Applying for Vac Schemes at Magic Circle/Silver Circle with low 2.1

Crystal86

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Nov 10, 2021
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Hello,

I wanted to ask if you can still apply to these firms e.g. Slaughter and May, Clifford Chance, Travers Smith if you received a low 2.1 in all modules and go to a Russell Group uni? Does the low 2.1 mean you are less likely to be successful at the application stage?
 
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Jessica Booker

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Hello,

I wanted to ask if you can still apply to these firms e.g. Slaughter and May, Clifford Chance, Travers Smith if you received a low 2.1 in all modules and go to a Russell Group uni? Does the low 2.1 mean you are less likely to be successful at the application stage?
Not on its own, no. If you have strengths elsewhere your academics will be put into context. For instance if you work part time or have lots of extra curriculars a low 2.1 will be balanced out when compared to someone with a high 2.1 but little to no other commitments.
 
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Kubed

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    Hey, hopefully my experience will provide some reassurance. I will caveat this by saying that I did graduate 10 years ago and have had work experience in various fields. I also did well on the GDL. But I do have a very low 2.1 in my undergraduate degree (with a very mixed set of module results) from a RG uni. I managed to get 2 TC offers from silver circle firms. I didn't apply to any magic circle firms because that was not what I was looking for so I don't know how successful I would have been. There are firms out there who may not look at a low 2.1 applicant but equally there are others that will absolutely consider you, taking your academic profile in combination with your application as a whole.
     
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    Crystal86

    Esteemed Member
    Gold Member
    Premium Member
    Nov 10, 2021
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    Hey, hopefully my experience will provide some reassurance. I will caveat this by saying that I did graduate 10 years ago and have had work experience in various fields. I also did well on the GDL. But I do have a very low 2.1 in my undergraduate degree (with a very mixed set of module results) from a RG uni. I managed to get 2 TC offers from silver circle firms. I didn't apply to any magic circle firms because that was not what I was looking for so I don't know how successful I would have been. There are firms out there who may not look at a low 2.1 applicant but equally there are others that will absolutely consider you, taking your academic profile in combination with your application as a whole.
    Thanks, this is very reassuring and congratulations on those offers! If you do not mind me asking, which Silver Circle Firms offered you the training contract?
     

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