Is Cambridge dream over?

[rainsbows]

Dd is year 12 wanting to study law. She’s doing psychology, sociology and history alevels. Too early for predicted grades but all essays so far have been A*.

The problem is her GCSEs - such a mixed bag.

three grade 9s and two grade 8s in all essay subjects /humanities/ mfl, but 7/6s in sciences.

Is applying to Cambridge over before it starts? Does everyone have straight 9s?

Were the grade 9s in her chosen a levels?

what was she predicted for GCSEs?

9s in English literature, history and RE. So only history is being studied at alevel - her other two subjects are new options.

and what was she predicted in GCSEs?

I wouldn’t be encouraging my child to study law. Basically the most hit profession by AI

Similar to real results

If she goes on to get stellar A levels, she can always take a year out. But I would check that Oxbridge accepts two non-facilitating subjects. It’s probably too late to change, but it’s worth thinking about.

State or private school? If she was at a rigorous private school they would expect higher grades than if she went to a run of the mill state comp.

I think they were probably higher predictions of you’re honest.

Anyway it’s very early days for predictions esp in two subjects she’s completely new to. I would just revisit the Cambridge dream post first round of exams

Law as a profession is affected by AI but it's still a rigorous and respected degree that can lead to many opportunities. And the best law firms do recruit from Oxbridge. Advocacy is still fairly AI proof while entry level solicitor roles are harder hit. But none of us can predict how things will pan out with AI so it's tricky.

It does depend on school context and it doesn't necessarily rule out Oxbridge. There is LNAT performance to consider. History is a strong A Level for Law, though not sure how they would view the other two choices.

One kid in our family had their offer of A star AA and accepted this year with like AABB and a mix of 789 at GCSE. It really depends on a mix of factors: the course and the A-levels, and the interview and who else applies. She took three highly facilitating subjects plus her actual subject to maximise options.

Sociology doesn't seem like an optimal choice. They say they don't use facilitating subjects any more but...in general if you can do eg History and Maths plus one other you have more options. https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/before/choosing-high-school-subjects

both my brothers are lawyers, and I work closely with our Inhouse lawyer at work. All three say that the profession is being gutted by AI and my work colleague has actively advised her daughter to steer clear of a law degree

I also think her choice of A Levels might be a problem, especially given her GCSE results. Her combination does not meet their recommendations for humanities subjects (including Law).

I don’t understand why people don’t go to the uni website or search MN. This has been covered loads of times. No is the answer. They accept those grades. But please do not put all their hopes and ‘dreams’ into getting an offer from Cambridge. Obviously someone gets an offer and your child definitely won’t get one if they don’t apply, but it’s not a sure thing even with all 9s at GCSE and all A*s. They should concentrate on supra curriculars for sure though - they need to show that passion. Grades will only get you so far in the process.

Yes absolutely. DD is doing a Law degree but she doesn't have to go into Law with that. If she wasn't doing Law she'd do another Humanity that wouldn't lead directly into a job so I don't really see the issue. AI is a problem but if academic DC are interested in Law it's still a rigorous and respected degree in its own right.

If you need to steer clear of a Law degree then surely the same applies to History, English, Politics etc. The jobs market is going to be super competitive for grads undoubtedly and AI is changing the landscape dramatically.

But a Law degree does not have to lead into a legal career and it doesn't close any doors for DC. My DD doesn't want a career in STEM so I don't think Oxford Law is a terrible option tbh.

Cambridge have taken students with Sociology and Psychology A Levels though they are not preferred subjects.

Law is super competitive but if you don’t try, you don’t get.

We know some people who have managed to get training contracts although they weren’t as academic as others due to connections (for work experience) and being good at interviews so there are other routes through and that’s the way it’s heading these days.

I think the combo of those gcses and 2 “softer” A levels (sociology and psychology) means it’s not worth applying. DD got 777788889 (covid so didn’t sit and was predicted 3A*s - which she got) and with 2 academic a levels (economics and English lit) and only one softer A level - that was connected to the degree (religious studies applies for theology) was turned down due to “past academic performance”. Law is extremely competitive (theology is way less) and everyone is will have all 8s and 9s mostly 9s.

If anything it’s her choice of a levels that’s going to hold her back @rainsbows

Thanks all for the responses. Will close this thread now.

Why? Could be helpful to someone else

Her gcse results would be looked at on the context of the school where she sat them. They are decent grades and if she has outperformed her school average results that helps. She will have to sit LNAT and if she shows her interest in law in her personal statement there is no reason not to apply to Cambridge if that is her dream as it is one of five choices.

As regards AI there are a similar number of training contracts overall and pupillages this year and indeed more openings as solicitor apprenticeships and soon there will be barrister apprenticeships.

I am unsure where the above lawyers are practising and in what fields but AI is simply changing the roles rather than eliminating them completely at many law firms. Students just need to be up to date with how and when to use it properly. Indeed a number of firms have different tech type openings too especially those like A&O Shearman and Simmons and Simmons who have their own AI offerings.

I would say that the dream went out the window when the A Level choices were made

Well no, everyone at Cambs does not have all 9s at GCSE. Because about 1200 students gained all grade 9s in 7 or more GCSE exams in summer 2026. True, that figure does not include IGCSEs, but they are only taken by students in private schools which represent a very small % of the population, so I cannot imagine they would skew those figures that much. Cambridge takes in about 3,500 UGs each year – and obvs all the YP who gain all 9s don't even go there (I know two who gained all 9s and they went to Bath and UCL).

I have told this story before but a mate of DS's with a big passion for and ability in maths went to Cambs with his A-star A level grades in maths and FM. He got a 6 in his Eng lang GCSE.

All that said there is as noted on this thread there is a list of recommended A levels for Cambs law.hums degrees and your DD is only taking one (two are recommended on the list). Now a poster on another thread who is involved with Cambs admissions has said that the list is ignored or at least not followed strictly; but all I can say is that it is there, on the Cambs uni website, and surely it makes sense to follow it to give yourself the best chance. Did she look at it before choosing A levels?

She can still apply of course; but she needs to recognise that it is unlikely she will get an offer. Most applicants do not. Especially for law tbh. Good post from @mondaytosunday saying this.