Masters / LLM with a 2.2 in Law
Hi guys,
I'm at a bit of a dead end currently
I got straight As at A level, went to a top 10 university and did Law.
However, I didn't attend classes or study. I spent most my time on societies, working jobs to fund living in London and, frankly, being a bit of a waster.
The end result was that a came out with a 2.2 (and not a good 2.2), and was hardly ringingly endorsed by the university's faculty.
Fast forward a couple of years to now. I've worked in a job that pays well, but is sales related and isn't really a career. I'm kicking myself for not doing more with my head.
The truth is, I really want to return to university to study either an LLM or a Masters. I'd just as happily do a Masters in Human Rights or more of a tangent within the arts, such as English Lit or History.
Would I have any chance in getting admitted for a Masters?
I'd be happy with Birkbeck, if that's what it took, but would ideally prefer to aim for other unis in London - i.e. UCL / Kings / LSE / Queen Mary / SOAS etc. I can write a pretty mean personal statement, have vacation schemes / internships and a relatively decent spread of extracurricular stuff. I'm also happy to self-fund
A chance for me yet?
I'm at a bit of a dead end currently
I got straight As at A level, went to a top 10 university and did Law.
However, I didn't attend classes or study. I spent most my time on societies, working jobs to fund living in London and, frankly, being a bit of a waster.
The end result was that a came out with a 2.2 (and not a good 2.2), and was hardly ringingly endorsed by the university's faculty.
Fast forward a couple of years to now. I've worked in a job that pays well, but is sales related and isn't really a career. I'm kicking myself for not doing more with my head.
The truth is, I really want to return to university to study either an LLM or a Masters. I'd just as happily do a Masters in Human Rights or more of a tangent within the arts, such as English Lit or History.
Would I have any chance in getting admitted for a Masters?
I'd be happy with Birkbeck, if that's what it took, but would ideally prefer to aim for other unis in London - i.e. UCL / Kings / LSE / Queen Mary / SOAS etc. I can write a pretty mean personal statement, have vacation schemes / internships and a relatively decent spread of extracurricular stuff. I'm also happy to self-fund
A chance for me yet?
Noone?
Bear in mind this is my opinion.
What would you want to do with a Masters in English Lit or History?
Chances are that
(1) you would have to work triple hard to do well in those degrees because (a) you haven't got the subject knowledge, not even done something that's close to these, (b) have been away from university and education for a while, and speaking from experience it's not that easy to get back into the flow of this while a Masters is actually a lot more demanding than a UG degree, (c) you haven't really shown an ability to be able to focus on your studies in your UG, what makes this now any different - are you able to completely self fund a full year with no part-time job? Or are you happy to do it part-time over two years?
(2) Career wise, these don't offer the most prominent career perspectives, and you'd be at a disadvantage against others who've done a UG and PG degree in these subjects.
Your other option of doing an LLM isn't too far off but you've got similar disadvantages there as above - b. and c. You might be able to get onto an LLM, I'd see whether any of the mentioned universities are doing a Postgraduate Open Day any time soon.
A third option I'd consider is moving up the career with a specialised masters (in Marketing for example) or an MBA.
You may want to do some evening classes that come with exams to see how you are doing on the education front.
What would you want to do with a Masters in English Lit or History?
Chances are that
(1) you would have to work triple hard to do well in those degrees because (a) you haven't got the subject knowledge, not even done something that's close to these, (b) have been away from university and education for a while, and speaking from experience it's not that easy to get back into the flow of this while a Masters is actually a lot more demanding than a UG degree, (c) you haven't really shown an ability to be able to focus on your studies in your UG, what makes this now any different - are you able to completely self fund a full year with no part-time job? Or are you happy to do it part-time over two years?
(2) Career wise, these don't offer the most prominent career perspectives, and you'd be at a disadvantage against others who've done a UG and PG degree in these subjects.
