The story of the man who graduated with a 2:2

OP

Original post by somethingbeautiful

Haha, yeah - I might just put Maximus on the cover. Or myself in armor with a sword :lol:

. Not really, but that movie genuinely was a turning point for me.

Agree with your overall point but just a note: you cannot do an apprenticeship if you have a degree.

Another thing to add to the list of things I can't do because of my grade

Reply 41

Tomifyy

Why do you need to go to a russell group to do a post-grad course? If you're so (pointlessly) set on going to a russell group, it might be worth emailing round universities you were planning on applying to now. There will be at least a few that haven't filled their places for Sept. and may be willing - considering you did pretty well in your final year - to allow you to jump on the course :smile:

Reply 42

_bob_

8

Just say positive bro! Things will get better.

Reply 43

skibured

Original post by TheMaster102

Another thing to add to the list of things I can't do because of my grade

Not all Masters are 2.1 (Many MANY arent, including STEM at RG)
Not all Grad Schemes are 2.1 (EY and Deloitte...)

Reply 44

somethingbeautiful

18

Original post by TheMaster102

Another thing to add to the list of things I can't do because of my grade

Join the club. Did you read my other post? I couldn't do an apprenticeship either. I couldn't go back to college. I couldn't get entry level work for a long time because I'm overqualified. I couldn't get on to grad schemes because we were in the middle of a recession. There was no point in me doing an MA in my degree subject or any other humanities/social science subject since it would not make a difference and only let me hide away from my problems for 12 months. By this year (3 years since graduating) I was no longer a 'recent graduate' as per most grad scheme requirements. I had as many options as you do now and I've sorted my life out.

Here are your choices:

Mope.
Look for schemes that take a 2.2: http://www.graduate-jobs.com/graduate-jobs-with-a-2-2
https://targetjobs.co.uk/employer-hubs/deloitte/413108-graduate-opportunities-in-technology - read this properly, your A-levels can compensate for your 2.2.
Look into the armed forces (might not be for you but research it)
Look into teaching (might not be for you but research it)
Look at working abroad
Look into TEFL (I have lot of friends doing this and they love it)
Look at retraining in the NHS
Look at setting up your own business https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/need_help/enterprise_programme/about_the_enterprise_programme/funding_for_business_start_ups.aspx

There are still options.

If I had felt sorry for myself I would still be unemployed and going nowhere and maybe it would have taken me 10 years to turn things around instead of 3 OR maybe it would have never changed for me.

So join the freaking club - there's thousands of us. You either sink or swim and ultimately you make that choice by whatever attitude you take towards your situation.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 45

Jegzi

2

I know more than one person with a 2:2 who are working graduate jobs in their field. I guess it really depends on the subject, but try not to have such a negative outlook on things. Keep trying.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 46

BerryLovx

Don't feel bad. That piece of paper doesn't define you or how intelligent you are. Stuff happens and it's rather unfortunate and in your case you tried your best. Don't let it weigh you down. You're already being negative by focusing on the things you can't do. Focus on the things you can! You're not restricted to your 2:2 grade. What about people that didn't go to university or dropped out e.g Bill Gate, Lord Sugar. Look at what they've become and you can become something brilliant too! You could set up your own company in whatever field you studied. It sounds like sappy motivational rubbish but I hope you get what I mean. Whatever you do, DO IT! JUST DO IT! DON'T LET YOUR DREAMS BE DREAMS! YESTERDAY YOU SAID TOMORROW! JUST DO IT! NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!

Reply 47

k3ro

16

You should look at the RG unis again. I saw quite a few courses that asked for a 2.2 or above. newcastle springs to mind.

I got a 2:2!

I just didn't realise how serious uni was...

Reply 50

Hevachan

15

I thought there was going to be a happy ending but oh... :frown:

Reply 51

vis break

3

no wonder u got a 2 dot dot 2. U didnt use the >
Learn to 4chan scrub

Reply 52

Blackstarr

20

I liked how well you described your situation and sorry for that 1% loss.

Reply 53

Blackstarr

20

Seriously though, its not the be all end all

Reply 54

Ninja_R

20

My friend got a 2.2 for her degree and she has gotten into RG unis for post grad. Notts take 2.2 (even for STEM). Apply before it's too late, you still have a chance. Also, some course deadlines are still open (31st August?). I applied end of July/start of August for postgrad and got into Sheffield , Manchester, UCL, Aston, and QMUL (with a 2.1 but I saw some courses that ask for 2.2 at some of those unis).

YOU CAN DO EEEET!!!!!!!! JUST DO IT. JUSTTT DOOO ITTTT. *flex*

Reply 55

somethingbeautiful

18

Original post by Ninja_R

My friend got a 2.2 for her degree and she has gotten into RG unis for post grad. Notts take 2.2 (even for STEM). Apply before it's too late, you still have a chance. Also, some course deadlines are still open (31st August?). I applied end of July/start of August for postgrad and got into Sheffield , Manchester, UCL, Aston, and QMUL (with a 2.1 but I saw some courses that ask for 2.2 at some of those unis).

