I am a US candidate currently applying to the Oxford BCL and Cambridge's LLM. I have read in many threads that the UK's schools look in significant part to you grades. Does anyone have thoughts or experience that would pertain to this question - Does Oxbridge look at your most recent grades (for me in law school) or do they look to both your undergraduate and law school grades? I graduated very high in my law school (top 2% in a tier 4 (low ranking law school) and I graduated very low in my undergraduate studies (chemical engineering, University of Texas). I am curious if I am a good candidate because of my high grades in law school, or if I am a mediocre candidate because of my low undergraduate grades. Thoughts?
I imagine any ideas on this subject will help both me and future candidates. Thanks.
Oxbridge - Undergrad and Law School GPAs
Posted Jan 17, 2008 05:08
I imagine any ideas on this subject will help both me and future candidates. Thanks.
Posted Jan 17, 2008 14:26
I can't tell you what Oxford or Cambridge would do, but I (and I have previously been responsible for post graduate admissions) would look at the law school grades and I would do so for two reasons:-
1. I would assume that law grades are going to be a better indicator of how a student would fare studying law than chemistry grades would do; and
2. the law grades are more recent and therefore a better indicator of where the applicant is at academically speaking at the moment. Many institutions allow for 'exit velocity' - that is, they accept the principle that students may get better at a subject over the years, as they learn skills and mature. Final year grades therefore can be seen as a a truer indication of students' potential. Obviously, though, much will depend on the facts in individual cases and, in your case, one particular issue would be the factoring in of a 'low ranking' law school to the equation. I suppose you will only find out by applying. Good luck.
1. I would assume that law grades are going to be a better indicator of how a student would fare studying law than chemistry grades would do; and
2. the law grades are more recent and therefore a better indicator of where the applicant is at academically speaking at the moment. Many institutions allow for 'exit velocity' - that is, they accept the principle that students may get better at a subject over the years, as they learn skills and mature. Final year grades therefore can be seen as a a truer indication of students' potential. Obviously, though, much will depend on the facts in individual cases and, in your case, one particular issue would be the factoring in of a 'low ranking' law school to the equation. I suppose you will only find out by applying. Good luck.
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