Should I transfer to an easier University to get a first/ 2.1 or stay and get a third

What on earth are you on about? I entered with a BA, I graduated after 3 years of the Cambridge course, therefore putting me on an equal footing with the UGs going into the fourth year of their MSci. I had exactly the same year as them except I sat an extra module, on top of a longer project and lit review. You can argue that being good at projects stood me in good stead for an MSc, except that my original point was entirely about exams (my marks in project work actually went down a bit). I went from a 55% average in exams to an 85% average from my third to fourth year after switching unis, and comparing this to not just the MSc students but also the MSci students who sat the same exams, put me near the top of the pile.



Absolutely, in my second year Cambridge set some pretty easy exams...but despite getting 70% in raw marks, my grade was drastically reduced to a 2.2 due to scaling.

When people complained that after despite having revised hard and done well at the exams, the department sent around an email that contained this:

Leaving just under half the year with a 2.2 despite their calibre is pretty unjust and would not happen anywhere else.

I love despite the evidence that those of us studying at the top uni's are saying... I get negged for saying the oxbridge is harder...

Don't dispute the normal distribution stuff either... Say if cambridge happen to set a slightly easier exam... It can have devastating effects if too many people beat you in the exam as you just get normalised out of the exam....

tbh i think you get negged when you end posts 'lool'... It doesn't really make you come across as the high powered oxbridge intellectual i'm sure you are

Well the problems that you deal with are not that difficult to understand compared to maths and physics - strictly academic... please... you get credits for talking about business management and other crap

you wouldn't be taken on for a hard science or other competitive phd at oxbridge with a 2.2 undergrad from oxbridge (look at the entry requirements) - furthermore 4th year science is not easier than 1st 2nd and 3rd year.. Msc is not easier than Bsc... and PhD certainly isn't.

It's so obvious it goes without saying.

I'm really confused as to how the grading works, since obviously grades aren't equivilent from University to University (a first at UCL is much stronger than a first at Manchester Met, for example).

So my dillema is such: I am struggling at a top 5 University on one of the University's highest ranked courses (Maths based course). My friend, who is at Birmingham, is seemingly breezing through his Maths degree with maximum marks. However, I performed better than he did at Maths at A-Level.

So what do I do? Do I swap to an 'easier' University and achieve a first or a 2:1, or struggle here and potentially get a third? I read all these things about employers not even considering candidates with lower than a 2.1, so considering that even a 2.2 would be a success for me here, what would be the best thing to do?

You shouldn't believe this: it's a self-perpetuating myth. Should you come to accept it then you're doomed fo' sho'. Don't capitulate and go 'woe is me' thinking you haven't been gifted the gene for understanding δ-ε proofs. They're weird to everyone at first, and if they're not weird to someone it's because they've acquired some familiarity with them, and you need to do that too. However, the people doing well on your course will likely do plenty of maths, and approach their work with an ebullience that will be difficult to match if your primary interest in maths is to get the $$$$$. This issue may persist should you transfer elsewhere: so why not consider a change of course?

I feel your pain. I am struggling through my fourth year of Engineering at Cambridge. I have a friend who I beat consistently on every single exam that we ever sat, he did Engineering elsewhere, got a first and got job offers from three of the most desirable engineering firms in the country.

I am the only one that I know of from back home who got less than a 2:1 in their degree. Including people who got Bs and Cs at A level.

One of my close friends went to a top 10 university to do Chemistry. He got a 2:2 in the first year and failed the second year. He then dropped out, went to a lower ranked university and got a 2:1 in the end. He's now doing a PhD. Leaving his university was unquestionably the right decision.

I think that people who claim that all courses are the same difficulty are living in a dream world. Top universities push their students, that's why they are good universities. Oxbridge has some very hard courses, including my Engineering course. But then, a lot of that is due to the students having to be self-motivated (contact time is in small groups, but limited) and the pathetically short terms. And of course the competitive marking referred to above.

I think that the key thing to ask is whether you enjoy your time at university. If you love where you are and what you do outside of academic work then I would consider staying. But if you don't much enjoy the social side of things then you would be better to find somewhere else. I love being at Cambridge, which is why (aside from extreme stubbornness) I am still here. If I didn't then I would leave, and I know of three people who have dropped out.

Oh, and employees DO reject people without interview on a 2:2. Not all the time, but some of the time. And many of the graduate training programmes are 2:1 and above only. Getting a 2:2 is not a good thing, I know this to my cost.

p.s. Having said that, I know someone who got a 2:2 and a Pass in his masters who is currently doing a PhD at Cambridge. Cambridge has a bias towards ex-Cambridge students, because they know that they can survive the experience.

I think it's worth noting that the course I would most likely change to, something to do with graphic design, is not offered by Warwick.

