How can I realistically bounce back from a 3rd class dgree in maths?
Posted by Material-Water-6892@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 32 comments
so yeah in my 2nd year I got 52%, in my 3rd year I flopped 2 exams and they were capped at 40% so I ended up with a 3rd class degree (48%).
What can I realistically do to bounce back in life?
Rn I’m just working in transportation and delivering stuff across the country earning just over minimum wage, and volunteering as a tutor to help disadvantaged kids
My A levels were AAA and GCSEs are 9988777765 if that makes a difference
I want to get into teaching as it’s my passion to help others learn but PGCEs all require a 2:2
Im also thinking of joining West Midlands police on their entry programme to train and hopefully become a detective
JohnCasey3306@reddit
Your degree classification only really matters if you're looking to progress in academia, or apply for a graduate scheme ... Elsewhere, nobody cares what classification you got, I doubt anyone will ever even ask.
uniquelyRelevant16@reddit
Do you know what subject you'd like to teach? I work in university admissions and for postgraduate courses there's way more flexibility in terms of entry criteria compared to undergraduate.
Each application is looked out by an academic and an administrator in admissions. If you have the subject you want to teaching in as an A-level that will hold weight in your application. You also said you've been volunteering as a tutor which is brilliant, demonstrate this and your passion for teaching in your personal statement.
Some PGCE courses will offer Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) programme as a condition if they feel that you need to develop your skills before joining the PGCE.
Your application as whole will be considered and not just thrown away because you have a third class degree. Don't give up on your passion!
Material-Water-6892@reddit (OP)
Secondary Maths
throwawayonathrow@reddit
Definitely still apply, I’m a secondary geography teacher and we are crying out for good maths teachers!!! I did a SCITT rather than PGCSE and it was great.
uniquelyRelevant16@reddit
I say still apply. I'm confident you have grade A in A-level maths or A-level further maths as that's usually required to study maths at undergraduate. If you've also been tutoring in maths then these are all bonuses and will be taken into consideration alongside your maths degree.
Have a look at what universities you're interested in and drop them an email beforehand if you're not wanting to apply to be rejected. They will be able to let you know if they will consider an application from you or if their entry criteria is strict.
I believe you can get into teaching, especially for maths as this is a core subject. You may have to broaden your horizons on the universities you're applying for.
All the best, you've got this !
ross-dirext-words137@reddit
Masters degree might be the way to go if you're hitting roadblocks.
But you need to phone these admissions and recruitment departments and discuss your circumstances with them and get tailored advice. As police and teaching ar very narrow hiring practices. It's not like private sector where there are 100 companies all doing things a bit differently.
Polz34@reddit
Things must have changed as I got a 3rd in my degree and still got on the PGCE in FE (Further Education) due to a strong interview, are you 100% sure no university would take you?
FYI - I turned out alright so don't panic too much!
Material-Water-6892@reddit (OP)
What university?
Polz34@reddit
Derby, but this was 2006! Just did a quick google and a few university's did say they would consider someone with a third but would be based on the subject and interview so maybe worthwhile you doing some research as pretty sure Maths is still a 'CORE' subject
Difficult_Egg_4350@reddit
A PGCE isn't the only way to get into teaching. My partner also got a 3rd at uni. He worked as a cover teacher in a school for a few years, then did about 50% of his timetable as an unqualified teacher teaching his subject. The school liked him, doing cover sort of proves you are good at behaviour management and his classes did well in his subject, so he did a programme that I think is called Schools Direct, where the school basically put him forward for doing his teacher training alongside work. It was through TES I think. I know a few schools near me offer similar things or have an on site SKITT - worth looking into these. Private schools are also sometimes more willing to have unqualified teachers in my experience, so if you wanted to build up a bit of teaching experience might be worth looking there too.
Potential-Ad-3126@reddit
Have you considered teaching abroad? Won't need a PGCE just a TEFL course and you could even do that and then travel for a bit. I presume you're pretty young so would probably be the best thing you ever do.
Sweet_Confusion9180@reddit
Highly reccomend!
It won't make you rich but you will get to travel / really experience another country.
You can do a TEFL course in the UK / online or do a course abroad which is a very fun experience.
I did mine in Costa Rica and still teach part time online.
RoyofBungay@reddit
Just don’t do one of those cornflake packet online TEFL courses. Think of a country you would like to visit and do a CELTA course. It’s the gold standard entry levels cert that can open many doors for you. You will get a good grounding in ESL and teach 8 observed lessons. Mind you, it can be an intensive month, as you will be doing lesson prep,teaching, theory, observing your fellow students etc. With two years experience though and a speciality such as IELTS or BEC you could earn £25-30 ph.
ClockAccomplished381@reddit
I can speak from experience here, I got a 3rd class Hons in maths (combined honours with another subject) and like you I had strong academic performance prior to uni (AAB at alevel in the days before a, and 3a 5a 1b at GCSE).
