University Choices
Hi everyone,
I’m finalising my UCAS choices for Law and I’m really confused about whether I should still apply to some AAA unis with my predicted grades.
My predicted grades:
A*, A and C
I know that AAA is the standard for most Law courses I’m looking at, but I’ve heard that unis sometimes make offers to students who don’t fully meet AAA if the overall application is strong (personal statement, reference, GCSEs, context, etc). I also know contextual offers exist, but I’m not eligible for those.
My question is:
👉 With a strong personal statement and good reference, do I still have a realistic chance at places asking AAA? Or is applying a waste of a choice?
I’m especially curious about York because:
I love PBL, it suits how I learn
It is genuinely my first choice
But the acceptance rate on UniGuide is around 49%, so I’m panicking about whether A* A C is enough even to be considered
Also – there isn’t that much clear info online about how flexible Exeter, York, Sheffield, etc. are with entry requirements if someone has strengths elsewhere in their application.
The unis I’m thinking of applying to for Law:
York (love the course – PBL especially)
Sheffield (visited and liked the city/feel)
Liverpool (good balance of city + strong Law school)
Lancaster (unsure – I don’t really want to be doing my weekly food shop in a Spar, and the lack of social life worries me a bit)
Edge Hill (safer option, but still seems decent for Law)
I do like the sound of mooting and law clinics etc. It worries me that some of these unis just have a law society and that is it...
Extra info about me:
I live just outside of the UK
Distance doesn’t matter too much because every UK uni is basically a flight or train away, but I still want somewhere lively with good student life
For me, the course + city + accommodation matter more than prestige
If anyone has experience with AAA unis taking students with A* A C, or knows how York/Sheffield/Liverpool/Lancaster handle near-miss applicants, PLEASE let me know.
I have chosen not to do an LNAT so know this rules out a couple of unis, manily in London ish area and bristol etc.
Would a strong personal statement realistically help, or do they stick hard to AAA?
Any advice, stats (I have lloked at heap guides and the ocmplete uni rankings for law), or personal experiences would really help—I'm so lost right now
I’m finalising my UCAS choices for Law and I’m really confused about whether I should still apply to some AAA unis with my predicted grades.
My predicted grades:
A*, A and C
I know that AAA is the standard for most Law courses I’m looking at, but I’ve heard that unis sometimes make offers to students who don’t fully meet AAA if the overall application is strong (personal statement, reference, GCSEs, context, etc). I also know contextual offers exist, but I’m not eligible for those.
My question is:
👉 With a strong personal statement and good reference, do I still have a realistic chance at places asking AAA? Or is applying a waste of a choice?
I’m especially curious about York because:
I love PBL, it suits how I learn
It is genuinely my first choice
But the acceptance rate on UniGuide is around 49%, so I’m panicking about whether A* A C is enough even to be considered
Also – there isn’t that much clear info online about how flexible Exeter, York, Sheffield, etc. are with entry requirements if someone has strengths elsewhere in their application.
The unis I’m thinking of applying to for Law:
York (love the course – PBL especially)
Sheffield (visited and liked the city/feel)
Liverpool (good balance of city + strong Law school)
Lancaster (unsure – I don’t really want to be doing my weekly food shop in a Spar, and the lack of social life worries me a bit)
Edge Hill (safer option, but still seems decent for Law)
I do like the sound of mooting and law clinics etc. It worries me that some of these unis just have a law society and that is it...
Extra info about me:
I live just outside of the UK
Distance doesn’t matter too much because every UK uni is basically a flight or train away, but I still want somewhere lively with good student life
For me, the course + city + accommodation matter more than prestige
If anyone has experience with AAA unis taking students with A* A C, or knows how York/Sheffield/Liverpool/Lancaster handle near-miss applicants, PLEASE let me know.
I have chosen not to do an LNAT so know this rules out a couple of unis, manily in London ish area and bristol etc.
Would a strong personal statement realistically help, or do they stick hard to AAA?
Any advice, stats (I have lloked at heap guides and the ocmplete uni rankings for law), or personal experiences would really help—I'm so lost right now
Reply 1
Original post
by pinklemonpiggyHi everyone,
I’m finalising my UCAS choices for Law and I’m really confused about whether I should still apply to some AAA unis with my predicted grades.
My predicted grades:
A*, A and C
I know that AAA is the standard for most Law courses I’m looking at, but I’ve heard that unis sometimes make offers to students who don’t fully meet AAA if the overall application is strong (personal statement, reference, GCSEs, context, etc). I also know contextual offers exist, but I’m not eligible for those.
My question is:
👉 With a strong personal statement and good reference, do I still have a realistic chance at places asking AAA? Or is applying a waste of a choice?
I’m especially curious about York because:
I love PBL, it suits how I learn
It is genuinely my first choice
But the acceptance rate on UniGuide is around 49%, so I’m panicking about whether A* A C is enough even to be considered
Also – there isn’t that much clear info online about how flexible Exeter, York, Sheffield, etc. are with entry requirements if someone has strengths elsewhere in their application.
