Chances-Oxbridge/ Harvard

51 12

Posted Sep 26, 2022 11:28

Hello folks! I know that the 'chances' discussions are quite overdone, please bear with me as I suffer obnoxious application jitters. I have a undergrad degree from a decently reputable college in India, where I graduated with 5th rank in the business law cohort (65 students in total). Post graduation I have been working for a little over 4 years, primarily in taxation issues. My work experience and references from my firm are kickass, although I have no publications. I have also sourced some excellent references from my law school: former director of my uni, who is a known academician and will be vouching for my extra-curriculars along with my scholastic accomplishments; and, two professors who remember my academic presence/ submissions well. I believe that my SOP has also turned out well.
Considering that my rank is only 5th, should I even bother applying to Ox/Cam. And, what will be my chances at Harvard? As of now, these are the only UNIs I wanted to apply to, should I consider some schools as backup? Thanks in Advance.

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LLMAPP1234

197 34

Posted Sep 28, 2022 10:26

Hello folks! I know that the 'chances' discussions are quite overdone, please bear with me as I suffer obnoxious application jitters. I have a undergrad degree from a decently reputable college in India, where I graduated with 5th rank in the business law cohort (65 students in total). Post graduation I have been working for a little over 4 years, primarily in taxation issues. My work experience and references from my firm are kickass, although I have no publications. I have also sourced some excellent references from my law school: former director of my uni, who is a known academician and will be vouching for my extra-curriculars along with my scholastic accomplishments; and, two professors who remember my academic presence/ submissions well. I believe that my SOP has also turned out well.

Considering that my rank is only 5th, should I even bother applying to Ox/Cam. And, what will be my chances at Harvard? As of now, these are the only UNIs I wanted to apply to, should I consider some schools as backup? Thanks in Advance.

Hello, I am a current Cambridge LLM student. I would say this is a solid foundation to proceed to the application process. I do not know much about the Harvard application process but Oxford and Cambridge absolutely prefer academic references, so I would rely on those if at all possible, as opposed to your professional referees. High grades (i.e. a 'good' first or equivalent') are almost indispensable for Oxford, and while Cambridge also desire a good first, they seem to take more account of extra-curriculars and other achievements. I also came fifth in my cohort (albeit a cohort of c. 300) as luck would have it, but I don't think it overly matters as long as your grades were high.

That aside, don't self-reject, apply to them all and see what happens, you only have no chance of getting in if you don't apply :)

[Edited by LLMAPP1234 on Sep 28, 2022]

[quote]Hello folks! I know that the 'chances' discussions are quite overdone, please bear with me as I suffer obnoxious application jitters. I have a undergrad degree from a decently reputable college in India, where I graduated with 5th rank in the business law cohort (65 students in total). Post graduation I have been working for a little over 4 years, primarily in taxation issues. My work experience and references from my firm are kickass, although I have no publications. I have also sourced some excellent references from my law school: former director of my uni, who is a known academician and will be vouching for my extra-curriculars along with my scholastic accomplishments; and, two professors who remember my academic presence/ submissions well. I believe that my SOP has also turned out well. 
Considering that my rank is only 5th, should I even bother applying to Ox/Cam. And, what will be my chances at Harvard? As of now, these are the only UNIs I wanted to apply to, should I consider some schools as backup? Thanks in Advance. [/quote] Hello, I am a current Cambridge LLM student. I would say this is a solid foundation to proceed to the application process. I do not know much about the Harvard application process but Oxford and Cambridge absolutely prefer academic references, so I would rely on those if at all possible, as opposed to your professional referees. High grades (i.e. a 'good' first or equivalent') are almost indispensable for Oxford, and while Cambridge also desire a good first, they seem to take more account of extra-curriculars and other achievements. I also came fifth in my cohort (albeit a cohort of c. 300) as luck would have it, but I don't think it overly matters as long as your grades were high.  That aside, don't self-reject, apply to them all and see what happens, you only have no chance of getting in if you don't apply  :)

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llm_india_...

51 12

Posted Sep 29, 2022 18:00

Thanks so much! This was really helpful :) Just one follow up- should I mention my class rank at all in my app, since I'm not in top 3? I consistently had great grades in law school though, a lot of 'O's (outstanding) as well. Should I skip mentioning my rank, and may be mention my merit certificates and ultimately let my transcript testify for my overall academics?

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LLMAPP1234

197 34

Posted Sep 30, 2022 11:00

Thanks so much! This was really helpful :) Just one follow up- should I mention my class rank at all in my app, since I'm not in top 3? I consistently had great grades in law school though, a lot of 'O's (outstanding) as well. Should I skip mentioning my rank, and may be mention my merit certificates and ultimately let my transcript testify for my overall academics?

I would put it on your CV under 'education', and mention it in your personal statement to show why you are suitable for the course. Your referees are also asked to discuss your rank though I believe.

[quote]Thanks so much! This was really helpful :) Just one follow up- should I mention my class rank at all in my app, since I'm not in top 3? I consistently had great grades in law school though, a lot of 'O's (outstanding) as well. Should I skip mentioning my rank, and may be mention my merit certificates and ultimately let my transcript testify for my overall academics?   [/quote] I would put it on your CV under 'education', and mention it in your personal statement to show why you are suitable for the course. Your referees are also asked to discuss your rank  though I believe.

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