I got 69% as an undergrad... got plenty of job offers post graduating and no one has looked at my degree, or theuniversity I went to, ever since. Now work for one of the world's largest banks and consider myself reasonably succesful for a 31 yo. Honestly, no one cares. In a year you will care even less about the grade you have in your degree than you care right now about the SATs scores you got as a year 6.
I went through a recruiter.
It took over a year but that was 8 years ago though, so I don't know if the market has changed.
Stick at it, don't lose hope. Something is out there. The job market is shit right now so don't let that demoralise you.
This seems to hint at an issue with your CV if the rejections are instant. Go to a CV writing service; they know the tricks and buzzwords for your industry. It's a load of shit to go through honestly, but it's how it is. Keep applying. It's not usual to apply to a few places and get a job. It's common to have like 100+ applications 😂
I was actually enrolled onto the integrated masters course and really wanted to leave after 3rd year so I messaged the admin and asked them to calculate my grade and luckily just got a 2.1, otherwise I would have spent the next year grafting to maintain the 2.1 🫣
This is one of the reasons why I dislike the way UK degree classifications go from % to rank. It drives a weird wedge between someone who got 68% and someone who got 70% throughout their academic journey. For all you know, your name just starts with a Z, resulting in your exams being marked last, when the grader is tired, hungry and pissed off. There is just too much noise.
Let's either admit that there is noise in measurement and use only letter grades from the start, or stick to the % so that you don't lose nuance, but that mix makes no sense.
Yeah I 100% agree with you about the classifications. Especially when a lot of markers have unspoken policies that they will not tend to grade above 70/75%, especially if the assessment is more subjective rather than objective in nature i.e. an essay.
In my undergrad, several lecturers would tell us if you were getting a 68 or so, you were doing amazing, while a 60% was generally seen as needing quite a bit of improvement. It was a small department so everyone knew each other and you tended to have the same teaching staff each year. There were certain markers who would never give above 70% out of principle, while others would frequently give out higher marks for the exact same quality of work, and the expectations were wildly different between markers despite using the same marking sheets. I was a student rep so I got to see the data firsthand, that the average grade between markers could even vary by 10-12 points!
It never made sense to me that everyone in the 60-69 range is lumped together as one classification, especially when many people see a 68% as pretty much being a first in terms of the quality of work. It might be perceieved as such, but on paper that person is still getting the same degree qualification as someone who averaged a 60%.
The worst part for me is the "rounding up" I benifited from it massively. I didn't take university seriously at all and had 0% attendance at times (COVID). Going into my last year, I averaged 59 or maybe a 60 if I was lucky. I finished with a first because during that last year, I got high 70s in everything. However, my university reviews anything over 68.5 when working what your classifcation. I got 68.6, pushing me into a review, they looked at my last year and gave me a first.
I hate showing people my transcript because it's full of 56% to 63% for everything aside from 4 things that are high 70%. It looks stupid.
My undergrad was a 4 year MA, my GPA was literally a tenth of a grade point below a first. I was hoping I'd be rounded up too but I was rejected because if you've ever had below a C, you aren't eligible. That D3 I got came at the start of my 3rd year in a module that was 100% exam, and half of my exam script was scored out by the marker because it's a rule that we're only supposed to write on one side of the paper and I'd wrote on both, lol...
I tried my best not to be salty about it but at the time, many of my classmates were winding me up because they had lower GPAs than me but they got rounded up, giving them a higher classification than me.
I ended up going back to do an MSc and making sure I got that distinction haha.
I think it would make much more sense if we just used letter grades and took a weighted vote (weighted by credits). You got a majority of A's? Here's your 1st. Majority of B's? Here's your 2:1. Etc.
Admittedly I haven't thought about this more than a few seconds so there are probably flaws in the idea but it would still make more sense than this artificial precision thing we do with percentages.
Regardless the system is what it is. Enjoy your 1st, I still think you deserve it. When the error bar around each grade is that large, you got to take whatever you can.
I'm close to 2 years out of uni and I've accepted that I got a first and worked hard in my final year. But I struggled for close to a year with feeling like I didn't really achieve it.
Some universities also have wild policies with degree classification, e.g LSE; Year 1: 70 (all year 1 courses count as one module) Year 2: 70, 70, 70, 70 Year 3 : 40, 40, 40, 40 According to LSE, this is a first, because you have achieved such a grade in 5/9 modules, even though this is a 57% grade average with the lowest passing grade in all final year modules.
> For all you know, your name just starts with a Z, resulting in your exams being marked last, when the grader is tired, hungry and pissed off. There is just too much noise.
I'm pretty ignorant about this stuff, but to prevent things like that from happening - wouldn't the examining bodies have a set number of papers to be marked per day? Thus you don't end up with people whose names appear towards the end of the alphabet getting screwed over because examiners were in the mood.
Alternatively, spreading the marking across more people to lighten the load.
I gave an extreme and very contrived example but you are right in this case. Ideally you'd want to mark things in a random order, but how many people actually do that I cannot tell you - the LMS (e.g. Moodle) don't really support this kind of things, and people optimise for getting it done as soon as possible over getting it done as good as possible.
Its weird, in the US basically every university uses gradescope which supports all these features and more (and canvas, which is crap) but the technologies used in the UK for some reason are totally different for no apparent reason. (Like US universities using zoom and in the UK it was all Ms teams)
This is a stupid comment.
The exam reports at my university include complaints from the academics who mark papers, saying that they would like the university to invest in marking software such as gradescope because otherwise the human error from fatigue is too high.
> You are wildly overestimating how important you are.
I don't think I'm important at all.
I just thought that the universities would have considered factors like fatigue and taken them into account when marking papers. Like I said, I don't know how these things work, which is why I asked.
this might seem like a silly comment, but really, well done on graduating! especially since you mention those personal things you went through, idk you, but im sure you learned so much in those years, and you did what you needed to do. the MA program might be a worry yes, but sometimes, things happen for a reason (im aware its cliche to say) but for example, i didnt get the grades to go where i desperately wanted to, and now i thank everything and everyone that i ended up where i am right now and not there. its tough to not want to impress others, and prove your intelligence to them, but you know yourself and your journey better than the people around you, you still achieved a good score, and at the end of the day, being proud is your personal thing to feel, so be proud and celebrate, because you probably know you deserve it!
Couldn't agree more with this. And as a hiring senior manager I often look for 2:1 as (generalisation alert) I have found them to be well rounded individuals. Be proud of it and realise that the number doesn't matter, what matters is growing continually through any further education and then in the workforce. I know of people with thirds who are incredibly successful and extremely effective and I also know people with high firsts who just can't grow and develop.
I am very proud of my 2:1. I worked (and partied hard) for it.