YOU CAN DO EEEET!!!!!!!! JUST DO IT. JUSTTT DOOO ITTTT. *flex*

Why would someone with a 2.2 do post grad? How will that benefit them? They won't get PhD funding after an MA/Msc with a 2.2 so it can't be to go down the research/lecturing route (and even if they got funding there are barely any jobs afterwards, especially with a 2.2).

It can't be to improve their application to grad schemes since the masters won't override the 2.2.

All it will do is put them further in debt, prolong their situation and then leave them in a position in which they are massively over qualified and most likely inexperienced for entry level roles.

I wouldn't even recommend an MA/Msc to someone with a 2.1. Unless they're dead set on becoming a lecturer (in which case they better be academically exceptional and be able to find PhD funding) or have a ton of money floating around and just fancy learning for another year. A masters is pointless and actually detrimental to job applications in most cases UNLESS you do a vocational masters such as library science -problem is that the job market for the useful ones are over saturated and in terms of library science - it's more about work experience than a masters in terms of securing a job (as with most things).

In short, a masters won't fix things. In most cases, you're just adding to your problems if you do a masters with a 2.2.

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Reply 56

TheMaster102

OP

10

Original post by somethingbeautiful

Why would someone with a 2.2 do post grad? How will that benefit them? They won't get PhD funding after an MA/Msc with a 2.2 so it can't be to go down the research/lecturing route (and even if they got funding there are barely any jobs afterwards, especially with a 2.2).

It can't be to improve their application to grad schemes since the masters won't override the 2.2.

All it will do is put them further in debt, prolong their situation and then leave them in a position in which they are massively over qualified and most likely inexperienced for entry level roles.

I wouldn't even recommend an MA/Msc to someone with a 2.1. Unless they're dead set on becoming a lecturer (in which case they better be academically exceptional and be able to find PhD funding) or have a ton of money floating around and just fancy learning for another year. A masters is pointless and actually detrimental to job applications in most cases UNLESS you do a vocational masters such as library science -problem is that the job market for the useful ones are over saturated and in terms of library science - it's more about work experience than a masters in terms of securing a job (as with most things).

In short, a masters won't fix things. In most cases, you're just adding to your problems if you do a masters with a 2.2.

Posted from TSR Mobile

That is a popular thought however I think a masters is to really prove to the world I am capable, I don't want this 2:2 to define my ultimate academic achievement.

It's a disgrace and we all know it, it's not something to be proud of at all and I have been in education almost all my life, and what do I have to show for it in the end? a 2:2 that highlights me as lazy? a fool?

no, **** that. That's why I feel in a way i HAVE to do a masters, it's not even about employability, it's just so that I can feel my education was worth something and I can have a qualification I am proud of, I am not proud of my degree, I am ashamed and believe me it's a horrible feeling especially when you worked hard and truly did deserve a good grade, I really feel that I did, my third year average was close to 70%, i was held back by my poor grades in second year.

I've gone through so much and have nothing to show for it, I know it's a lot more debt and I know it's a lot of effort, but to hell with it, even if it doesn't remove the stain that is my 2:2 if I can get a distinction in my masters I will be proud, and maybe even leave my BSc. out of my CV altogether.

Reply 57

Ninja_R

20

Original post by somethingbeautiful

Why would someone with a 2.2 do post grad? How will that benefit them?
Posted from TSR Mobile

It can give them an opportunity to specialise in a subject of interest. The masters can give them more experience in the said subject (for example MRes involving loads of research despite being advertised as taught). This is particularly true for science graduate looking for PhD's, as an MSc/MRes gives them more lab experience, putting them ahead of BSc graduates.

Reply 58

TheMaster102

OP

10

Original post by Tomifyy

Why do you need to go to a russell group to do a post-grad course? If you're so (pointlessly) set on going to a russell group, it might be worth emailing round universities you were planning on applying to now. There will be at least a few that haven't filled their places for Sept. and may be willing - considering you did pretty well in your final year - to allow you to jump on the course :smile:

Because I live in london, i can live rent free here which will keep my masters costs really down, the uni's in london are either top 10 or bottom 100, they're either really good or really poor.

I didn't go to a russel group university, but I went to a university that was in the topish tier who are sort of "trying to be a russell group university" the culture of the university I went to was brutal, I know many people who were thrown out of the university for failing their exams, they were given one chance and if they failed the resit they were out.

My university had a very mean and cruel vibe about it in terms of how it treated it's students, it's important I go to a good university because my girlfriend goes to one of the top 5 universities and they treat their students MUCH better, which in my opinion is one of the reasons they're at the top in the first place.

it's important to me I go to a good university, I don't want the same experience. There are many factors that resulted in my poor grade including my own personal problems, but at the end of the day I was boarderline on a 2:1, many university calculators result in a score of 2:1 (I've used many) however the examiners decide with their discresion what a student "deserves"

They chose 2:2 for me, and have rejected my appeal callously, despite the fact I was awarded firsts, voted as amoung the best dissertations and projects in the year and achieved a strong 2:1 in my final year.

I feel I have been treated terribly by my university and have spent a lot of money there, this is a mistake I made. Probably one of the worst I've ever made in my life, and one I will probably regret, I don't want to wallow in despair, it is hard not too, but I am trying to get over it, it's been months and I still have outbursts of rage, sadness and just plain depression :/