Is it true that only third/final year marks matter in uni?

[bully3000]

What about 1st year marks?

Do employers look heavily into how you did in first year?

[alondouek]

All your marks count at university, so you should study hard for everything.

However, it is true that final year units are worth more towards your GPA (Grade Point Average) than first year units.

If your employer would be considering your uni marks for a job offer, they'd look at the GPA rather than individual unit scores.

[FlorianK]

Most employees will look at your GPA and if you're doing a science degree the scores for your math units.

[Fyrefly]

Everything people have said is true, but I'll also point out that it's possible your employers won't even look at your final year results. This is because graduate recruitment often begins in March, May or June for the following year, and you obviously won't have results for units you haven't yet finished.

[meganrobyn]

All your marks for every subject count (equally, I believe) for postgraduate study, in terms of gaining entry and obtaining scholarships.

[BigAl]

I just wanna finish uni

[DisaFear]

I just wanna finish uni

Why??

I'm sure your uni years will be the most enjoyable years of your life!

[alondouek]

I just wanna finish uni

Chin up! It's tough now - but I'm sure after first year, when you're used to the uni lifestyle, it'll get better

[MonsieurHulot]

I'm sure your uni years will be the most enjoyable years of your life!

It's really depressing when everyone says this.

[bully3000]

It's really depressing when everyone says this.

I wish I were dead.

[Greatness]

It's really depressing when everyone says this.

Why's that?

You guys have had like a 4 month holiday, been back studying for 4 weeks, have had a week off and you've been back to uni 1 day, well 2 today. I know that uni is quite overwhelming at the beginning because I definitely felt the same way as many of you do when I was in first year, but once you get through this initial stage it gets better Also, I'm not sure if it's the workload or independence in uni, but you do realise that you don't have to do anything.... lol I mean I'm not condoning doing nothing, but what I'm saying is that you shouldn't be spending every spare hour studying. You should get a part time job, hang out with friends, find a hobby. It's not all about grades, they play a large role but if you work efficiently and can manage your time then it will all fall into place

[Fyrefly]

Uni is so much better than full-time work. Sorry if that's depressing, but it's true.

[Eriny]

Although what everyone said it right, all your grades matter, people are more likely to overlook a low grade or two in first year if you have shown progress later on.

[tao]

Although what everyone said it right, all your grades matter, people are more likely to overlook a low grade or two in first year if you have shown progress later on.

It depends heavily on what type of degree we are talking about. Certainly in engineering, if you make it through your degree without failing a unit, you have done better than at least 70% of the people there. I have a friend who got 1 H1 in his whole BEng, failed 9 units and is pretty high-up at Telstra at the moment.


"Chin up! It's tough now - but I'm sure after first year, when you're used to the uni lifestyle, it'll get better"

This is the wrong attitude. Uni gets much much harder as it goes on. As your life goes on, until retirement, every stage gets busier and busier. You should be able to fit quite a bit into your life in first year. Personally, when I was in first year I got 6 H1s, played on two sports teams. Went out at least once a week (usually two or three times) and had a part-time job. You need to pack everything you want to do into the week and somehow make it all fit together. If there's on piece of life advice I will give you guys it's this, get off the facebook and casual posting on forums and start fitting everything you want to do into your life. I guarantee you in your later years of uni you will regret not using your free time more effectively. 

[alondouek]

"Chin up! It's tough now - but I'm sure after first year, when you're used to the uni lifestyle, it'll get better"

This is the wrong attitude. Uni gets much much harder as it goes on.

I strongly disagree***. Regardless of the load of work one has, it's really the change in lifestyle that can be jarring to people. Right now, as a first year, I get anxious every day about university, all because I'm fundamentally unused to it. It's this anxiety that makes me struggle with the workload and other aspects of uni life. However, I can see myself becoming happier as a uni student, and as a person, once I become familiar with the sort of life I'll be living as a uni student (i.e. later on in my studies).
***Though I'm only a first year, so I can't speak from experience, haha