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Failed 1st year twice.......possible to get a good career doing another degree?

I would like to study Civil Engineering.
(edited 11 years ago)

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Reply 1
I think that sounds like a good plan - could you get any other work experience to strengthen your application?
Reply 2
Sounds like you got everything sorted out mate, the best of luck to you.
Don't go to a polytechnic university try a red brick university such as Lancaster university . Polytechnic institutions are not as good as red brick university's


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Reply 4
Thank you guys for your comments! I could possibly do some uni voluntary work experience to increase my employability prospects.

I just wanted to know if I follow the path:

Pass all year at uni and gain a 2.1 in Civil Engineering with accreditations, gain some relevant work experience, join good clubs and socieities whether this will 'scrape off' or 'mitigate' the failed start of 2 years? Will employers look at me differently?

I don't think I can get into a red brick since I failed my first year twice!
(edited 11 years ago)
If you failed your first year twice, why do you think you'd suddenly do a lot better in another course?
Reply 6
Original post by Dan Richardson
Don't go to a polytechnic university try a red brick university such as Lancaster university . Polytechnic institutions are not as good as red brick university's


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I agree with everything in your statement other than the fact that Lancaster isn't a red-brick university. It's a great university don't get me wrong it's just redbrick usually refers to the old civic universities like Manchester, Bristol, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds and Newcastle oh and Sheffield too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redbrick_universities
(edited 11 years ago)
Reply 7
I'm taking time out and I will have to explain what I will do different this time around. I'm going to take relevant courses (Access) to become qualified in the subject to study and I have a plan. I'm not going back straight away, I'm going back after 2 years.
(edited 11 years ago)
Reply 8
Original post by Dan Richardson
Don't go to a polytechnic university try a red brick university such as Lancaster university . Polytechnic institutions are not as good as red brick university's


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Lol, tell that to the hundreds of unis that specialise as a poly... Such as Oxford Brooke's for business etc.
Pretentious views, generally red bricks are better but depends strongly on the Uni.


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Reply 9
Original post by Ivy91
Thank you guys for your comments! I could possibly do some uni voluntary work experience to increase my employability prospects.

I just wanted to know if I follow the path:

Pass all year at uni and gain a 2.1 in Civil Engineering with accreditations, gain some relevant work experience, join good clubs and socieities whether this will 'scrape off' or 'mitigate' the failed start of 2 years? Will employers look at me differently?

I don't think I can get into a red brick since I failed my first year twice!


I don't think it's a question of the universities looking upon it negatively or employers but a moe a question of why you failed twice at university and whether or not you offer a strong case as to why the same wouldn't happen for a third time. It's not a case of admissions tutors being unecesssarily harsh but making sure they are making the right decision not just for their department but also for you.

I can't comment on whether or not going to a former polytechnic would be a wise move or not seeing as Engineering isn't my strong point but for courses like Engineering the civic universities are usually pretty good. You should write to universities and gauge their opinions before dismissing them as choices. Also the only thing/primary factor that would "scrape-off" any mitigation is your final grades i.e. a 2:1 or better which to be fair is the going rate anyways.

I don't think it's a case of what will impove your chances but more have the factors that affected your studies in the past been well and truly ressolved? That is really the key point you have to communicate to your referees and admissions tutors.
(edited 11 years ago)
Reply 10
I was suffering from a minor speech impediment and I have proof of this, this also affected social causes. Thankfully this healed. Also there was lack of motivation, passion.

My plan is I'm going to take 2 years out, become qualified (Access course), which demonstrates my ability along with relevant work experience. I will have to provide a plan during my interviews on why I wouldn't fail the third time. I picked the wrong option the first time and engineering is something I will enjoy academic wise. Futhermore I will demonstrate passion for the subject, a study plan, everything that is needed.

I know I will have to put a stronger case forward. I don't know if a red brick will take me own in this situation, I will be qualified in the subject (Access), along with work experience from my uncle.

Also I'll be dishing out £9k which I hear universities are after money.
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by Dan Richardson
Don't go to a polytechnic university try a red brick university such as Lancaster university . Polytechnic institutions are not as good as red brick university's


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Lancaster is not a redbrick...
Failing first year twice, is an awful track record. Are you sure Uni is really for you? Rather than get ahead of yourself again with all these ideas about University, why not explore the world of work for a few years - you might be able to really decide what you want to do that way, rather than just picking Engineering because your uncle is involved. Realistically, you have no chance getting into a top 20 Uni, and it is going to be difficult to get into any relatively competitive course, even if you do have great results and references - failing first year twice, without any serious reasons, is rare and clearly exposes the fact that you can't handle Uni.
Original post by Ivy91
Hello all,

I failed my first year twice at a different subject from another uni, yes this is my problem. which I had been told to leave the university. I phoned to get some help regarding my options, which the lady said on the phone it is possible to do another degree which she told me its best to take some time out.