The unis I’m thinking of applying to for Law:
York (love the course – PBL especially)
Sheffield (visited and liked the city/feel)
Liverpool (good balance of city + strong Law school)
Lancaster (unsure – I don’t really want to be doing my weekly food shop in a Spar, and the lack of social life worries me a bit)
Edge Hill (safer option, but still seems decent for Law)
I do like the sound of mooting and law clinics etc. It worries me that some of these unis just have a law society and that is it...
Extra info about me:
I live just outside of the UK
Distance doesn’t matter too much because every UK uni is basically a flight or train away, but I still want somewhere lively with good student life
For me, the course + city + accommodation matter more than prestige
If anyone has experience with AAA unis taking students with A* A C, or knows how York/Sheffield/Liverpool/Lancaster handle near-miss applicants, PLEASE let me know.
I have chosen not to do an LNAT so know this rules out a couple of unis, manily in London ish area and bristol etc.
Would a strong personal statement realistically help, or do they stick hard to AAA?
Any advice, stats (I have lloked at heap guides and the ocmplete uni rankings for law), or personal experiences would really help—I'm so lost right now
I’m finalising my UCAS choices for Law and I’m really confused about whether I should still apply to some AAA unis with my predicted grades.
My predicted grades:
A*, A and C
I know that AAA is the standard for most Law courses I’m looking at, but I’ve heard that unis sometimes make offers to students who don’t fully meet AAA if the overall application is strong (personal statement, reference, GCSEs, context, etc). I also know contextual offers exist, but I’m not eligible for those.
My question is:
👉 With a strong personal statement and good reference, do I still have a realistic chance at places asking AAA? Or is applying a waste of a choice?
I’m especially curious about York because:
I love PBL, it suits how I learn
It is genuinely my first choice
But the acceptance rate on UniGuide is around 49%, so I’m panicking about whether A* A C is enough even to be considered
Also – there isn’t that much clear info online about how flexible Exeter, York, Sheffield, etc. are with entry requirements if someone has strengths elsewhere in their application.
The unis I’m thinking of applying to for Law:
York (love the course – PBL especially)
Sheffield (visited and liked the city/feel)
Liverpool (good balance of city + strong Law school)
Lancaster (unsure – I don’t really want to be doing my weekly food shop in a Spar, and the lack of social life worries me a bit)
Edge Hill (safer option, but still seems decent for Law)
I do like the sound of mooting and law clinics etc. It worries me that some of these unis just have a law society and that is it...
Extra info about me:
I live just outside of the UK
Distance doesn’t matter too much because every UK uni is basically a flight or train away, but I still want somewhere lively with good student life
For me, the course + city + accommodation matter more than prestige
If anyone has experience with AAA unis taking students with A* A C, or knows how York/Sheffield/Liverpool/Lancaster handle near-miss applicants, PLEASE let me know.
I have chosen not to do an LNAT so know this rules out a couple of unis, manily in London ish area and bristol etc.
Would a strong personal statement realistically help, or do they stick hard to AAA?
Any advice, stats (I have lloked at heap guides and the ocmplete uni rankings for law), or personal experiences would really help—I'm so lost right now
Hi there,
It's great to hear you're considering applying to York! 🎉
It sounds like you're on track to get some excellent A level results - well done! My advice would be to get in touch with our Undergraduate Law Admissions Team to discuss your options and how you can boost your application. Here are their contact details:
•
email: [email protected]
•
phone: +44 (0)1904 325802)
If you do get an offer from us, you'll be invited to a Visit Day of Offer Holders, where you'll have the chance to speak with current Law students, explore the campus and city of York, and have a taster of teaching at York Law School. If you can, I'd definitely recommend attending one of these days as they'll help you make your decision about where to go to university.
I hope this helps - Hannah ❤️
Reply 2
Original post
by pinklemonpiggyHi everyone,
I’m finalising my UCAS choices for Law and I’m really confused about whether I should still apply to some AAA unis with my predicted grades.
My predicted grades:
A*, A and C
I know that AAA is the standard for most Law courses I’m looking at, but I’ve heard that unis sometimes make offers to students who don’t fully meet AAA if the overall application is strong (personal statement, reference, GCSEs, context, etc). I also know contextual offers exist, but I’m not eligible for those.
My question is:
👉 With a strong personal statement and good reference, do I still have a realistic chance at places asking AAA? Or is applying a waste of a choice?
I’m especially curious about York because:
I love PBL, it suits how I learn
It is genuinely my first choice
But the acceptance rate on UniGuide is around 49%, so I’m panicking about whether A* A C is enough even to be considered
Also – there isn’t that much clear info online about how flexible Exeter, York, Sheffield, etc. are with entry requirements if someone has strengths elsewhere in their application.
