How important are first year grades in univeristy

In my university the first year grades dont matter for the grade of your degree but how important are they for placement years and your life after uni in general?

Reply 1

LJMUStudentReps

Official Rep

Original post

by Mila68394

In my university the first year grades dont matter for the grade of your degree but how important are they for placement years and your life after uni in general?

Hi @Mila68394

Yes you are correct in saying that your first year grades do not go towards your final overall degree grade however I believe the uni will still keep them on your records so potentially future employers or whoever might be interested could view them!

If you have tried as best as you can and have received good grades for your first year of uni then it that is a good thing. There is potential that when you go for placements years or to get a job after uni that they may ask to see what you got although the main thing I would say is the final grade you get for your degree!

I hope this response has helped, let me know if you have any other questions, I am more than happy to help!

Thanks, Matt 🙂
Official LJMU Student Rep

Reply 2

University of Strathclyde Student Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post

by Mila68394

In my university the first year grades dont matter for the grade of your degree but how important are they for placement years and your life after uni in general?

Hi Mila,
I’m just at the end of my second year and also have a placement year we apply for, and part of that process involves sending over an academic CV, which includes your first-year grades. So yes, they do matter to some extent, and I’d expect you’ll be in a similar boat.

That said, they’re not the only thing that matters - extracurriculars, previous work experience (especially anything related to your course), and all sorts of other activities/circumstances are also taken into account! So while it’s good to aim for solid grades, they’re not the overall deciding factor, just try your best that's all you can really do and try not to stress to much at this stage! - nearer the time of actually applying you will likely get a lot of guidance with the application process & i'd expect there will be someone you can email with any specific questions!
Hope this helps & your exams go well (:

Emily
Year 2, Chemistry
Official University Of Strathclyde Rep

Reply 3

Chester Student

Original post

by Mila68394

In my university the first year grades dont matter for the grade of your degree but how important are they for placement years and your life after uni in general?

Hi there,

As it has already been said, they may matter to an extent depending on where you go in the future.

Another important thing to consider is that first year has the potential to set a good foundation for the rest of your degree. Trying your best and aiming for good grades not only looks good if you need to share them, but also sets you up nicely for second and third year, giving you the knowledge you need to be able to progress with confidence.

However, don't stress! As they don't contribute to your overall grade, you have some room to adjust to university grading and time to balance an academic-social lifestyle. Take this time to find extracurriculars, part-time work, and get involved in anything else that interests you - and have fun!

I hope this helps,

Isabella
Fourth-Year Geography (With a Year Abroad)

Reply 4

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

Original post

by Mila68394

In my university the first year grades dont matter for the grade of your degree but how important are they for placement years and your life after uni in general?

Hi @Mila68394

My first year also doesn't impact my final grade. However, they did impact project allocation for my final year and they definitely helped me secure a placement and internship, both through the grades I had to list on my CV/application form and that they were mentioned in my references provided by my Academic Tutor and Director of Studies.

Rebecca (Lancaster Student Ambassador)