Is a high 2.1 from Oxford competitive for Vac Schemes?

So I got a high 2.1 (68) in my first year, at Oxford. I am so disappointed, I wanted a first.

Will this be competitive when applying to firms? I got a 62 in one module:/

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Reply 1

RV3112

Original post by jejehe

So I got a high 2.1 (68) in my first year, at Oxford. I am so disappointed, I wanted a first.

Will this be competitive when applying to firms? I got a 62 in one module:/

Academics wise, you shouldn't be worried.

Reply 2

Xarao

IMO you should be. You only got a 2:1 in Oxford? What happened?

Reply 3

aspiringlawyerNW

Original post by jejehe

So I got a high 2.1 (68) in my first year, at Oxford. I am so disappointed, I wanted a first.

Will this be competitive when applying to firms? I got a 62 in one module:/

There's a troll... in the dungeon...

Reply 4

jejehe

I’m not a troll at all guys. It was a serious question.

Reply 5

Assembly

How can you end up with only a high 2:1 at Oxford? Tut tut, no magic circle for you. Seriously though, if you're intelligent enough to end up with such a grade (in first year) at one of the best universities in the world, I suspect you're also intelligent enough not to ask plainly obvious question.

Reply 6

jejehe

Well I know the bar is ridiculously competitive. So will the very top US/MC law firms be, so I don’t think it’s unfair for me to question whether or not my grades will put me in good stead.

Reply 7

999tigger

Original post by jejehe

I’m not a troll at all guys. It was a serious question.

Some people wont be able to take you seriously for obvious reasons.

Reply 8

The West Wing

You won't be held back by your academics - but there's a lot more to it than that. Interview technique and commercial awareness will be crucial.

Reply 9

999tigger

Original post by jejehe

Well I know the bar is ridiculously competitive. So will the very top US/MC law firms be, so I don’t think it’s unfair for me to question whether or not my grades will put me in good stead.

How many in your year and the year above scored higher than you? Is there more to your cv / application.
Have you checked they will take first years?

Reply 10

El Salvador

it won't hurt you but keep in mind hardly anyone gets below a 2:1 at oxford

Reply 11

El Salvador

Original post by 999tigger

How many in your year and the year above scored higher than you? Is there more to your cv / application.
Have you checked they will take first years?

hardly anyone gets below a 2:1 at oxford

Reply 12

username2950448

Original post by Baron of Sealand

it won't hurt you but keep in mind hardly anyone gets below a 2:1 at oxford

conversely, I doubt more than 20% get 68%+.

Reply 13

999tigger

Original post by Baron of Sealand

hardly anyone gets below a 2:1 at oxford

Thats why firms take marks rather than just grades.

Reply 14

El Salvador

Original post by Palmyra

conversely, I doubt more than 20% get 68%+.

doesn't contradict what i said, and I think you're overestimating the effects of a few percentage points. 2:1 gets you through the door and you'll need to do more than just grades to get a placement

Reply 15

username2950448

Original post by Baron of Sealand

doesn't contradict what i said, and I think you're overestimating the effects of a few percentage points. 2:1 gets you through the door and you'll need to do more than just grades to get a placement

The implication of what you wrote is that all 2.1s are equal and that his 2.1 is average, whilst in reality it is a high 2.1 and that does make a difference for many law firms (of course not sufficient in and of itself but definitely a factor).

Reply 16

El Salvador

so you have the actual figures of the people getting more than 68% in their first year at oxford, or is this one of those scenarios where when you point your finger at me, 3 of your fingers are pointing back at you

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 17

username2950448

Original post by Baron of Sealand

In my first year at Cambridge the cut-off point for the top 25% of grades was 66-67% (for law).

Reply 18

El Salvador

Original post by Palmyra

In my first year at Cambridge the cut-off point for the top 25% of grades was 66-67% (for law).

Oxford gives out the second-most firsts in the country while Cambridge is at No 6. I don't know about law specifically but the 2 are not the same. Cambridge's overall statistics might even be higher because of the sciences (which give out more firsts). Law's national average is at like 14% firsts so it's not too much of a stretch to think Oxford could actually be awarding more than 20% since its overall firsts rate is so much higher than the national average.