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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that it does matter which university you go to?

153 replies

OrmRenewed · 27/03/2010 16:18

My godson is brilliant. Bright, articulate, good-natured, good at sport and academic. He got 11A*s at GCSE. His school has told me he should apply to Oxbridge. He wants to do law.

His parents have basically conducted a campaign to discourage him. Why? As far as I can tell down to a really unpleasant reverse snobbery (Reading was good enough for me, it should be good enough for you, sort of thing). His dad maintains that all universities are as good as each other these days. AIBU in think that as the world and his wife go to university these days and now ones seem to spring up like mushrooms after rain, it matters even more that, if you can, you should take your chance to go to one of the top ones?

I am actually quite cross but it's not my business

OP posts:
gerontius · 27/03/2010 22:28

Although you're not allowed jobs in term time, it's not that big a problem, as because you're only there 24 weeks of the year you've got plenty of time to get a job while at home. And re: social life, although they work you hard, everyone I know who's there at the moment seems to be partying just as hard as people are at other universities....

nickschick · 27/03/2010 22:41

Please dont think im ignorant.

The university thing is all new to me,but ds1 who got 11 good GCSEs (although not As) is taking 4 Alevels and hes doing really well having 1 high b(1 mark away from an A) and the rest A in his January exams.

He wants to do law - apparently manchester only take A grade gcse students regardless of their A level results,not understanding much ive just googled it and manchester is a rg uni,he doesnt want to go to manchester met but is instead thinking of going to huddersfield as they have a campus in our home town.

Is this true-id be grateful of any advice.

gerontius · 27/03/2010 22:46

If he gets 4 As at AS they'll probably put much more weight on that than GCSE results. Having said that, for a competitive course like law, they're going to need more ways to differentiate applicants, so GCSE results might be important.....not very conclusive am I? Sorry!

Original poster
OrmRenewed · 27/03/2010 22:46

peachy - not not B, T. His parents are from B but haven't lived her for years.

OP posts:
nickschick · 27/03/2010 22:53

What ive said we should do is apply anyway they can only say no cant they?

His law teacher (who is a lawyer herself) tells us he shines out and there is no doubt in her mind he will be succesful,but he was quite sad when he thought there was no chance at all of manchester uni .

LeQueen · 27/03/2010 22:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lucky1979 · 27/03/2010 22:58

LeQueen - oh absolutely, I'm not saying all universities are created equal, or that on particularly oversubscribed positions wouldn't have a second round of weeding out based on degree quality. But no degree at all closes many doors permanently, and I think that it's now seen as the bare minimum of educational attainment for many recruiters in a way that A levels used to be. It at least stops your CV going in the bin before they've seen anything else on it!

nickschick · 27/03/2010 23:01

The reason hes liking huddersfield is because it offers a combined degree?? or something like that.

Really he wants Manchester but there is little hope of that he has been led to believe.

BrahmsThirdRacket · 27/03/2010 23:03

nickschick - I agree Huddersfield would be pretty much a waste of time (sorry any Huddersfield grads). He would be better off doing another, less competitive, subject at a good uni then converting to law. If he can get a training contract his company will pay for the conversion.

nickschick · 27/03/2010 23:07

His other 'passion' is history and its possible he could go to manchester with that but he wants to study law - what do you mean by converting to law ....im sorry im not v good at this.

nickschick · 27/03/2010 23:08

Sorry Orm for hijacking.

tootootired · 27/03/2010 23:09

It's got to be down to subject areas. I went to Cambridge to a college very highly sought after for law (Trinity Hall). It was a lovely place to be, fantastic even, but really for my degree (engineering) I know that other universities are better in many respects. I should point out there appeared to be people working in the Law library 24/7 when I was there - it's a very difficult course.

BUT for Orm's godson if he fancies Oxbridge and has the grades to apply it's got to be worth at least an open day and a space on a UCAS form. From what I've read Law is one course for which Oxbridge do deserve their reputation and you'd need a good reason to ignore them.