The unis I’m thinking of applying to for Law:
York (love the course – PBL especially)
Sheffield (visited and liked the city/feel)
Liverpool (good balance of city + strong Law school)
Lancaster (unsure – I don’t really want to be doing my weekly food shop in a Spar, and the lack of social life worries me a bit)
Edge Hill (safer option, but still seems decent for Law)
I do like the sound of mooting and law clinics etc. It worries me that some of these unis just have a law society and that is it...
Extra info about me:
I live just outside of the UK
Distance doesn’t matter too much because every UK uni is basically a flight or train away, but I still want somewhere lively with good student life
For me, the course + city + accommodation matter more than prestige
If anyone has experience with AAA unis taking students with A* A C, or knows how York/Sheffield/Liverpool/Lancaster handle near-miss applicants, PLEASE let me know.
I have chosen not to do an LNAT so know this rules out a couple of unis, manily in London ish area and bristol etc.
Would a strong personal statement realistically help, or do they stick hard to AAA?
Any advice, stats (I have lloked at heap guides and the ocmplete uni rankings for law), or personal experiences would really help—I'm so lost right now
I’m finalising my UCAS choices for Law and I’m really confused about whether I should still apply to some AAA unis with my predicted grades.
My predicted grades:
A*, A and C
I know that AAA is the standard for most Law courses I’m looking at, but I’ve heard that unis sometimes make offers to students who don’t fully meet AAA if the overall application is strong (personal statement, reference, GCSEs, context, etc). I also know contextual offers exist, but I’m not eligible for those.
My question is:
👉 With a strong personal statement and good reference, do I still have a realistic chance at places asking AAA? Or is applying a waste of a choice?
I’m especially curious about York because:
I love PBL, it suits how I learn
It is genuinely my first choice
But the acceptance rate on UniGuide is around 49%, so I’m panicking about whether A* A C is enough even to be considered
Also – there isn’t that much clear info online about how flexible Exeter, York, Sheffield, etc. are with entry requirements if someone has strengths elsewhere in their application.
The unis I’m thinking of applying to for Law:
York (love the course – PBL especially)
Sheffield (visited and liked the city/feel)
Liverpool (good balance of city + strong Law school)
Lancaster (unsure – I don’t really want to be doing my weekly food shop in a Spar, and the lack of social life worries me a bit)
Edge Hill (safer option, but still seems decent for Law)
I do like the sound of mooting and law clinics etc. It worries me that some of these unis just have a law society and that is it...
Extra info about me:
I live just outside of the UK
Distance doesn’t matter too much because every UK uni is basically a flight or train away, but I still want somewhere lively with good student life
For me, the course + city + accommodation matter more than prestige
If anyone has experience with AAA unis taking students with A* A C, or knows how York/Sheffield/Liverpool/Lancaster handle near-miss applicants, PLEASE let me know.
I have chosen not to do an LNAT so know this rules out a couple of unis, manily in London ish area and bristol etc.
Would a strong personal statement realistically help, or do they stick hard to AAA?
Any advice, stats (I have lloked at heap guides and the ocmplete uni rankings for law), or personal experiences would really help—I'm so lost right now
Hi!
First of all, congratulations on your predicted grades, A*AC is really strong!
Lancaster is somewhat known for its flexible entry grades and offers. As your UCAS points aren't far off AAA, it's possible you would still get a conditional offer. This isn't a guarantee, but flexibility is what we're known for, so it would be worth applying I would say!
As for student life, I would say being a campus and a small city we get a bad rep for having little student life, but it's honestly not true! I'll be the first to admit we're obviously a lot smaller than cities like Manchester, Liverpool, London, but we have many many societies on campus, that do weekly socials and events. You can find all the societies we have on our LUSU page (Lancaster Uni Student Union). We also have 3 clubs in town, if that's your kind of thing, and just a ridiculous amount of pubs lol. There'll ALWAYS be people to meet, go out with, drink with or not drink with! And don't worry, we have an Aldi, Lidl and Sainsburys all within a 20 minute bus journey of the uni, so it's not just Spar! We have dedicated buses to a sainsburys in the week, but if you're looking for cheaper, the bus stop is right outside Aldi so it's pretty convenient anyway!
I hope this helped!!
- Izzy, 3rd year Geography student
Reply 3
Original post
by pinklemonpiggyHi everyone,
I’m finalising my UCAS choices for Law and I’m really confused about whether I should still apply to some AAA unis with my predicted grades.
My predicted grades:
A*, A and C
I know that AAA is the standard for most Law courses I’m looking at, but I’ve heard that unis sometimes make offers to students who don’t fully meet AAA if the overall application is strong (personal statement, reference, GCSEs, context, etc). I also know contextual offers exist, but I’m not eligible for those.
My question is:
👉 With a strong personal statement and good reference, do I still have a realistic chance at places asking AAA? Or is applying a waste of a choice?