The approach I took was to just list my degree as an Honours on my CV. Some people assume an honours must be at least a 2:2. Then if I was asked about what classification I got, I would be honest but position it as a blip proven by my strong performance at school.
Another thing I did a bit later was study a Masters with OU alongside working. That is now my highest qualification, and I also got a Merit so it sort of masks the underlying bad degree, people assume I can't be that thick if I have an MSc.
Probably not what you want to hear but I ended up taking a crap job after uni. I worked my way up from there, it took a while but my income from employment is now around 98th percentile so you can get there with a bit of graft if you're smart enough. Basically my degree didn't get me anywhere work wise but once you've got your foot in the door to a decent employer/career it's not something many people care about. I doubt any of my employers would know what I studied at uni for example unless they looked it up.
j_gm_97@reddit
If you go for the Police, which is a good option despite the opinions of many, don’t join a direct entry detective route.
The job is crying out for detectives and that’s why this entry route was created. There’s a reason they can’t get existing experienced PCs to become DCs, it’s hell, it’s nothing like on TV, there’s no action and very little interesting activities. It’s soul crushing office work, huge high risk case loads that are impossible to manage.
Join as a PC, get real policing experience then after 2 years (which will fly by) if you still want to be a detective they’ll bite your hand off and bend over backwards to accommodate you.
ProudMastodon1@reddit
Become an accountant. Any maths degree goes a long way in the profession
eternal_entropy@reddit
I got a pass for my degree, with no honors or anything. It’s not held me back, in fact I’ve a higher paying job than my husband who has a Masters and MPhil.
I don’t have any advice on how to get into teaching , but just wanted to say a bad degree grade isn’t the worst thing. There are different routes to get to destinations.
ApprehensiveKey1469@reddit
You can apply to teach at private schools. Save up and do a teaching qualification.
Worldly_Wafer_6635@reddit
Dude just lie, ain’t nobody checking.
confusing_roundabout@reddit
That's not true. My first role out of uni wasn't even a "graduate" role but they still asked for a copy of my degree certificate which they verified with the university.
Nobody checks for your second job but when you're straight out of uni and the degree is the main reason they're hiring you, they almost certainly will check. Or at least there's enough of a possibility of them checking that you shouldn't lie.
scuderia91@reddit
I got my degree as an “ordinary” degree, so no honours, no grade, just “pass”. And it’s not held me back in the slightest.
Material-Water-6892@reddit (OP)
What do you do for work?
scuderia91@reddit
Automotive engineering
TheeDeme@reddit
If you are interested in teaching, due to having a degree in a sought after subject, you may have a chance of getting onto a PGCE. I would contact the universities and discuss your options with them.
himit@reddit
You ever looked into ADHD? Stellar secondary grades and flunking university is quite common.
Not that it changes the situation you're in, but finding out if & how your brain may work different can really help you learn how to work with it.
Sundaecide@reddit
I'm a teacher, if you're serious about getting into teaching - load up on experience in schools, look into non-teachin pastoral roles and get yourself acclimatised to school life and then see if your school/trust does SCITT programs (sort of like a teaching apprenticeship, though it's ALOT of work), which are more work based. The requirement is normally a 2:2 minimum but for a standout applicant a lot of places will flex that (especially in a shortage subject like Maths). You could do some upskilling/subject knowledge courses too to show that you are serious.
Be upfront about your degree, your A levels and GCSEs, although less important, do show a track record of ability. If your degree transcript shows that your grades were otherwise OK you could perhaps fight your corner but you're unlikely to be heard out as a stranger off the street - so get yourself into the hearts and minds of the people who make decisions and show you are capable and passionate.
Material-Water-6892@reddit (OP)
Yep, I already signed up to do work experience at 2 schools in July (they’re only 1 day each tho)
And I’m gonna stay in the volunteer tutoring job
Severus_1987@reddit
Got a 2:2 and now earn a six figure salary. Friend of mine got a third and now very senior somewhere earning good money. It’s not the end of the world, get a little bit of work experience under your belt and nobody will ask your grade anymore
Rare-Quantity5503@reddit
I got a 2-2 in Maths, education wasn’t really for me. Good enough to get by without effort until uni. I then focused on what I was good at and at 36, life couldn’t really be better.
You can turn it around, focus on what will get you working. What will you get home and want to keep working on.
I got a job, worked it but came home and worked on something else. Eventually that became my full time job and eventually I all but retired.
Find your drive.
confusing_roundabout@reddit
A friend of mine got an ordinary degree (no grade or honours) in archaeology and was able to get into a PGCE course and is now a physics teacher.
The big downside is that it wasn't funded so he essentially missed out on the free 26k. It was a very rough year for him but it was worth it in the end.
You might be able to get onto a masters course and get a better grade on that, but I'm not sure how doable that would be. Would also be costly.
Severe_Mastodon8072@reddit
If you want to teach, do you have any interest in teaching English as a foreign language? Your degree class shouldn’t be a barrier there.
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