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Help! I've got to choose and I've got to choose soon!

I desperately need help! I am looking to apply for Law in September, and need to finalise whether to apply to Oxford (either New, Merton or Magdalen) or to Cambridge (either Clare or Downing). Both Law courses appeal greatly to me- they are both quite different, but I think the pluses and minuses of both cancel each other out.

How do I make my decision!

Reply 1

Squishy

11

If you can't choose based on the course, it's best to choose where you'd be happier for 3 years of your life. I'm assuming you've visited both places and met a few of the people.

Reply 2

Willla2

I can only comment on the cambridge courses:

Downing wins for Lawness, but Clare wins for Clareness :tongue:

By that I mean that Downing generally has a better reputation when it comes to law, but it it lacks the friendly reputation which Clare has. Don't get me wrong, Downing will be friendly as well no doubt, but Clare is well known for being very friendly, and very pretty as well. so when it comes to choosing between those two you have to think: Do I want the best tutors/supervisors or do I want the best college life?

And i'd choose cambridge over oxford any day.....just because oxford sucks :tongue:

Reply 3

Squishy

11

Willla2

Clare is well known for being very friendly, and very pretty as well.

You're promoting Clare? I never thought I'd see the day. :eek:

Be warned, next you're going to be saying that Jesus loves us. :biggrin:

Reply 4

Helenia

20

Willla2

I can only comment on the cambridge courses:

Downing wins for Lawness, but Clare wins for Clareness :tongue:

Woo! I knew I'd get you in the end! :biggrin:

Reply 5

tomcoolinguk

OP

13

Squishy

If you can't choose based on the course, it's best to choose where you'd be happier for 3 years of your life. I'm assuming you've visited both places and met a few of the people.

Yup. I've stayed at New (in fantastic accom) and visited them all for open days, spoke to the law tutors. And I am really struggling to decide! (Sorry for the frantic tone of this, but I've been doodling around for about 10 months now, and suddenly realised I only have a month to decide!!!)

Reply 6

A0307

7

I picked Oxford over Cambridge because it seemed less boring! :biggrin:

Reply 7

InterCity125

1

Oxford and Merton. Merton is the best!!!

Reply 8

Amrad

1

I'm sure you have done plenty of research into this and know all the details of the courses, so I agree with what was said above, choose the city you would prefer to live in. Personally Oxford seems much more lively and Cambridge rather dull.

Reply 9

tomcoolinguk

OP

13

InterCity125

Oxford and Merton. Merton is the best!!!

Merton does sound very good. My main reservation was that it would too geeky, but speaking to two law students there this week (on a summer school), has smashed that! But.... aagh! What I wouldn't give to apply to both!

calumc

I picked Oxford over Cambridge because it seemed less boring!

They both look like very good places to me, TBH. I think I might be swayed to Oxford because my school has never got people in at Cambridge for Law, but has had some success for Oxford (and with less qualified students than those who applied to Cambridge).

Sigh. Justifications for colleges would be helpful; atmosphere, work ethic, overall facilities, tutors, features which mark college out for people there.

Reply 10

Willla2

Helenia

Woo! I knew I'd get you in the end! :biggrin:

Please note this is for comparison of Downing Vs Clare ONLY

Emma wins hands down over all colleges any day!

Reply 11

Willla2

tomcoolinguk

They both look like very good places to me, TBH. I think I might be swayed to Oxford because my school has never got people in at Cambridge for Law, but has had some success for Oxford (and with less qualified students than those who applied to Cambridge).

I think you're making a mistake if you're deciding based on your schools previous success with oxbridge applicants. You should apply to wherever to want to apply to. I broke the trend at my school and applied to cambridge, and for some odd reason they let me in!

Reply 12

Brown Patrick Bateman

10

Willla2

And i'd choose cambridge over oxford any day.....just because oxford sucks :tongue:

Look at the proportion of new Oxford Law graduates going into the magic circle solicitor firms and most prestigious barrister chambers compared to Cambridge Law graduates.

Reply 13

Hoofbeat

14

OXFORD WINS HANDS DOWN! But then I'm biased. I liked New College (I applied there, not for law though) but now I prefer Lincoln as that was who made me the offer!

The best thing to do if you can't chose between the courses is decide what kind of city do you want: an Oxford city, or a Cambridge city?! They're both very different!

Reply 14

Acaila

17

Pick wherever you'd be happiest.
If you wish my two cents; Downing has a great rep for law as I understand. Cambridge also has a little more to its social side than clubbing :rolleyes:

.

Reply 15

Brown Patrick Bateman

10

Acaila

Cambridge also has a little more to its social side than clubbing :rolleyes:

.

Clubbing hadn't even been mentioned on this entire thread!

Reply 16

Jessie

9

i changed from Queen's Cambridge to an Oxford college in the space of 2 days - about the 5th October, 10days b4 the deadline.

However, Would not recommend this! :smile:

Had a number of options to consider, ended up choosing Jesus, Oxford.

It can be done. And you've got the whole of September. If you're applying for the same subject, you can write your PS (or have written maybe) regardless. You can firm up your other choices. But by one month to go - 3 weeks say - you should know.

Its not quite as desperate as you make out. If you've visited them both, choose where you liked the atmosphere, where you found the students most friendly, the location, tutors you may have met. I had been set on cambridge since about the beginning of sixth form. Then changed to Oxford in 2 days....dont worry you've got plenty of time.

Reply 17

tomcoolinguk

OP

13

Thanks! I've written my personal statement (very little needs changing now, I'm quite proud of it to be honest). I just find it really agonising- I'd break my own arm, deep fry it and eat it all- including the bones- to go to any of the five colleges I am considering. But I can only apply to one!