I’m especially curious about York because:
I love PBL, it suits how I learn
It is genuinely my first choice
But the acceptance rate on UniGuide is around 49%, so I’m panicking about whether A* A C is enough even to be considered
Also – there isn’t that much clear info online about how flexible Exeter, York, Sheffield, etc. are with entry requirements if someone has strengths elsewhere in their application.
The unis I’m thinking of applying to for Law:
York (love the course – PBL especially)
Sheffield (visited and liked the city/feel)
Liverpool (good balance of city + strong Law school)
Lancaster (unsure – I don’t really want to be doing my weekly food shop in a Spar, and the lack of social life worries me a bit)
Edge Hill (safer option, but still seems decent for Law)
I do like the sound of mooting and law clinics etc. It worries me that some of these unis just have a law society and that is it...
Extra info about me:
I live just outside of the UK
Distance doesn’t matter too much because every UK uni is basically a flight or train away, but I still want somewhere lively with good student life
For me, the course + city + accommodation matter more than prestige
If anyone has experience with AAA unis taking students with A* A C, or knows how York/Sheffield/Liverpool/Lancaster handle near-miss applicants, PLEASE let me know.
I have chosen not to do an LNAT so know this rules out a couple of unis, manily in London ish area and bristol etc.
Would a strong personal statement realistically help, or do they stick hard to AAA?
Any advice, stats (I have lloked at heap guides and the ocmplete uni rankings for law), or personal experiences would really help—I'm so lost right now
I’m finalising my UCAS choices for Law and I’m really confused about whether I should still apply to some AAA unis with my predicted grades.
My predicted grades:
A*, A and C
I know that AAA is the standard for most Law courses I’m looking at, but I’ve heard that unis sometimes make offers to students who don’t fully meet AAA if the overall application is strong (personal statement, reference, GCSEs, context, etc). I also know contextual offers exist, but I’m not eligible for those.
My question is:
👉 With a strong personal statement and good reference, do I still have a realistic chance at places asking AAA? Or is applying a waste of a choice?
I’m especially curious about York because:
I love PBL, it suits how I learn
It is genuinely my first choice
But the acceptance rate on UniGuide is around 49%, so I’m panicking about whether A* A C is enough even to be considered
Also – there isn’t that much clear info online about how flexible Exeter, York, Sheffield, etc. are with entry requirements if someone has strengths elsewhere in their application.
The unis I’m thinking of applying to for Law:
York (love the course – PBL especially)
Sheffield (visited and liked the city/feel)
Liverpool (good balance of city + strong Law school)
Lancaster (unsure – I don’t really want to be doing my weekly food shop in a Spar, and the lack of social life worries me a bit)
Edge Hill (safer option, but still seems decent for Law)
I do like the sound of mooting and law clinics etc. It worries me that some of these unis just have a law society and that is it...
Extra info about me:
I live just outside of the UK
Distance doesn’t matter too much because every UK uni is basically a flight or train away, but I still want somewhere lively with good student life
For me, the course + city + accommodation matter more than prestige
If anyone has experience with AAA unis taking students with A* A C, or knows how York/Sheffield/Liverpool/Lancaster handle near-miss applicants, PLEASE let me know.
I have chosen not to do an LNAT so know this rules out a couple of unis, manily in London ish area and bristol etc.
Would a strong personal statement realistically help, or do they stick hard to AAA?
Any advice, stats (I have lloked at heap guides and the ocmplete uni rankings for law), or personal experiences would really help—I'm so lost right now
You should read this - https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7605383
Reply 4
Original post
by pinklemonpiggyHi everyone,
I’m finalising my UCAS choices for Law and I’m really confused about whether I should still apply to some AAA unis with my predicted grades.
My predicted grades:
A*, A and C
I know that AAA is the standard for most Law courses I’m looking at, but I’ve heard that unis sometimes make offers to students who don’t fully meet AAA if the overall application is strong (personal statement, reference, GCSEs, context, etc). I also know contextual offers exist, but I’m not eligible for those.
My question is:
👉 With a strong personal statement and good reference, do I still have a realistic chance at places asking AAA? Or is applying a waste of a choice?
I’m especially curious about York because:
I love PBL, it suits how I learn
It is genuinely my first choice
But the acceptance rate on UniGuide is around 49%, so I’m panicking about whether A* A C is enough even to be considered
Also – there isn’t that much clear info online about how flexible Exeter, York, Sheffield, etc. are with entry requirements if someone has strengths elsewhere in their application.
The unis I’m thinking of applying to for Law:
York (love the course – PBL especially)
Sheffield (visited and liked the city/feel)
Liverpool (good balance of city + strong Law school)
Lancaster (unsure – I don’t really want to be doing my weekly food shop in a Spar, and the lack of social life worries me a bit)
Edge Hill (safer option, but still seems decent for Law)
I do like the sound of mooting and law clinics etc. It worries me that some of these unis just have a law society and that is it...
