In defence of the Desmond: Why a 2.2 ain’t so bad

Is your degree spiralling downwards towards the dreaded Desmond? Well don’t panic- a 2.2 is nothing to be ashamed of!


The dreaded Desmond: The 50-59 grade boundary which lets us know that we have ‘shown a general sense of relevance to the question though the answer is sometimes wavering and unreflective’.

This branding of “averageness” is slowly destroying the souls of Birmingham students.

Not quite made the cut

Fear not though you mediocre scholars, who like myself, are far too familiar with this shameful stamp of distinctly average work. The Desmond could potentially become the new 2.1.

Let us begin by looking into the wonderful world of two major celebrities who probably chose to hit the vodka rather than the library, the day before handing in a 3000 word essay.

Carol Vorderman

Numero uno: The human calculator that is Carol Vorderman. She didn’t even manage to get a respectable Desmond, but instead settled with a cheeky 3rd in Engineering from Cambridge. Nothing about that situation makes sense to me, but if Cazza can become an MBE with a 3rd then so can we!

Doesn’t look ‘third-rate’ to me

J.K. Rowling

The second Desmond star is Hogwart’s finest. Rowling finished her three years at Exeter with a 2.2 in French and German- a degree that not even the social recluses of Hufflepuff would accept!

Despite this she has become the most successful writer of all time- the Desmond didn’t seem to stop her either.

 

So why do we all feel that our future as a McDonalds cleaner (yes, you cant even serve people in McDonalds with a 2.2) has been decided when we receive a 58 on an essay in which the title never actually made sense?

Rory Sutherland, Vice President of leading marketing and communications company Ogilvy Group UK, argues that those with a mediocre degree usually turn out to be better employees. He raised eyebrows at an interview in which he said: “Headed for a 2:2 or a third? Finish your joint and come and work for us.

“If you’re at university and you’re surrounded by the opposite sex, drink, drugs and parties and general entertainment and you decide to sit in your room reading Thucydides, then you’re probably a bit of weirdo.”

You heard the man- don’t be a weirdo, go get drunk and stuff!

And its not just Mr Sutherland who admits to hiring 2.2 candidates. The myth that you will only be able to work for the big 4 in the financial industry if you get a 2.1 or higher is slammed by PwC’s Outstanding Achievement graduate scheme.

The scheme confirms that if you can show you have valuable experience outside your studies, then you have just as much chance of securing a place.

The list of employers hiring graduates with 2.2’s is longer than the queues for Fab n Friday tickets, with top companies such as Nationwide, Jaguar Land Rover, and Morrisons all accepting a Desmond.

So don’t worry this isn’t going to be you

JUBILATION

The 2.2 isn’t the end of the world. Maybe you shouldn’t give up on the work ethic all together- after all you are investing nine grand a year for the pleasure. But if a 2.2 does come your way, accept it knowing that someone, somewhere will definitely give you the job if you show the right aptitude and commitment.

It’s not all about the degree!

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