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TCLA Vacation Scheme Applications Discussion Thread 2025-26

For the Simmons^2 PFO, did everyone else get an email saying that it is because they are at capacity for the scheme that they are unable to progress the application to the next stage?

Mine said that and also that they encourage me to apply again when applications open in autumn, but I presume that's just a standard format email?
This doesn’t make sense to me as I’ve still not received a pfo? If they were at capacity wouldn’t they send it all in mass?
 
How are people preparing for Debevoise? I understand it’s mainly an article and they might ask you some basic motivational questions at the start. But other than reading the news and trying to link it to Debevoise, how can I prepare?
 
Congratulations!!! May I ask what office this is for, when you had the AC, and approximately how many places there were for the scheme/direct TC if HR told you?
Thank you sm! I did my AC end of Jan (22nd I think). There were 6 of us for the day and it lasted from 1:30pm to about 5:30pm. It consisted of competency interview, group exercise and written exercise.

They tried to call me a week later but I was out of the country so I didn’t receive it lol but they emailed to let me know I was successful and sent the offer letter. So I’ve come back from holiday to good news!

I’m doing the VS route so not too sure about the DTC.
They did say in a previous email that they had an “unprecedented number of applications this cycle” but I am not sure if that changes the amount of spaces they offer. Going off last years numbers for the VS I would guess around 20-35.

They did take the whole 7 days in which they said they’d get back to me (during which I almost lost hope) so I hope you hear back with good news soon! :)
 
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Usually I try to stay positive but I think everything is getting to me. I have never felt so low and my confidence has never plummeted this bad before.

I already had imposter syndrome but this just exacerbates it. I think I'm going to take some time off and just throw myself into my studies as much as possible given how much studying I've lost doing applications. All my friends are getting the schemes, I am super happy and proud of them but I can't help but feel like there's something wrong with me and that everything was a fluke.

I hope that if anyone else out there is feeling the same way, just know you're not alone! but it really is tough and every time I think about it I feel like crying haha. Hang in there guys <3
 
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