Bachelor degree standard?

[Luci]

First of all, wth is that???!
Second, aaarrghhh, it doesn't sound very great.
I sent my degree to the UK Naric office, and today I got a letter of comparability saying it compares to a Bachelor degree standard... yeah, right.
How come then students from my uni have been accepted to all kinds of places (incl oxford and cambridge medical school) all over the world? And I'm talking about GOOD uni's. These people have a gpa similar to mine and are now studying at those places. And my uni is considered one of the better uni's...
Now my letter does say it's only a guidance, so honestly I think they made a mistake, and I just emailed them.
It could be because the uni I went to now exists a little over 4 years, BUT it is part of a larger uni which is internationally known and has been there for years... Sometimes people don't get that.... maybe she just didn't do her research properly.

And another point, BL already accepted my degree as sufficient, which they would never do if my degree would only be 'standard'...

Needed to vent....

[Soul and Onward]

Are you sure they didn't mean that your degree is the equivalent standard of a bachelor degree?

If Bart's already said your degree was sufficient then I doubt you need to worry.

[Zedd]

Soul and onward- I think they may just mean they don't think or aren't sure that the degree is of Honours standard.

As it is a suggestion/guidance I would take a note of it and continue the application regardless.

[giella]

I'm trying to understand why I should be sympathetic. If you did a master's degree, I could sympathise but if you're irritated that your first degree is being compared to a bachelor's degree standard then I think lots of universities are going to make you very unhappy.
Maybe you could try to articulate the problem again.

[Soul and Onward]

Originally Posted by Zedd

Soul and onward- I think they may just mean they don't think or aren't sure that the degree is of Honours standard.

This is of course possible, but I'm unaware of any university which classes degrees as standard rather than ordinary. It's a bit ambiguous. I'd say call them and ask for clarification.

[mags82]

Bachelor degree standard?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First of all, wth is that???!
Second, aaarrghhh, it doesn't sound very great.
I sent my degree to the UK Naric office, and today I got a letter of comparability saying it compares to a Bachelor degree standard... yeah, right.
How come then students from my uni have been accepted to all kinds of places (incl oxford and cambridge medical school) all over the world? And I'm talking about GOOD uni's. These people have a gpa similar to mine and are now studying at those places. And my uni is considered one of the better uni's...
Now my letter does say it's only a guidance, so honestly I think they made a mistake, and I just emailed them.
It could be because the uni I went to now exists a little over 4 years, BUT it is part of a larger uni which is internationally known and has been there for years... Sometimes people don't get that.... maybe she just didn't do her research properly.

And another point, BL already accepted my degree as sufficient, which they would never do if my degree would only be 'standard'...

Needed to vent....

I think you may be misunderstanding. I think what they are saying is good news for you- it is saying that they see your degree as the same strandard as a British Bachelors degree, which is what the vast majority of British graduates applying to medicine will have (it is not saying it is not an honours degree, I think).

[Luci]

hmm, I guess the question is, what's the difference between standard and ordinary? Because I know ordinary is not with honours and I know without a shadow of a doubt that I have an honours degree. So the fact it doesn't say ordinary is a good thing, but then what does the standard mean? Does it mean that it is comparable to british degrees? ok, sure, but then what kind? first, 2.1 or 2.2? That's what I wanted to know!
I sent an email asking for clarification and where they based their assessment on.

and giella, I don't get your point... what do you see as a british degree standard? is that something everybody gets? Because the fact that they don't mention the word honours, made me think they compare it to ordinary... And then I wouldn't stand a chance anywhere! (Thankfully it is indeed only a guidance, of course I wouldn't withdraw my application now that most of the work is done)
Because like I said, I would like to know whether I have a first or a 2.1.

Very ambiguous indeed... and that's something you pay for...
If they would at least enclose an explanation of the degree they compare mine with that would already help a lot!

Anyways, I appreciate the responses, maybe someone here knows what they mean!

[giella]

You didn't articulate your problem very well first time around. Since then you have done so, in response to several people asking what you meant.

[Soul and Onward]

Originally Posted by Luci

Because like I said, I would like to know whether I have a first or a 2.1.

You have neither. You can only class your degree in terms of the Dutch educational system as there will be both different standards of grading and of definitions of the level of understanding/ability required at Bachelors level.

Since UK NARIC is a private company their opinion is pretty worthless anyway. It will be up to each university to decide if they recognise your qualifications as sufficient and they'll have no obligation whatsoever accept the opinion of such an organisation. I'd ask for my money back if I were you.

[Luci]

Originally Posted by giella

You didn't articulate your problem very well first time around. Since then you have done so, in response to several people asking what you meant.

yes, I got that point... which is why I clarified, but I asked what your opinion is on it being called 'standard'

You have neither. You can only class your degree in terms of the Dutch educational system as there will be both different standards of grading and of definitions of the level of understanding/ability required at Bachelors level.

but that's the whole point of getting a comparability letter (in my eyes), right? so I know what I can compare my degree to.

but hey, BL accepted my degree so why should I care, n'est pas?

And I am planning on asking for a refund.