My Teacher Called Hertfordshire a third rate uni
Basically I slacked off in one of my A2 maths mock exam due to family issues and I did not meet my target grade so I went for a meeting with my teacher. She said not only said that I'm not working hard enough but also said that "surely a bright boy like you with such good GCSE grades shouldn't be going to some third-rate-non-Russell-Group uni?" I have applied to do animation there and that is my first choice. I have done my research. Hertfordshire is one of the best unis in Europe for animation. But after I heard that I felt insulted. Should I demand an apology?
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Nah, just drive by his house in your new Lambo when you get a top animation job 🤣
I'm just really annoyed how a teacher would say things like that instead of supporting my decision
Honestly mate, ignore her rude remarks. It really is all about the course when applying to uni, no point in going to an amazing uni where the course is bad or one that doesn’t interest you. Like you’ve said, Hertfordshire is one of the best for animation so just be secure in the knowledge you’ve done the right research and made the correct decision.
100% sounds like a karen
Should have asked what uni she went to
It's just stupidly annoying that my graphic design teacher tells me to produce more work so that I can show it to them at interviews but my maths teacher says I'm spending too much time in the art department
Perhaps you should make clear what your intentions for a degree subject are to your maths teacher, so they can understand your objectives and priorities. You might also point out that (unless I'm mistaken) no RG unis (for whatever that tag is worth, which isn't much) offer animation as a degree (to my knowledge anyway - maybe Southampton now that they ate the Winchester College of Art?).
As above for an animation (or similar) course, your portfolio will normally be the most important thing. However it is very common for students applying to creative arts degrees, especially in time-based media and design areas which aren't as well supported/represented in A-level Art qualifications, to do an art foundation year. @PQ has made a very good FAQ for these foundation courses here: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5017684 which would be worth a browse. Some foundation courses also allow you to apply directly to a specialist track (such as in time-based media or similar) so you could potentially focus on animation from the start.
While I imagine the teacher is trying to "raise aspirations" for you, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, there are better ways to go about it than simply putting out negative statements about universities they perceive as "worse". It's also even more misguided since you're going in a different route that makes "traditional" league table type rankings somewhat moot compared to understanding what facilities the university offers and what links to industry they have, as well as what their grad placement record is.
As above for an animation (or similar) course, your portfolio will normally be the most important thing. However it is very common for students applying to creative arts degrees, especially in time-based media and design areas which aren't as well supported/represented in A-level Art qualifications, to do an art foundation year. @PQ has made a very good FAQ for these foundation courses here: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5017684 which would be worth a browse. Some foundation courses also allow you to apply directly to a specialist track (such as in time-based media or similar) so you could potentially focus on animation from the start.
While I imagine the teacher is trying to "raise aspirations" for you, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, there are better ways to go about it than simply putting out negative statements about universities they perceive as "worse". It's also even more misguided since you're going in a different route that makes "traditional" league table type rankings somewhat moot compared to understanding what facilities the university offers and what links to industry they have, as well as what their grad placement record is.
(edited 4 years ago)
Original post by iiiice-kreem-man
Basically I slacked off in one of my A2 maths mock exam due to family issues and I did not meet my target grade so I went for a meeting with my teacher. She said not only said that I'm not working hard enough but also said that "surely a bright boy like you with such good GCSE grades shouldn't be going to some third-rate-non-Russell-Group uni?" I have applied to do animation there and that is my first choice. I have done my research. Hertfordshire is one of the best unis in Europe for animation. But after I heard that I felt insulted. Should I demand an apology?
'demanding' an apology will just plainly sound rude and she'll just knock you down with a 'dont talk back' yada yada- surely, if you explain that you wish to do animation (and GOODLUCK!! ill support you if that helps) and that's your priority she would understand where you're coming from?
An apology? Off with her head.
Original post by bribriaa
'demanding' an apology will just plainly sound rude and she'll just knock you down with a 'dont talk back' yada yada- surely, if you explain that you wish to do animation (and GOODLUCK!! ill support you if that helps) and that's your priority she would understand where you're coming from?
Yh she asked me what I was gonna do there and I told her. I didn't even get a chance to explain why I chose to apply there and she immediately just said "what you chose, is there a way for progression, what are the prospects?" I understand what she meant by that but it sounded like she was implying something else. She then left me alone saying that it's my decision but all of what was said just sounded very patronizing to me.
Original post by iiiice-kreem-man
Yh she asked me what I was gonna do there and I told her. I didn't even get a chance to explain why I chose to apply there and she immediately just said "what you chose, is there a way for progression, what are the prospects?" I understand what she meant by that but it sounded like she was implying something else. She then left me alone saying that it's my decision but all of what was said just sounded very patronizing to me.
I see, well, most teachers do what the best for you so maybe she wanted to imply that but used the wrong terms and words and came across rude instead- I suggest that, since you've got it all planned out, ignore her. It's your future, you decide what to do with it and what will make you happy.
Demand an apology from a teacher for expressing an opinion you disagree with? 
You forgot to highlight your other demands:
1) Putting her in detention for 1000 hours at the Tower Of London,
2) Ten years annual salary as compensation for wasting your time,
3) Challenging her to a duel with your grannie for hurting your feelings.