Extra info about me:
I live just outside of the UK
Distance doesn’t matter too much because every UK uni is basically a flight or train away, but I still want somewhere lively with good student life
For me, the course + city + accommodation matter more than prestige
If anyone has experience with AAA unis taking students with A* A C, or knows how York/Sheffield/Liverpool/Lancaster handle near-miss applicants, PLEASE let me know.
I have chosen not to do an LNAT so know this rules out a couple of unis, manily in London ish area and bristol etc.
Would a strong personal statement realistically help, or do they stick hard to AAA?
Any advice, stats (I have lloked at heap guides and the ocmplete uni rankings for law), or personal experiences would really help—I'm so lost right now
I’m finalising my UCAS choices for Law and I’m really confused about whether I should still apply to some AAA unis with my predicted grades.
My predicted grades:
A*, A and C
I know that AAA is the standard for most Law courses I’m looking at, but I’ve heard that unis sometimes make offers to students who don’t fully meet AAA if the overall application is strong (personal statement, reference, GCSEs, context, etc). I also know contextual offers exist, but I’m not eligible for those.
My question is:
👉 With a strong personal statement and good reference, do I still have a realistic chance at places asking AAA? Or is applying a waste of a choice?
I’m especially curious about York because:
I love PBL, it suits how I learn
It is genuinely my first choice
But the acceptance rate on UniGuide is around 49%, so I’m panicking about whether A* A C is enough even to be considered
Also – there isn’t that much clear info online about how flexible Exeter, York, Sheffield, etc. are with entry requirements if someone has strengths elsewhere in their application.
The unis I’m thinking of applying to for Law:
York (love the course – PBL especially)
Sheffield (visited and liked the city/feel)
Liverpool (good balance of city + strong Law school)
Lancaster (unsure – I don’t really want to be doing my weekly food shop in a Spar, and the lack of social life worries me a bit)
Edge Hill (safer option, but still seems decent for Law)
I do like the sound of mooting and law clinics etc. It worries me that some of these unis just have a law society and that is it...
Extra info about me:
I live just outside of the UK
Distance doesn’t matter too much because every UK uni is basically a flight or train away, but I still want somewhere lively with good student life
For me, the course + city + accommodation matter more than prestige
If anyone has experience with AAA unis taking students with A* A C, or knows how York/Sheffield/Liverpool/Lancaster handle near-miss applicants, PLEASE let me know.
I have chosen not to do an LNAT so know this rules out a couple of unis, manily in London ish area and bristol etc.
Would a strong personal statement realistically help, or do they stick hard to AAA?
Any advice, stats (I have lloked at heap guides and the ocmplete uni rankings for law), or personal experiences would really help—I'm so lost right now
Hey @pinklemonpiggy ,
Thats awesome to hear that you’re considering Lancaster as an option!
I know Izzy has briefly talked about Lancaster University, but just thought I’ll share my insight as I’m currently in my third year studying Law~
As you mentioned, the Law Society plays a huge role in your degree. They’re your main point of contact outside of lecturers and academic advisors, and they really shape a lot of the academic, social, and career-focused opportunities you get.
Lancaster’s Law Society is always active. They run a wide range of academic and skills-based sessions, from improving your legal writing and footnoting to assessment centre prep, commercial awareness workshops, and training contract application guidance. They also organise mooting competitions at various levels, with opportunities to compete internationally. For example, last year a Lancaster team went to Vienna for the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot, one of the biggest and most prestigious competitions in the world.
Being part of the Law Society has also meant attending several networking events with major law firms like Clifford Chance, Allen & Overy, Addleshaw Goddard, and others. These events are really valuable for learning about different practice areas, getting insight into what firms look for, and making early connections.
As for the course itself, Lancaster is very research-focused, which means the lecturers are actively involved in current legal research and are specialists in their fields. This comes through in lectures and seminars, where they often reference their own work e.g., books, papers, or ongoing research. Modules are also regularly updated to reflect their expertise, giving students the chance to explore niche topics you might not find elsewhere. I recently got to take part in a Commercial Law Mediation course run by one of our lecturers, who specialises in dispute resolution. This is quite a specialised area of practice, and not many universities offer opportunities like this as part of or even alongside their undergraduate law degree, so it’s something that really makes Lancaster stand out.
Hopefully this is helpful and if you have any questions about the course, do feel free to reach out~
Rachel
Lancaster University Student Ambassador
Original post
by pinklemonpiggyHi everyone,
I’m finalising my UCAS choices for Law and I’m really confused about whether I should still apply to some AAA unis with my predicted grades.
My predicted grades:
A*, A and C
I know that AAA is the standard for most Law courses I’m looking at, but I’ve heard that unis sometimes make offers to students who don’t fully meet AAA if the overall application is strong (personal statement, reference, GCSEs, context, etc). I also know contextual offers exist, but I’m not eligible for those.
