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Achieving a 2:2 degree - rant

PearlyPearly Posts: 345 The Mix Regular
edited March 27 in Work & Study
Stuart tells TheSite.org why getting a 2:2 is by no means a failure - have a read of his rant and let us know your thoughts...

http://www.thesite.org/community/reallife/rants/degreesuccess
Post edited by JustV on
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Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Pearly wrote:
    Stuart tells TheSite.org why getting a 2:2 is by no means a failure - have a read of his rant and let us know your thoughts...

    http://www.thesite.org/community/reallife/rants/degreesuccess

    getting a 2.2 i wouldn't say thats a faliure.
    anything less than that i would tho.
    might have been a better story is someone with a 3rd / pass shared their thoughts on not being a faliure :p:)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Well I don't consider my pass a failure - it led me to TheSite.org and a masters
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Funny. It seems like he's saying you can't have the 'ability to be a team player' an 'easy going cheerful attitude' and 'natural leadership' if you get higher than a 2:2...

    Similarly, with:

    'Yet I believe that developing a close social network of friends and developing interests and extra-curricular activities is just as important as having your head buried between the pages of an academic textbook'

    I wouldn't say sitting in the pub getting loaded more often that you study justifies 'extra curricular activities' or developing 'close social networks'. Sorry, but this rant seems like a rant about the fact the author didn't have his cake and ate it (i.e. getting drunk (or 'socialising') all the time and not being able to get a decent degree) rather than the virtues or benefits of getting a 2:2.

    Poor article IMO.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Well it is a rant my friend, rather than an impartial piece
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    But even as a rant, it's pretty poor. The other rants in the section are proper rants about things that annoy them/are annoying. This one is a mild reproach of not being able to get loaded all the time and still manage to get a decent degree mark...
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'm sorry, but I think you'll find that it is possible to get loaded all the time and still come out with a good degree mark. :p
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'm sorry, but I think you'll find that it is possible to get loaded all the time and still come out with a good degree mark. :p
    are you saying that a 2:2 is not a good degree mark?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    lipsy wrote:
    are you saying that a 2:2 is not a good degree mark?
    I got a 2:1, so I'm allowed to say that. Of course, those that got a 1st obviously didn't have a life. :p
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Its all down to opinion and personal aims at the end of the day. If I came out of uni with a 2:2 I would be very disappointed because I know that I'm capable of working at a 2:1 standard, and thats what I aim to achieve. Someone else, however, might be thrilled witha 2:2 because they know they worked their hardest and thats the result they were looking for.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
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  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
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  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Pearly wrote:
    Stuart tells TheSite.org why getting a 2:2 is by no means a failure - have a read of his rant and let us know your thoughts...

    http://www.thesite.org/community/reallife/rants/degreesuccess

    While I do agree with some of his points (it's not failing to get a 2:2, more like the equivalent of a B/C grade at school maybe), a lot of people manage to get a 2:1 or a 1st while still having a life, like me for instance. Doing well doesn't necessarily mean you have no friends and no life!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    In my experience, effort didn't seem to equate to extra marks (well not that much anyway). If I tried my absolute hardest, I'd end up with a 2:1. If I did an essay the night before, I'd still end up with a 2:1. It was really irritating, but I suppose it meant I could be quite relaxed about things rather than worrying about results all the time.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I only have an ordinary degree.

    Can't.....work....door....handle.....tiny mind....can't contemplate...pushing down...while....pulling....

    Phew, I'll have a wee seat then try again...

    :o
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    i can see where he's coming from and fair play to him, he had a good time and 2.2s not a bad degree to have by any means.........when i went to uni it was always in the back of my head that i was investing another 3 years of my life studying, and that I would be coming out around £15,000 in debt so i better had something to show for it, and i'm not talking about a beer gut and some new mates......i knew i was capable of a 1st and that if I didn't get at least a 2.1 i would be very disappointed with myself, so that was always the benchmark, and that's what i ended up getting.......i know i could have got a 1st because whenever i had poor results by my standard I would try harder, and get much better grades the next time, and overall my grades balanced out around just below a 1st......shit tutors who couldn't speak english and kept losing my logbooks and c/w etc didn't help of course but i was high every single day, and that probably had something to do with it as well lol.........

    i agree with IWS that it's more about aptitude than effort because me and my group of friends had a similar lifestyle throughout uni, and out of 10-15 of us only me and one other guy got a 2.1, and he really did work his arse off towards the end of the year, most of my other mates just missed out so it was a fine line........looking back i would be kicking myself hard if i'd done all those drugs and hadnt got a 2.1 because all the top I.T. graduate employers want that as a minimum, so I would be really limited now, but as it is everything worked out and life is pretty sweet. :yes:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    If I tried my absolute hardest, I'd end up with a 2:1. If I did an essay the night before, I'd still end up with a 2:1. It was really irritating



    fuck you're right you know i bet it was so hard knowing you could do an essay the night before and still come out with a 2:1. poor you.

    i work hard and i will be very happy if i come out with a 2:2. :D
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Getting a certain grade could be like putting your car in for MOT. It might fail or pass, or pass but with recommendations - like tyres legal but need changing soon. For the rest of the year the car could be in a completely different state.