I'm looking to do a degree in Civil Engineering in October 2014 and my best chance is to get into a polytechnic uni. I do have good GCSE's and A-levels.

Money wise, I'm working at Asda, which I'm going to save up to fund my first year. This will help me while at uni too.

My route is this:

1) My uncle is a civil engineer and he agreed he can give me some volutary work experience which can aid my CV, university application. He told me I have to get a good degree and work experience if any chance of a career, he has kindly offered to help me.
2) I'm looking to do an Access to Engineering degree course and try and obtain distinctions.
3) While at college, write a super good personal statement and obtain a super good reference.
4) For univeristy application, I've taken 2 years out and I'll look at this with the view they will see this as a new start and newly qualified to take the BEng course.

In the long-term, my aim is to gain some assitance academic wise and work hard to obtain:

1) 2.1 BEng (lots of practice, assistance, help from my uncle), with accreditations.
2) Every summer spend time at my uncle's place (work experience).
3) Gain work placement for my 3rd year with the aim of working for the same company, if not, add to that work experience.
4) Gain good references from uni, my uncles place and from my work placement year.
5) Become good at sports and tai-chi, while joining various clubs and societies which will enhance my CV, showing skills.
6) Do voluntary work experience at uni to increase my employability skills.

Hopefully being a mature student, with work experience, some decent hobbies and a 2.1 will hopefully mitigate the failed start?

I'd like to know your thoughts in this situation, which your comments are very much appreciated.



You stated that your Uncle works within Engineering. Is there no chance he can take you on as an Apprentice for a few years? I think if you worked there for even just 12 months (Level 2 NVQ), you will be able to see if Engineering is really for you. Engineering is a fantastic trade, and if you are truly interested, after your NVQ Level 2 and 3, you can always study afterwards, and with the money you've saved up, that will be able to fund your first Year at University. Failing that, you can just do it part-time while working.

If an Apprenticeship is not what you're looking for, then I wish you the best of luck with University. :smile:
How on earth do you expect to finance a traditional degree, you only have one year of loan left from SFE, and the tuition fees are now £9,000 a year - then you have to consider sustenance, accomodation, extra course materials, socialising costs. I don't think you would realistically be able to get an offer from a University in the next few years, you are too much of a risk and have a bad track record at Uni already, as someone else mentioned.

I think your best bet is to work for a few years, save up money, gain some valuble experience and have a good think about what it is you really want to do. Then, you could take up an Open University degree - they are cheaper and easier to get on to. Realistically, you've messed up quite a bit...
Reply 15
I recently changed from first year Pharmacy to 2nd year Biomedicine with the hope of doing graduate Medicine... It was difficult to change course, and that was after having done really well in my first year modules. I think you need to really have a think if Uni is for you, because it sounds like you are struggling - Engineering is a very difficult degree, it sounds like you have just made a snap decision to study it because of your uncle. If you do well in your access course then that's a good start, but I think what will worry admissions tutors is that you have a bad history with University, and if they give a place to someone who messes up, then it looks really bad on the Uni and they will obviously want to minimise that at all costs. I think what I am trying to say is, no good University will give you a place because you have screwed up so much in the past - the only institutions who may consider giving you an offer are places like London Met, London South bank Uni, i.e. places near 100 in the league tables. There is no point going to University to study something common like Engineering there, you will simply always be outclassed when going for jobs, which brings me on to my next point. With such a bad history of starting things and not finishing things, you will find it very difficult to get a decent career - even if you have a 2.1, purely because it is the standard for graduates to have a 2.1, which they usually achieved first time without any hiccups - your failed attempts will look so bad for you when competing against sometimes 20 other graduates for a job.

So, although what I posted above might be very difficult for you to accept, and make you frustrated, it is better to be told a realistic opinion early on so you can prepare yourself better and increase your opportunities. What I would suggest to you, is to get about 5-7 years solid work experience - it is all you can really do, and with that experience you will be able to make a decent career for yourself. If you go down the university route, you will waste too much money, end up with a degree from a poor institution, and you will be 5 or 6 years down the line, without any real work experience, when you could have spent that time and saved that money, by working and hopping along the career ladder. There is no shame in not going to uni and getting a degree, you can still be "middle class" if you are concerned about social status.

Good luck in whatever you achieve, but I urge you to be true to yourself and not feel forced into going to uni because it is what everyone else seems to do. Sometimes uni is not the right route for someone.
Reply 16
Original post by Ivy91
Hello all,

I failed my first year twice at a different subject from another uni, yes this is my problem. which I had been told to leave the university. I phoned to get some help regarding my options, which the lady said on the phone it is possible to do another degree which she told me its best to take some time out.

