Scottish Law applicants 2018

I'm a current LLB/Politics student at Glasgow. It's a great course and a great uni!

I got my offer around early December for both Glasgow and Edinburgh. I think I got Strathclyde a couple weeks after I applied.

I would strongly recommend that you do 6th year or take a year out and take deferred entry.
Firstly, university is a big jump academically. I did 3 advanced highers and honestly I'm so glad I did because it was the best preparation for uni. I had an unconditional so I didn't have to do them but I learned so much and it was the best preparation for uni. For me highers were about memorising formulas, analysis handed out by the teacher, and learning was all geared around the exam and coursework. Advanced highers allow you to develop your academic skills: they're a lot more about thinking independently, having the space and freedom to explore learning by yourself. This course is a lot of reading, writing academic essays, being really self-motivated, having to think for yourself, learning completely new skills and I felt that I was able to start developing these skills at advanced higher.

Secondly, it isn't ideal being underage in 1st year. I was 17 for most of first semester and it's a lot harder to fully embrace university life if you can't go on society socials, are stressed out about getting in, buying booze etc. However, it is possible: I survived, my friends survived, and also you don't have to be involved in drinking culture to have a good time at uni. It's also about being mature enough for uni and having the life experience that it takes to live independently. My sister's your age and honestly, I don't think she could look after herself. However, I'm sure you are probably very mature if you're applying to uni this year.

Thirdly, you're still young what's the point in rushing? I kind of wish I'd taken a year out just to have a break from academia because I felt exhausted after finishing school. If you're predicted AAAAA then you're pretty much guaranteed unconditional and so why not do 6th year to spend time with your friends and take the pressure off for a year.

However, if you are going to go this year...
Firstly, get ID if you don't have one and you want to be going out. (but going out is not essential to have a good time at uni!!)
Secondly, learn to cook a couple meals; take over making calls and appointments if you haven't already. Some people come to uni and are seriously a mess in terms of looking after themselves.
Thirdly, try to step up your game now - think about how you take notes, how much external reading you do, how you can study smarter, how you can mature your essay writing (making it clearer, more relevant, bringing in your own analysis). It'll make the jump way easier because at uni you're mostly on your own in how you approach your learning. Lecturers give you the facts and expect you to come up with the analysis. There's much less support on how to write good essays and revise for exams.

I'm really enjoying this course, I think law and politics is a really good combo because they compliment each other but also give you a bit of variety - I think I would get bored if I was doing straight law. if you do decide to come this year I'm sure you'll be completely capable.

UCAS SUBMITTED: 10th November
LNAT: is scheduled for December the 10th
UNIVERSITIES : Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Strathclyde and Dundee
Grades: A A A A in S5 ( you can only take up to 5 Highers and I did 4 but I have extenuating circumstances which led me to not achieving 5 highers which all of the Uni's have taken into account! This year I am expected to gain another 3 A's in Higher and an A in Advanced Higher English
OFFERS: none as of yet, but I have received acknowledgements from every Uni

In terms of leaving in S5, i personally wouldn't recommend it. My friend done it last year for Law and he had applied to Glasgow and Strathclyde with all A's in his Highers and N5's. He was rejected from Glasgow for being too young however, they said to apply the following year and he would be expected to get an unconditional offer. Although, he chose to leave and go to Uni at Strathclyde he regrets it in some ways as he has left all of his friends behind, he has gone from Higher level to University level which is a massive undertaking and shock, he finds it difficult to really socialise and be apart of the Social Uni life as he cannot go out to drink, he has missed the chance to have one last year of maturing and just having fun etc prom, prank week etc.

Thank you so much for all your advice, it's definitely made me consider my options in terms of staying on until sixth year

How did you find the LNAT exam when you took it?
Really can't thank you enough for all your help!!

Thank you for all your advice! I definitely get where your coming from and the only reason I want to go to uni so early is the fact I did work experience with the procurator fiscal and it honestly made me want to become a solicitor as soon as possible because I enjoyed it so much lol!

But if I was to get rejected from Glasgow I think I would probably stay on, Strathclyde is a great uni but Glasgow will always be my first choice I think. I'm doing my LNAT on Saturday and I was wondering how you are preparing for yours?

Thanks again for all your advice and best of luck with your application

LNAT is so hard!! I stressed so much about it and in the end I had a pretty average score. On reflection, I think I didn't need to stress about it that much. The LNAT requirement will lower the amount of applications Glasgow will get and that means they probably don't need to be as strict as Edinburgh about grades, personal statements etc. I think it's not necessarily about doing well at the LNAT, it's more about going to the effort to do the LNAT cause it shows you're properly considering Glasgow.

Have you done your LNAT yet? If not, good luck x

At the end of the day, everybody is completely different in terms of their feelings and reasons for leaving or not leaving. I would just worry that you would be rushing into something without giving yourself one last chance at being able to be a teenager almost and everything that comes along with that. But honestly if it is right for you then it is right for you!!

My LNAT is on the 8th December and I've just made a word document on all of the hints and tips from the LNAT website http://www.lnat.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Your-Guide-To-Preparing-For-The-LNAT.pdf

I basically condensed that information so that I have a guide when reviewing, planning or doing my multiple choice and essay's ( I've attached it down below
I have also just been using the LNAT website's mock questions for the multiple choice and the essay section and then going over my answers.

I also signed up to http://www.lnatpractice.co.uk/

This site is free for a full year ( you have less than a week lol so don't worry about paying ) and it basically gives you mock questions for the multiple choice which is always useful just to give you some prep!

Good Luck for your LNAT and be sure to tell me how it goes!!