Degrees
Author
Discussion

porkus

Original Poster:

464 posts

258 months

Thursday 2nd February 2006
quotequote all
I just got my degree results and got a 2:2 plus in Computer Science (SE)
Now although I am reasonably happy I was disappointed not to get a 2:1 and some ppl think a 2:2 isnt that good a degree these days
Do you think it will hinder my prospects?
Or is it better to have a science based 2:2 rather than a 2:1 in say a subject like Art,Psychology, Beauty Therapy etc for jobs prospects?
I really wanted to be a Software bod but now I think I wont stand a chance

J1mmyD

1,823 posts

250 months

Thursday 2nd February 2006
quotequote all
A drinking degree!!!!!!!

Will it hold you back? Depends what you're wanting to use it for. I reckon if you were planning on joining the NSA, you're screwed ... but you want to settle in to writing games or something else then it's probably not going to be a real problem - just dazzle em at your interview.

Pat H

8,058 posts

287 months

Thursday 2nd February 2006
quotequote all
I have a 2:2 in Geography.

Never did me any harm.

Mind you, it never did me any good, either.....

Muncher

12,235 posts

280 months

Thursday 2nd February 2006
quotequote all
In IT a degree wouldn't make that much difference. The industry seems to be much more experience driven.

pAntscat

996 posts

258 months

Thursday 2nd February 2006
quotequote all
Aye - don't panic!

I've not got a degree and yet I was an IT Manager running a 300-ish workstation, 6 server network at the age of 19. In fact... I still am... but that's because they keep paying me more.

It seems to me that whether you have a degree or not you still have to start out in a quite junior role... but it won't be long before they start to see how amazing you are and promote you to IT Gorilla (rather than IT monkey y'see).

Back to the airing cupboard for me now.

deckster

9,631 posts

286 months

Thursday 2nd February 2006
quotequote all
porkus said:
I just got my degree results and got a 2:2 plus in Computer Science (SE)
Now although I am reasonably happy I was disappointed not to get a 2:1 and some ppl think a 2:2 isnt that good a degree these days
Do you think it will hinder my prospects?
Or is it better to have a science based 2:2 rather than a 2:1 in say a subject like Art,Psychology, Beauty Therapy etc for jobs prospects?
I really wanted to be a Software bod but now I think I wont stand a chance


I got a third in computer science and was gutted.

It hasn't made a blind bit of difference to my career - started out as a software developer and am now a senior consultant designing multi-million pound computer systems for multinational corporations. As long as you come across well at interview and genuinely know what you're talking about then the class of degree is more-or-less irrelevant - so don't worry about it, raise a few glasses to the spoddy dweebs with their shiny firsts and look forward to the rest of your life

simpo two

93,032 posts

296 months

Thursday 2nd February 2006
quotequote all
Ditto here. I don't think it makes any real difference.

Just say the dog ate your dissertation

FunkyNige

9,855 posts

306 months

Thursday 2nd February 2006
quotequote all
I got a third and I'm exactly where I wanted to be at this time of my life
OK I spent the last 2 years getting an HNC to prop up my degree, but in that time I had a fantastic job and a had great time studying part time.

randlemarcus

13,646 posts

262 months

Thursday 2nd February 2006
quotequote all
Thirded. From someone with a Third. As a fairly senior consultant with a Large Japanese Firm, best advice is to concentrate on the rarer IT skills - washing, dressing well, and having various soft skills. Done me far more good than tossing it off writing another compiler

medicineman

1,823 posts

268 months

Thursday 2nd February 2006
quotequote all
Doesn't make a blind bit of difference, it you come across better in an interview than person with 2.1 the jobs yours. after that its experience.

porkus

Original Poster:

464 posts

258 months

Thursday 2nd February 2006
quotequote all
Thanks people
I feel lots better now

sparkythecat

8,108 posts

286 months

Thursday 2nd February 2006
quotequote all
porkus said:
I just got my degree results and got a 2:2


I think that you'll find the correct nomenclature to be 'Desmond'

As in " I've got a Desmond in Computer Science"

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

32,039 posts

266 months

Thursday 2nd February 2006
quotequote all
90% of employers don't know a 2:1 from a 2:2.

A degree in a relevant subject is the most important, if they score the degree at all.

v-spec

779 posts

282 months

Thursday 2nd February 2006
quotequote all
Pat H said:
I have a 2:2 in Geography.



Me too, BSc Geography from Lancaster

I understand what you're feeling. I was on for a 2:1 and was a bit upset. My dissertation - about cars incidentally - got marks ranging from a 1st to a 3rd, in the end they went for an "average" mark and that's what swung it. Nobody had done anything like that before, and they didn't know how to handle it

I was a bit surprised that my uni worked with percentages, and that every year the "lines" betweem 1, 2:1, 2:2 and 3 shift depending on how clever the year is! I contested mine based on this (I was really borderline) but didn't get anywhere. If I'd been in the year before, I would have got a 2:1.

On the other hand, I've taken all the opportunities that have come along so far in my life, have a 'vette in the garage and wouldn't change a thing!

lizzieh

187 posts

250 months

Thursday 2nd February 2006
quotequote all
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
90% of employers don't know a 2:1 from a 2:2.

A degree in a relevant subject is the most important, if they score the degree at all.

depends on what you do. I was borderline in my law degree but ended with a 2:2 and I'm tearing my hair out trying to find a job.

Psychobert

6,318 posts

287 months

Thursday 2nd February 2006
quotequote all
porkus said:
I just got my degree results and got a 2:2 plus in Computer Science (SE)

Or is it better to have a science based 2:2 rather than a 2:1 in say a subject like Art,Psychology, Beauty Therapy etc


You might find a 2:2 doesn't open some of the doors that a 1st does now, but once you've got experience down the line it will make little difference.

Personally I found it quite helpful to have a science degree in Psychology, given that I'm now a Chartered Psychologist specialising in business consultancy.

PetrolTed

34,468 posts

334 months

Thursday 2nd February 2006
quotequote all
Don't worry about it. I don't have a degree and I enjoyed a great career in IT before my present situation where I now head up a team of err... developer... me.

Mr_C

2,508 posts

260 months

Thursday 2nd February 2006
quotequote all
I'm supposed to be doing a Uni assignment at the moment... that's in for tomorrow.

I've got no interest in doing it I wish I'd done maths or something like that. The assignment I'm doing is for Product Design... I may fail.


Paul

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

32,039 posts

266 months

Thursday 2nd February 2006
quotequote all
lizzieh said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
90% of employers don't know a 2:1 from a 2:2.

A degree in a relevant subject is the most important, if they score the degree at all.

depends on what you do. I was borderline in my law degree but ended with a 2:2 and I'm tearing my hair out trying to find a job.


'tis true. I was referring to general employment, rather than specialisms, where the score may be critical.

Good luck!

ATG

23,841 posts

303 months

Thursday 2nd February 2006
quotequote all
porkus said:
Or is it better to have a science based 2:2 rather than a 2:1 in say a subject like Art,Psychology, Beauty Therapy etc
The UK is short of people who are numerate and people with IT skills, so a Com Sci Desmond is a good thing to have. Is it better than a 2:1 in Beauty Therapy? Not for an aspiring hairdresser, no. Looking at your collection of bikes I suspect you aren't a hairdresser.

>> Edited by ATG on Thursday 2nd February 21:01