law at a fairly good uni or a less popular course at a top uni?

still the same. top unis are unlikely to be in extra.

It'll be difficult to secure places for any course at 'top unis' - they're oversubscribed as it is - unless he takes a gap year. And even then, not everyone spends those wisely. I think it's a better idea to stick with what you enjoy and would want to do as a degree, in a city you like: you're probably far more likely to succeed. Also, Sheffield & QMUL are universities with good reputations. It depends what he wants to do in the long run: but, as you say, a conversion course is expensive - and it's a lot of work because everything is crammed into a year. He should do what's best for him, obviously, but I do think a top-notch degree from Sheffield or QMUL would still stand him in good stead for the future.

I'm very surprised.

So you know of one exception which makes the majority of people (whom may have had first or second hand experience) on this thread wrong? .

Just out of interest, what course was it for?

Extra hasn't even started this year yet.

I have a friend who goes to Durham, who got in via Extra,

Studying?

Computer Science, mentioned it in an above post .

Cheers, makes a big difference to the relevance of that comment.

Apologies if I don't want people taking as the truth something that's not; in future I'll refrain?

he has seen unis and courses in extra which he'd like to go for.