My question is:
👉 With a strong personal statement and good reference, do I still have a realistic chance at places asking AAA? Or is applying a waste of a choice?
I’m especially curious about York because:
I love PBL, it suits how I learn
It is genuinely my first choice
But the acceptance rate on UniGuide is around 49%, so I’m panicking about whether A* A C is enough even to be considered
Also – there isn’t that much clear info online about how flexible Exeter, York, Sheffield, etc. are with entry requirements if someone has strengths elsewhere in their application.
The unis I’m thinking of applying to for Law:
York (love the course – PBL especially)
Sheffield (visited and liked the city/feel)
Liverpool (good balance of city + strong Law school)
Lancaster (unsure – I don’t really want to be doing my weekly food shop in a Spar, and the lack of social life worries me a bit)
Edge Hill (safer option, but still seems decent for Law)
I do like the sound of mooting and law clinics etc. It worries me that some of these unis just have a law society and that is it...
Extra info about me:
I live just outside of the UK
Distance doesn’t matter too much because every UK uni is basically a flight or train away, but I still want somewhere lively with good student life
For me, the course + city + accommodation matter more than prestige
If anyone has experience with AAA unis taking students with A* A C, or knows how York/Sheffield/Liverpool/Lancaster handle near-miss applicants, PLEASE let me know.
I have chosen not to do an LNAT so know this rules out a couple of unis, manily in London ish area and bristol etc.
Would a strong personal statement realistically help, or do they stick hard to AAA?
Any advice, stats (I have lloked at heap guides and the ocmplete uni rankings for law), or personal experiences would really help—I'm so lost right now
I’m finalising my UCAS choices for Law and I’m really confused about whether I should still apply to some AAA unis with my predicted grades.
My predicted grades:
A*, A and C
I know that AAA is the standard for most Law courses I’m looking at, but I’ve heard that unis sometimes make offers to students who don’t fully meet AAA if the overall application is strong (personal statement, reference, GCSEs, context, etc). I also know contextual offers exist, but I’m not eligible for those.
My question is:
👉 With a strong personal statement and good reference, do I still have a realistic chance at places asking AAA? Or is applying a waste of a choice?
I’m especially curious about York because:
I love PBL, it suits how I learn
It is genuinely my first choice
But the acceptance rate on UniGuide is around 49%, so I’m panicking about whether A* A C is enough even to be considered
Also – there isn’t that much clear info online about how flexible Exeter, York, Sheffield, etc. are with entry requirements if someone has strengths elsewhere in their application.
The unis I’m thinking of applying to for Law:
York (love the course – PBL especially)
Sheffield (visited and liked the city/feel)
Liverpool (good balance of city + strong Law school)
Lancaster (unsure – I don’t really want to be doing my weekly food shop in a Spar, and the lack of social life worries me a bit)
Edge Hill (safer option, but still seems decent for Law)
I do like the sound of mooting and law clinics etc. It worries me that some of these unis just have a law society and that is it...
Extra info about me:
I live just outside of the UK
Distance doesn’t matter too much because every UK uni is basically a flight or train away, but I still want somewhere lively with good student life
For me, the course + city + accommodation matter more than prestige
If anyone has experience with AAA unis taking students with A* A C, or knows how York/Sheffield/Liverpool/Lancaster handle near-miss applicants, PLEASE let me know.
I have chosen not to do an LNAT so know this rules out a couple of unis, manily in London ish area and bristol etc.
Would a strong personal statement realistically help, or do they stick hard to AAA?
Any advice, stats (I have lloked at heap guides and the ocmplete uni rankings for law), or personal experiences would really help—I'm so lost right now
Hi there!
The application/decision-making process can be very stressful but don’t panic! It sounds like you’ve done a lot of research already which is great.
I would recommend getting in touch directly with the unis you are considering, as they will be able to offer insight into how lenient they are when accepting applications. I will link the University of Sheffield admissions page here where you will find a number of ways to get in contact!
If you want to know a bit more about the law course specifically, you can chat to one of our law students https://sheffield.ac.uk/study/chat who will be able to answer any course-specific questions.
I can vouch for both the uni and the city, as I am currently in second year and really enjoying it - it’s great to hear you’ve already visited and liked it! The student life side of things was a big factor for me in deciding to come to Sheffield, as the Student Union was voted number 1 in the UK, in the WhatUni Student Choice awards 2023. With over 350 societies it’s definitely lively and got great student life!
If you have any other questions about Sheffield, please do let me know. Best of luck with your applications!
Phillippa - Politics and Languages student
Reply 6
Original post
by pinklemonpiggyHi everyone,
I’m finalising my UCAS choices for Law and I’m really confused about whether I should still apply to some AAA unis with my predicted grades.
My predicted grades:
A*, A and C
I know that AAA is the standard for most Law courses I’m looking at, but I’ve heard that unis sometimes make offers to students who don’t fully meet AAA if the overall application is strong (personal statement, reference, GCSEs, context, etc). I also know contextual offers exist, but I’m not eligible for those.
