[bugsy12]

Hey Everyone, not sure if anyone will even read this but worth a shot right.

Basically I'm in a serious dilemma here and would really like to hear some other peoples opinions, mainly because they will be unbiased as opposed to the views of my mom and whoever else knows me personally.

I am in year 13, and applied to some universities to study law my main two being nottingham and bristol, after being rejected from nottingham, probably due to my poor LNAT score, i decided i would firm Bristol's offer. Their offer is for AAA which I think i could achieve but have never visited the university itself and lately I have started to really doubt whether I even want to study law? I'm worried that because i've never studied it (I don't do it as an A-level) that i'll get their and hate it and it not be for me? A lot of people are telling me to go and see whether i like it and if not i can always pull out but I don't want to do this because I don't live in England so having to live my home and family and then come back would be a bit of a hassle.

On the other hand if I don't go to uni this year, im worried that my year will be unproductive and this will put universities off me when i apply the next year? The jobs here are pretty poor, i'd probably have to do barwork for the year for example..

Anyways if someone could maybe tell me what they think is best or perhaps relate to my situation, im sure anything will help right now

[Romek]

I would do a bit of research into the actual course offered by Bristol- see what you think of it. Maybe even do a bit of independent learning too, to get a general idea of what you'll be doing for the next few years. It might just be stress getting to you (it's difficult moving abroad to study) or the fact that you'll miss all your friends/family. Don't worry, you'll make new friends and meet people in exactly the same situation as you're in!

I tend to discourage taking gap years for the simple reason of causing people to become lazy and reluctant to get back into education afterwards, but well... If you find that law isn't for you, you shouldn't be in too bad of a position as long as you do something productive and stay eager to study.

[Amyanne]

If you're really not too sure on what the course has to offer, then i would check out UCAS website if you havn't already, you will find the university and it tells you the modules you study throughout the years of being there.

[bugsy12]

Thanks for the reply guys, yeah ive checked the course content and googled all the different parts to have a read on what they're about and it doesn't seem awful but it doesn't greatly interest me either? Like I'm not wanting to sit and read more for example. I get the impression that to go to university and spend all that money and time etc, you have to really be passionate about what you're going to do am i right? I feel i lack this :/ hmm decisions decisions ayy

[Agenda Suicide]

I'd rather have a crappy year out than spend 3 years doing something I hate.


In the year off, visit loads of unis, open days and courses, you have the relief of knowing your grades and maybe if you just miss AAA top them up to do so or something along those lines.

No jobs? Get work experience, ask to volunteer in something relevant. Get a bar job and save for half a year and go travelling. Do something amazing.


My sister went on a course she didn't really like the look of and dropped out in her second year despite hating it. I'm not saying this will happen to you but just throwing it out there.

[bugsy12]

(Original post by Agenda Suicide)
I'd rather have a crappy year out than spend 3 years doing something I hate.


In the year off, visit loads of unis, open days and courses, you have the relief of knowing your grades and maybe if you just miss AAA top them up to do so or something along those lines.

No jobs? Get work experience, ask to volunteer in something relevant. Get a bar job and save for half a year and go travelling. Do something amazing.


My sister went on a course she didn't really like the look of and dropped out in her second year despite hating it. I'm not saying this will happen to you but just throwing it out there.

Thanks for your message, everything you said is exactly what I feel too about the grades and the relief of knowing them. Plus I think if I do better in my exams then expected I could try and apply somewhere even better when I apply second time round.. Right that's it, I'm not going!

[Jellybeany]

Hey!

Why dont you just wait til you get your results before you decide/decline bristol

[bugsy12]

(Original post by Jellybeany)
Hey!

Why dont you just wait til you get your results before you decide/decline bristol

Heya (: Yeah up to now i've been going along with the process as if i'm going, like choosing accomodation etc But I don't know whether you're allowed to apply for student finance and everything and then pull out last minute? You must be surely because some people don't get the grades to get in for example am i right?

Buuut the problem is, if I do get the grades, then I'll still be in the same stuck situation of what to do. I think right this second, I'm going to take a gap year but knowing me in a few days time i'll change my mind -.- im the most indecisive person EVER.

[Jellybeany]

(Original post by bugsy12)
Heya (: Yeah up to now i've been going along with the process as if i'm going, like choosing accomodation etc But I don't know whether you're allowed to apply for student finance and everything and then pull out last minute? You must be surely because some people don't get the grades to get in for example am i right?

