The Student Room Group

Does a first class degree still have the wow factor?

Scroll to see replies

Reply 20
Avatar for SunderX
SunderX
14
Original post by abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz

Original post by abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
that's because real life =/= reading books, which is what a first, or any degree for that matter, is

only reason employers use degree classifications to sift out candidates is because the better way of interviewing everyone is just too time consuming - sorting by degree classification is just a lazy method of selecting the best of the remaining


I agree that degree /= real-life, and that in general, most employers are looking to see whether you acquired the life skills of going to university rather than the contents of the course itself. This essentially means time-management, diligence, a certain creativity and intelligence.

That said, in particular areas of technology (elite software dev, industrial research, specialist software boutiques, quants), a First will get you further than a 2.i. Of course, these are precisely the areas I'm not applying for :tongue:.
Reply 21
Avatar for ChemiEng
ChemiEng
7
I don't think it makes much different TBH, I know a lot of idiots who got 1sts, and quite a few geniuses that got 2:2's.

It's not a great way to filter candiates, but I guess it's all to do with saving time.
Reply 22
Avatar for chrislpp
chrislpp
15
Original post by johndoranglasgow
Yeah, I'm really not interested that you go to Durham but thanks for that.
Typically, as the subject becomes harder, the percentage of students achieving a first goes down.


Bare in mind that I never said the majority, only "many" and that my argument was not that all firsts go to graduates of what many consider to be easier subjects, simply that some do and this increases the value of firsts in more academic disciplines.
The difference between creative arts and the average is rather high.

P.S. Sorry my stats are a little out of date and contain a tad too much detail, best I could do.


Grade inflation innit.

But I'm going to get negged because obviously peolpe are getting smarter and the kids arguing against that would like to believe they're the smartest generation yet...

sigh
I don't think having a degree carries the same weight. Before, only the best would graduate from universities, and they'd get all the high paying jobs. Then when everyone caught on, and started taking loans to go to uni, it's become so much more than competition for a first. You need to show interesting hobbies, and creative skills. But at the same time employers and universities are looking at students that have been told 'you need to go and help the disable/help in a charity shop/do something abroad'. It seems as if all the students are exactly the same.

If you get what I mean :rolleyes:
Original post by SunderX
I agree that degree /= real-life, and that in general, most employers are looking to see whether you acquired the life skills of going to university rather than the contents of the course itself. This essentially means time-management, diligence, a certain creativity and intelligence.

i hear that argument day in and day out and i don't, for a second, buy it

time-management - how? why do you need to gain a 1st to gain this? let alone go to uni
diligence - same as above
creativity - if anything, uni stiffles creativity
intelligence - passing exams is all but a memory test, it does not for a second show any intelligence.
Original post by chrislpp
Grade inflation innit.

But I'm going to get negged because obviously peolpe are getting smarter and the kids arguing against that would like to believe they're the smartest generation yet...

sigh


no you're going to get negged because you brought attention to it
Of course, a first class degree or distinction is very impressive and better demonstrates qualities such as intelligence, hard work, time management (if they take part in activities beyond studying all of the time) and prioritisation (e.g. making sure you know the material that is going to get you the marks in the exams rather than taking a scatter gun approach and learning a bit about everything) than a 2:1 or a 2:2.

However, those qualities are just some of the many that employers typically look for. Team working, leadership and social skills are all also important and part of the package that employers look for.

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Latest

Trending

Trending

Articles for you