Hi guys,I just graduated with a first (that feels good to write so I'll do it again)I just graduated with a first from a good uni. I was going to go travelling for a year before getting a proper job (ideally in strat but we will see?). I'm having doubts about the benefits of the whole travelling thing. To a certain extent I have been there and done it already.I'm considering staying in the UK for my year out and doing something amazing. I mean something really amazing that will make everyone who hears/reads my CV think - WOW. What do you guys suggest I do? What do you wish you had done?(I realise this is a bit of a ridiculously wide ranging question so feel free to give funny answers as well as serious ones)

become an escort for the year,that way you can earn decent money during your 'gap' year and gain that 'wow' factor you wish to achieve. good luck

Depends on whether you want them to add either "...what a pratt" or "...that's good" after the "Wow.."Do some kind of independent research and get published.

Get into the drugs and prostitution business. A good laugh and profitable, who knows maybe even break into film!

"Do some kind of independent research and get published"WOW. I bet it's a laugh a minute in your household "Depends"! Anon - if you want to get into strat consulting next year, chill out, go lie on a beach somewhere exotic and drink margaritas for a year, because in 12 months time you're going to be working 70 hour weeks for the next 20 years!

Join the French Foreign Legion and learn to speak French. Or drive a black cab in London and see some of what real life is like.

1. Go travelling but try something unusual e.g. ride your bike cross-continent, join an expedition, crew a ship.2. Start a small business and turn a profit.

Join the circus

Buy a computer and pay blizzard £9 pm.

1. Start up business - something that you don't have to peddle too much money into, that you can see within 4/6 months if its going anywhere, that's fun and makes good conversation, and that you can get out of/keep on the side/sell quick, when and if you want to become an employee. 2. Pick up a good hobby/sport to have when you're working silly hours and need a focal point to escape from it all3. Learn a useful language and spend a year in the native country4 Buy an old banger and travel across Europe5. Spend time with your family and friendsx

I've got a start up (6 months old now) I could do some help with... since I'm also working full time in MC.Strong cash flow already, won a few enterprise awards and a government cleantech grant. Fancy giving a hand, commission/equity renumeration.

Casio:I'm all ears, drop me an email:originalposter123@gmail.com

Dropped you an email. Let me know what you think.

A first in 2008 = a third in 1990 so don't get too excited

What did you want the kid to do, get a zeroth?

I think we mostly want him to display some humility.Nobody except HR graduate recruiters cares what grade you got anyway - it's where you got it from that counts in the real world.

"Nobody except HR graduate recruiters cares what grade you got anyway - it's where you got it from that counts in the real world."So how does my 2:2 from Royal Holloway stack up then, chum?

Gosh it must be hard work to pass any sort of degree studying in a prison!

humility? half the strat world says "be a little arrogant" and you want humility? No chance!

Just got a 2.2 after repeating the first year...on a real low point now...wish I did something easier.How are my prospects?

Terrible. Not because you're a terrible human being for getting a 2:2, but simply because the supply of people trying to get into consulting at graduate level far exceeds the demand.At the best of times, there's fierce competition between those with good academics. In the current climate all those graduates who were considering banking are going for consultancy jobs instead, plus consultancies are being cautious in their hiring.Best thing is to concentrate on excelling in another career track then, if you're still interested in consulting a few years down the line, try switching in as an experienced hire.

Did you get a 2.2 after repeating your first year or did you repeat your first year and then get a 2.2 overall? If it is the former, no-one is going to care how you did in first year if you get a good grade at the end.

The former..but it leaves a lot to be desired for in terms of future potential. I gave it what I thought was my best. Is there a distinction between similar degress classifications across different institutions or courses? Or is it excel academically be it at pottery or nuclear physics.

Excel regardless, at everything, without exception, without intermission. In particular, excel at Excel.

I'm worried that with two years teaching on one years content, two testing opportunities and your best effort you still get a 2:2. I'm sympathetic to the odd trip up but this seems to suggest you haven't got the intellect to pass an undergraduate degree. Does this really equip you to consult others on anything?

If it were that simple I wouldn't have to think twice about changing my ambitions, quitting..etc, but this isn't "an undergraduate degree" this is "the" undergraduate degree considered one of the most brutal in terms of workload and complexity in an institution which has consistently managed to hold on to a title which it tries to keep out of the light "highest suicide rate in the country" that’s all I am going to say about my specialization and university. What’s required here isn't just a mildly intelligent person needing to put in the work and getting a first. The environment created means that your best always seems to be superseded by what can only be described as a largest concentration of highly numerate overachievers from all corners of the world.I don't want to sound arrogant and despite my efforts to defend my poor record it may as you've pointed out be a case of "taken on more than I can handle" syndrome in terms of my own capabilities. Also it wasn't 2 years of teaching just another testing opportunity."Does this really equip you to consult others on anything?"I was under the impression that people consult consultants, not the other way round.

Your the one with a 2:2... after the second time of asking... so don't try and be smart. Consult has several meanings, one of which is "to give professional or expert advice; serve as consultant."Again I'm worried about your intellectual ability, is it wise to aim for consultancy when you don't understand the name?Tell me more about this institution and course, if it's perceived to be as tough as you say you might have a valid excuse.

My sincerest apologies I discovered that the verb "consult" had 2 meanings only to then discover I had already submitted the post, which as we all know cannot be edited :). However I'd rather not reveal anymore than I have done already. The difficult decision that lies ahead is whether one should proceed with something that one cannot ultimately succed in, despite the joys it brings him.

And apologies once more for the double post. Just to put my mind at ease have there been cases of firms accepting people with 2.2s? May be not even in this econimic climate but when things are are a little better off?

A few people I've worked with have 2:2s.A lot of them will have done a masters and performed very well in that. Maybe you'd be better transferring to a course you'd be more likely to succeed at?

Perhaps you're right, I think a talk with the appropriate senior figure is in order about my future prospects on this course. Thanks for the advice folks.

a 2:2 screams average - you have even failed to fail properly like a gentleman, and fail further by citing a repeat year and hard work not parties, jaunts and substances. whatever you are doing, stop it; do another course, not necessarily something 'easy' - do you want people to take you seriously? - but at least something you can scrape a 2:1 in. All the rest will then be history. You are not going to make it to strat - ever - and you would hate it anyway, so aim a little lower. Personally I would love it if my clients would accept 2:2s - at any level of experience - as I would be very well off indeed. As it is a 2:2 is a no:no. End of.

MAD I respect your views, I have read a lot of your posts, humorous and serious, but I disagree with you on this one. I think abandoning hope on this one would be wrong, not because of what it looks like, I CAN scrape a 2.1 (I was a few marks off in one module, and things do get easier, after year 2), but not excelling in my course, like I have done all my life, affects me, which is why I feel like I need to switch. What I am worried about is what comes after, suppose I make it in to the consulting industry, just about. Will I stay at the bottom forever or will I be able to compete with those who want to make it higher (up to partner maybe), or not?

Anon, you're really going of on a tangent here. No one can tell you how you will perform vs your peers once/if you make it into consultancy. You asked for advise re your eligibility for an entry level role. Let's focus on that. Mars is right, getting a 2:1 will be imperative for you. If that means changing course, change course.

advise = advice