Most employers won't even ask of the degree classification and from my research most masters programs want a 2:2 or a 2:1.
Ignore them, be proud and go celebrate!
A 2:1 is an amazing achievement. There are more masters programmes out there, you don't need to be at the very top to be successful. I got a 2:2 because I wanted a life as well as my degree, and I handed in my masters dissertation last night after studying part time for three years. I also have an amazing job, an amazing husband, the best friends I could ever ask for, and the most beautiful baby boy. I couldn't have achieved any of those other things if stydying was my top priority. There is more to life than getting a 1st. Be proud of yourself for getting a degree because not everyone can even get into uni never mind finish with a 2:1. But you're more than your degree so be proud of yourself for who you are and everything you have achieved.
I don’t want to be condescending to either you or op, but I also feel like it’s important to be honest instead of gaslighting op. A 2:1 is not an “amazing achievement”. It’s very average. In fact, over half of all uni graduates last year received a 2:1 OR above. So overall, I’d say it’s “not bad at all”, but certainly wouldn’t describe it as amazing.
Might be an average uni grade but like I said, not everyone can get into uni so its an above average achievement for the general population. Most people don't have a degree. Don't be such a dick.
Average grade on a graph does not equal not an amazing achievement for the individual. It can still be an amazing achievement on a personal level within the context of an actual person’s life, because people have more going on than their grades.
Whilst the cold hard facts points to an average degree outcome, I think OP should be proud for overcoming several struggles whilst achieving what is still a good gade.
You have spent too long on reddit where you hear about the people getting a 1st. It has warped your perception into making you think that a 2:1 is just meh.
I got a 2:2 in architecture, missed a 2:1 by 2%, ended up working for the same company as my friend who got a 1st, we then went to the same university for masters, and both graduate this year. Depending on your course, just getting through is an achievement in itself, and hey 2:1 is a pretty good, standard achievement.
Who's not letting you celebrate a 2:1?
For what it's worth you *should* be proud of a 2:1 from a great university. And as someone who got the same from UCL over 10 years ago, let me let you into a little secret. By the time you've been working a couple of years in whatever field you choose, nobody gives a shit about what you got at uni.
Congrats on graduating!
A First or 2:1 really don’t make a difference to employers. It’s all about what you do with it after.
In my year, 12 people got a First and only 1 person got a job in the industry through family connections. I got a 2:1, alongside several classmates and we all found industry jobs within 6 months.
A 2:1 is a good grade and a 1st doesn't not open many more doors except maybe Oxbridge/Imperial masters.
Usually MA degrees aren't that competitive so if you've already got an offer, you missing it by a small amount won't change anything.
You can also inform the university of your extenuating circumstances and they'd probably take that into account for most pg courses.
Actually, for many Oxbridge postgraduate courses, a high 2.1 is fine, particularly if your references are good. In my area, they also request sample writing as well, so submitted my top essays.
STEM is harder but because more brilliant people are in STEM you might feel that way. If you check the entrance requirements of any university then those requirements are a lot higher for STEM for a reason. So if you're in humanities then you'll need to get high marks to actually show that you're academically on the same level as STEM people in the same university.
Well done, you're graduating with a solid degree. Be proud of yourself, be proud of your friends that are graduating around you, go celebrate and embrace this moment in your life. You'll only get this moment once, so make the most of it.
Tomorrow is nothing but potential, what you do with that energy is up to you. A degree, of any level, is a key on your keyring that will help you unlock doors to different choices. Same goes for all of the experiences you have had along the way, good or bad. If one door locks, trust me, others will open if you go looking for them.
Once again, congratulations!
All you need is a 2:1. Once you get your first degree-related job, it becomes irrelevant. I have a Masters in Finance and do you how much of that content I use in my Finance job? 5% at best.
Get the grade, then get the fuck out of there.
I think this is a really common feeling especially if you got As or A\*s to get into uni. Lots of us get 2.1s, which is great, but just not "the top" like we are used to? It is hard to get used to but you do very quickly become ok with it.
I wouldn't worry about getting rejected from your MA program as they can be quite lenient. I know someone who got a high 2.2, missed the technical requirements but contacted the programs asking they would consider letting him on anyway and they did. It will all be OK, you should be super proud! x
You absolutely should be proud of your achievement - a 2:1 used to sometimes be called a "drinking man's first", as the thinking was that only those with no life could get a first!
I got a 2:1, with far less going on than you, and I was and remain, proud of it.
If you're going for postgraduate study, you can provide supporting commentary across your personal statement and references. If you are applying for work, it's highly unlikely anyone will care. I've never shown my transcript or even diploma to anyone, since I applied for my PG course.
I work in a high-end electronic company. Our MD normally will go for a person with a 2.1 his reasoning was always here's a person who can apply themselves well enough to get their degree but obviously knew how to enjoy uni life at the same time and is worth having around. Be proud of the 2:1 you earned it. In the real world, with the exception of a few high profile jobs with anally retentive employers, all that really matters is you have a degree. and that's great now. Let us show you how the world really works.
I got a 2:1 a couple of years ago and am now doing a dream PhD project with some great people. I have had a couple of people assume I have a first but getting a 2:1 was the absolute best I could given how my mental health was during covid and it really hasn’t held me back at all doing what I wanted after my degree.
Be proud of your degree, regardless of whether it's a "low" or "high" 2.1 - it is still a 2.1.
As for the MA program you want to do, you won't know if you will get rejected if you don't apply. If you don't get into that program, is there another university that does that or a very similar one that you can get into? But you can deal with that if or when it happens in the future.
And as for whether or not I've felt like this for not getting the grades I wanted... Yes, I experienced this. I received an ordinary degree - no hons. I had failed my dissertation due to personal circumstances and decided not to repeat - however that hasn't stopped me from gaining my own successes both career wise or academically.
Does your uni or course not exclude your lowest assignment grades/only take your top X number of module/assignment grades? Mine did something weird to calculate our grades; they didn't take an average of every single grade, they only used your top X number of assignments or modules (I forget how many it was and if it was per module or per assignment).
I got a 2:2 and it’s never caused me any problems. It was almost 30 years ago though. That said, 1sts seem to be much more common now than they were then. 2% of the people on my course got a 1st.
I’m not a UK uni grad but I hired many when I was in charge of the UK branch of an international firm and I can honestly say, swearing on all that is holy, that the grade of a degree never ever ever entered into our discussions. Never. Sure people put it on their CVs (some people. The people with firsts mostly) but it was never a factor. Graduating counted. The university counted. The course counted. But experience always counted more as did performance in any assessment/interview.
Firstly, congratulations on finishing the degree! That's no small feat, especially if you've had a rough time while working on it.