You forgot to highlight your other demands:
1) Putting her in detention for 1000 hours at the Tower Of London,
2) Ten years annual salary as compensation for wasting your time,
3) Challenging her to a duel with your grannie for hurting your feelings.
Ignore her, i faced similar snobbery at my school when i said my choices (grammar school, high grades). Like you i do a design subject major and people fail to realise that the best universities for design are not places like cambridge/oxford etc or the ones they think of when they think 'best'.
It's the course that counts not the uni as a whole and employers will know this. To the outsider the grade requirements can also look low which makes them automatically assume it wont be a good uni when in actuality the reasoning for this is due to the emphasis on portfolio rather than grades.
Have moved this to the art and design uni courses forum for you
It's the course that counts not the uni as a whole and employers will know this. To the outsider the grade requirements can also look low which makes them automatically assume it wont be a good uni when in actuality the reasoning for this is due to the emphasis on portfolio rather than grades.
Have moved this to the art and design uni courses forum for you
Original post by CoolCavy
Ignore her, i faced similar snobbery at my school when i said my choices (grammar school, high grades). Like you i do a design subject major and people fail to realise that the best universities for design are not places like cambridge/oxford etc or the ones they think of when they think 'best'.
It's the course that counts not the uni as a whole and employers will know this. To the outsider the grade requirements can also look low which makes them automatically assume it wont be a good uni when in actuality the reasoning for this is due to the emphasis on portfolio rather than grades.
Have moved this to the art and design uni courses forum for you
It's the course that counts not the uni as a whole and employers will know this. To the outsider the grade requirements can also look low which makes them automatically assume it wont be a good uni when in actuality the reasoning for this is due to the emphasis on portfolio rather than grades.
Have moved this to the art and design uni courses forum for you
Thanks. I'll just ignore her. Don't want to make a fuss when now there's only a few months left at the school.
Teachers generally have a very limited experience of the job market. The vast majority do a degree, a PGCE and then work in teaching. They’re very rarely knowledgeable about career paths that are different to theirs (there are always exceptions).
There’s no point demanding an apology but maybe you could send through/share some information (like links to the screenskills website) with your teacher about creative careers so that they’re less rude about someone else’s career choice in future.
There’s no point demanding an apology but maybe you could send through/share some information (like links to the screenskills website) with your teacher about creative careers so that they’re less rude about someone else’s career choice in future.
If it makes you feel any happier, you'll be earning much more than she does within a few years of graduating if you're a talented student and work hard. Especially if you can mix the maths knowledge with animation - learning Python for example to create new functions within Maya and Houdini is a very employable talent in the 3D / VFX / Games industry. Maths is used a lot for rigging, for compositing, pretty much anything in Houdini... it comes in handy - but you also need art skills as well, because maths on its own isn't particularly entertaining, but mix it with art and you can produce amazing things that other people also want to watch.
Also remember that teachers like to be able to boast that their students go to Russell group universities. Imagine the loss of street cred she would face if you went to a (cough, splutter) ex-polytechnic? Good lord she might need therapy to get over it
I wouldn't bother telling her she is wrong, she probably can't change her mind and almost certainly doesn't know a thing about animation anyway. I bet she'll be the first to boast to her friends when your name is in the credits of an Oscar award winning film though.
You'll meet people like this all through your life - they don't like other people being successful doing something that doesn't sound like a proper job to them... they're just sour and grumpy that they're stuck in some dull dead end position going nowhere until they retire. Just try and keep on the happy side of them until you've finished with school and then you'll never have to see her again. Leaving school is a wondrous form of therapy; it's like this huge cloak of misery and darkness has been lifted from you and you can start to become who you always wanted to be!
Oops I should also say if you want me to check your portfolio before the interview, send me a link to it and I'll have a look. Good luck!
Also remember that teachers like to be able to boast that their students go to Russell group universities. Imagine the loss of street cred she would face if you went to a (cough, splutter) ex-polytechnic? Good lord she might need therapy to get over it
I wouldn't bother telling her she is wrong, she probably can't change her mind and almost certainly doesn't know a thing about animation anyway. I bet she'll be the first to boast to her friends when your name is in the credits of an Oscar award winning film though.
You'll meet people like this all through your life - they don't like other people being successful doing something that doesn't sound like a proper job to them... they're just sour and grumpy that they're stuck in some dull dead end position going nowhere until they retire. Just try and keep on the happy side of them until you've finished with school and then you'll never have to see her again. Leaving school is a wondrous form of therapy; it's like this huge cloak of misery and darkness has been lifted from you and you can start to become who you always wanted to be!
Oops I should also say if you want me to check your portfolio before the interview, send me a link to it and I'll have a look. Good luck!
(edited 4 years ago)
Original post by iiiice-kreem-man
Basically I slacked off in one of my A2 maths mock exam due to family issues and I did not meet my target grade so I went for a meeting with my teacher. She said not only said that I'm not working hard enough but also said that "surely a bright boy like you with such good GCSE grades shouldn't be going to some third-rate-non-Russell-Group uni?" I have applied to do animation there and that is my first choice. I have done my research. Hertfordshire is one of the best unis in Europe for animation. But after I heard that I felt insulted. Should I demand an apology?
Sounds like your teacher 'hasn't done her homework' on which Universities offer the best animation degrees
Best of luck with your application!
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