My question is:
👉 With a strong personal statement and good reference, do I still have a realistic chance at places asking AAA? Or is applying a waste of a choice?
I’m especially curious about York because:
I love PBL, it suits how I learn
It is genuinely my first choice
But the acceptance rate on UniGuide is around 49%, so I’m panicking about whether A* A C is enough even to be considered
Also – there isn’t that much clear info online about how flexible Exeter, York, Sheffield, etc. are with entry requirements if someone has strengths elsewhere in their application.
The unis I’m thinking of applying to for Law:
York (love the course – PBL especially)
Sheffield (visited and liked the city/feel)
Liverpool (good balance of city + strong Law school)
Lancaster (unsure – I don’t really want to be doing my weekly food shop in a Spar, and the lack of social life worries me a bit)
Edge Hill (safer option, but still seems decent for Law)
I do like the sound of mooting and law clinics etc. It worries me that some of these unis just have a law society and that is it...
Extra info about me:
I live just outside of the UK
Distance doesn’t matter too much because every UK uni is basically a flight or train away, but I still want somewhere lively with good student life
For me, the course + city + accommodation matter more than prestige
If anyone has experience with AAA unis taking students with A* A C, or knows how York/Sheffield/Liverpool/Lancaster handle near-miss applicants, PLEASE let me know.
I have chosen not to do an LNAT so know this rules out a couple of unis, manily in London ish area and bristol etc.
Would a strong personal statement realistically help, or do they stick hard to AAA?
Any advice, stats (I have lloked at heap guides and the ocmplete uni rankings for law), or personal experiences would really help—I'm so lost right now
I’m finalising my UCAS choices for Law and I’m really confused about whether I should still apply to some AAA unis with my predicted grades.
My predicted grades:
A*, A and C
I know that AAA is the standard for most Law courses I’m looking at, but I’ve heard that unis sometimes make offers to students who don’t fully meet AAA if the overall application is strong (personal statement, reference, GCSEs, context, etc). I also know contextual offers exist, but I’m not eligible for those.
My question is:
👉 With a strong personal statement and good reference, do I still have a realistic chance at places asking AAA? Or is applying a waste of a choice?
I’m especially curious about York because:
I love PBL, it suits how I learn
It is genuinely my first choice
But the acceptance rate on UniGuide is around 49%, so I’m panicking about whether A* A C is enough even to be considered
Also – there isn’t that much clear info online about how flexible Exeter, York, Sheffield, etc. are with entry requirements if someone has strengths elsewhere in their application.
The unis I’m thinking of applying to for Law:
York (love the course – PBL especially)
Sheffield (visited and liked the city/feel)
Liverpool (good balance of city + strong Law school)
Lancaster (unsure – I don’t really want to be doing my weekly food shop in a Spar, and the lack of social life worries me a bit)
Edge Hill (safer option, but still seems decent for Law)
I do like the sound of mooting and law clinics etc. It worries me that some of these unis just have a law society and that is it...
Extra info about me:
I live just outside of the UK
Distance doesn’t matter too much because every UK uni is basically a flight or train away, but I still want somewhere lively with good student life
For me, the course + city + accommodation matter more than prestige
If anyone has experience with AAA unis taking students with A* A C, or knows how York/Sheffield/Liverpool/Lancaster handle near-miss applicants, PLEASE let me know.
I have chosen not to do an LNAT so know this rules out a couple of unis, manily in London ish area and bristol etc.
Would a strong personal statement realistically help, or do they stick hard to AAA?
Any advice, stats (I have lloked at heap guides and the ocmplete uni rankings for law), or personal experiences would really help—I'm so lost right now
not sure about the other unis but my predicted grades are ABC and I have received an offer at Liverpool for law with politics llb. I do also do EPQ so maybe this played a role?
Reply 7
Original post
by shograyxnot sure about the other unis but my predicted grades are ABC and I have received an offer at Liverpool for law with politics llb. I do also do EPQ so maybe this played a role?
Hi! did you have a contextual offer? because my predicted grades are pretty much the same
Reply 8
Original post
by EmeraldsHi! did you have a contextual offer? because my predicted grades are pretty much the same
hey no I didn't have a contextual offer, the offer they gave me was the standard. I honestly didn't think they'd give me an offer so maybe just make sure your personal statement is strong and apply to some with lower requirements just in case
Reply 9
I would say have some safeties that are close and match your grades but definitely have aspirational grades Im not sure how lenient York was as I met their requirements as I was eligible for contextual
However I applied for Sheffield with a D*DM while the standard requirement was D*DD and contexual was DDD I was still below the contexual offer but got on offer still just make sure your personal statement and references are good then hopefully you'll get an offer
However I applied for Sheffield with a D*DM while the standard requirement was D*DD and contexual was DDD I was still below the contexual offer but got on offer still just make sure your personal statement and references are good then hopefully you'll get an offer
(edited 1 month ago)
Reply 10
Original post
by pinklemonpiggyHi everyone,
I’m finalising my UCAS choices for Law and I’m really confused about whether I should still apply to some AAA unis with my predicted grades.
