Is a 2.2 degree the end of the world??

I hope that I'll get a 2.1 degree, but the way I'm going it could be a 2.2. So I shouldn't be that worried, just hope that I do well and try hard whatever?
 
dowie said:
I wouldn't believe everything recruiters tell you. I'd wager that there probably are quite a few people in sales and trading without degrees but less so in investment banking and in any case most of the people without degrees have probably been around for a while. Its far tougher to get into these days - certainly nepotism is still prevalent in some places but these days HR is stricter and there is a lot of competition for investment banking and other front office roles. For someone to get a job based on some old school tie connection would require someone very senior (global head of XYZ etc..) most hiring managers in banks still have to get approval from HR.

As for the back office thing - thats sort of my point behind why it is a good option - tis a fairly mundane job (no offence intended) but is well paid and can in some cases lead to other things. Good option to pursue for someone with a 2.2 especially if you're motivate to perform better than your peers and get yourself noticed.
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I used to work in IT for an investment bank (I have a 2.2 as well FWIW) and there were quite a few people in sales and trading who had worked up from trade support over the years even though they didn't have stellar qualifications.

As for the whole 2.2 thing, it's never done me any harm. As mentioned above I used to work for a big IB and now have a job as a development lead for a large consultancy.
To be honest I don't think anyone even notices what grade your degree is after a few years experience.
 
GlasgowTitan said:
Hey folks, I'm in my final year of an engineering degree at Strathclyde uni (so a fairly decent uni for engineers) and I am leaning towards the possibility of not achieving the 2.1 that I wanted :(

I'm currently sitting on 58% - so 2% off a 2.1 however a couple classes this year have not gone to plan and so I dont think I can recover back to a good average. Anyway to my point, I haven't started looking for graduate jobs yet, want to take a year off. But when I do I'm a bit concerned that the majority of the graduate programs I have seen (for most disciplines not just engineering) all stipulate a minimum of a 2.1. I've yet to see a program that will accept 2.2's.

So basically where will a 2.2 take me apart from shelf stacking....?
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Firstly a 2:2 is not the end of the world, nor is a third. A 2:1 helps a lot in the early stages once you leave uni and if you are trying to get into your first job.

However in terms of long term earning potential, that is down to your own ability in your chosen job / role.

The most important aspect of you, your qualifications, degree, A levels and so on is you. I know loads of people at southampton uni that got firsts but had the social skills of a pile of cow dung. Their degree opened doors but longer term didn't help them.

If you are serious about engineering, then it will be worth you doing a masters in your chosen field. This is way more useful than having a 2:1 and totally negates your 2:2. If you get a 2:2 you may have to fund the masters yourself as the EPSRC is unlikely to fund it for you. However from an employer point of view, the masters will set you above the crowd and give you a long term advantage.

Equally, you want to get chartered in the relevant engineering field. That will make the biggest difference to your salary and employability. Find a company to take you through to chartership "CEng" and you are sorted. Degree class does not matter for this. :D
 
neocon said:
Sure, very hard to get a F/O role especially with all foreign talent in London too.

Are you a backoffice monkey?
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nope

Was a trader now working in financial software (yep I know its a strange move to make but there is some logic behind it)
 
Haircut said:
I used to work in IT for an investment bank (I have a 2.2 as well FWIW) and there were quite a few people in sales and trading who had worked up from trade support over the years even though they didn't have stellar qualifications.
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Thats my point - no one is likely to get into a front office role with a 2.2 but there are certainly other options - Back office: operations/IT is very feasible and can lead to better things.

Best trader I knew didn't have a degree but had done his time in trade support and at the time I left my previous place he was one of the biggest (in terms of volume) oil traders on the ICE exchange.
 
I came out with a 2:2 and got a decent job, now working as finance manager with an oil company, with older people with better degrees as underlings.

do the best you can but a 2:2 isnt the end of the world, once you've got that first job under your belt it rarely matters.
 
Just to add my two pence in

Don't ever count your self out of a grade

I approached the end of my third year having done a bit poorly in one module thinking a first was way out of the question. Felt quite low about it as I was always aiming for a first

However, I put the work in still and aimed as if it was still possible

Come results day I had the lovely surprise of getting a First class honours, just goes to show, never count yourself out
 
GlasgowTitan said:
So basically where will a 2.2 take me apart from shelf stacking....?
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Oh please! Why don't you just go an hang yourself now? Seriously a 2.2 is the end of the world - NOT! :p

Right now my bit of sarcasm is out of the way I can answer you question. Your life is what you make it. Study harder if you want a better grade. Sell yourself to the people you want to work for. Push yourself hard.

Sitting back and just bemoaning that life is unfair or whatever will get you nowhere in life. Sit up, be positive and grab life by the horns. Hell if you do have to do some shelf stacking it is still an experience in the path that is your life.
 
Hoping for a 2:1. Only need a 2:2 to get on to the PGCE course i've applied for next year though.

Got a 1st, 2:1 and third grades on my 3 modules in semester 1, so its anyones guess with 4 modules to be marked :p
 
The way I'm going i'll be lucky to get Honours. I messed up badly on a 20 credit module last term due to getting the complete wrong idea about a coursework piece so if I fail another exam i'll just get a 3rd which I will be really disappointed about.

However I've done 3 years summer placement and am sponsored by a Fire Engineering company who have already asked when I would like to start working for them, so I'm hoping it's not going to matter too much what I end up with.

Spent way too much time having fun rather than working and working towards my degree unfortunately, but had the best time of my life so far!
 
OP you will be extremely hard pressed to get a good grad job with a 2.2

I recently had a similar situation where I had a 2.1 (Chemistry from Warwick - great course great uni) but I was lacking in UCAS points. The vast majority of grad employers will reject you outright with no discussion if you do not meet their minimum criteria!

I would advise you to work your arse off for the 2.1 it will be worth it.

on a side note top employers are starting to look at GCSEs as well as A levels ....
 
I got a pass in my degree (lower than a 3rd) after hating my course. After being jobless/temping for a year I got my break and started a grad job on £20k as an assistant project manager. After 6 months got a £5k payrise and a hell of a lot more responsbility, as well as joining the final salary pension scheme. Within a year I should be promoted to project manager (especially as that is the role I am actually doing now) and start to get proper money in. Doing badly on your uni course isn't the end of the world - though I admit I may have lucked out as I have an awesome boss and the company I work for has a friendly atmosphere.

(I may of course have been helped by my previous academic record of a scholarship to Grammar School, All As and A*s at GCSE and AACC at A Level to prove I wasn't thick as ****)
 
Some of my friends have a 2.2 from University, I left with a 2.1 on the course. I would work with them any day of the week as I knew they worked as hard to me to get what they got.

It has to be situational. I also know people who got a 2.2 and I can't stand due to their lazy work ethic and 'skim through life' attitude.
 
A guy i went did chemistry with got a BSc no hons and a pass. He is earning loads of money in sales now, its all about skill rather than marks in that sector. If you want to be an oxbridge don then i guess a 1st is required, for other mortals dont sweat it
 
fear not....i'm on for a 2.1....im in my 3rd year on placement. One of my managers never went to uni and he is earning 60k and driving around in a new lexus ever 4 thousand miles. Not bad for a 45 year old, hope for all of us
 
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