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Degree classifications
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Hey, well im sure theres a thread about this going way back so i thought i would just start a fresher one 
Anyway, i'll hopefully be graduating next year. I'm doing Computer Science which ive found pretty tough going at times. Anyway, alot of people here are fussing over what they get and if they got a 2:2 they'd be really disappointed/cry/be all depressed :rolleyes:
Personally if i got a 2:1 i would be delighted! I've found it a really tough course and even if i got a 2:2 i would still be pleased with it.
Anyway, to my point. To those of you who have graduated, whenever that was, has the actual degree classification you gained made any difference what so ever in getting the job/getting the career you want?
Anyway, i'll hopefully be graduating next year. I'm doing Computer Science which ive found pretty tough going at times. Anyway, alot of people here are fussing over what they get and if they got a 2:2 they'd be really disappointed/cry/be all depressed :rolleyes:
Personally if i got a 2:1 i would be delighted! I've found it a really tough course and even if i got a 2:2 i would still be pleased with it.
Anyway, to my point. To those of you who have graduated, whenever that was, has the actual degree classification you gained made any difference what so ever in getting the job/getting the career you want?
Post edited by JustV on
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Comments
But I do work in a skills-based role. No one really cares about any of my qualifications as long as I can do my job.
Yeah thats one thing im banking on. Luckily i worked for a really well known/good company on my placement year so that has certainly helped beef up my CV.
Forget about it and look at getting work experience, thats what I found mattered.
i am working for the police now. you don't even need a degree for it. its all about life experience and your attitude towards things.
if i wanted to use my degree to become a solicitor mind, i would probably need a 2:1. although saying that, my friend has just bagged herself a training contract and she only got a 2:2 like me.
everyone has a degree nowadays so i don't think it really matters what you get unless you are wanting to work for a big firm. employers are more interested in what you've done previously and what experience you have.
I did find that the classification was just a tick box for the graduate schemes though. If you tick this box you then have to meet all of their criteria. I got through to the final phase of the scheme for Accenture for example but was refused because of my inability to prioritize information. I wasn't so disappointed because speaking to the other applicants they all had 3 years experience on me where as I was fresh out of uni.
I'd say push for a first and then if you don't achieve it the worst that happens is you get a 2.1- oh and get relevant work experience during the summer.
Steve
You really need to put all the effort you can into getting the best mark possible. It's 3 years that may well determine the rest of your life, don't waste them. After 3 years you don't want to cut your options short just so that you could go to the pub a few more times a week.
However it's not the be all and end all, and I know a few people who got 2:2's but have ended up in their dream job.
They actually put me on the 2:2 board on results day at uni, I always remember it. I had been getting high averages so knew I was comfortably at top end of a 2:1, so it totally freaked me out when I saw the board.
It wasn't until the next day when my friends said it seemed wrong that I went back and the tutors realised it was a mistake....
In fact, oddly, the thing I remember was trying to apply for some graduate programme and being turned down not because of my degree but because I had too few A-Level points. I did protest about how irrelevant they were, but it made no difference. I wasn't getting onto that programme. Can't remember who it was for though. One of the big IT companies I expect. Weird.
Back in the real world, I think outside of graduate programmes noone really gives a stuff. In the world of IT experience counts for a lot more than your classification.
I think it's just getting into whatever sector you want that's often hard - once you get that first job, degrees and clasifications become less relevent. Most people I work with do have degrees, but they're not thought of any more highly than me.
Bit OT i know, but my point is that it's not all about degrees and classifications all the time, having extra/interesting things on your CV helps too.
I guess it's a nice talking point.
If I had left school at gcse / a level, I would have to do AAT, then ACA. Because I have a degree, they would take me straight into ACA. My degree is accredited, but they said they choose not to 'honour' the accreditation because they don't believe you have enough work experience exposure to really understand teh concepts as covered in the pure degree.
They said a min 2.2 really but would look at your whole CV. Also said that training contracts are pretty competitive anyway and thin on the ground. Gave me some good pointers though!
A lot of jobs will stipulate a 2:1 at least but doesn't mean they're going to stick to that and not even consider someone with a 2:2.
I did a masters afterwards, but a few years afterwards and paid for it myself.
I think the most immediate effect of a classification is definately related to academic progression and finding scholarships. Certainly when I did my Masters those people looked at to do phd were those doing exceptionally well, I'm sure the same applies with the transition from a degree to a masters.
Part of the problem is now with online application forms, they can just say 'university grade' and if you dont tick 2.1 or first you get an automatic email saying you dont meet the criteria.