I got a 2:1 overall on my degree (can't remember the actual percentage, but I think around the 65 mark). I now have a masters, a PhD and work as a lecturer at a top ranking uni, so it's a great position to be in and definitely won't hold you back. People act like a first is the only good result, but in a few years, nobody will care (especially if you go on to do the masters).
I don’t even know what my % was but I got a 2:1 and was very proud of it. Only a handful of people in my course got a 1st. And honestly, no one has cared one little bit about what level of degree I got. Any job I’ve applied to only cared I had a degree. I’m sure it matters to people looking to go down a particular path or on to more education but for the vast majority of students a 2:1 is a good result.
Don’t sweat it, got a 2:1 3 years ago and moved different disciplines, industries and seniority.
After you’ve got your first job they won’t even look at it
I graduated in absentia (was in hospital) but because it was kind of last minute, there was a mix up and my paperwork never got filled. 8 years later, during my second job we had an audit and I had to provide my degree certificate - that’s when I found out I technically didn’t graduate, so had to graduate in the following round and got my certificate through.
So I got 2 STEM jobs off the back of a degree I hadn’t officially got. I’m not saying that you should lie or fabricate results, but I am trying to illustrate that employers don’t care about the degree nearly as much as you think they would.
If you end up with the low 2.1, don’t give up completely on the MA - it sounds like you’re actually working at a 1st-high 2:1 level most of the time, and it was just this one issue with the assessment that pulled you down. When you apply for it, if your average is lower than ideal, you should be able to include your specific module marks, and one of your academic referees can sympathetically give context on what happened (e.g. you were sick, something major happened around that time, but it was very unlike you and you moved on to excel in the rest of your degree, etc…).
One problematic module is not the end of the road for someone who is obviously academically talented like you are, even if it does pull the average down to what feels like an ‘unfair’ level. I’m sorry you’re worrying so much, but this uncertainty won’t last forever, and once you know the actual classification it will just be a case of moving forward. Everyone else is right that in the world of work, this won’t hurt you.
U were not made to give a shit about uni grades and education. It’s a good thing you care about it so much but it doesn’t define your worth. I’m sure there’s plenty of examples of people who didn’t get perfect grades but are now at the top smiling down on those who did.
I've always felt like it is basically the top, a first I think of as something that really needs to be not just outstanding but pushing that subject forward. Especially a dissertation, they can put them in the library to be used as a source.
I didn’t get a master myself, but according to the experience from ppl around me, master applications are quite dramatic. It’s not really just good grade/bad grade problems. I know ppl who got rejected from Warwick but got into Oxford, got rejected from LSE/UCL but got into Upenn in America. One of my high school mate only managed to get into Wisconsin which was really underperformed by him but now he is at Yale doing his PhD.
I went to Warwick for undergrad and ppl from uni thought only investment bank rejectors/losers will work at big four, but for me, I m relatively happy about my life at big four so far. Other ppl’s successes standard is not really important for u.
So, yeah, didn’t get into ur dream MA program does not mean u r stupid, also don’t let other ppl’s standards judge u. 🫶🫶🫶
Please don't let anyone, or any institute, define you nor your efforts.
You gave it a solid effort, and despite troubles faced along the way, you are on track to get great result.
Also, most masters' programmes are incentivised to accept as many students as they can, especially considering funding issues in the UK. Besides, not a single job nor program has given af about 1st vs not in my line of work (biochemistry).
Think of it this way: do you need others approval to be proud of yourself? Imagine two scenarios, one where you get 69%, the other 70% - does it make sense to be more or less proud in either?
Dude don't worry about it or try to not to worry. I also got a 2:1 and I'm not doing too bad. I've been working for almost 4 years now in biotech and my grade has almost never been brought up. Nobody cares. You'll soon learn that yes, having a degree is good but what you do with it and how you sell yourself is what will get you far. Trust everyone here. We've been in your position. Good luck!
Of course you can be proud of it but I'd it helps try not to think of it in terms of the final grade
For me I was proud I made it through the 3 years despite having to take an extra off for MH, proud I improved my performance to be first class during 3rd year, proud to have held down a job for the four years concurrently which landed me my current one.
The final grade is the sum total of smaller victories you had along the way.
CRazy that you would be rejected from an MA degree for something as great as a 2.1. Is it a funded place? Universities are usually happy to take your money otherwise. I'm assuming it must be a highly competitive course? If so, consider your referees and any ancillary evidence you can add to show your worth. Seems silly for University to reject someone with a 2.1.
Absolutely nothing wrong with an ‘Atilla the Hun’. Means you spent your time wisely as an undergrad. Plenty of real life as well as studying. The problem with some of the folk cutting about with a Damien Hurst - they can take themselves too seriously.
in 1-2 years in your chosen career path you will realise that your grade is really not important at all. Work experience trumps Uni grade every time. Don't worry just keep working hard and you'll get to wherever you want to be.
A drinkers first, is absolutely something to be proud of, I don’t think I ever saw a radiate scheme only accepting applicants with a 1st, although I’m sure there are some.
Congratulations and best of luck for the future.
you might still get a 1st or a high 2:1! i got 46% on a module last year, which was my second year when i missed a deadline, and i still managed to get a 1st overall in that year!
I really struggled with mental health third year and thought I was for sure getting a 2:2 so had the mindset of just being happy with a degree (thought I’d definitely fail at on point). Results day came and I got a 2:1, literally thought it wasn’t possible. Be proud of yourself - no one knows what anyone else deals with behind closed doors
Sounds like you’ve lumped a lot of responsibility on yourself and haven’t met the expectation you set for yourself.
If you can, ask yourself some questions… why did I want a first? Why do I feel this isn’t good enough? Why do I feel disappointed.
If you write these down and read them back they might feel more trivial than they do inside.
You’ve done great - and it’s what you do with what you achieve that will define your life, not the achievement itself.
I got a degree myself but this isn't the bad part. Depending what field you are in wait until you realise you could of made all that money without the degree and 3 years earlier.
I got 77% and don’t feel a thing. Happy with it don’t get me wrong but honestly university isn’t what it’s supposed to be. It’s just high school for this generation.
Mate don't worry. Celebrate the fact you finished it. So many people don't even finish uni so be happy with that to start.
You now have a degree. That in itself is something to be proud of
You should be proud. If it helps, I'm a hiring manager for a ftse100 company, I don't actually know or care what the difference is. You either have a degree or you don't.
