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Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011

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plethora

Joined: 11 Oct 2009
Posts: 37
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:20 PM
Yes; I think that the regular salutations are adequate =)
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isaiah

Joined: 05 Oct 2009
Posts: 13
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:29 PM
Yes; I think that the regular salutations are adequate =)


hi guys,

i dont want to spoil your day but please read the following instruction before submitting your final pieces:
www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/gradstud/admissions/fo…

So it is explicitly instructed to address to ‘The Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies’..

Well I advised my referee to start with "Dear Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies,"

good luck all

[Edited by isaiah on 14 Oct 2009]
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lil81

Joined: 12 Oct 2009
Posts: 18
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Thu Oct 15, 2009 06:12 AM
Thanks.. I'll remind my referee. Just wanted to know if everyone's applying online?
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littledoll

Joined: 28 Jun 2009
Posts: 27
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Thu Oct 15, 2009 09:41 AM
OMG I hope my referees addressed them correctly... Well now it's too late anyways. ;-) Hope that doesn't influence my application..

I am applying online. It's easier than having all this paper mess especially if you are applying to several unis.
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plethora

Joined: 11 Oct 2009
Posts: 37
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Thu Oct 15, 2009 04:12 PM
My apologies people; but I'm sure Cambridge won't turn away worthy candidates just over nomenclature? Anyway we have a long and painful wait!
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strawfoot

Joined: 15 Oct 2009
Posts: 8
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Fri Oct 16, 2009 12:14 PM
Hi.

The Cambridge online application form says that you should write a maximum of 16 lines when writing about your reason for undertaking the course. Does a blank line between paragraphs count as a line? I wouldn't think so, but the application looked strange when I took a printout. The text didn't fit properly in the window.

Has anybody else had the same problem?
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lil81

Joined: 12 Oct 2009
Posts: 18
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Fri Oct 16, 2009 01:11 PM
I thought it is maximum 16 lines and 130 characters (plus spacing) for each line. You can actually use microsoft words to count the characters including the spacing..
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toffka

Joined: 15 Oct 2009
Posts: 4
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Fri Oct 16, 2009 03:04 PM
Dear all,

please advise me on payment of registration fee. I can have a credit card only in USD or Euro, and as I understood, I have to specify the details of my credit card for payment of registration fee which constitues 35 pounds. Do you think it is possible to provide the details of USD/Euro credit card? can they debit the necessary amount in another currency equivalent to 35 pounds?
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isaiah

Joined: 05 Oct 2009
Posts: 13
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Sat Oct 17, 2009 02:06 PM
OMG I hope my referees addressed them correctly... Well now it's too late anyways. ;-) Hope that doesn't influence my application..

I am applying online. It's easier than having all this paper mess especially if you are applying to several unis.


for cambridge there is really no advantage in applying online, you still have to submit hard copies for all the mandatory docs..
that is way I choose to do a paper application, not merely because you also have two weeks extra before the deadline passes
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isaiah

Joined: 05 Oct 2009
Posts: 13
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Sat Oct 17, 2009 02:22 PM
Hey guys,

I would like to get your opinion on my chances for LSE, Cmabrdige and Oxford.

I have done a LLB programme at the best university in my country and finished 4th in a group of more than 330 graduates.

For an english taught LLM programme at the same university I finished 2dn oin a group of 43 graduates.

What do you think of my chances? I honestly thinkt that I will get into LSE but the other two will probably reject me... :(

[Edited by isaiah on 17 Oct 2009]
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despite

Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 2
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Tue Oct 20, 2009 10:22 AM
hi,

for the application paper for Cambridge, I had a 12,5 at my staatsexam .Do you write your grade from your home country or do you try to "translate" it in a UK grade?

thank you

[Edited by despite on 20 Oct 2009]
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ChiefWiggum'sSon


Joined: 23 Apr 2006
Posts: 109
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Tue Oct 20, 2009 01:13 PM
Hey guys,

I would like to get your opinion on my chances for LSE, Cmabrdige and Oxford.

I have done a LLB programme at the best university in my country and finished 4th in a group of more than 330 graduates.

For an english taught LLM programme at the same university I finished 2dn oin a group of 43 graduates.

What do you think of my chances? I honestly thinkt that I will get into LSE but the other two will probably reject me... :(


Why do you expect Oxbridge to reject someone who graduated within top 1,5% (or, regarding your LLM, within top 5% respectively)?
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isaiah

Joined: 05 Oct 2009
Posts: 13
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Tue Oct 20, 2009 04:52 PM
Hey guys,

I would like to get your opinion on my chances for LSE, Cmabrdige and Oxford.

I have done a LLB programme at the best university in my country and finished 4th in a group of more than 330 graduates.

For an english taught LLM programme at the same university I finished 2dn oin a group of 43 graduates.

What do you think of my chances? I honestly thinkt that I will get into LSE but the other two will probably reject me... :(


Why do you expect Oxbridge to reject someone who graduated within top 1,5% (or, regarding your LLM, within top 5% respectively)?


those are two world class uni's to which world class applicatants will apply to... I am not that bad and certainly do have a chance, but one should not forget that there are more highly qualified people from other uni's within my country and of course from other countries around the world that will make an attempt to get into one of these two top notch uni's..just imagine those people applying from some ivy league schools from the us or all the students that top the rankings at their respective home uni's .. on the other hand, fortunately not all of those top students desire to go study at oxbridge

[Edited by isaiah on 20 Oct 2009]
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legalalien

