UK Schools Law Course Chance: UCL, LSE, Oxford

Student Lounge International Students
1

Hey Everyone,

So this is my first post- yay! Anyways, basically I wanted to get some insight on UK schools and their law courses. I might be applying while I am a Freshman in a US college… I didn’t apply to any UK schools previously.

Here are my test scores:
ACT: tested only 1 time
34, Writing 11

AP Scores:
US/American History 4
Art History 5
Chemistry 4
English - Language 5
History - European 5
Mathematics - Calculus BC 5
Mathematics - AB subscore 5
Biology 5
Economics-Micro 4
Economics-Macro 5
Government - US 4
Statistics 5

Total: 8 tests: scored 5 4 tests: scored 4
*** I know that I have above the required scores of at least a 5 on five different AP tests in relevant subjects for LSE…
Here is my issue will UK Schools be upset by my fours?

SATII
US History 710
Math II 750
Chemistry 780

Extracurriculars that pertain to law:
Speech and Debate 7-12th grade ( will continue with model UN in college)
Political Campaign Internship 3 months last year
Law firm internship 3 months this summer
I have done a lot of other activities but they dont really pertain to law…

I am currently interested in applying to law courses at UCL, LSE and Oxford.

Should I even bother applying–What should I improve on before applying? Any Advice for a US Student applying to the UK?
Any other schools I should consider?

I mainly chose UCL and LSE because I love their joint degree programs.

I know that these schools are all reaches for any and all applicants (especially international students) but these are the only schools I would currently consider studying abroad at…If I do not get admission I would just finish my undergrad in the US and that is just fine!

Thanks!!!

2

I think you meet the minimum grades for Oxford, UCL and LSE, so you definitely have a good chance and I would encourage you to apply! Especially given that you pay a one-off fee to UCAS (the equivalent of the Common App) and it does not cost more to apply to more schools, go for all three. If you’re interested in other great British universities: KCL (King’s College London), Edinburgh, St Andrews, Manchester, Bristol are all very good. (The Russell Group Universities are the top universities in the UK so I would look there as a starting point). A thing to note about Scottish universities: they are much more flexible in terms of what you can study, so even if you are accepted to read Law, you can take a few other subjects alongside Law in the first couple of years. This is not the case in English universities so bear that in mind (especially since you mentioned liking the joint degree courses at UCL and LSE). Scottish degrees are also 4 years long rather than 3.

Also: UK universities tend not to accept transfer students (I know that Oxford do not, I’m not entirely sure about LSE and UCL) so I think you would have to start from the beginning all over again. Just be prepared for that.

Advice:

  1. Prepare for the admissions tests if applicable. For Oxford you will have to sit the LNAT, and it is a big component of the admissions process. Check if there are any for LSE and UCL.
  2. A good personal statement will explain why you want to study Law and demonstrate your passion for the subject. The Law-related extra-curriculars are a great start! Also note, these reasons will often be very clichéd and not very unique. To differentiate yourself, use specific examples to illustrate your point, rather than come up with a weird and wacky reason - Brits are serious people… Also have a look at any reading lists provided by the universities and pick a few books to read over the summer. It’s a good thing to write about. Be careful though - do not just write books down to look good because they might ask you to discuss them in your Oxford interview, so make sure you’ve actually properly read the books you claim to have read. Reading will also help you familiarise yourself with the subject and be better prepared for other interview questions. (The Oxford interview is really quite intense in the UK - it’s with admissions tutors who are responsible for selecting people to make offers to. They are experts in the field, and often try to ask very tough questions and push you into unfamiliar territory to see how you think in those circumstances.)

Hope this helps! Let me know if there’s anything else I can do xx

3

This information was extremely helpful! Thank you so much! The schools I am applying to do not accept transfer students, but I am okay with beginning the course a year later than usual :slight_smile:

Do you know of any reliable prep resources for the LNAT? I have seen the practice tests online but I was wondering if there are any standard books that UK students use to prepare for the test.

Also I have done a vast amount of ‘education promotion’ type of community service activities…are these appropriate to bring up in the personal statement or is it not relevant, since it is not very tied into the course I am applying to read?

4

What is your plan for after you finish your undergraduate degree? the law courses do not on their own qualify you to practice law- EU students then have to do the Law Practice Course (1 year full-time, 2 years part-time) and then a 2 year apprenticeship in order to qualify to practice law. Most UK students will go straight to work for a law firm, who will pay for the LPC. BUT- you have to be eligible to work in the EU. If you are not eligible, you will have to convert the course in the US, which is do-able, but takes work. New York is the state that is usually easiest to manage the process.

Also, read the course descriptions carefully. The dual-degree programs are fantastic, but they are also incredibly competitive, and you won’t know until your second year if you get into them. If you don’t get in, you want to still be happy with your course.

As @sansculottes said, you will have to apply as a first year student- none of those programs will take you in as a second year.

5

Yes I know and am okay entering as a first year student and I know the dual degree programs are only available for entry upon application the second year (and are very very very competitive :frowning: ) I am fine if I dont get accepted! After I finish my undergraduate degree I would like to return to the US and do a 2 year JD (if you have a previous law degree many schools are willing to let you skip a year) and then enter the work force… That is the tentative plan of course and I am always open to any recommendations or changes! :slight_smile:

6

Mastering the LNAT by Sheppard gets good feedback; Practice & Pass does not (several people have said that it wasn’t like the actual test at all). Thinking from A to Z and Critical Thinking: An Introduction have suited some people- not specifically LNAT, but the kind of thinking the test asks for. I also hear people talking about Letters to a Law Student (McBride), partly for the essay but also more generally.

