I'm in a dilema because I've been accepted to read law at Sussex. My French Bac mark exceeded my espectations so now I'd be eligible to apply to the "better" law schools (14.6 bien) however, if I don't take up my place this year at Sussex I will have to wait until next year and then I may not be successful at the likes of UCL, KCL, LSE, SOAS (I suppose there is always Sussex) How is Sussex rated? the job prospects % look pretty lousy and it is generally languishing in the depths. What's the most important thing employers look for, a good degree from a less well known uni or not such a good degree from a well known uni - or you must have the both. I really want to do my BVC afterwards and in particular human rights. Is it worth losing a year of my time (although I'll get a job) to get into a better university? I should be most obliged for some feed back please.

Yes it is absolutely worth waiting.

thank you yellow for your advice.

..or you could accept the offer at Sussex and begin your law studies there and then transfer into a 'better' law school after one or two semesters. This way you can begin your law studies right away and perhaps even gain credit (check with the law schools) for the subjects you've done at Sussex, and not lose a year doing nothing or something else.

It is possibly worth checking that out. I understand that it's a seriously big decision to take a year out and you probably feel that you'll be losing time etc etc. But the BVC and getting a pupillage afterwards is seriously competitive, I'm not saying that to scare you look at any of the websites dealing with the issue or newspapers and the number of people failing to progress is huge. You need to do all that you can to secure a position and going to a better law school will give you such a big advantage. I would also say that even if you changed your mind and decided to do something else going to a better law school would be an advantage. The year out doesn't have to be lost, get a job, do some travelling whatever you have a lot of options and it could be an amazing opportunity to do something exciting before you start college.

thanks rogue academic and yellow - if i go to sussex and stay beyond 31 october, i will have to pay for the whole year's tuition. I'm not sure that the unis I'm interested in will bother acknowledging my credits. It's also going to be hard making friends and then leaving them. My mother would agree wholeheartedly with Yellow that the better the university the better my chances, in whatever I chose to do. My biggest fear is that I'll be turned down by all of them. I shall have to sit the LNAT for some of the places. I've also written to Freshfields asking them which applicants they'd be more likely to favour (so far, no reply ; but perhaps they're very PC so can I rely on their answer!?) My mother's pushing me to apply for oxford as well but although they say a 14.6 is acceptable they might just be humouring me - I'd have to do really well in the LNAT to stand a chance - perhaps it's a waste of an application?

The worst that happens is you start in Sussex next year. Listen to your mother! Seriously what's the worst that can happen. So you apply and don't get in it's not the worst thing that will ever happen!