Your other option of doing an LLM isn't too far off but you've got similar disadvantages there as above - b. and c. You might be able to get onto an LLM, I'd see whether any of the mentioned universities are doing a Postgraduate Open Day any time soon.
A third option I'd consider is moving up the career with a specialised masters (in Marketing for example) or an MBA.
You may want to do some evening classes that come with exams to see how you are doing on the education front.
If you see a master course that you believe can open more doors for you then go for it.
I've started an MSc after being away from uni education for four years and I got a 2:2 at undergraduate and an MA in an unrelated subject. Going back to education at this level will be challenging and expensive but the key point for me is "could doing this degree open doors for a job that I'd be happy to do?" and because the answer is yes then it informs my choice of action to take really.
I've started an MSc after being away from uni education for four years and I got a 2:2 at undergraduate and an MA in an unrelated subject. Going back to education at this level will be challenging and expensive but the key point for me is "could doing this degree open doors for a job that I'd be happy to do?" and because the answer is yes then it informs my choice of action to take really.
Original post by laurakate1988
If you see a master course that you believe can open more doors for you then go for it.
I've started an MSc after being away from uni education for four years and I got a 2:2 at undergraduate and an MA in an unrelated subject. Going back to education at this level will be challenging and expensive but the key point for me is "could doing this degree open doors for a job that I'd be happy to do?" and because the answer is yes then it informs my choice of action to take really.
I've started an MSc after being away from uni education for four years and I got a 2:2 at undergraduate and an MA in an unrelated subject. Going back to education at this level will be challenging and expensive but the key point for me is "could doing this degree open doors for a job that I'd be happy to do?" and because the answer is yes then it informs my choice of action to take really.
I think this is it in a nutshell for me.
How did you find the application and interview process to get onto your MSc?
Original post by AmoreAmore
Hi guys,
I'm at a bit of a dead end currently
I got straight As at A level, went to a top 10 university and did Law.
However, I didn't attend classes or study. I spent most my time on societies, working jobs to fund living in London and, frankly, being a bit of a waster.
The end result was that a came out with a 2.2 (and not a good 2.2), and was hardly ringingly endorsed by the university's faculty.
Fast forward a couple of years to now. I've worked in a job that pays well, but is sales related and isn't really a career. I'm kicking myself for not doing more with my head.
The truth is, I really want to return to university to study either an LLM or a Masters. I'd just as happily do a Masters in Human Rights or more of a tangent within the arts, such as English Lit or History.
Would I have any chance in getting admitted for a Masters?
I'd be happy with Birkbeck, if that's what it took, but would ideally prefer to aim for other unis in London - i.e. UCL / Kings / LSE / Queen Mary / SOAS etc. I can write a pretty mean personal statement, have vacation schemes / internships and a relatively decent spread of extracurricular stuff. I'm also happy to self-fund
A chance for me yet?
I'm at a bit of a dead end currently
I got straight As at A level, went to a top 10 university and did Law.
However, I didn't attend classes or study. I spent most my time on societies, working jobs to fund living in London and, frankly, being a bit of a waster.
The end result was that a came out with a 2.2 (and not a good 2.2), and was hardly ringingly endorsed by the university's faculty.
Fast forward a couple of years to now. I've worked in a job that pays well, but is sales related and isn't really a career. I'm kicking myself for not doing more with my head.
The truth is, I really want to return to university to study either an LLM or a Masters. I'd just as happily do a Masters in Human Rights or more of a tangent within the arts, such as English Lit or History.
Would I have any chance in getting admitted for a Masters?
I'd be happy with Birkbeck, if that's what it took, but would ideally prefer to aim for other unis in London - i.e. UCL / Kings / LSE / Queen Mary / SOAS etc. I can write a pretty mean personal statement, have vacation schemes / internships and a relatively decent spread of extracurricular stuff. I'm also happy to self-fund
A chance for me yet?
