The Student Room Group

Am I over-reaching?

Hey everyone!
I am a year 13 student (international) interested to study Law LLB in the UK. I have been researching for some time and I shortlisted the following universities: LSE (either Anthropology & Law or Law LLB), UCL, KCL, Bristol, Durham, QMUL, Nottingham. These are my stats:
(I)GCSEs: 88777663 (lowest law core related subject at 7, 3 in art)
AS Level: AAA (Apparently only LSE considers AS Level and I was thinking maybe it could compensate for lower GCSEs)
A Level Predictions: A* A* A*
LNAT: 25-30
Very good personal statement

I am especially worried about my GCSE profile and I was told to either choose UCL OR LSE (NOT BOTH) as they both heavily rely on GCSEs to shortlist candidates. However, I had mitigating circumstances involved.

what would be the most realistic yet ambitious list of universities that I should put on UCAS?

If you have gotten an offer from any of these unis with similar GCSEs could you please let me know?

Any advice is appreciated!!!
Thanks a lot

Reply 1

Original post
by sprawling-requis
Hey everyone!
I am a year 13 student (international) interested to study Law LLB in the UK. I have been researching for some time and I shortlisted the following universities: LSE (either Anthropology & Law or Law LLB), UCL, KCL, Bristol, Durham, QMUL, Nottingham. These are my stats:
(I)GCSEs: 88777663 (lowest law core related subject at 7, 3 in art)
AS Level: AAA (Apparently only LSE considers AS Level and I was thinking maybe it could compensate for lower GCSEs)
A Level Predictions: A* A* A*
LNAT: 25-30
Very good personal statement
I am especially worried about my GCSE profile and I was told to either choose UCL OR LSE (NOT BOTH) as they both heavily rely on GCSEs to shortlist candidates. However, I had mitigating circumstances involved.
what would be the most realistic yet ambitious list of universities that I should put on UCAS?
If you have gotten an offer from any of these unis with similar GCSEs could you please let me know?
Any advice is appreciated!!!
Thanks a lot

UCL, Southampton, Surrey, Cardiff, Coventry

Reply 2

Original post
by Wired_1800
UCL, Southampton, Surrey, Cardiff, Coventry

hey! thanks for the input! would you mind telling me the reasoning behind choosing 4 lower ranked unis? is it purely based on their A level offers which makes them safer choices or is it because of my lower competitive-ness for higher ranked unis? would a list of UCL, KCL, Bristol, Durham, QMUL be too ambitious? probably removing UCL and replacing it with a safer option like Southampton with a +85% offer rate though. What do you reckon? is this a smart plan or too ambitious?

Reply 3

Original post
by sprawling-requis
hey! thanks for the input! would you mind telling me the reasoning behind choosing 4 lower ranked unis? is it purely based on their A level offers which makes them safer choices or is it because of my lower competitive-ness for higher ranked unis? would a list of UCL, KCL, Bristol, Durham, QMUL be too ambitious? probably removing UCL and replacing it with a safer option like Southampton with a +85% offer rate though. What do you reckon? is this a smart plan or too ambitious?

Hello, I was going by your profile and the commentary in the OP.

It is quite ambitious to stack your uni list with top ranked unis. I do not have direct expertise or insider information but I think you have to consider at most 1 or 2 top unis, then have 3 unis with realistic prospects based on your academic record. Some unis may be surprised that you are predicted 3A*s but a couple of years ago had relative lower GCSEs.

My suggestion is to follow the 2-2-1 model of 2 top unis, 2 standard unis (based on your profile) and 1 ‘easy’ or ‘safer’ uni. You don't have to apply to all unis early, but you should try to apply to your top unis as early as possible (before end of November) to get an indication of your chances of an offer.

If it was me, I would apply to 3 unis now (UCL, KCL and Southampton). If i get offers that would influence my other two choices between Durham, Bristol and QMUL. If I dont get offers, I would adapt my approach and select a safer option as one of my other 2 options.

This is my personal suggestion. I would encourage you to consider your options and adapt your plan. Dont make an overambitious plan. Southampton may be easier to get into than UCL but you may prefer UCL’s student community more than Southampton’s. Also think about the cost of living in London.

