I'm 26 and recently have finished with a third class honours in Human Biosciences. I recently had a job in admin in pharmaceuticals and hated it. it was little more than data entry. I really don't know what to do next as i consulted Prospects and they basically said i couldn't hope for better than the job i had. Is further study or grad schemes possible? At the moment my degree seems a big waste of time and money.
If you can get onto a Masters course (more money you'll have to spend...) and do well in that you stand a much better chance.
You're only 26, so you musnt't give up. My supervisor was passing as I read your message and he gave some thoughts: that, obviously, if you had applied for a PhD straight after graduating with a 3rd, you would probably not be able to compete with 1st class applicants. But a 3rd with work experience in the pharmaceutical field - even admin - is a different matter. Coastman is right about the Masters: even if you have to pay fees, it's better to be short of money for a couple of years now than do a job you don't like for the long term.
Two people in the Pharmacy school here got 3rds originally, but topped it up with Master degrees and now they're Drs, no-one cares about the 3rd class Bachelors anymore.
I have thought of a masters but i do feel that i should really decide on a career before i jump head first in to a considerable debt. At the moment i couldn't afford the fees let alone the living costs. Plus it was the Lab skills that let me down, not really one of my strengths as it turned out.
Hi guys...I'm a final year BSc student in biochemistry and I was thinking of doing a masters as well. Although my final exams are not here yet (I do hope for 2i but I've been getting an average of low 2ii for the past 2 years), I was wondering about the chances of a person with 2ii or even a 3rd class degree holder in applying for a masters. Most masters have a requirement of at least a 2i, especially those involving research (which is crucial for biosciences?)? Any thoughts?
I have looked at a lot of masters courses and most want at least a 2:2 or higher. After talking to course tutors on courses i have been interested in, it is difficult to get on to Masters without a 2:2 but not impossible, there are post grad diplomas that lead to masters or a lot of work experience and committment can persuade admissions of your merit too. However think carefully. Quite a number of my friends have done masters and have said that if you struggle with your degree, the masters is alot harder than a degree.
having a third is no barrier to getting onto a masters, especially if there has been a gap between finishing your degree and applying.
i have a third and have over the years have applied for 3 masters and been accepted for them all, however i only took up the one im currently doing.
even if the stated entry qualifications for a course rule you out, dont let that put you off, as the requirements for my course was a minimun 2:2 yet i still managed to get in and i do know i am not unique in this respect.
the best advice i can give if your going to do this, is to try and speak to the course/admissions tutor before applying, i done this and i beleive it made the difference.
Completely agree with you leigh1. I received a third class for my undergraduate degree and I thought it was the end of the world. I did some enquiring to potential schools I wanted to attend for a Masters. Lo and behold, two Masters (with a Distinction in one of them) later and I am a Research fellow at Harvard Medical School with plans of embarking on a Ph.D. next year. I guess what I'm saying is don't give up hope.
I too have a third class degree and very much gave up the hope of going further. I had been working in the food industry for about seven years when I have the change to do a part time MSc which I have now passed and am currently putting a proposal together for a PhD.
The course tutors were initially worried about my academic qualification but the industrial experiance is what got me on the course.
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