Ah right. Now that is a different question. Why is this? Is it because you think it will be easier than Maths? Or because it is what you love?

I did Engineering at university because I thought that a degree was a good thing and because I wanted to get a job. Now I don't want to be an Engineer and can't find a job anyway. Do what you really love. There is no point doing anything else. I wish I had.

I'm really confused as to how the grading works, since obviously grades aren't equivilent from University to University (a first at UCL is much stronger than a first at Manchester Met, for example).

So my dillema is such: I am struggling at a top 5 University on one of the University's highest ranked courses (Maths based course). My friend, who is at Birmingham, is seemingly breezing through his Maths degree with maximum marks. However, I performed better than he did at Maths at A-Level.

So what do I do? Do I swap to an 'easier' University and achieve a first or a 2:1, or struggle here and potentially get a third? I read all these things about employers not even considering candidates with lower than a 2.1, so considering that even a 2.2 would be a success for me here, what would be the best thing to do?

I'm really confused as to how the grading works, since obviously grades aren't equivilent from University to University (a first at UCL is much stronger than a first at Manchester Met, for example).

So my dillema is such: I am struggling at a top 5 University on one of the University's highest ranked courses (Maths based course). My friend, who is at Birmingham, is seemingly breezing through his Maths degree with maximum marks. However, I performed better than he did at Maths at A-Level.

So what do I do? Do I swap to an 'easier' University and achieve a first or a 2:1, or struggle here and potentially get a third? I read all these things about employers not even considering candidates with lower than a 2.1, so considering that even a 2.2 would be a success for me here, what would be the best thing to do?

Ah right. Now that is a different question. Why is this? Is it because you think it will be easier than Maths? Or because it is what you love?

I did Engineering at university because I thought that a degree was a good thing and because I wanted to get a job. Now I don't want to be an Engineer and can't find a job anyway. Do what you really love. There is no point doing anything else. I wish I had.

I'm really confused as to how the grading works, since obviously grades aren't equivilent from University to University (a first at UCL is much stronger than a first at Manchester Met, for example).

So my dillema is such: I am struggling at a top 5 University on one of the University's highest ranked courses (Maths based course). My friend, who is at Birmingham, is seemingly breezing through his Maths degree with maximum marks. However, I performed better than he did at Maths at A-Level.

So what do I do? Do I swap to an 'easier' University and achieve a first or a 2:1, or struggle here and potentially get a third? I read all these things about employers not even considering candidates with lower than a 2.1, so considering that even a 2.2 would be a success for me here, what would be the best thing to do?

What year are you in?

Hi, i think you should transfer as its no good doing a degree thats stressful. Studying should be enjoyable not stressful and from what i hear birmingham is a great university dont think of it as going down a notch think of it as being able to achive more, as im quite sure you'd be getting better marks if you where doing a degree that runs at your type of pace . Also you already have a friend at that uni who can help you get seteled in if needs be . Sometimes top unis really through you in at the deep end as they just assume that seen as your going to their top uni you must really love maths and know everything about it, but some people dont and find the degree's going to fast . You've got nothing to be ashamed of whatever decision you make , maybe you couldhave a word with your lecturer at the top uni and ask them to recomend some books that would help you keep up with the studies, if you wanted to of course. I know all this because my father is a retired head lecturer of marketing and buusiness studies , take care xxx

Another thing I've hated here is that we finished lectures on NEW MATERIAL on Friday. My first proper exam is in 2 days. No study leave before exams. It takes motivated individuals to get legit revision done alongside a lectures on new modules.

First

I think it's worth noting that the course I would most likely change to, something to do with graphic design, is not offered by Warwick.

In which case what was your result in Foundations/Analysis I? First year should be straightforward for most people, and if you really are struggling then fair enough, switch. I won't lie... year 2 only gets harder. And some of the stuff will come up in virtually every module. Also just because people seem to be coping fine with material doesn't mean they are.

But bear in mind
a) The maths department don't really care how well you do in first year, yes it counts, but getting over 40% is enough to ensure you progress to the second year. Also don't worry too much about resits, I thought I'd completely failed a couple modules, but turns out I didn't do too badly in them. Lots of people resit, and I only know of one person who was actually kicked out.

b) Warwick is also very flexible. You can reduce the maths load quite significantly and take up languages (Level 1 languages are really easy CATS). Business studies modules, finance/compsci/econ/physics etc.

EDIT: And what's the module you just finished on Friday. AFAIK only Number Theory and Experimental Maths run in term 3 for first years. Number theory is a self study module, so you shouldn't really take it unless you are prepared to, well, self study. And EM is 100% lab reports, so although it takes away time from revision, you've got some CATS in the bag, which is only a good thing.