Urgent! 3 Years Warwick LLB or 2-Year LLB at York

Hey TSR. I have a bit of a predicament.

I'm an older student, late 20s. I have a first degree so I will need to fund this one myself.

I assumed I had been rejected by WW since I hadn't heard, and maybe I will be, but I've been offered an interview for May 4th.... One day before the UCAS deadline. Because my offers are unconditional, and because York's first-come first-serve accomodation opens on May 9, if I do get an offer I have about four days to make up my mind.

Of course I may be rejected by WW, in which case, I am very excited to go to York. Warwick is three years - which represents an additional investment of time and money, which is an issue. Both are QLD; Warwick is Law with Social Sciences and York is Senior Status LLB. I intend to do a Masters after so my age is an issue.

I'm wondering whether to take 3 years at Warwick or 2 years at York.

(As an aside, other offers from Exeter and Birmingham, both 2 years, but not too keen...please correct me if I should be considering them.)

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 1

999tigger

What do you want to do afterwards?

Reply 2

Chalex2016

If you already have a degree and you want to do Law, can you not just do a graduate law diploma GDL course to convert your existing degree into a qualifying law degree?

Reply 3

Assan

Original post by Chalex2016

If you already have a degree and you want to do Law, can you not just do a graduate law diploma GDL course to convert your existing degree into a qualifying law degree?

For many reasons, some personal, but mostly I wanted an academic experience and the time/environment/resources to acquire new skills. I have friends who have done the GDL and it's a cram-fest. That's not for me. Additionally, I want a Master's in a related field. The GDL doesn't have the same currency.

Original post by 999tigger

What do you want to do afterwards?

Research and practice in mediation/conflict resolution/peace-making and/or writing. I want to be competitive for top programmes like Science Po's International Relations (focus on Diplomacy) and Journalism double degree, or similar graduate degrees at Columbia, NYU or other institutions.

And later for the UN, US Institute of Peace, etc.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 4

username1177050

i reckon you should go for york as you will save money and really an LLB only needs to be done over 2 years. the school is pretty well respected amongst grad recruiters. however, are you aware of the PBL based learning style, as that will be quite different than warwick, although you will inevitable come across problem based questions in exams

Reply 5

Assan

Original post by neal95

Love the PBL approach, the attention paid to skills as well as academics, the ratio of coursework to exams, and the free language model I can take. You can take Law Clinic as an assessed option, and generally I'm very excited about the course. My mind was made up.

For Warwick, I like that I can take Politics/Political Philosophy as part of my degree. I think it would give me additional preparation for a Masters. I like that they care about "law in context," andthey have a Human Rights in Practice module. However, they rely more heavily on exams than York does, which doesn't favour me. If I were to receive an offer, however, the biggest draw would be its ranking: top 10 is obviously better than Top 20, and York's position fluctuates a little too widely for my comfort.

But still, is Top 10 worth an extra 20,000 pounds or so, and year of my life? I'm not sure.

Reply 6

lightning count

Your situation is quite similar to mine, already got a degree, in my late twenties, applied to York, Birmingham and Exeter as well and puzzling out myself which university I should be firming (just thinking ahead, I've only got an unconditional from York of these three).

In my case I decided to apply only to universities offering the two year course, because as an international student an additional year is quite the obscene financial investment and considering my age as well, getting out there into the workforce as soon as possible was something I needed to do.

Now while Warwick is generally regarded as the better university, I don't believe the gap is wide enough to justify the additional time and money.

P.S.: If you don't mind me asking, what were your reasons for choosing York over Birmingham and Exeter? Hearing your thoughts may help me in my own decision making process.

Reply 7

zero_gravity

Original post by Assan

Money wise, definitely go for York. You will also save a year. However, if you want to do more modules that you would like to specialise in, then I would go for Warwick, but that's only if they have the modules that you are interested in (which I assume is why you chose Law with Social Sciences in the first place).

Original post by Assan

I don't think your uni choices will affect your chances of admission to these competitive unis. What matters is that you get good grades for your course and also take modules that are similar to the programmes that you are apply for (in this case, I would lean more towards Warwick with the 3-year degree).

Reply 8

Assan

Original post by lightning count

This decision has been stressing me out so I'm going to take a day or two to obtain some distance, some objectivity, and maybe hopefully more insight before I resume thinking about this, and before I reply to you.

I will say now that when you define your goals, you have to be very clear about ALL your goals - not only career, educational, and economic but also emotional goals, and internal goals that are hard to measure. My story is different from your story, and it has shaped who we are and what we bring to this decision.

Why have you applied for this second degree? What do you want out of it? What do you value in life/what do you want/what are you afraid of? I'm curious about your answers because there are not many mature students on TSR making this decision, it seems, so I want to know what has brought you to study at this point, and why these schools.

Reply 9

Assan

Original post by lightning count

P.S. I'll be using a book my (amazing) partner purchased for me. It's called "The Decision Book: Fifty Models for Strategic Thinking." Maybe it might help you.

Reply 10

Assan

Pretty sure I just bombed my interview so....

ETA: Warwick offered me a place :smile:

so....

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 11

Assan

In case anyone reads this in the future:

Firmed: Warwick (conditional on verifying my previous qualifications and an English Language Test. Trying to get the last condition removed as English is my first language and I have a BA already)
Insured: York. (Unconditional)

Reply 12

lightning count

Congratulations! I ended up firming York actually. Just to let you know, I had been offered a similar offer with QMUL and they didn't agree with dropping the IELTS requirement. In my case, they cited that since my MA was completed a while ago (it's been six years) they felt they needed to impose it.

Anyway, good luck at Warwick!

Reply 13

Assan

Original post by lightning count

Congratulations! You're very lucky. There is so much to love about that course, and school. I think you're going to have any amazing experience.

I had settled on York so in a way, though I'm very happy with my choice, I will miss the idea of it.

Is English your first language?

I probably wouldn't fight it so hard if it wasn't so expensive - $300! To test my first language, especially after a degree, feels like a real waste of money that I need to put towards surviving in school.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 14

lightning count

Yeah, English is my first language as well (though I don't come from a country where this is the case).

The cost of the exam was exactly what I had a problem with as well. Money's tight, and I'm trying to keep my expenses to a minimum.

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 15

Assan

Original post by lightning count

What country?

I think it's quite unreasonable to ask anyone who has completed a degree in English to take the test, especially if they are applying for an equivalent or lower degree in a reasonably similar field.

Reply 16

Assan

I insured York in case they stick to their guns on the test. I could simply refuse to do it, they'd either concede or withdraw my offer, and then I would go to York - and I'd be quite happy with that.

Original post by lightning count

Reply 17

lightning count

Original post by Assan

India, though I've spent my entire life only speaking English.

I thought it was unreasonable as well, especially when my previous degree was completed in the U.K. Since I wasn't seriously considering QMUL, I didn't fight them any further on it. Here's hoping you have better luck with Warwick!