Hi, I'm going to graduate this summer and think I'll miss out a 1st by a fraction (B++ average on the modules that wil be used to class my degree). I've applied and been interviewed for 1+3 ESRC places in psychology/sociology departments and have been told by each one that my interview was excellent, my proposal really interesting but they prefered to give the place to a candidate with a 1st already in the bag - which makes me furious as if they'd decided that criterion in advance then why even invite me, get my hopes up, waste my money etc..
Consequently, I'm thinking about doing an MRes or similar ESRC approved masters and applying for +3 places. Will it be though that the lack of a 1st will doom me, however well I do on the masters? At 40 years old with a family, I both need funding and need to think long and hard before I blow another tranche of savings on possibly worthless education...
Any advice/opinion welcome.