OK, I've got into both the BCL and the LLM. I have a scholarship for cambridge not for oxford and want to be a barrister. is the bcl really so much better that i should turn down the scholarship? i went to an ex-poly and want to get this decision right so as to maximise cv benefit.

i know this has been touched on before, but any new opinions would be much appreciated.

To all those who are going to Oxford:
IN - YOUR - FACE ;-)
http://www.theboatrace.org/article/newsandmedia/boatrace/2010winners

Loosing a boat race (sorry, THE boat race) - absolutely devastating ;)))), but I think I can live with it

@Private equity - perhaps I am somewhat slow today, but does your post mean that Merton college is so bad that even a scholarship cannot make it worth going to?

When I applied, I was not paying much attention to the colleges and Merton does sound too familiar... I might find this box ticked on my application, I am afraid

Completely the opposite. Merton is one of the best colleges in Oxford. Huges Hall is, on the other hand, not that popular despite people are very nice their and it seems to be great at rowing. Hence, if you get Merton in Oxford and Huges Hall + scholarship in Cam, you have something to think about...Depends on the amount, I guess

As far as the BCL is concerned, the college has virtually no impact whatsoever on the degree itself. Classes are taught through the law faculty, and not through your college: a student at Merton taking restitution takes the exact same class as a student from anywhere else.

The choice of college primarily influences where you live and the quality of the food (a consideration of vital importance). It also determines who your advisor will be, which may or may not be important to you. Some advisors will want to meet with you fairly regularly, and others you might only see once or twice all year. Again, however, your advisor does not change what you study: he or she is simply there to help with your questions, concerns or study strategies.

I suggest that while a scholarship would be an important criterion in choosing between the two universities, the college is not.

I understand that Merton's food is fantastic, by the way.

@ Private Equity, Bender - thanks, I thought I was missing the point;) Mondays can be difficult... thanks a bunch in particular since I did tick Merton on my application as the second choice

Hi all, I have an extra question, for someone who might be considering M.Phil or D.Phil, do Oxbridge only take their own graduates or do they accept graduates from the other as well? For example, does Oxford accept a D.Phil candidate who has an LLM from Cambridge and vice versa?

Hi all, I have an extra question, for someone who might be considering M.Phil or D.Phil, do Oxbridge only take their own graduates or do they accept graduates from the other as well? For example, does Oxford accept a D.Phil candidate who has an LLM from Cambridge and vice versa?