I'm looking to do a degree in Civil Engineering in October 2014 and my best chance is to get into a polytechnic uni. I do have good GCSE's and A-levels.

Money wise, I'm working at Asda, which I'm going to save up to fund my first year. This will help me while at uni too.

My route is this:

1) My uncle is a civil engineer and he agreed he can give me some volutary work experience which can aid my CV, university application. He told me I have to get a good degree and work experience if any chance of a career, he has kindly offered to help me.
2) I'm looking to do an Access to Engineering degree course and try and obtain distinctions.
3) While at college, write a super good personal statement and obtain a super good reference.
4) For univeristy application, I've taken 2 years out and I'll look at this with the view they will see this as a new start and newly qualified to take the BEng course.

In the long-term, my aim is to gain some assitance academic wise and work hard to obtain:

1) 2.1 BEng (lots of practice, assistance, help from my uncle), with accreditations.
2) Every summer spend time at my uncle's place (work experience).
3) Gain work placement for my 3rd year with the aim of working for the same company, if not, add to that work experience.
4) Gain good references from uni, my uncles place and from my work placement year.
5) Become good at sports and tai-chi, while joining various clubs and societies which will enhance my CV, showing skills.
6) Do voluntary work experience at uni to increase my employability skills.

Hopefully being a mature student, with work experience, some decent hobbies and a 2.1 will hopefully mitigate the failed start?

I'd like to know your thoughts in this situation, which your comments are very much appreciated.



Some extra points I wanted to raise:

- what exactly does the Access course entail and have you mentioned this to the universities you may be interested in applying to?

- Have you contacted universities be they redbricks or polytechnics to make enquiries? If not then you should probably do so.

- On the academic side of things doing some Open University modules and/or some extra A-levels by distance learning etc would be a massive boost to prove your academic worth. This is especially true if you want to apply to the more competitive institutions who will not only want you to have a solid academic background but perhaps demonstrate you can "juggle" rigorous academic study.

- Ignore the morons saying you're flawed and raising points about costs etc. There are people with worse track records who get in (but obviously they improved enough to demonstrate that the past was behind them) and to be honest the finances are nobody else's business but your own.
Sounds like you've got a plan of action. If you really want to go ahead with it and believe you will do better in it than your other degrees and are willing to put in the effort and hard work then go for it. BUT not because your uncle is in the same business so it's easier to get experience and help and not because you're determined to get a degree in something - do it because you WANT to do it and because it's something you're interested in and passionate about. There are other options if you're doubtful university is for you and perhaps more time should be spent clearing your mind and thinking about what it is you really want - not just now but for the future too. This has to be your decision, as it's you who has to put in the hours and if you're simply not interested in something then you won't get very far, as you found out with your past degrees. Your failures will not disappear, and yes they look bad now but if you can show employers how you overcome those failures, pick yourself up and move on and do something productive with your time i.e. work experience, voluntary work, placements, projects, hobbies and interests etc you could still get somewhere. If your heart is set on university, think about it seriously in terms of finance and where to go. Your course could be popular and with your track record, I wouldn't be hoping to go to Oxford.

I would really sit down and seriously think about what you want to do, for YOU. Good luck, and I really hope you figure out what it is you want and establish a realistic plan to get to where you want to be :smile:
Firstly, good luck with it all, sounds like you've put a lot of thought into it all. Secondly, my Dad works for a large civil engineering firm, and he's said in the past that they don't bother interviewing people with BEng anymore, they need to have a MEng minimum. Might be worth considering.
I'm in a similar position - well, not quite as bad as you because I left of my own accord after failing my first year, I wasn't told to leave like you. :s-smilie:

I could go back to Uni, but I've decided to work full-time (I have an office + book keeping job paying more than £20,000 a year) and study part-time for my accountancy exams, with the dedicated aim of being fully chartered by the time I am 28/29 (I am 22 now). Sure, it is in some ways difficult without a degree, but if you find a good job, work hard, and get solid experience and learn valuable skills, if you have the determination then you can have a really decent, well-paying career without having a degree.

Your decision to go back to uni seems like a stupid one, you've already wasted two years there, and wasted a lot of money. Why would you want to go and spend another 5 years trying to get to uni and aiming for an undergraduate degree? It is really not so important that you spend so much time and money trying to get one. It's only an undergraduate degree - hundreds of thousands of people have them, and will have them, so why not focus on work experience?

I have no idea whether you will be allowed back into uni or not, that's not my field of knowledge, but I suspect you will have odds stacked against you really - failing twice does look pretty bad mate, not going to lie.

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