Graduating with a Third. What can I do now?
So for a bit of background I went to a Russel Group uni for Mechatronic Engineering (an offshoot of electronics focused on robotics). My averages for first and second year were 71% and 65% respectively. However, my third year was full of complications outside of uni that tanked my mental health, and as a result my grades, leaving me with a 41% for final year, making my grade 48% overall. I thought I could handle myself in first semester (a mistake), but I did apply for mitigating circumstances for my dissertation and exams for second semester. The uni was oh so kind to give me a huge one week extension, and "to be decided" mitigating circumstances action for my exams, which upon getting my grades back I was told "no action had been taken due to grades aligning with previous results" despite the over 20% grade drop.
So what am I meant to do now? It doesn't seem like I'd be able to get into a university worthwhile doing a master's at with a third, unless somehow they see my grade progression and I'd be given opportunity to explain my circumstances? The graduate job market seems even more grim a prospect, with engineering companies having such high standards and rejections to everything I apply for rolling in. Did I just waste 3 years of my life because of one bad year?
I am really desperate for any advice on where to go from here because I really feel up a creek without a paddle.
So what am I meant to do now? It doesn't seem like I'd be able to get into a university worthwhile doing a master's at with a third, unless somehow they see my grade progression and I'd be given opportunity to explain my circumstances? The graduate job market seems even more grim a prospect, with engineering companies having such high standards and rejections to everything I apply for rolling in. Did I just waste 3 years of my life because of one bad year?
I am really desperate for any advice on where to go from here because I really feel up a creek without a paddle.
Reply 1
I have found an online degree which will accept you with a third:
Online MSc Computer Science with Software Engineering from Abertay University
There are options away from Engineering that you may want to consider.
You would get snapped up as a physics or maths teacher at GCSE and A level standard. There is a shortage of them so you could easily get on a "Train to Teach" programme.
You could consider self funding through accountancy qualifications . You can then become self-employed as a qualified accountant and earn a small fortune becoming an accountant for small businesses. They will only look at your accountancy qualifications and not your first degree.
Online MSc Computer Science with Software Engineering from Abertay University
There are options away from Engineering that you may want to consider.
You would get snapped up as a physics or maths teacher at GCSE and A level standard. There is a shortage of them so you could easily get on a "Train to Teach" programme.
You could consider self funding through accountancy qualifications . You can then become self-employed as a qualified accountant and earn a small fortune becoming an accountant for small businesses. They will only look at your accountancy qualifications and not your first degree.
Reply 2
Honestly, universities will 100% take you in for a masters - as long as it's not a 'competitive' uni, and they don't have strict grade requirements. There are many grad schemes which don't have grade requirements either; a lot of the finance ones don't have grade requirements, so you don't have to self fund accounting qualifications.
Original post
by TallwanSo for a bit of background I went to a Russel Group uni for Mechatronic Engineering (an offshoot of electronics focused on robotics). My averages for first and second year were 71% and 65% respectively. However, my third year was full of complications outside of uni that tanked my mental health, and as a result my grades, leaving me with a 41% for final year, making my grade 48% overall. I thought I could handle myself in first semester (a mistake), but I did apply for mitigating circumstances for my dissertation and exams for second semester. The uni was oh so kind to give me a huge one week extension, and "to be decided" mitigating circumstances action for my exams, which upon getting my grades back I was told "no action had been taken due to grades aligning with previous results" despite the over 20% grade drop.
So what am I meant to do now? It doesn't seem like I'd be able to get into a university worthwhile doing a master's at with a third, unless somehow they see my grade progression and I'd be given opportunity to explain my circumstances? The graduate job market seems even more grim a prospect, with engineering companies having such high standards and rejections to everything I apply for rolling in. Did I just waste 3 years of my life because of one bad year?
I am really desperate for any advice on where to go from here because I really feel up a creek without a paddle.
So what am I meant to do now? It doesn't seem like I'd be able to get into a university worthwhile doing a master's at with a third, unless somehow they see my grade progression and I'd be given opportunity to explain my circumstances? The graduate job market seems even more grim a prospect, with engineering companies having such high standards and rejections to everything I apply for rolling in. Did I just waste 3 years of my life because of one bad year?
I am really desperate for any advice on where to go from here because I really feel up a creek without a paddle.
Have you appealed the outcome of the mitigating circumstances highlighting that the grades were not in line with previous years?
I would speak to your SU ASAP about appeal avenues. Although you may need to justify why you did not apply for mitigating circumstances in term 1...
Reply 4
Original post
by artful_loungerHave you appealed the outcome of the mitigating circumstances highlighting that the grades were not in line with previous years?
I would speak to your SU ASAP about appeal avenues. Although you may need to justify why you did not apply for mitigating circumstances in term 1...
I would speak to your SU ASAP about appeal avenues. Although you may need to justify why you did not apply for mitigating circumstances in term 1...
Am I missing something, they didn’t say anything about not applying for mitigating circumstances in term 1? Mitigating circumstances or not, the uni handled it poorly - you were getting First’s in your other years. My uni would automatically adjust your marks/overall grade if there was that much of a difference between marks.
Original post
by AnonymousAm I missing something, they didn’t say anything about not applying for mitigating circumstances in term 1? Mitigating circumstances or not, the uni handled it poorly - you were getting First’s in your other years. My uni would automatically adjust your marks/overall grade if there was that much of a difference between marks.
They said they applied for mitigating circumstances for the second semester and dissertation. Presumably the decision that the marks were "in line with previous results" was based on the results for the first term. Hence it behooves the OP to highlight that they were experiencing the issues in the first term as well, but did not apply for mitigating circumstances (for which they would need to provide some answer about) and demonstrate they should be assessed on their results based on the previous years.
Whether your uni would do that or not unfortunately is of no help to the OP as their uni evidently did not undertake such considerations - if it was in line with their policies then regardless of whether it seems "fair" it's legitimate for them to do so. Hence they should look at appealing but they also need to address those potential arguments against their case.
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