Reply 4

Original post
by Wired_1800
Hello, I was going by your profile and the commentary in the OP.
It is quite ambitious to stack your uni list with top ranked unis. I do not have direct expertise or insider information but I think you have to consider at most 1 or 2 top unis, then have 3 unis with realistic prospects based on your academic record. Some unis may be surprised that you are predicted 3A*s but a couple of years ago had relative lower GCSEs.
My suggestion is to follow the 2-2-1 model of 2 top unis, 2 standard unis (based on your profile) and 1 ‘easy’ or ‘safer’ uni. You don't have to apply to all unis early, but you should try to apply to your top unis as early as possible (before end of November) to get an indication of your chances of an offer.
If it was me, I would apply to 3 unis now (UCL, KCL and Southampton). If i get offers that would influence my other two choices between Durham, Bristol and QMUL. If I dont get offers, I would adapt my approach and select a safer option as one of my other 2 options.
This is my personal suggestion. I would encourage you to consider your options and adapt your plan. Dont make an overambitious plan. Southampton may be easier to get into than UCL but you may prefer UCL’s student community more than Southampton’s. Also think about the cost of living in London.

Hey! Thanks for the insight, I had mitigating circumstances (illness in the family, new to the education system) for my IGCSEs and I heard that Durham and King's do not consider (I)GCSEs taken outside of the UK. + Aren't applications held until the equal consideration deadline? (That's what I was told by my advisor in school), so does applying early give me any possible advantages? given I will sit my LNAT in around 40 days.

I was thinking of UCL, KCL as Ambitious
Bristol, Durham & QMUL Realistic (High International acceptance rate)
Southampton Safe (+85% offer rate)

+Could you please clarify whether applying early to UCL or KCL would actually be more advantageous or not? As I will sit my LNAT next month which would mean I would apply on 25th of November. or is that too late?

Reply 5

Original post
by sprawling-requis
Hey! Thanks for the insight, I had mitigating circumstances (illness in the family, new to the education system) for my IGCSEs and I heard that Durham and King's do not consider (I)GCSEs taken outside of the UK. + Aren't applications held until the equal consideration deadline? (That's what I was told by my advisor in school), so does applying early give me any possible advantages? given I will sit my LNAT in around 40 days.
I was thinking of UCL, KCL as Ambitious
Bristol, Durham & QMUL Realistic (High International acceptance rate)
Southampton Safe (+85% offer rate)
+Could you please clarify whether applying early to UCL or KCL would actually be more advantageous or not? As I will sit my LNAT next month which would mean I would apply on 25th of November. or is that too late?

Ok, if you have extenuating circumstances, your case may be different. If Durham and King’s dont consider IGCSEs from outside the UK, this could influence your decision and you can change to maybe Southampton and Surrey. You should confirm with the unis first though.

I am not really sure of the equal consideration deadline. I have heard of people having uni offers before the Jan deadline.

If you think Bristol, Durham and QMUL are realistic, that’s your decision. I have read mixed reviews of unis like Durham who reject top candidates with strong profiles, so I cannot give an opinion. I would suggest that you apply to Southampton though. It is a decent uni with a healthy acceptance rate. Once you have that offer, you can make better decisions and try for other competitive unis.

I don't think 25th November is too late.

Btw, LNAT is not required for Southampton, so I would encourage you to apply there now to secure an offer, then you can apply to other unis by the 25th November or thereabouts.

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/law-degree-llb#entry

Reply 6

Original post
by Wired_1800
Ok, if you have extenuating circumstances, your case may be different. If Durham and King’s dont consider IGCSEs from outside the UK, this could influence your decision and you can change to maybe Southampton and Surrey. You should confirm with the unis first though.
I am not really sure of the equal consideration deadline. I have heard of people having uni offers before the Jan deadline.
If you think Bristol, Durham and QMUL are realistic, that’s your decision. I have read mixed reviews of unis like Durham who reject top candidates with strong profiles, so I cannot give an opinion. I would suggest that you apply to Southampton though. It is a decent uni with a healthy acceptance rate. Once you have that offer, you can make better decisions and try for other competitive unis.
I don't think 25th November is too late.
Btw, LNAT is not required for Southampton, so I would encourage you to apply there now to secure an offer, then you can apply to other unis by the 25th November or thereabouts.
https://www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/law-degree-llb#entry
King's and Durham said it would not negatively affect my application, but more weight would be given to A level predictions and LNAT.

But I would definitely either choose Southampton or York as my fifth choice, given they have relatively high acceptance rates and decent law schools.

Thank you for the help!

Reply 7

Original post
by sprawling-requis
King's and Durham said it would not negatively affect my application, but more weight would be given to A level predictions and LNAT.
But I would definitely either choose Southampton or York as my fifth choice, given they have relatively high acceptance rates and decent law schools.
Thank you for the help!

Oh ok, that’s good to know.

Yes, have a think and make a decision on your uni choices. Good luck

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