Does 59.8% count as a 2.1 for TC applications?(RG uni)

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(edited 21:34)

If the university awards you a 2.1 degree then you have a 2.1 degree. Generally speaking firms that apply a 2.1 filter to applicants won't dig too deeply into module grades. Impossible to say exactly how different firms weigh all the different factors that feed into overall application strength but I wouldn't worry too much about it and making assessment centers at Freshfields and Hogan's indicates this isn't holding you back.

One wider point - holding committee positions and applying for vac schemes isn't really any reason at all for achieving lower grades, whilst these things do take time, there should still be plenty around a full time 40ish hours a week degree.(and for perspective if you do secure a job at a firm like Freshfields or Hogans you'll be working 70+ hours a week most of the time)

Reply 2

Academic007

Original post by AMac86

If the university awards you a 2.1 degree then you have a 2.1 degree. Generally speaking firms that apply a 2.1 filter to applicants won't dig too deeply into module grades. Impossible to say exactly how different firms weigh all the different factors that feed into overall application strength but I wouldn't worry too much about it and making assessment centers at Freshfields and Hogan's indicates this isn't holding you back.
One wider point - holding committee positions and applying for vac schemes isn't really any reason at all for achieving lower grades, whilst these things do take time, there should still be plenty around a full time 40ish hours a week degree.(and for perspective if you do secure a job at a firm like Freshfields or Hogans you'll be working 70+ hours a week most of the time)

On every Vac scheme application I had to list my module grades and in my first year I got 67% so my marks were high. I do have genuine Extenuating circumstances so I hope that helps me, especially contrasting my marks during the time I was affected to when I wasn't in my final year. Technically on paper 59.8% may be looked at with suspicion and I feel I have to explain myself on any application even though I could round it to 60% since I have a 2.1.

Society committee positions suck up a lot of your time along with other extracurriculars like volunteering and sports societies. Also, Vac schemes definitely hurt me, I remember I had my Freshfields assessment centre the same week as my January exams. I sort of accepted this as a compromise that if I secured a Vac scheme it wouldn't matter as much what I got in second year so that sort of consumed all of my focus. All the extracurriculars were just so I could have something to talk about in my application.

(edited 2 weeks ago)

Reply 3

AMac86

I wouldn't draw any more attention to it than necessary, put down the 2.1 and leave it at that. If it gets flagged in an interview cover it then. Otherwise you're just drawing attention to the "low 2.1" when what you want is for who/whatever is reviewing the application to see that you've you've got a 2.1, tick that box off and move on the rest of the application.

I can appreciate society committee positions take up *some* time but unless they've massively changed since I was at uni they don't tend to take 10+ hours a week each. Regardless - if you are (and I think this is unlikely) queried on your grades in your second year at interview I wouldn't raise committee positions/sports/volunteering etc... as any kind of mitigation - they'll be lawyers on the interview panel working 70+ hours a week whilst also raising young children/participating in sports/holding community committee positions who will give a pretty short shrift to raising this as mitigation.

Reply 4

Academic007

Original post by AMac86

I wouldn't draw any more attention to it than necessary, put down the 2.1 and leave it at that. If it gets flagged in an interview cover it then. Otherwise you're just drawing attention to the "low 2.1" when what you want is for who/whatever is reviewing the application to see that you've you've got a 2.1, tick that box off and move on the rest of the application.
I can appreciate society committee positions take up *some* time but unless they've massively changed since I was at uni they don't tend to take 10+ hours a week each. Regardless - if you are (and I think this is unlikely) queried on your grades in your second year at interview I wouldn't raise committee positions/sports/volunteering etc... as any kind of mitigation - they'll be lawyers on the interview panel working 70+ hours a week whilst also raising young children/participating in sports/holding community committee positions who will give a pretty short shrift to raising this as mitigation.

They'll see my marks anyway unless I apply using a CV you have to list all your modules and have a box for extenuating circumstances which ofcourse I have documented with my university. I also have 4 firsts in important modules(Tort,Trusts, Public Law, Criminal Law) so that should help show I'm competent. Once you get to the assessment centre stage though it wouldn't matter or be raised at interview.

I wasn't going to raise my extracurriculars as a mitigation only the extenuating circumstances in third year, second year only counts for 30% of my final mark anyways. The 70+ hours work week seems a extreme, I hope that includes the odd weekend and not 14 hour work days.

(edited 2 weeks ago)

Reply 5

AMac86

70 hours a week isn't extreme at all for large London law firms in the core seats that trainees will spend most of their time in (think corporate / finance / litigation). Very roughly that week will probably look something like 9am-10pm, one midnight finish and a couple of hours over the weekend. That *wouldn't* be viewed as a busy week and you'd be expected to take on more work if asked.

For a busy week you'd generally be looking at post-midnight finishes and sometimes working a solid weekend shift too. It's intense... but that's why these roles pay graduates the salaries they do.