NationStates Jolt Archive

Im sixteen and I'm making choices about A-level courses, I want to study either law or history at a Russell Group uni (preferably Cambridge). I wa thinking of taking at A-level

1) History
2) Law (I know that many unis don't like you taking law at A-level, but I need to in order to figure out if I want to take law at degree level)
3) English Lit. which I hate but I'm told that you need it if you want to get on either course at a good uni.
4) Physics
then
5) Psychology or Business and economics

If anyone on here is at Cambridge, was, or is at another good british uni studying law or history could you give me any pointers on how to get in or make myself a more attractive choice to any russell group uni, please. Thank you for your time.

p.s. I'm not bragging, but I am an intelligent and driven student, all my work has been A-A* level. I just thought I'd point this out in case people thought I was just exercising a pipe-dream.

Certainly History. You could get away with not doing English Lit. - though then you probably should do Law. I know a couple of people who did and got into Oxford to do Law. When I was 16 I wanted to do Law, and was told that whatever I did, make sure History was in there. Then I changed my mind in lower sixth and decided to do History at uni instead.

im doing Modern History at Queens University Belfast, which is one of the best in the UK for History

History in uni sucks

Um...well Uni's don't mind what subject you study for Law really.
The 'don't study law' is a myth.
Have lots of hobbies.
Work experience.
Why you want to study Law...and why there. Pick a couple of subjects that interest you...like I'm fascinated by Jurisprudence.
If you want Cambridge...well I didn't get in, but practise interviews and theoretical situations. Oh and don't choose a very popular college and don't go to a private school.
Nottingham have a sit down test, you know the lady with the railway scales and the fireworks case? That's on there for instance.
Be enthusiastic, say what your post uni plans are, I said I didn't necessarily want to be a lawyer, they like that.
Mooting - have you done any?
Any public speaking is good.
Old school unis like Latin and history...though not necessarily to A level...I dropped history at As and Latin at GCSE. Academic subjects definitely though.
Foreign languages are liked.
Oh...I reccommend a 4-yr American or European legal studies course if you can get it...EAngle replied almost straight away after I applied for European.
Remember you only need as good a grade as your uni...

Edit: Oh yea background reading. There's this blue book...and I can't remember what it's called, but you should read it. Not cover to cover, you'd die of boredom, just dip. And the Bluffer's Guide to Law is a lighthearted look at the subject.
Good luck. Maybe I'll see you in the old Bailey ;)

im doing Modern History at Queens University Belfast, which is one of the best in the UK for History

History in uni sucks
:confused: Huh? I love it! Starting my dissertation around now....should be at least. ;)

:confused: Huh? I love it! Starting my dissertation around now....should be at least. ;)
ok, maybe History at Queens sucks

thank you very much for your comments :) , does anyone know weather/how taking psychology over business and economics might affect my choices? I'm told that the majority of Russell group unis look down on psychology unless you're taking it with three other sciences to study psychology at degree level. I would probably enjoy psychology more, but as its also the most popular choice in my sixth form the classes would be much larger (20-30 compared to the 13-15 in other subjects) and I would enjoy economics anyway. Basically I'm happy to do either but I would like to know if there is any advantage to either.

im doing Modern History at Queens University BelfastMy boyfriend did that degree - ended up doing five more years of history at QUB (MA, PhD)...the headcase! :p

History is an excellent A level subject for Law, as are Politics and English. My solicitor cousin advised me also to take A level Maths when I was considering Law as a University option as it encourages logical thinking, but I don't know anyone who did that apart from him (I didn't - I was shite at Maths and decided against pure Law anyway). I know what you mean about wanting to do A level Law to see if that's what you really want to do, but just make completely sure the University aren't really unfavourable to that - as you say, some can be (or so we were fervently told in Sixth Form anyway). Hope it all works out!

Im sixteen and I'm making choices about A-level courses, I want to study either law or history at a Russell Group uni (preferably Cambridge). I wa thinking of taking at A-level

1) History

As amazing as it sounds you don't absolutley need this, I know someone at Cambridge who managed to get in without it for History. However, probably the exception rather then the rule.

Regardless of what you want to do, I'd advise History (and I pity you if you get shit teachers that make it boring).

2) Law (I know that many unis don't like you taking law at A-level, but I need to in order to figure out if I want to take law at degree level)

I'd say that if you do take it, only take it till AS level (unless something horrible goes wrong).

3) English Lit. which I hate but I'm told that you need it if you want to get on either course at a good uni.

English lit (in my experience) depends very much on two things. The teacher you have and the books you have to read. I had a teacher that sucked all the fun out of Huck Finn (no idea how), but I quit it about 3/4 of the way through the AS year.

4) Physics

Good choice. Maybe I'm odd, but I found it very enjoyable (the second year is far more interesting then the first).

then
5) Psychology or Business and economics

Out of those three I'd say do Economics. I wish I took it, probably help me a lot in my current situation (half way through my second year at uni).

I would advise against Business Studies, not meaning to insult anyone but a friend of mine that took both described Business Studies as Economic for the slow. Also it is very boring.

The subjects I did for A level were

History
English lit (which I quit for Politics)
Physics
Maths (to AS level).

ok, maybe History at Queens sucks

All your modules or just particular ones?