Joined: 28 Sep 2009
Posts: 90
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Tue Oct 20, 2009 06:01 PM
Well, for what it's worth someone who I think ought to know recently told me that approx the top 10% of Oxford law graduates would be able to get into the BCL course. So, even allowing for a reasonable level of "discounting" of graduates from non-Oxbridge universities you ought to be in with a chance. I know how you feel though - it's hard to assess how the admissions team will regard the quality of legal education in your country / at the particular university you attended. I know when I moved to work in private practice in the UK I encountered quite a lot of comments along the lines of "you must find the work much harder / more challenging here in London". Which it wasn't, particularly.
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plethora

Joined: 11 Oct 2009
Posts: 37
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Wed Oct 21, 2009 06:35 AM
All depends on the blasted references...
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castrili

Joined: 18 Oct 2009
Posts: 15
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Wed Oct 21, 2009 09:04 PM
Hi, maybe someone can help me.
My transcripts are not in english...is it ok to just get a certified translation of them or is it necessary for the Embassy or the British Council to certify the translation?
Thanks!
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lil81

Joined: 12 Oct 2009
Posts: 18
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:13 AM
Dear toffka, I was wondering about d payment as well. But I have just submitted my application and they debit d exact amount in GBP from my credit card..

[Edited by lil81 on 22 Oct 2009]
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despite

Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 2
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Thu Oct 22, 2009 01:28 PM
hi,

for the application paper for Cambridge, I had a 12,5 at my staatsexam .Do you write your grade from your home country or do you try to "translate" it in a UK grade?

thank you


Any advice?
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littledoll

Joined: 28 Jun 2009
Posts: 27
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Thu Oct 22, 2009 03:58 PM
It's always very hard to "translate" grades. I am also applying with foreign grades and several other unis told me that I can use my grading system. I guess unis like Cambridge have enough experience to know how to evaluate grades from a different system. But if in doubt just write the admissions office and email.
Btw, 12,5 is very good. :-)
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llmhopeful1986

Joined: 26 Oct 2009
Posts: 18
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:52 PM
It says it is 'in your interest to apply as soon as you are ready' although the deadline is 17th. Does this mean they give offers before the deadline?? Don't really understand.
Also- there doesn't seem to be much space to write about reasons for doing the course does there? I was suprised at that.
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littledoll

Joined: 28 Jun 2009
Posts: 27
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Wed Oct 28, 2009 09:01 AM
I don't think that they give offers before that deadline because they only want you application by the 17th. You can send in your transcripts etc later. At least that is how I understood it.
Regarding the reasons, I was also surprised at that. But as heard from a professor who studied in Cambridge himself that really the most important things are your grades and rank (if available) and your references. That's basically what they base their decision on. If you won'T make it in this round, he said, they'll tae a closer look at you reasons. Howeverit has been a while since he has been there, so i am not sure if it is still like that.
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lil81

Joined: 12 Oct 2009
Posts: 18
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Wed Oct 28, 2009 11:23 AM
Dear all,

I hav submited my online application. However, upon accessing my self service account, I did refer to d application pack (paper application) to guide me in my application and i ended up getting a little confused about the instructions for d submission of supporting documents -

1. Are we to send our degree certificate? D self service account and cover sheet bears no indication that we should whereas d application pack checklist requires this document to be submitted.

2. I need confirmation on the number of copies of documents to be submitted. According to d self service account - cover sheet (1 copy), 1st reference (3 copies), 2nd reference (3 copies), transcripts (1 copy) and language test results (1 copy). According to d graduate application checklist, d number of copies for d references are d same but 3 copies each of transcript, degree certificate and language test results is necessary.

3. Lastly, pertaining to my referees, I hav received from 1 of my referees, a sealed envelope of my reference. However, the official seal (stamp) of d department is in a language other than English and I saw that my referee has signed above (not across) that official stamp. But d signature and d stamp of d department has been covered with clear tape. Is this acceptable? I am having difficulty to contact my referee. (Im stil trying to get my 2nd referee)..

I did emailed the Board of Graduate Studies, but all i got was a set of standard FAQs...

Help.... Anyone?

[Edited by lil81 on 28 Oct 2009]
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Awojc

Joined: 27 Aug 2007
Posts: 65
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Wed Oct 28, 2009 03:34 PM
Got admitted to Oxford last year but i could not take it up so i am reapplying again for 2010/2011. I believe all the fear about addressing references are unfounded. For degree certificates Cam requires them but for Ox they are useless. References not sealed and signed across the seal are just as good as never written. If yours were done that way resend them properly done.
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plethora

Joined: 11 Oct 2009
Posts: 37
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Thu Oct 29, 2009 07:19 AM
Hi Awojc, mind sharing with us your brief cv so that we can reckon our chances?
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Awojc

Joined: 27 Aug 2007
Posts: 65
Oxford BCL/MJur and Cambridge LLM Applicants 2010/2011
Thu Oct 29, 2009 11:58 AM
plethora,

I graduated 1st of about 400 in my primary law degree in Nigeria, with First Class. I also finished with First Class at the Nigerian Law School in my Bar Qualification Exams.

I only had about one year work experience in a Nigerian top-notch law firm by the time i was admitted.

Be that as it may, i think the First Class and Best Overall thing is good, but only a beginning. Thousands of applicants also have First Class, and many of them are from schools that are ordinarily considered light years ahead of the crop of Universities in my country.

References help, but for Ox, I suspect that the decider is the written work, and statement of purpose. The writted work because it is where you showcase your ability to reason like a lawyer and make good coherent sense out of a gamut of facts facing a particular legal theory; the statement of purpose because that is where you show how much you know of the BCL, and why you should be given a chance at it. Sadly many people apply for the BCL without as much as a thought as to the course content, and what they plan to do with them.

Note that I am currently reapplying to Oxford, I hope I am re-admitted, although I know it is not authomatic. So I am just in the same shoes as you guys are.

I hope i have made an attempt at providin the answer(s) to your question. I am still very much around if you require further clarifications.
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