Hi,
Im not using it as a "box" to convince myself". I have said from the beginning that I have much better reasons for wanting to attend Croydon. I have the grades for UCL, so I am obviously trying to find whats best for me, I have no need to convince myself Croydon is better when I can apply for a variety of Universities.
Also, I am under the impression that the Bar is now quite modern, its about what you bring as a person. I am looking for opinions with some substance because all I can find is the same; "Go to the best ranked uni". What are the reasons for this?
You say... "You have to get the grades but really the focus will surely be on your Uni" but you have not backed this up. This is what im trying to get at, whats fact from fiction. I cannot find any evidence with the bar council ANYWHERE that were you studied is important however I would like to know about other peoples research into this, is this true? For example, after your LLB you have your Bar course and Pupilage, enough time to prove you have the qualities. Are they really going to turn you away because you decided to study local than travel and go to a higher ranked uni?
As for coming from Oxford, I did not mean they found it difficult, rather that most people called to the Bar did not study there. No one can deny what an outstanding university it is, which leads me to believe, given you have the grades, its all about you, your experiance and how active you have been along side your LLB. Otherwise, everyone at the Bar would be from Oxford or Cambridge. What im trying to weigh up, is exactly this. Status over qualities? There are enough Law students from Cambridge, Oxford and other Top unis to fill all of the placements in Pupilage for example but they do not make them all up. Which to me, discredits what you say about "they will surely look at your uni".
This is not about convincing myself, I want to know facts, to ensure I make the right decision. I have stated that I want to go to Croydon over UCL and why but that IF it was a fact that my chances would be dramatically reduced by studying here rather than UCL, then I would of course apply for UCL.
All I am finding about UCL is that they have a better reputation. On the down side, there fees are up with the highest, there classes are big and are quite a distance. Is it more stupid to apply to a lower ranked uni or stupid to apply to a uni, simply based on rankings? That is the question.....
Thank you for your tips, I have contacted Croydon but I will do so again. Every uni will claim that there students go on to be successful, this is why I was hoping to find some evidence. Saying that, I think that unis like BPP and Croydon get a lot of negative "stick" because maybe the majority are not that successful. Some people want to do the bare minimum and therefore chose the easiest uni to get into, lowering the standard of end results (assuming they are not aiming high). I on the other hand see no point in aiming for anything but a 1st, there may be many people in Croydon that are happy with a 2:2 because their carer path is different to mind, like wanting to work in the legal profession or simply obtain a degree. I have no doubt that I can do well at Croydon, I doubt however if I would do so well at UCL given my travelling and larger class sizes, which might sound ridiculous and a no-brainer to most people but these things really do count.
Lastly, my other option is Kingston, I know, from profiles and records, many of their Law students are successful and its a great place to study, yet on this forum I have seen it described as "awful" and other negative things which is EXACTLY why I do not want to judge merely on rankings.