One feature of Oxford and Cambridge (and collegiate universities generally?) people often don't know about is a high level of personal teaching rather than just whole class lectures and tutorials - you do get challenged much more in your subject but also get taught more thoroughly. It is worth thinking about.

longfingernails · 27/03/2010 23:10

nickschick are you absolutely sure about Manchester?

A's in his A-level modules is really good, lending a lot of weight to the prediction of 4 As at A-level, and if that is in his UCAS statement they will put a lot of weight on it.

BrahmsThirdRacket · 27/03/2010 23:11

No problem.

Basically, a lot of lawyers don't do their first degree in Law. They do it in another subject - can be any subject although History, Classics, Philosophy, Theology seem to be popular - then afterwards they do a one year course called a GDL (Graduate Diploma in Law) and once you have that you've got the equivalent of a Law degree. Then you go on to do professional training either as a solicitor or a barrister.

So he could do History, then do the one year course. If he applies for training contract at the end of his second year and gets one, they will pay his course fees and living expenses for his GDL and solicitor or barrister training.

If he is very keen on History, I really think that would be the best choice for him if it means he can study at a better uni. Having Manchester on his CV will stand him in a lot better stead than having Huddersfield.

nickschick · 27/03/2010 23:11

LFN thats what his tutor said that to get into manchester you have to have A grades in gcse and excellent A levels too.

LeQueen · 27/03/2010 23:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BrahmsThirdRacket · 27/03/2010 23:12

Law is getting super super competitive at decent unis, I am not surprised to hear that about the GCSEs.

BrahmsThirdRacket · 27/03/2010 23:13

"Any halfway decent law firm will be expecting a straight Law degree, I think?"

That isn't true. Lots of judges and QCs have different degrees, and some firms actively prefer a different first degree as it shows breadth.

LeQueen · 27/03/2010 23:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BrahmsThirdRacket · 27/03/2010 23:21

Yeah, you have to be careful because some of the joint honours ones aren't qualifying Law degrees. Law and French/German/other lang might not go down badly, especially if you want to go for international or European law. Not sure about that tbh, you could be right.

longfingernails · 27/03/2010 23:23

nickschick Here is Manchester's entry requirements page for law

www.manchester.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/search2011/atoz/course/?code=01052&pg=3

It says he needs 5 As at GCSE, including English Language and Maths - but I would ring the admissions office just to check. Here are their contact details

www.manchester.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/contactus/

They may be willing to bend the GCSE requirements if your DS has only just missed then, given his good A-Level module results.

senua · 27/03/2010 23:26

nickschick: the best advice is don't get 'advice', don't get chinese whispers. Speak to Manchester themselves, speak to their students, go to an Open Day.

nickschick · 27/03/2010 23:43

I am going to do just that.

Thankyou all for your advice I really do appreciate it - im just out of my depth.

LeQueen · 27/03/2010 23:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lovely74 · 28/03/2010 00:24

I know quite a few lawyers, 75% of which did a conversion course at one on the various law schools. It is a perfectly acceptable route and is not looked down upon by firms.

OP, the focus needs to be on the subject and the quality of teaching / career prospects. The concensus seems to be Oxford is excellent for law and the OB network is still alive and kicking, so it would be very sad if that was scuppered for some reverse snobbery harboured by his parents. I went to a great uni (York) to do my first degree - was SURROUNDED by Oxbridge rejects (my ex applied to Oxford and didn't get in, but in response Manchester offered him EE grades for a maths degree, York still wanted AAA, and he always maintained this put him off Manchester completely). But, I then decided I wanted to persue a career in healthcare (I'm an OT) and did a part time degree at (I'm sorry....!) a crap old poly as it was the only option for my circumstances at the time. All my potential employers care about is that I have an OT degree and that I am good at my job. But I do remember when my York friends were applying for jobs at firms such as Arthur Anderson (RIP), many actually stated which uni's they'd accept applicants from and it was pretty limited (RG + York, Durhum, St Andrews...) so it can and does matter. I'm a contradiction as although it's the poly degree that is the basis of my career, I still only really mention York if the subject comes up as I'm really proud that they wanted me and am snobby about old v new unis, I'm sooooooooooooooo sorry!!!!