second year grade results (another one...)

[floral.tcla]

Hi TCLA!

I just wanted to ask for your thoughts on my situation -- I study at Cambridge and I unfortunately received some disappointing grades and it seems very unlikely that an appeal would be successful. I have extenuating circumstances. Before I received my grades, I was hoping to apply for MC/SC/national firms' winter vacation schemes (as I'm heading into my final year of my non-law humanities degree and thought it wise to know one way or another whether I have a TC by this point, to then compartmentalise and lock in on exams completely), but I got 59,58, 65,65 in second year, and 60-64 in first year.

How would my grades be perceived even by firms like Dentons who are relatively less focussed on grades? Should I even bother making applications to any firm in my final year and just focus entirely on grades instead, considering there's so much competition? For some context, I have a lot of extra-curriculars/positions of responsibility, a part-time job, fluent in a European language, and a few internships (in partnerships with social mobility organisations) from first year but no internships in second year.

Thank you in advance.

 

[sibs23]

Hi TCLA!

I just wanted to ask for your thoughts on my situation -- I study at Cambridge and I unfortunately received some disappointing grades and it seems very unlikely that an appeal would be successful. I have extenuating circumstances. Before I received my grades, I was hoping to apply for MC/SC/national firms' winter vacation schemes (as I'm heading into my final year of my non-law humanities degree and thought it wise to know one way or another whether I have a TC by this point, to then compartmentalise and lock in on exams completely), but I got 59,58, 65,65 in second year, and 60-64 in first year.

How would my grades be perceived even by firms like Dentons who are relatively less focussed on grades? Should I even bother making applications to any firm in my final year and just focus entirely on grades instead, considering there's so much competition? For some context, I have a lot of extra-curriculars/positions of responsibility, a part-time job, fluent in a European language, and a few internships (in partnerships with social mobility organisations) from first year but no internships in second year.

Thank you in advance.

Hi @floral.tcla, I am sure others will weigh in but for firms like Dentons / CMS / Eversheds / Pinsents, I am pretty sure those grades are fine (especially coming from Cambridge!). It sounds like you've already got a strong profile from what you've described so I think you're definitely in with a chance of securing a vac scheme if you wanted to go for it in your final year. Depends what you feel you can personally manage in final year. Your degree is forever and you want to enjoy your uni experience so if you do make applications in final year, I would try not to let it consume you. I know there can be a lot of pressure to secure something before graduation but honestly, you have plenty of time and lots of people secure TCs post-graduation with a little more experience behind them. I have a slightly different background (RG, non Oxbridge uni for law), but had a similar grade profile and also come from a socially mobile background. I don't think my grades held me back in getting through the assessment processes. Hard for me to comment on MC/ SC as I don't know but hopefully others will comment their thoughts!

 

[floral.tcla]

Hi @floral.tcla, I am sure others will weigh in but for firms like Dentons / CMS / Eversheds / Pinsents, I am pretty sure those grades are fine (especially coming from Cambridge!). It sounds like you've already got a strong profile from what you've described so I think you're definitely in with a chance of securing a vac scheme if you wanted to go for it in your final year. Depends what you feel you can personally manage in final year. Your degree is forever and you want to enjoy your uni experience so if you do make applications in final year, I would try not to let it consume you. I know there can be a lot of pressure to secure something before graduation but honestly, you have plenty of time and lots of people secure TCs post-graduation with a little more experience behind them. I have a slightly different background (RG, non Oxbridge uni for law), but had a similar grade profile and also come from a socially mobile background. I don't think my grades held me back in getting through the assessment processes. Hard for me to comment on MC/ SC as I don't know but hopefully others will comment their thoughts!

Hi @sibs23, thank you so much for such a kind and thoughtful message - I really appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective so honestly. It’s reassuring to hear that firms like Dentons, CMS, Eversheds and Pinsents are still within reach, and what you said about balancing applications with enjoying final year really stuck with me. It's wise to stay ambitious, but to also bear in mind the other parts of studying at university.