7

For LSE

Be aware the law program at LSE is extremely competitive. Last year the acceptance rate into the LLB Bachelor of Law was approx. 6.9%. http://www.lse.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/DegreeProgrammes2016/law/LLB_M100_LLBLaw.aspx

Below is the United States Entry Requirements for LSE http://www.lse.ac.uk/study/informationForInternationalStudents/countryRegion/northAmerica/USA/entryRequirements.aspx

You are correct in that you need a five in 5 AP courses to even be considered for entry into LSE. However, you may have read in the US requirements page that a score of 5 in 5 “two-semester” AP courses is required. When they say “two-semester” they mean that the AP courses you offer must be at A level. When going down the list of relevant AP courses to LSE, AP courses grouped together are two B level AP courses that if you get a 5 in both will count as one A Level. Stand alone AP courses are A level. To see a full list of which AP courses are B level and which are A level view the link below. Note: that taking any two B level AP courses and getting a 5 in both, won’t necessarily count as one A level. Only the B levels LSE groups together can count as one A level. https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/entry-requirements/tariff/tariff-tables/966

Based on your AP scores, you have the equivalent of only 4 A level AP courses. AP Calculus BC, AP European History, AP Language and Composition, and AP Biology. Macro and Micro economics are two B levels and will only count as 1 A level if you got a 5 on both. AP Chemistry, AP US Gov, and AP US History will not count as you got a 4. AP Statistics is not classified as a relevant course and is therefore considered as suitable for entry to LSE. AP Art History is not considered for the most competitive programs (which law certainly is). That being said if you do not take at least one other AP course before you apply to LSE they will not even consider you for a law program because you are 1 AP course short.

I highly recommend taking at least one more AP course LSE considers relevant and taking more than one would improve your chances even more. If you take another AP courses your senior year you can still apply to LSE even if you have not taken the test yet, but a teacher will have to predict your grade on the AP test. If they predict you will get a five, that will count as another A level AP course.

Be aware that most people who apply to LSE meet the academic requirements or even exceed them. So writing a great personal statement is what gets you accepted. Your extra-cirriculars are very good. Just make sure that when writing your personal statement to first and foremost show your enthusiasm and interest in the degree you would like to obtain while weaving in what extracurriculars you have done as evidence of your enthusiasm, all while using intelligent language.

If you do not take any more AP courses don’t bother applying to LSE, but taking just one more will give you a real chance.

For UCL
.
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/international/countries/north-america/united-states

You currently exceed the ACT entry requirements. For AP you must have taken 5 A level AP courses and get the scores of 5,4,4,4,4. But you must have taken these tests in the last 2 years of high school. You must have studied at least one year at an american university and obtained a minimum GPA of 3.3/4 in addition to the high school requirements. A UCL undergraduate preparatory certificate will wave this requirement. http://www.ucl.ac.uk/clie/preparatory-certificates

Once you meet these academic requirements just write a superb personal statement and you should have a good chance.

For Oxford

http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/international-students/international-qualifications

You currently exceed the AP and ACT minimum requirements for Oxford. Again, just preform well in the interview and write a superb personal statement and you will have a good chance.

8

@Cardinals2000, don’t forget the LNAT for Oxford: that is the make-or-break for getting to interview.

9

@Cardinals2000 I am going to be applying while I am a first year student at a US University…Therefore I will have a year of college under my belt. According to the LSE site it says I would fulfill entrance requirements. What are your thoughts on how this would improve/ or hurt my application? I wont be taking anymore AP classes so should I still apply?

Also same goes for UCL… I will have full filled my high school and college requirements (because i will be a first year in college and I am pretty sure I can hold at least a 3.3) what do you think are my chances there?

10

Also another question @sansculottes (cause I know you said you a personally familiar with the UK system)- Is it considered appropriate to email Tutors with questions regarding the application process and course material, if need be? or should I be emailing admissions officers?

11

Course material: it can be- if it is very specific and clear that you have read the detailed program descriptions online first.

Admissions process: generally, no- unless there is a specific, significant question that genuinely can’t be answered from the website.

UK universities are much more hands-off than in the US, and they have much less in the way of admin support. Be sure that you aren’t wasting their time (more to the point, that they don’t think that you are wasting their time!).

As for your chances, for most UK universities, if you meet the requirements you are likely to get an offer. For LSE & UCL having the prerequisites is necessary, but not sufficient: your Personal Statement especially will be essential. With a strong first year you will be a credible candidate, which honestly is the most that anybody can say.

12

People tend to not get in contact with tutors, but rather use Open Days to find out more about the course. In Open Days there are talks by professors and they take questions then, but I don’t think people email them. People also talk to current students - in the UK people use The Student Room, the equivalent of College Confidential, so maybe have a browse there.

Just one more thing to note: if you do manage to visit the UK to do a college tour, make sure you are visiting on Open Days (check the websites to find out when that is). The universities do not have information sessions etc. every day, unlike American colleges.

13

You should be able to get into a British law program, but maybe not Oxford or LSE. Remember, the law programs are generally more difficult to get into than other fields at the same school. It is sort of comparable to getting into Harvard Law School.

There are advantages of much fewer years of study. However, you can only practice with a foreign law degree and without a separate undergraduate degree in certain states. British law is different from US law, so it will require extra study to pass the bar exam. However, there is probably less difference from most of the US than Louisiana law, which is mostly based on French law. You will need to get approval to work in the UK. Also, I am not sure if you can practice law in the UK if you are not a British subject.