I graduated this year and everyone who applied to UCL and LSE (as far as I'm aware) had an offer of a 2.1 overall with 65 in final year. I don't know if this was the standard offer, but I heard of a LOT of people from my own uni and others that had this offer. UCL's website actually says a first for the LLM. I would discount those two almost immediately unless you have a lot of law work experience since, which from the first post, it sounds like you haven't. KCL says a 2.1 but I'm not sure if people get in with a 2.2. Can't speak for the others.
The main problem is that these are a) top unis and b) this is law. So in other disciplines you might've managed it, but for those unis and law, probably not. The girl above you did food technology IIRC so it's not the same at all. For a start, the LLM usually requires a law degree anyway, so I wouldn't necessarily compare her experience with yours.
Stark reality - you probably don't have a great chance. But most of the applications are either free or don't cost very much so really what have you got to lose by applying and seeing what happens?
[e] Just to clarify that was all for the LLM, I don't know about History at all but when I looked into doing English myself at UCL and King's, they only want an English degree. So unless that information has changed, you probably can't go to those unis to do English or History. I do know however that Warwick does a PGDip or something in English that you can use as a bridge to a Master's, that might interest you?
(edited 9 years ago)
Surprisingly simple.
I sent in an application with a personal statement detailing why I needed to be able to do the course to move forward with my career. I expected to be called for an interview to be talked through what a jump I was making from A level food to food at MSc level but nope, simply got my letter offering me a place on the course a few months later.
Applying for stuff at masters level can be easier than the whole ucas thing because you apply directly to the uni and then hearing back from them can be pretty straightforward. Some courses will interview you and some won't but yeah, tis a pretty simple process.
I sent in an application with a personal statement detailing why I needed to be able to do the course to move forward with my career. I expected to be called for an interview to be talked through what a jump I was making from A level food to food at MSc level but nope, simply got my letter offering me a place on the course a few months later.
Applying for stuff at masters level can be easier than the whole ucas thing because you apply directly to the uni and then hearing back from them can be pretty straightforward. Some courses will interview you and some won't but yeah, tis a pretty simple process.
Original post by AmoreAmore
I think this is it in a nutshell for me.
How did you find the application and interview process to get onto your MSc?
How did you find the application and interview process to get onto your MSc?
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- 2.2 with dreams of working at a magic circle law firm
- 2.2 Masters Chances?
- Masters with a 2.2 UG degree?
- High 2:2 - less than 0.2% from 2:1
- Should I Re-do an LLB at a Different University?
- Actual Masters Chances?
- Graduate LLB or Conversion
- Criminal law postgraduate options
- Non-law conversion route options - SQE, Law MA vs. LLM - help!
- QMUL Chances
- Philosophy vs Law If I want to get Into Law
- Getting onto a Law Masters course at Uni of Manchester
- Does a masters at a RG Uni after attending a non-RG Uni enhance employment?
- LLB Law: to become a solicitor or not?
- Masters with 2.2?
- SQE and masters
- QMUL Chances?
- What is the difference between the GDL/PGDL and the LLM?
- Training contract LPC but 3rd class LLB
- LLM Queen Mary or ULaw
Latest
Trending
Last reply 3 hours ago
UCL (University College London) Postgraduate Applicants 2024-25Last reply 1 week ago
University of Edinburgh 2024-25 Postgraduate ApplicantsLast reply 2 weeks ago
MPhil in Basic and Translational Neuroscience at Uni of CambridgeLast reply 2 weeks ago
Cambridge University MPhil in Management (2024-2025)Trending
Last reply 3 hours ago
UCL (University College London) Postgraduate Applicants 2024-25Last reply 1 week ago
University of Edinburgh 2024-25 Postgraduate ApplicantsLast reply 2 weeks ago
MPhil in Basic and Translational Neuroscience at Uni of CambridgeLast reply 2 weeks ago
Cambridge University MPhil in Management (2024-2025)