It’s also really encouraging to hear that there’s no one “right” timeline and that people do land TCs post-graduation with a bit more experience behind them. That honestly took a bit of pressure off!

If you wouldn’t mind, I might reach out again down the line - your insight’s been really valuable. Thanks again!

Good luck with everything, as a fellow non-law socially mobile student!!🤝 It's tough but we are tough-er!✨

 

[Amma Usman]

Hi TCLA!

I just wanted to ask for your thoughts on my situation -- I study at Cambridge and I unfortunately received some disappointing grades and it seems very unlikely that an appeal would be successful. I have extenuating circumstances. Before I received my grades, I was hoping to apply for MC/SC/national firms' winter vacation schemes (as I'm heading into my final year of my non-law humanities degree and thought it wise to know one way or another whether I have a TC by this point, to then compartmentalise and lock in on exams completely), but I got 59,58, 65,65 in second year, and 60-64 in first year.

How would my grades be perceived even by firms like Dentons who are relatively less focussed on grades? Should I even bother making applications to any firm in my final year and just focus entirely on grades instead, considering there's so much competition? For some context, I have a lot of extra-curriculars/positions of responsibility, a part-time job, fluent in a European language, and a few internships (in partnerships with social mobility organisations) from first year but no internships in second year.

Thank you in advance.

Your average in second year is still a 2:1 and that is what most firms will look for - the cumulative average. I would not worry too much as they’re close to a 2:1 anyway. Another thing is that some firms will certainly place a greater emphasis than others, so they may ask this at interview stage. But it is in no way a reason to stop you from applying. Apply to as many firms you’re interested in and have capacity to apply to. Focus on leveraging things other than grades, like your work experiences, etc - never forget the holistic approach to candidate review! Also ensure to fill out fully the mitigating circumstances form.

 

[floral.tcla]

Your average in second year is still a 2:1 and that is what most firms will look for - the cumulative average. I would not worry too much as they’re close to a 2:1 anyway. Another thing is that some firms will certainly place a greater emphasis than others, so they may ask this at interview stage. But it is in no way a reason to stop you from applying. Apply to as many firms you’re interested in and have capacity to apply to. Focus on leveraging things other than grades, like your work experiences, etc - never forget the holistic approach to candidate review! Also ensure to fill out fully the mitigating circumstances form.

Thank you so much for this! It makes a lot of sense, provides hope, and really puts things into perspective. I’ll make sure to complete the mitigating circumstances form properly as well. I appreciate the encouragement to apply broadly and to leverage the holistic review approach!

 

[Amma Usman]

Thank you so much for this! It makes a lot of sense, provides hope, and really puts things into perspective. I’ll make sure to complete the mitigating circumstances form properly as well. I appreciate the encouragement to apply broadly and to leverage the holistic review approach!

Of course! A lot of it is mindset in my opinion. Tone out that noise and opinions that do not matter and may deter you from your journey. Once you do that, you find that you become unstoppable.

 

[sibs23]

Hi @sibs23, thank you so much for such a kind and thoughtful message - I really appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective so honestly. It’s reassuring to hear that firms like Dentons, CMS, Eversheds and Pinsents are still within reach, and what you said about balancing applications with enjoying final year really stuck with me. It's wise to stay ambitious, but to also bear in mind the other parts of studying at university.

It’s also really encouraging to hear that there’s no one “right” timeline and that people do land TCs post-graduation with a bit more experience behind them. That honestly took a bit of pressure off!

If you wouldn’t mind, I might reach out again down the line - your insight’s been really valuable. Thanks again!

Good luck with everything, as a fellow non-law socially mobile student!!🤝 It's tough but we are tough-er!✨

Yes, ofc! Happy to help and share my experience. I think it's great to make more applications if you can and doing more helps you get better at making quality applications, however looking back, I wish I hadn't put so much pressure on myself to bag a TC before graduation. Thankfully things worked out the way they were meant to for me in the end!