So your all fed up with my uni threads......

BUT, i need this clearing up in my head.

Its not to do with any amps or essays so no worries there, its purely advice related now. Pretty much, i will admit, i have wasted this chance at uni, i have put very little effort in over the last two years, partly due to enjoying too much time with the ex, partly to do with enjoying too much time with the bike, but mostly due to just being plain lazy. Now its hit me that im not going to get a result that i really would have hoped for.....oh im taking a Ba (hons) contemporary popular music

For those that dont know here is how the marking goes, i will start from the best-worst:

Class 1
Class 2: division 1
Class 2: division 2
Class 3 : pass
Borderline pass
FAIL

Now so far, as much as i can work out i am firmly in the class 2:2 bracket. Now i would say that is fairly average and really would be disapointed (yes its my fault and no im nto looking to blame anyone!)

So what would you guys do? I have no idea what i want to do job wise, so would probably end up in a job i didnt want or with little prospects.

Should i retake this second year? Yes it will be another £3k on loan from the lovelly but not so cheap student loan company, but i know that i have the potential to get up into that class 1 bracket.

Really have no idea where to go, its alot of money, and im fed up with working part time, having little money bla bla bla.

HELP ME ORG!!!!

Ash.

[Lissa]

If you really believe you can knuckle down, work hard and improve your grade, then re-take the year.

If you have any doubts, and think you'll just fall into the same pattern, don't bother.

Only you truly know the answer to that.

[flymo]

Will it really make that much difference to the career that you want to follow? If not then dont waste another year of your life, grab it with both hands and get on with it.

[Messie]

I disagree. A degree is a degree and very soon after achieving it, no-one cares what class it was.

The degree will get you an interview (along with a well-written CV). From there it is entirely up to you how ell you perform at interview and ultimately in the job.
Don't be put off by the stupid term 'second class' degree. Try thinking of it in gardes, A,B,C etc.

TBH is the extra debt really worth it?

[keith_d]

But, do you have the determination to haul your ass into the 1st class bracket? If so, in which subject??

I'm not sure a BA (Hons) in pop music is the most salable degree, and you're going to be entering a very competitive market. So, I'd add a third option to the list...

1) Complete a 2:2 (or maybe 2:1) degree in contemporary music and come out into a jobs market during some fairly tough times.

2) Work your ass off for two more years and hopefully get a 1st. Join the job market a year later and hope things have improved.

3) Jump into something more salable, work your ass off for two years to catch up and get a decent grade and hope the job market has improved enough to make it worthwhile.

Just my thoughts,

Keith.

[jambo]

Depending entirely how your course is marked, could a stellar 3rd year drag you up to a 2:1? If so, that's the best motivation I can think of to actually work your socks off next year.

For my money, I'd progress to the next year, see if you can advance the mark any and get the qualification, a year extra to go up a grade? I wouldn't have bothered myself.

Jambo

Edit: frankly I'm with Keith d. What's your long term plan? Are there jobs out there for people with 1sts, and nothing for those with 2:2s, or is this just something you want to feel better about? Unless resitting the year is absolutly going to make the difference for a job, dont re-sit.

Try and get a job, if that fails, re-take the year. Decision made!

Qualifications are far from being the be-all-and-end-all of a career...!

Its more a case of i have no idea what i want to do in my career, and yes i think i could get it up to a first as all of these assignments were left until the last week .

I see what you are saying about wasting a year, but am i really going to get into a good job right now, or is this doom and gloom all media bull???

I had thought about starting a course in something completely different but the one that interests me most - mechanics, wouldn't exactly be easy to get into either, and starting off as an apprentice aged 20?

Originally Posted by Messie

I disagree. A degree is a degree and very soon after achieving it, no-one cares what class it was.

I stopped reading down this thread after the above comment - Messie is absolutely right.

The only difference a 2:2 will ake compared to a higher result will be if you want to go into academia/post-grad research immediately after your first degree. And even then it might not matter.

Be proud of your 2:2, walk tall and get on with your life - it's what you do when working that matters in the long run.

If you're getting a degree and have no idea what you want to do for your career, I'd say stick it out and give it your best from now until the end. You'll either pull it off and get what you want to achieve, but if you don't, at the end of it you'll still have a degree and you won't have taken an extra year over it.

With respect to starting an apprenticeship at 20, it's not uncommon. I'm 19 and still struggling to get into something, so I've just been working til I can. It's not media fluff, there really isn't a lot out there, and for every job there is, there are hundreds of people after it. Not to mention the amount of work companies want you to do for meagre salaries!

If I was you I'd have a think about what I want to do. If I didn't know, I'd stick it out and get the degree, and hopefully there will be more chance of finding work once it's over.