, it is unlikely the 3rd class degree will be taking them far. But, it's certainly nothing to be embarrassed about.