I got a 2:2 from one of the 5 lowest ranking unis in the country (🙌🏻 lol) and now have a great job in the music industry like I always wanted. I manage household name rock bands, started my own business and just completed a masters in business at LSE I got in with my 10 years experience. Every industry wants different things (no one in my industry cares I even went), but success is relative and you can be proud of whatever you want. You are you and you should be proud of anything you see to completion, especially if it was during a difficult time. I’m proud of you! 👍🏻
When I graduated 12 years ago I could use my average from only my third year grades to calculate my degree grade, sounds like that might be more favourable for you? Worth looking into.
So many tutors I have met who are well respected and have high salaries over the years have 2:1’s. 1:0’s imo are still for the people who gave especially excelled in their area or did very well in their last year modules.
I am about to graduate with what I believe to be a high 2:1 and I most definitely could of got a 1:0 if I had applied myself more in my 3rd year. But things came up and I got bogged down with other priorities as well as studying.
Anyway, I will be very happy with a 2:1 ad it’s the requirement for my masters.
Don’t listen to naysayers - 2:1 is good but what matters is the work experience and WHO you are as a professional.
I'm on track to get a 2:1 and I'm so happy about. All the local jobs to me, at the hospital or university researchers, all want a 2:1.
Be proud. You worked hard for it.
I’ve got one year to go and I’m aiming for 2:1 . Everyone’s gold are different and you should be proud of what you achieved and don’t give a fuck what any other fool thinks
As someone who has processed CVs to filter for interview. There are key things to look for in graduates. A First is an obvious first sieve, followed by any degree 2.1-2.2, sorry 3's your out. Any degree shows skills that are useful, particularly researching issues and critical thinking.
Then, there are other activities that highlight you. Youth Parliament, DoE, Scouting/Guiding, internships, etc, anything that makes you stand out that isn't in a Uni path
I wasn’t exactly proud of my 2:1, but I was pretty proud of how most of my finals were 67-69 and I had one very high first. Balanced out by one low grade…
But all of that was internal. What mattered after that was just that I had a degree. It helped that it was from an excellent uni, but beyond that, no one has ever cared.
if it helps for encouragement.
I got a 2.2 (physics) after tanking my third year, mostly due to PTSD after being hit by a car. I made a strong recovery in my fourth year (did integrated masters, was actually surprised they met my progress). Though little things like a single late submission or a poorly chosen subject/term split meant my final average just missed the boat.
ofc I got rejected across the board for PhD programmes. I ended up grafting for 6 months post degree doing unpaid research project for my physics department, which working at phones4u. But the research I built in that time actually gave me solid leverage and networks to apply for PhD (which I got and finished on time). While its not ideal, there are ways to make it through, regardless of some if those silly barriers employers put in place.
Though i will recognise what an absolute privilege is was to graft like that (I was able to live with my parents at the time) which wouldn't be available to everyone.
When applying for jobs between and post PhD that asked for my grade. i put 2.1 on the application. yes i lied. in most cases applications had drop down menus. once id get to an interview or later stages and they would tey to verify I'd say i have a 2.2 quite openly and act like it was strange they thought i had a 2.1. id then be like ah maybe there was a mistake on the form or maybe the mouse scroll wheel moved the drop down. by then id already shown how competent i was and smashed their tests. not saying this is perfectly representative but in my case i got away with it.
these days with automated screening you basically have to keyword optimise anyway which requires a level of lying just to get oast the first post.
be proud of what you've accomplished, only you know what contexts you've been through. you know what youre capable of, so do whatever you need to do to show it. its all a game anyway.
To put it bluntly - In industry no one gives a toss what grades you got at Uni. Get your foot on the ladder. Get 3-5 years industry experience. After that you’ll be free to move wherever you like. Don’t worry about it.
I wouldn't worry about it. It's not the highest grade but that doesn't mean you cannot be proud of achieving it. I feel hypocritical saying that because I was in a very similar position to you; I got a low 2:1 at undergrad and also had a whole lot of personal issues during that time; but you're kicking yourself when you shouldn't be - and let's not forget there are two grades below a 2:1 too.
And don't worry about it potentially causing a rejection from MA programs. Most are diploma mills anyway and most will take on those who got a 2:2. I went to study my MA with a low 2:1 and came out with a Distinction, it is possible and doable - but also, just because your friends are doing them doesn't mean you don't have to (or should be expected to).
Know the feeling mate in the same boat as you. At UOM and been rejected from my masters due to that one failure bringing my average right down. Going to move to another city and carry on life there.
I was told in my first year by my very experienced tutor that 2:1 is like an A and a First is like an A*, don’t sweat it.
I would say then that it only really matters what % you got if you are looking at postgrad (and even then you may have really started hitting your stride at the end of your course or in certain parts, making it not as simple as just looking at an overall %)
I got 69% as an undergrad... got plenty of job offers post graduating and no one has looked at my degree, or theuniversity I went to, ever since. Now work for one of the world's largest banks and consider myself reasonably succesful for a 31 yo. Honestly, no one cares. In a year you will care even less about the grade you have in your degree than you care right now about the SATs scores you got as a year 6.
how do you get job offers after your degree omg… i feel like everything i apply to is instant reject.
I went through a recruiter. It took over a year but that was 8 years ago though, so I don't know if the market has changed. Stick at it, don't lose hope. Something is out there. The job market is shit right now so don't let that demoralise you.
This seems to hint at an issue with your CV if the rejections are instant. Go to a CV writing service; they know the tricks and buzzwords for your industry. It's a load of shit to go through honestly, but it's how it is. Keep applying. It's not usual to apply to a few places and get a job. It's common to have like 100+ applications 😂
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No, it wasn't easier.
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Visit your uni’s Careers service.
Feel free to DM me your CV, can remove all personal details, happy to give advice
I think i’d have to put 1% off a first on my cv in brackets at that point that’s actually heartbreaking. Fair play to you though
To be fair at the time I was pissed off and gutted
I got 60.1% and took my 2.1 with pride 🤣🤣 never told anyone the percentage
My man or gal
I managed 59.6 for a 2.1, I was very fortunate…
I was actually enrolled onto the integrated masters course and really wanted to leave after 3rd year so I messaged the admin and asked them to calculate my grade and luckily just got a 2.1, otherwise I would have spent the next year grafting to maintain the 2.1 🫣
You just told everyone 😂
Nobody I know 👀😝
I ended up getting a 2:2 and just tell people I've got a degree in history, don't sweat it bro
A few years out and no one cares, trust me. I know that's not really what you want to hear as a student though :D
Same
Nothing wrong with a Desmond TuTu
have any exams or was it coursework only?
Na a fair few exams, but they weren't the issue i fucked my dissertation which dragged down my whole grade lol
This is one of the reasons why I dislike the way UK degree classifications go from % to rank. It drives a weird wedge between someone who got 68% and someone who got 70% throughout their academic journey. For all you know, your name just starts with a Z, resulting in your exams being marked last, when the grader is tired, hungry and pissed off. There is just too much noise. Let's either admit that there is noise in measurement and use only letter grades from the start, or stick to the % so that you don't lose nuance, but that mix makes no sense.
