Hi,

I'm finished my JD and want to do a LLM in Europe - preferably at either Oxford, Cambridge, or LSE. The problem is, my school won't disclose an overall ranking. I know I was in the top 5% in my first year, top 2% in second year.....but then took a major tumble in my third year (don't know my ranking for that year yet).

I have two questions,

1. If I only get a yearly ranking rather than a cumulative ranking, what do I give to the school that I'm applying to?

2. Do most schools accept reasons for a poor semester (I do have a legitimate reason for the one semester that hurt me).

Thanks everyone, and good luck with applications!

Hi, I'd just submit all your yearly rankings to the school you're applying for, to be honest. Have you checked if your school will disclose an overall ranking in a sealed, confidential letter? My undergraduate university did not release overall rankings generally, but were willing to give me sealed letters with the ranking, which I then sent by post to the universities I applied to.

As to #2, I think it is generally difficult to work in reasons for a poor semester with application materials unless it is genuinely a serious problem - it may come off poorly. But if it is a really good reason e.g. medical issues, especially if you can provide some proof, then by all means try to work that into your application.