Buuut the problem is, if I do get the grades, then I'll still be in the same stuck situation of what to do. I think right this second, I'm going to take a gap year but knowing me in a few days time i'll change my mind -.- im the most indecisive person EVER.

Bet youre not as indecisive as me! Haha
Im pretty sure you can apply for student finance/accom etc anyway and then if you decide after results you dont want to go to Uni just make sure you let them know!

Im not too sure though, im going through the same processes myself.

They must have people that end up not going

[bugsy12]

(Original post by Jellybeany)
Bet youre not as indecisive as me! Haha
Im pretty sure you can apply for student finance/accom etc anyway and then if you decide after results you dont want to go to Uni just make sure you let them know!

Im not too sure though, im going through the same processes myself.

They must have people that end up not going

No seriously i can't decide on anything i HATE making decisions ha its the worsttt. What are you doing at uni then and where are you going? (:

[Little Hobbit]

Hi bugsy

I don't think people should go to university just for the sake of it, if you want to go to university it should be to study a subject that you're really enthusiastic about, and it doesn't sound like you're particularly enthusiastic about or interested in law. I think you should take a gap year and explore your options by looking at prospectuses again, going to open days, getting relevant work experience, developing new interests etc. It also means you can save up some money to make university funding that little bit easier

Taking a gap year only makes you lazy if you're a lazy person, and people go into university education at all ages so universities won't see it as a disadvantage. You can use a gap year in your favour in university interviews by saying you have explored your options fully and you have life experience!

Or alternatively you could apply to other courses through clearing if you have any other ideas what you would like to study

[Jellybeany]

(Original post by bugsy12)
No seriously i can't decide on anything i HATE making decisions ha its the worsttt. What are you doing at uni then and where are you going? (:

Law hopefully at Birmingham! Exciting. Just need to get the grades

[bugsy12]

(Original post by Jellybeany)
Law hopefully at Birmingham! Exciting. Just need to get the grades

Ah law hey See you're all excited whereas I'm not really ;/ Have you done law at Alevel? What makes you want to do it do you just like KNOW..? I know that sounds stupid but I don't have that feeling

[bugsy12]

(Original post by Little Hobbit)
Hi bugsy

I don't think people should go to university just for the sake of it, if you want to go to university it should be to study a subject that you're really enthusiastic about, and it doesn't sound like you're particularly enthusiastic about or interested in law. I think you should take a gap year and explore your options by looking at prospectuses again, going to open days, getting relevant work experience, developing new interests etc. It also means you can save up some money to make university funding that little bit easier

Taking a gap year only makes you lazy if you're a lazy person, and people go into university education at all ages so universities won't see it as a disadvantage. You can use a gap year in your favour in university interviews by saying you have explored your options fully and you have life experience!

Or alternatively you could apply to other courses through clearing if you have any other ideas what you would like to study

Hey there I totally agree with you, I'm going to say all of these points and everyone elses to my mom when I break it to her that shes stuck with me another year haha No Im not a very lazy person, okay i have my moments but I always thought if I didn't go to uni this year ill get a job and also maybe take up something like carry on french out of school for example or do another as level or something to improve my opportunities even more!

Yeahh thats the thing.. I have no idea what else I can study if I don't do law, and it worries me that after this gap year I still won't know, plus i'll need to apply before january so that doesn't give me very long to decide does it ahh

[Tortious]

(Original post by bugsy12)
Thanks for the reply guys, yeah ive checked the course content and googled all the different parts to have a read on what they're about and it doesn't seem awful but it doesn't greatly interest me either? Like I'm not wanting to sit and read more for example. I get the impression that to go to university and spend all that money and time etc, you have to really be passionate about what you're going to do am i right? I feel i lack this :/ hmm decisions decisions ayy

You're absolutely right - if you don't have enthusiasm for the subject, it can be extremely difficult to motivate yourself. I'd recommend reading some of the following to give you an idea of what it's like; also maybe look at an A Level textbook (I can recommend the Criminal one by Storey and Lidbury!):

• "What About Law?" (Virgo, Barnard, O'Sullivan)
• "Letters to a Law Student" (McBride)
• "Learning the Law" (Glanville Williams - apparently the 11th Edition is better, even though it's not the newest)

Hope this helps!