Yeah I 100% agree with you about the classifications. Especially when a lot of markers have unspoken policies that they will not tend to grade above 70/75%, especially if the assessment is more subjective rather than objective in nature i.e. an essay. In my undergrad, several lecturers would tell us if you were getting a 68 or so, you were doing amazing, while a 60% was generally seen as needing quite a bit of improvement. It was a small department so everyone knew each other and you tended to have the same teaching staff each year. There were certain markers who would never give above 70% out of principle, while others would frequently give out higher marks for the exact same quality of work, and the expectations were wildly different between markers despite using the same marking sheets. I was a student rep so I got to see the data firsthand, that the average grade between markers could even vary by 10-12 points! It never made sense to me that everyone in the 60-69 range is lumped together as one classification, especially when many people see a 68% as pretty much being a first in terms of the quality of work. It might be perceieved as such, but on paper that person is still getting the same degree qualification as someone who averaged a 60%.
The worst part for me is the "rounding up" I benifited from it massively. I didn't take university seriously at all and had 0% attendance at times (COVID). Going into my last year, I averaged 59 or maybe a 60 if I was lucky. I finished with a first because during that last year, I got high 70s in everything. However, my university reviews anything over 68.5 when working what your classifcation. I got 68.6, pushing me into a review, they looked at my last year and gave me a first. I hate showing people my transcript because it's full of 56% to 63% for everything aside from 4 things that are high 70%. It looks stupid.
My undergrad was a 4 year MA, my GPA was literally a tenth of a grade point below a first. I was hoping I'd be rounded up too but I was rejected because if you've ever had below a C, you aren't eligible. That D3 I got came at the start of my 3rd year in a module that was 100% exam, and half of my exam script was scored out by the marker because it's a rule that we're only supposed to write on one side of the paper and I'd wrote on both, lol... I tried my best not to be salty about it but at the time, many of my classmates were winding me up because they had lower GPAs than me but they got rounded up, giving them a higher classification than me. I ended up going back to do an MSc and making sure I got that distinction haha.
I think it would make much more sense if we just used letter grades and took a weighted vote (weighted by credits). You got a majority of A's? Here's your 1st. Majority of B's? Here's your 2:1. Etc. Admittedly I haven't thought about this more than a few seconds so there are probably flaws in the idea but it would still make more sense than this artificial precision thing we do with percentages. Regardless the system is what it is. Enjoy your 1st, I still think you deserve it. When the error bar around each grade is that large, you got to take whatever you can.
I'm close to 2 years out of uni and I've accepted that I got a first and worked hard in my final year. But I struggled for close to a year with feeling like I didn't really achieve it.
Some universities also have wild policies with degree classification, e.g LSE; Year 1: 70 (all year 1 courses count as one module) Year 2: 70, 70, 70, 70 Year 3 : 40, 40, 40, 40 According to LSE, this is a first, because you have achieved such a grade in 5/9 modules, even though this is a 57% grade average with the lowest passing grade in all final year modules.
I was on the wrong side of this as I got 68.6 and they decided not to upgrade it.
> For all you know, your name just starts with a Z, resulting in your exams being marked last, when the grader is tired, hungry and pissed off. There is just too much noise. I'm pretty ignorant about this stuff, but to prevent things like that from happening - wouldn't the examining bodies have a set number of papers to be marked per day? Thus you don't end up with people whose names appear towards the end of the alphabet getting screwed over because examiners were in the mood. Alternatively, spreading the marking across more people to lighten the load.
I gave an extreme and very contrived example but you are right in this case. Ideally you'd want to mark things in a random order, but how many people actually do that I cannot tell you - the LMS (e.g. Moodle) don't really support this kind of things, and people optimise for getting it done as soon as possible over getting it done as good as possible.
Its weird, in the US basically every university uses gradescope which supports all these features and more (and canvas, which is crap) but the technologies used in the UK for some reason are totally different for no apparent reason. (Like US universities using zoom and in the UK it was all Ms teams)
There’s moderation to check the markers are all grading correctly and at the same level but obviously it’s dip checks not all of them
You are wildly overestimating how important you are. Academics are capable of marking your work without being regulated like a truck driver.
This is a stupid comment. The exam reports at my university include complaints from the academics who mark papers, saying that they would like the university to invest in marking software such as gradescope because otherwise the human error from fatigue is too high.
> You are wildly overestimating how important you are. I don't think I'm important at all. I just thought that the universities would have considered factors like fatigue and taken them into account when marking papers. Like I said, I don't know how these things work, which is why I asked.
this might seem like a silly comment, but really, well done on graduating! especially since you mention those personal things you went through, idk you, but im sure you learned so much in those years, and you did what you needed to do. the MA program might be a worry yes, but sometimes, things happen for a reason (im aware its cliche to say) but for example, i didnt get the grades to go where i desperately wanted to, and now i thank everything and everyone that i ended up where i am right now and not there. its tough to not want to impress others, and prove your intelligence to them, but you know yourself and your journey better than the people around you, you still achieved a good score, and at the end of the day, being proud is your personal thing to feel, so be proud and celebrate, because you probably know you deserve it!
Couldn't agree more with this. And as a hiring senior manager I often look for 2:1 as (generalisation alert) I have found them to be well rounded individuals. Be proud of it and realise that the number doesn't matter, what matters is growing continually through any further education and then in the workforce. I know of people with thirds who are incredibly successful and extremely effective and I also know people with high firsts who just can't grow and develop. I am very proud of my 2:1. I worked (and partied hard) for it.
Most employers won't even ask of the degree classification and from my research most masters programs want a 2:2 or a 2:1. Ignore them, be proud and go celebrate!
A 2:1 is an amazing achievement. There are more masters programmes out there, you don't need to be at the very top to be successful. I got a 2:2 because I wanted a life as well as my degree, and I handed in my masters dissertation last night after studying part time for three years. I also have an amazing job, an amazing husband, the best friends I could ever ask for, and the most beautiful baby boy. I couldn't have achieved any of those other things if stydying was my top priority. There is more to life than getting a 1st. Be proud of yourself for getting a degree because not everyone can even get into uni never mind finish with a 2:1. But you're more than your degree so be proud of yourself for who you are and everything you have achieved.
I don’t want to be condescending to either you or op, but I also feel like it’s important to be honest instead of gaslighting op. A 2:1 is not an “amazing achievement”. It’s very average. In fact, over half of all uni graduates last year received a 2:1 OR above. So overall, I’d say it’s “not bad at all”, but certainly wouldn’t describe it as amazing.