My predicted grades:
A*, A and C
I know that AAA is the standard for most Law courses I’m looking at, but I’ve heard that unis sometimes make offers to students who don’t fully meet AAA if the overall application is strong (personal statement, reference, GCSEs, context, etc). I also know contextual offers exist, but I’m not eligible for those.
My question is:
👉 With a strong personal statement and good reference, do I still have a realistic chance at places asking AAA? Or is applying a waste of a choice?
I’m especially curious about York because:
I love PBL, it suits how I learn
It is genuinely my first choice
But the acceptance rate on UniGuide is around 49%, so I’m panicking about whether A* A C is enough even to be considered
Also – there isn’t that much clear info online about how flexible Exeter, York, Sheffield, etc. are with entry requirements if someone has strengths elsewhere in their application.
The unis I’m thinking of applying to for Law:
York (love the course – PBL especially)
Sheffield (visited and liked the city/feel)
Liverpool (good balance of city + strong Law school)
Lancaster (unsure – I don’t really want to be doing my weekly food shop in a Spar, and the lack of social life worries me a bit)
Edge Hill (safer option, but still seems decent for Law)
I do like the sound of mooting and law clinics etc. It worries me that some of these unis just have a law society and that is it...
Extra info about me:
I live just outside of the UK
Distance doesn’t matter too much because every UK uni is basically a flight or train away, but I still want somewhere lively with good student life
For me, the course + city + accommodation matter more than prestige
If anyone has experience with AAA unis taking students with A* A C, or knows how York/Sheffield/Liverpool/Lancaster handle near-miss applicants, PLEASE let me know.
I have chosen not to do an LNAT so know this rules out a couple of unis, manily in London ish area and bristol etc.
Would a strong personal statement realistically help, or do they stick hard to AAA?
Any advice, stats (I have lloked at heap guides and the ocmplete uni rankings for law), or personal experiences would really help—I'm so lost right now
I’m finalising my UCAS choices for Law and I’m really confused about whether I should still apply to some AAA unis with my predicted grades.
My predicted grades:
A*, A and C
I know that AAA is the standard for most Law courses I’m looking at, but I’ve heard that unis sometimes make offers to students who don’t fully meet AAA if the overall application is strong (personal statement, reference, GCSEs, context, etc). I also know contextual offers exist, but I’m not eligible for those.
My question is:
👉 With a strong personal statement and good reference, do I still have a realistic chance at places asking AAA? Or is applying a waste of a choice?
I’m especially curious about York because:
I love PBL, it suits how I learn
It is genuinely my first choice
But the acceptance rate on UniGuide is around 49%, so I’m panicking about whether A* A C is enough even to be considered
Also – there isn’t that much clear info online about how flexible Exeter, York, Sheffield, etc. are with entry requirements if someone has strengths elsewhere in their application.
The unis I’m thinking of applying to for Law:
York (love the course – PBL especially)
Sheffield (visited and liked the city/feel)
Liverpool (good balance of city + strong Law school)
Lancaster (unsure – I don’t really want to be doing my weekly food shop in a Spar, and the lack of social life worries me a bit)
Edge Hill (safer option, but still seems decent for Law)
I do like the sound of mooting and law clinics etc. It worries me that some of these unis just have a law society and that is it...
Extra info about me:
I live just outside of the UK
Distance doesn’t matter too much because every UK uni is basically a flight or train away, but I still want somewhere lively with good student life
For me, the course + city + accommodation matter more than prestige
If anyone has experience with AAA unis taking students with A* A C, or knows how York/Sheffield/Liverpool/Lancaster handle near-miss applicants, PLEASE let me know.
I have chosen not to do an LNAT so know this rules out a couple of unis, manily in London ish area and bristol etc.
Would a strong personal statement realistically help, or do they stick hard to AAA?
Any advice, stats (I have lloked at heap guides and the ocmplete uni rankings for law), or personal experiences would really help—I'm so lost right now
Hi @pinklemonpiggy ,
Congratulations on your predicted grades!
From an Edge Hill perspective, applications are considered holistically, so your whole application is taken into account. As you mentioned, your personal statement, references and overall academic profile all play a role in the decisions made by admissions teams.
In terms of the Law course itself, there are lots of opportunities for students to get involved with beyond the lectures and seminars. The Law society offers a range of activities for students including mooting, mock trials, law clinical and practical experience. All of which help students build their skills beyond their studies.
If you'd like to chat to a current Law students about why they chose Edge Hill and how they're finding the course, you can message them through the university website or the link below:
Chat to students - Annabel Law Student
Good luck with your applications and exams! If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask!
Eloise
Third Year Psychology Student
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