    So, the degree grade is an indication of performance at a particular time and like money investments maybe not be a future indicator.

    Personality and experience count for a lot. Also, the cliche of who you know not what is true.

    Also, think of Bill Gates - he dropped out of college.

    Some well known business leaders are dyslexic.

    In short, the most important thing is to play the game: be that trying to pass a degree or saying the right things at work to impress or get noticed. The education system will never be perfect. But like everything else, take advantage of it and what it can help you do - don't pursure it for its own sake.

    If someone feels inadequate about their grade then this might motivate them for the future to do better.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    fuck you're right you know i bet it was so hard knowing you could do an essay the night before and still come out with a 2:1. poor you.

    :lol: i think you took that the wrong way, what he means to say is that no matter how hard he did try he couldnt' get a 1st, that was the irritating bit....
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    well i'm still cross anyway. :p :grump:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Fuck it, I got a 2.2 and I'm more intelligent than most of the people at my work who got 2.1s and 1sts.

    Even if I say so myself.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    well i'd say academic aptitude doesn't necessarily equate to natural intelligence but the two aren't unrelated either.....everybody happy? :p
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Kermit wrote:
    Fuck it, I got a 2.2 and I'm more intelligent than most of the people at my work who got 2.1s and 1sts.

    Even if I say so myself.

    :lol:

    You would say that.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    i work hard and i will be very happy if i come out with a 2:2. :D

    Due to me fucking up the last year (had alot of shit going on) I'm going to have to work very hard to get a 2:2. If I get it (which I think I will if I work hard) then I'll be happy.

    Sure, when I came to Uni, I was all like "I can't get anything less than a 2:1, bla bla bla" but now, I'm going to be happy with a 2:2. If I get a 2:2, I'll know I've worked for it, etc.

    I'll be happy in having a 2:2 Law degree.
  • **helen****helen** Deactivated Posts: 9,235 Supreme Poster
    This rant actually complements another article about grade stereotypes which you all might find interesting :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    PussyKatty wrote:
    :lol:

    You would say that.

    I certainly do my job better :grump:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    My thoughts: if he's an aspiring journo, he could do with upping his proofreading skills.
    ranty man wrote:
    University life is what people make of.

    I did a writing degree, and the only two people on my course who got firsts were both foreign students who had english as a second language. :chin:

    In any case, a lot of employers these days aren't that bothered what you studied or what grade you got, only what your learned and how you are able to apply that to the job they want you to. No mark is a failure (except maybe a fail), you just have to learn how to make it work for you.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Kermit wrote:
    Fuck it, I got a 2.2 and I'm more intelligent than most of the people at my work who got 2.1s and 1sts.

    Even if I say so myself.

    I don't get what makes you say that? Maybe you're smarter, canny, wily or whatever, but can you really equate a 2:2 with being more intelligent (i.e. book smart) than people who got 1sts and 2:1s? I suppose it depends on how many types of intelligence you believe to exist.
    In any case, a lot of employers these days aren't that bothered what you studied or what grade you got, only what your learned and how you are able to apply that to the job they want you to. No mark is a failure (except maybe a fail), you just have to learn how to make it work for you.
    While I agree in principle with this, I don't think it's the full story. Of course people are going to be interested in what kind of grades you got, otherwise there would be little point in people asking about them. If two people are the same in the interview, same skills, personality, outlook, ambition etc, but it comes down to the degree mark they got, the higher one is going to get it.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'd been working in an office job since June 05 until about a month ago, there were plenty of graduates there and plenty of people who didn't go to university.

    From my experience, the 'students' were much less hard working and able than most other employees, didn't take work very seriously.

    I guess it's all well and good having a 1st, 2:1 or whatever but if you turn up to work with piss in your shoe after a night out (actually happened) then it don't count for much.

    I think nowadays interview technique and experience count for a lot, and while in some jobs a good degree is essential, a 'poor' degree can be made up for by demonstrating your good points, skills etc.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    kaffrin wrote:
    In any case, a lot of employers these days aren't that bothered what you studied or what grade you got

    well that depends what sector or industry you work in, a lot of the big corporate employers are pretty snobby when it comes to grades....
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I don't get what makes you say that? Maybe you're smarter, canny, wily or whatever, but can you really equate a 2:2 with being more intelligent (i.e. book smart) than people who got 1sts and 2:1s? I suppose it depends on how many types of intelligence you believe to exist.
    I remember reading somewhere that the degree marks that people achieve are quite closely linked to their IQ level (obviously effort has something to do with it as well). I guess it comes down to how accurately IQ is at measuring intelligence. But yeah, intelligence doesn't equal competence.

    Another factor is that some students will spend a while after uni just doing an office job while they figure out what they want to do. Therefore they might not be giving the job thier full attention and effort. I mean if you're gonna be leaving with a year or six month, are you really gonna care about the performance or reputation of the company you are working for? You should do of course, because it can get you good references, but it's difficult to put a lot of effort into something you know you won't be doing in a few months.
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