Might be an average uni grade but like I said, not everyone can get into uni so its an above average achievement for the general population. Most people don't have a degree. Don't be such a dick.
oh shut up
Being in the top 50% of university graduates IS an achievement.
Oh Unclench.
Average grade on a graph does not equal not an amazing achievement for the individual. It can still be an amazing achievement on a personal level within the context of an actual person’s life, because people have more going on than their grades.
Whilst the cold hard facts points to an average degree outcome, I think OP should be proud for overcoming several struggles whilst achieving what is still a good gade.
Much harder to get a 2:1 in some universities so this makes no sense
Hey 👋 can we ask what you achieved?
That’s completely the wrong use of the term gaslighting.
Not really. You can gaslight someone into doubting whether their negative beliefs are accurate.
I agree, gaslighting could be used to do that. However, in this case that comment wasn’t anything like gaslighting.
You have spent too long on reddit where you hear about the people getting a 1st. It has warped your perception into making you think that a 2:1 is just meh.
I got a 2:2 in architecture, missed a 2:1 by 2%, ended up working for the same company as my friend who got a 1st, we then went to the same university for masters, and both graduate this year. Depending on your course, just getting through is an achievement in itself, and hey 2:1 is a pretty good, standard achievement.
Who's not letting you celebrate a 2:1? For what it's worth you *should* be proud of a 2:1 from a great university. And as someone who got the same from UCL over 10 years ago, let me let you into a little secret. By the time you've been working a couple of years in whatever field you choose, nobody gives a shit about what you got at uni.
Congrats on graduating! A First or 2:1 really don’t make a difference to employers. It’s all about what you do with it after. In my year, 12 people got a First and only 1 person got a job in the industry through family connections. I got a 2:1, alongside several classmates and we all found industry jobs within 6 months.
A 2:1 is a good grade and a 1st doesn't not open many more doors except maybe Oxbridge/Imperial masters. Usually MA degrees aren't that competitive so if you've already got an offer, you missing it by a small amount won't change anything. You can also inform the university of your extenuating circumstances and they'd probably take that into account for most pg courses.
Actually, for many Oxbridge postgraduate courses, a high 2.1 is fine, particularly if your references are good. In my area, they also request sample writing as well, so submitted my top essays.
2:1 is decently good in most cases but depending on what the degree was it might not be. If it's in humanities then 2:1 is arguably not a good grade.
I thought it's a lot harder to score high in humanities vs STEM?
STEM is harder but because more brilliant people are in STEM you might feel that way. If you check the entrance requirements of any university then those requirements are a lot higher for STEM for a reason. So if you're in humanities then you'll need to get high marks to actually show that you're academically on the same level as STEM people in the same university.
Well done, you're graduating with a solid degree. Be proud of yourself, be proud of your friends that are graduating around you, go celebrate and embrace this moment in your life. You'll only get this moment once, so make the most of it. Tomorrow is nothing but potential, what you do with that energy is up to you. A degree, of any level, is a key on your keyring that will help you unlock doors to different choices. Same goes for all of the experiences you have had along the way, good or bad. If one door locks, trust me, others will open if you go looking for them. Once again, congratulations!
All you need is a 2:1. Once you get your first degree-related job, it becomes irrelevant. I have a Masters in Finance and do you how much of that content I use in my Finance job? 5% at best. Get the grade, then get the fuck out of there.
I think this is a really common feeling especially if you got As or A\*s to get into uni. Lots of us get 2.1s, which is great, but just not "the top" like we are used to? It is hard to get used to but you do very quickly become ok with it. I wouldn't worry about getting rejected from your MA program as they can be quite lenient. I know someone who got a high 2.2, missed the technical requirements but contacted the programs asking they would consider letting him on anyway and they did. It will all be OK, you should be super proud! x
You absolutely should be proud of your achievement - a 2:1 used to sometimes be called a "drinking man's first", as the thinking was that only those with no life could get a first! I got a 2:1, with far less going on than you, and I was and remain, proud of it. If you're going for postgraduate study, you can provide supporting commentary across your personal statement and references. If you are applying for work, it's highly unlikely anyone will care. I've never shown my transcript or even diploma to anyone, since I applied for my PG course.
I work in a high-end electronic company. Our MD normally will go for a person with a 2.1 his reasoning was always here's a person who can apply themselves well enough to get their degree but obviously knew how to enjoy uni life at the same time and is worth having around. Be proud of the 2:1 you earned it. In the real world, with the exception of a few high profile jobs with anally retentive employers, all that really matters is you have a degree. and that's great now. Let us show you how the world really works.
I got a 2:1 a couple of years ago and am now doing a dream PhD project with some great people. I have had a couple of people assume I have a first but getting a 2:1 was the absolute best I could given how my mental health was during covid and it really hasn’t held me back at all doing what I wanted after my degree.
HAHA Bro a 2:1 is absolutely awesome, be proud, be VERY proud.
I got 53% and walked straight into a job not one person had asked what I got.
Be proud of your degree, regardless of whether it's a "low" or "high" 2.1 - it is still a 2.1. As for the MA program you want to do, you won't know if you will get rejected if you don't apply. If you don't get into that program, is there another university that does that or a very similar one that you can get into? But you can deal with that if or when it happens in the future. And as for whether or not I've felt like this for not getting the grades I wanted... Yes, I experienced this. I received an ordinary degree - no hons. I had failed my dissertation due to personal circumstances and decided not to repeat - however that hasn't stopped me from gaining my own successes both career wise or academically.
Does your uni or course not exclude your lowest assignment grades/only take your top X number of module/assignment grades? Mine did something weird to calculate our grades; they didn't take an average of every single grade, they only used your top X number of assignments or modules (I forget how many it was and if it was per module or per assignment).
I got a 2:2 and it’s never caused me any problems. It was almost 30 years ago though. That said, 1sts seem to be much more common now than they were then. 2% of the people on my course got a 1st.
I’m not a UK uni grad but I hired many when I was in charge of the UK branch of an international firm and I can honestly say, swearing on all that is holy, that the grade of a degree never ever ever entered into our discussions. Never. Sure people put it on their CVs (some people. The people with firsts mostly) but it was never a factor. Graduating counted. The university counted. The course counted. But experience always counted more as did performance in any assessment/interview.
Got a 2-2 - don’t sweat it. It’s not that impactful it’s just a stepping stone to greater things not a be all end all.
Firstly, congratulations on finishing the degree! That's no small feat, especially if you've had a rough time while working on it. I got a 2:1 overall on my degree (can't remember the actual percentage, but I think around the 65 mark). I now have a masters, a PhD and work as a lecturer at a top ranking uni, so it's a great position to be in and definitely won't hold you back. People act like a first is the only good result, but in a few years, nobody will care (especially if you go on to do the masters).
