The Student Room Group

Scroll to see replies

hermaphrodite
How is that even possible? How could someone who graduated with a third then become a Professor?? He wouldn't even be considered for a Masters let alone PhD and then post-doc. I thought it was IMPOSSIBLE for someone with a third to excel any further.


He is a very old man and he went to cambridge. You are right, such things just don't happen anymore.
Son_of_the_sun
That is hilarious.
I ( like most people ) always assumed that UEA is an ex-poly !


Don't laugh too hard at the expense of your ignorance, it's embarrassing.
it's a shame that the op came on the postgrad forum with elbows flying because the advice given tends to be informed and sound. i was suprised at the +reps given to me for lashing out but it seems like others agree with me (at least initially). the same thing happened with "lorry beep" - aggression and arrogance when we suggested that (a) not every single phd was funded and (b) there are no such things as more "prestigious" phds based on league table positions. it's a shame people can't be civil, but then again it's fun not being so once in a while.
ChemistBoy
He is a very old man and he went to cambridge. You are right, such things just don't happen anymore.


Even 40 years ago I didn't think it was possible. I always assumed a lecturer,( be 60+ years old) would have always graduated with a first class hons.
there isn't a law dictating that you need a first. so much emphasis is placed on phds/research abilities nowadays.
hermaphrodite
Even 40 years ago I didn't think it was possible. I always assumed a lecturer,( be 60+ years old) would have always graduated with a first class hons.


Well the professor I know proves that it was, however he is exceptional to say the least. He obviously convinced someone to take him on as a research student at cambridge.
ChemistBoy
Well the professor I know proves that it was, however he is exceptional to say the least. He obviously convinced someone to take him on as a research student at cambridge.


Good for him. But I just feel that if I were in his position I'd have an inferiority complex about the whole thing; esp given that I would be surrounded by people with firsts. I mean would you not feel uncomfortable if you were the only person in the office to have a 3rd and everyone else had a first. (a bit like being at 6th form and being the only person in the year not to have popped the cherry)
Reply 67
Back in the day, it wouldn't have been so uncommon. Especially since the upper echelons of learning were typically reserved for white upper-class males, really the only person who would have a say in whether or not a graduate with a 3rd could go on to study for a PhD would be his bank manager. All he would have needed were a lot of friends on the inside and the ability to fund himself.
hermaphrodite
Good for him. But I just feel that if I were in his position I'd have an inferiority complex about the whole thing; esp given that I would be surrounded by people with firsts. I mean would you not feel uncomfortable if you were the only person in the office to have a 3rd and everyone else had a first. (a bit like being at 6th form and being the only person in the year not have popped the cherry)


Well he's an FRS now so I think he's probably got over his inferiority complex.
Reply 69
Son_of_the_sun
That is hilarious.
I ( like most people ) always assumed that UEA is an ex-poly !

You're saying most people are as stupid as you (UEA was never a ploytechnic).
Eubacterium
(UEA was never a ploytechnic).


UEA is not exactly synonymous with high quality.:rolleyes:
Son_of_the_sun
UEA is not exactly synonymous with high quality.:rolleyes:


Depends who you are. Most of the leading academics in my field have had an association with UAE at some point as it was, at one time, the world leader in that field.
Reply 72
I would rate UEA quite highly for undergrad studies at least - some sadly ugly 60s buildings but a pleasant location, nice atmosphere, and not a few notable academics, particularly in history and literature. Seems to produce lots of satisfied students.

Also "scientists" from UEA just "discovered" that swearing at work is good for your health, which should make lectures a lot more interesting.
i thought that when UEA was founded in the 60s it's where the "rebels" or the lefties went??
Reply 74
Son_of_the_sun
UEA is not exactly synonymous with high quality.:rolleyes:


I'd quit while you're behind if I were you mate. UEA is a very good university. It's actually associated with the very highest quality in some subjects. Most notably, its creative writing department has long been famous for being the best in the country, having produced a handful of Man Booker winners as well as other eminent authors (Kazuo Ishiguro, Ian McEwan, Rose Tremain, Toby Litt, Andrea Levy, and this year's Booker winner, Anne Enright to name just a few).
Reply 75
Oh, and its staff over the years has included such famous writers as Iris Murdoch, John Fowles, two Nobel laureates - Doris Lessing and Harold Pinter, etc etc. Which is certainly not to be sniffed at.