Degrees of Honour: First Class or Third?

I have been working part-time for my school’s Commencement ceremony. The work is mundane – more on that another day – but the access to individual transcripts made me wonder about the differing trajectories, and also think about the journey I’m a year into. Here are 5 discoveries:

  1. You can be a double valedictorian.

I was quite surprised, and doubly so when the person in question is also a Sociology major. He’s under the University Scholars Programme (USP), which entitles him to another degree scroll (and it looks more eye-catching). His transcript reveals a single Blemish+, so that certainly rules most of us out already. I’m delighted to know that there are stellar seniors in my discipline; he seems to justify the viability of my path in a way. I don’t aspire to his achievements, but to his depth of learning.

  1. Not all majors have a valedictorian rep.

For instance, there will be no Psychology Bachelor graduate addressing their cohort. I find this ludicrous. Doesn’t it make sense to have a role model on stage who can speak for the specific experiences and aspirations shared within each discipline? As it stands, each ceremony will have two speakers, sometimes just one. This can include doctorates. This is so for Psychology majors’ ceremony. Btw, Sociology majors attend the same ceremony… double whammy! Can’t we make space for 1 speaker out of hundreds of Psychology Bachelors? They are available!

  1. You can go from Third Class to First, and First Class to Third.

There are some who begin their undergraduate career terribly, yet proceed to surge up the classifications to the top. But they need to respond within a year. Conversely, some begin fabulously, yet seem to lose their ways alarmingly. One I’ve seen dipped below 3.50 right at the end. This reminds us that possibilities abound within one’s abilities. Fortitude is needed to tap into and make the most of potentials.

  1. One can do without Honours, but not honour.

Many graduates opt out of the Honours track and graduate with a ‘Pass with Merit’. It makes sense because they need to hit 3.50 for a respectable-sounding one (set to change with the renaming from the next batch?). Their degrees do not come with Honours, but they merit respect for decent efforts.

Yet there was a bizarre case, which saw a graduate enter the 4th year in contention for Second (Upper), overload and flounder, then take 4.5 years to finish with a ‘Pass’ (CAP below 3.2). I was stunned. What happened? Why overload? I don’t know, of course, but the catastrophe reflects poor planning and surely saps morale ahead of an even longer career. A ‘W-F-W-F’ semester can’t be anyone’s potential. Perhaps it can be explicated by personal circumstances. But if not, one should not dishonour the various resources made available for their learning.

  1. Master degrees come without classifications.

Alright, this is pretty obvious. The same goes for doctorates. It makes me question, though: Is a weak Master degree better than any Bachelor degree? I’m no recruiter, but I’d think that society often makes a uniform judgment based on the type of degree, especially when the quality is not easily apparent. Would it then make sense to chill a bit then strive for further studies? The catch is that only a good Bachelor degree allows one to pursue Masters. That said, Second (Upper) can be good enough. Should I put more resources, if need be, into stuff like internships?

I don’t know. Perhaps employers look at the quality of the Master degree more than I think. In any case, I believe degrees are truly valuable only at the point of career entry. It can make a great difference, but subsequent development is certainly within the hands of the proactive Bachelor degree holder who applies his knowledge and learns without the need for paper recognition. Nonetheless, my opinions may not stand up to practical norms. It must also be noted that not all Bachelor and Master Degrees are equal, after all.

Where do I stand now?

I’m in Second (Upper) category after a year of study: 10 modules, 2 grade-less (new from my batch for first semester) and 6 in Sociology. Based on my experiences so far, I believe it’s reasonable to start pushing for First Class. I guess a higher classification will indeed differentiate me from the rest in this non-specialized major, but not in convincing employers during interviews of the insight I can offer.

To strive for better grades is to challenge one’s learning potentials. And to do so without losing sense of other priorities would represent a successful university career as a student.

I consider that a more significant degree of honour.

Socio Empath

Hi, my name is Eugene. I am a Sociology graduate from the National University of Singapore. This blog is an invitation: To see our selves as colored by cultures, and to brighten the colors of our society. I seek to help you create freedom in everyday life, with empathy and the sociological imagination.

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