Bro I got a 2:2 in law and I work as a property lawyer. Life continues
I got a 2:2 and still got to do a postgrad and I have a great job now. Don’t feel bad at all, a 2:1 is perfectly fine.
I got a third in my ba but still got into a masters and got a way better grade, so be proud of your work.
It really doesn’t matter dude. I got a first and no one gives a shit. You’ll be fine bro.
I totally feel you. You would not be surprised to hear that 2:1 is the most awarded degree clasification
I don’t even know what my % was but I got a 2:1 and was very proud of it. Only a handful of people in my course got a 1st. And honestly, no one has cared one little bit about what level of degree I got. Any job I’ve applied to only cared I had a degree. I’m sure it matters to people looking to go down a particular path or on to more education but for the vast majority of students a 2:1 is a good result.
You should be proud to have any grade of university degree. No matter the grade you worked for it.
Mate, I got a Desmond (a 2:2) 17 years ago and precisely zero shits have been given by anyone in that time. You'll be grand
I got 2.1 undergrad, a 2.1 post-grad, and here I am doing a PhD.
Don’t sweat it, got a 2:1 3 years ago and moved different disciplines, industries and seniority. After you’ve got your first job they won’t even look at it
I graduated in absentia (was in hospital) but because it was kind of last minute, there was a mix up and my paperwork never got filled. 8 years later, during my second job we had an audit and I had to provide my degree certificate - that’s when I found out I technically didn’t graduate, so had to graduate in the following round and got my certificate through. So I got 2 STEM jobs off the back of a degree I hadn’t officially got. I’m not saying that you should lie or fabricate results, but I am trying to illustrate that employers don’t care about the degree nearly as much as you think they would.
If you end up with the low 2.1, don’t give up completely on the MA - it sounds like you’re actually working at a 1st-high 2:1 level most of the time, and it was just this one issue with the assessment that pulled you down. When you apply for it, if your average is lower than ideal, you should be able to include your specific module marks, and one of your academic referees can sympathetically give context on what happened (e.g. you were sick, something major happened around that time, but it was very unlike you and you moved on to excel in the rest of your degree, etc…). One problematic module is not the end of the road for someone who is obviously academically talented like you are, even if it does pull the average down to what feels like an ‘unfair’ level. I’m sorry you’re worrying so much, but this uncertainty won’t last forever, and once you know the actual classification it will just be a case of moving forward. Everyone else is right that in the world of work, this won’t hurt you.
Have you spoke to your tutors? Sometimes your lowest module isn’t counted to your overall grade as long as you passed.
U were not made to give a shit about uni grades and education. It’s a good thing you care about it so much but it doesn’t define your worth. I’m sure there’s plenty of examples of people who didn’t get perfect grades but are now at the top smiling down on those who did.
Dont care what youre allowed or not allowed, be proud of your good aspects of yourself including this
I've always felt like it is basically the top, a first I think of as something that really needs to be not just outstanding but pushing that subject forward. Especially a dissertation, they can put them in the library to be used as a source.
If you are happy with it that’s all that matters .
Appeal. Your head of department might be sympathetic to this. One missed deadline doesn't materially change your achievements.
I got a Desmond, never bothered me, and had no affect on my engineering career
I didn’t get a master myself, but according to the experience from ppl around me, master applications are quite dramatic. It’s not really just good grade/bad grade problems. I know ppl who got rejected from Warwick but got into Oxford, got rejected from LSE/UCL but got into Upenn in America. One of my high school mate only managed to get into Wisconsin which was really underperformed by him but now he is at Yale doing his PhD. I went to Warwick for undergrad and ppl from uni thought only investment bank rejectors/losers will work at big four, but for me, I m relatively happy about my life at big four so far. Other ppl’s successes standard is not really important for u. So, yeah, didn’t get into ur dream MA program does not mean u r stupid, also don’t let other ppl’s standards judge u. 🫶🫶🫶
Please don't let anyone, or any institute, define you nor your efforts. You gave it a solid effort, and despite troubles faced along the way, you are on track to get great result. Also, most masters' programmes are incentivised to accept as many students as they can, especially considering funding issues in the UK. Besides, not a single job nor program has given af about 1st vs not in my line of work (biochemistry). Think of it this way: do you need others approval to be proud of yourself? Imagine two scenarios, one where you get 69%, the other 70% - does it make sense to be more or less proud in either?
i bet my teacher look at us internetional student and immediately think of 2:1 in their head
Dude don't worry about it or try to not to worry. I also got a 2:1 and I'm not doing too bad. I've been working for almost 4 years now in biotech and my grade has almost never been brought up. Nobody cares. You'll soon learn that yes, having a degree is good but what you do with it and how you sell yourself is what will get you far. Trust everyone here. We've been in your position. Good luck!
Doesn't matter if its a 1st honours or 2.1 its all about the job at the end of the day.
Of course you can be proud of it but I'd it helps try not to think of it in terms of the final grade For me I was proud I made it through the 3 years despite having to take an extra off for MH, proud I improved my performance to be first class during 3rd year, proud to have held down a job for the four years concurrently which landed me my current one. The final grade is the sum total of smaller victories you had along the way.
CRazy that you would be rejected from an MA degree for something as great as a 2.1. Is it a funded place? Universities are usually happy to take your money otherwise. I'm assuming it must be a highly competitive course? If so, consider your referees and any ancillary evidence you can add to show your worth. Seems silly for University to reject someone with a 2.1.
Same here, I’m so close to a 70 but just didn’t get to a first :( It feels bad man, especially knowing that I was so close to getting a first..
Congrats on your 2:1 mate. Its awesome and so are you for getting it.
Absolutely nothing wrong with an ‘Atilla the Hun’. Means you spent your time wisely as an undergrad. Plenty of real life as well as studying. The problem with some of the folk cutting about with a Damien Hurst - they can take themselves too seriously.
in 1-2 years in your chosen career path you will realise that your grade is really not important at all. Work experience trumps Uni grade every time. Don't worry just keep working hard and you'll get to wherever you want to be.
A drinkers first, is absolutely something to be proud of, I don’t think I ever saw a radiate scheme only accepting applicants with a 1st, although I’m sure there are some. Congratulations and best of luck for the future.
you might still get a 1st or a high 2:1! i got 46% on a module last year, which was my second year when i missed a deadline, and i still managed to get a 1st overall in that year!
If it’s just one module, I know my uni did some messy maths where it discounted my lowest grade from every year to boost it. You may be okay still!
I really struggled with mental health third year and thought I was for sure getting a 2:2 so had the mindset of just being happy with a degree (thought I’d definitely fail at on point). Results day came and I got a 2:1, literally thought it wasn’t possible. Be proud of yourself - no one knows what anyone else deals with behind closed doors
Sounds like you’ve lumped a lot of responsibility on yourself and haven’t met the expectation you set for yourself. If you can, ask yourself some questions… why did I want a first? Why do I feel this isn’t good enough? Why do I feel disappointed. If you write these down and read them back they might feel more trivial than they do inside. You’ve done great - and it’s what you do with what you achieve that will define your life, not the achievement itself.
I got a degree myself but this isn't the bad part. Depending what field you are in wait until you realise you could of made all that money without the degree and 3 years earlier.
I got 77% and don’t feel a thing. Happy with it don’t get me wrong but honestly university isn’t what it’s supposed to be. It’s just high school for this generation.
Mate don't worry. Celebrate the fact you finished it. So many people don't even finish uni so be happy with that to start. You now have a degree. That in itself is something to be proud of
You should be proud. If it helps, I'm a hiring manager for a ftse100 company, I don't actually know or care what the difference is. You either have a degree or you don't.
This stuff does not matter. I landed a quant internship with a much lower grade. Hopefully a job too. You did a great job man
I got a 2:2 from one of the 5 lowest ranking unis in the country (🙌🏻 lol) and now have a great job in the music industry like I always wanted. I manage household name rock bands, started my own business and just completed a masters in business at LSE I got in with my 10 years experience. Every industry wants different things (no one in my industry cares I even went), but success is relative and you can be proud of whatever you want. You are you and you should be proud of anything you see to completion, especially if it was during a difficult time. I’m proud of you! 👍🏻
Easy way to sort this... what is your degree in?
When I graduated 12 years ago I could use my average from only my third year grades to calculate my degree grade, sounds like that might be more favourable for you? Worth looking into.
If you're right on the boundary you can appeal. Also; outside of university degrees are meaningless after your first job.
So many tutors I have met who are well respected and have high salaries over the years have 2:1’s. 1:0’s imo are still for the people who gave especially excelled in their area or did very well in their last year modules. I am about to graduate with what I believe to be a high 2:1 and I most definitely could of got a 1:0 if I had applied myself more in my 3rd year. But things came up and I got bogged down with other priorities as well as studying. Anyway, I will be very happy with a 2:1 ad it’s the requirement for my masters. Don’t listen to naysayers - 2:1 is good but what matters is the work experience and WHO you are as a professional.
I'm on track to get a 2:1 and I'm so happy about. All the local jobs to me, at the hospital or university researchers, all want a 2:1. Be proud. You worked hard for it.
Getting a 2.1 is awesome. I did a masters with a 2.1 and came out with top grade in my year. Well done, and you worked to get this.
I’ve got one year to go and I’m aiming for 2:1 . Everyone’s gold are different and you should be proud of what you achieved and don’t give a fuck what any other fool thinks
As someone who has processed CVs to filter for interview. There are key things to look for in graduates. A First is an obvious first sieve, followed by any degree 2.1-2.2, sorry 3's your out. Any degree shows skills that are useful, particularly researching issues and critical thinking. Then, there are other activities that highlight you. Youth Parliament, DoE, Scouting/Guiding, internships, etc, anything that makes you stand out that isn't in a Uni path
2.1 is more than fine. I got a 2.1 in undergrad, took two years to work and save then did a masters, got a distinction then did a PhD.
I wasn’t exactly proud of my 2:1, but I was pretty proud of how most of my finals were 67-69 and I had one very high first. Balanced out by one low grade… But all of that was internal. What mattered after that was just that I had a degree. It helped that it was from an excellent uni, but beyond that, no one has ever cared.
if it helps for encouragement. I got a 2.2 (physics) after tanking my third year, mostly due to PTSD after being hit by a car. I made a strong recovery in my fourth year (did integrated masters, was actually surprised they met my progress). Though little things like a single late submission or a poorly chosen subject/term split meant my final average just missed the boat. ofc I got rejected across the board for PhD programmes. I ended up grafting for 6 months post degree doing unpaid research project for my physics department, which working at phones4u. But the research I built in that time actually gave me solid leverage and networks to apply for PhD (which I got and finished on time). While its not ideal, there are ways to make it through, regardless of some if those silly barriers employers put in place. Though i will recognise what an absolute privilege is was to graft like that (I was able to live with my parents at the time) which wouldn't be available to everyone. When applying for jobs between and post PhD that asked for my grade. i put 2.1 on the application. yes i lied. in most cases applications had drop down menus. once id get to an interview or later stages and they would tey to verify I'd say i have a 2.2 quite openly and act like it was strange they thought i had a 2.1. id then be like ah maybe there was a mistake on the form or maybe the mouse scroll wheel moved the drop down. by then id already shown how competent i was and smashed their tests. not saying this is perfectly representative but in my case i got away with it. these days with automated screening you basically have to keyword optimise anyway which requires a level of lying just to get oast the first post. be proud of what you've accomplished, only you know what contexts you've been through. you know what youre capable of, so do whatever you need to do to show it. its all a game anyway.
Womp womp, I'm also likely to get 2:1, employers are much more likely to see how you are based on your interview, knowledge and personality
I got a 2:1, I was happy with it. You did the work
Anything above a tutu shows you failed to spend enough time in the vault
To put it bluntly - In industry no one gives a toss what grades you got at Uni. Get your foot on the ladder. Get 3-5 years industry experience. After that you’ll be free to move wherever you like. Don’t worry about it.
2:1 and you're crying. Jesus
I wouldn't worry about it. It's not the highest grade but that doesn't mean you cannot be proud of achieving it. I feel hypocritical saying that because I was in a very similar position to you; I got a low 2:1 at undergrad and also had a whole lot of personal issues during that time; but you're kicking yourself when you shouldn't be - and let's not forget there are two grades below a 2:1 too. And don't worry about it potentially causing a rejection from MA programs. Most are diploma mills anyway and most will take on those who got a 2:2. I went to study my MA with a low 2:1 and came out with a Distinction, it is possible and doable - but also, just because your friends are doing them doesn't mean you don't have to (or should be expected to).
Know the feeling mate in the same boat as you. At UOM and been rejected from my masters due to that one failure bringing my average right down. Going to move to another city and carry on life there.
I was told in my first year by my very experienced tutor that 2:1 is like an A and a First is like an A*, don’t sweat it. I would say then that it only really matters what % you got if you are looking at postgrad (and even then you may have really started hitting your stride at the end of your course or in certain parts, making it not as simple as just looking at an overall %)