I am now at home in my Hometown in my Home Midwest State. We have been enjoying a pretty fat Christmas. I have a new netbook which I'm writing on. I have a few things to write about, including my interviews. If I were a really generous, self-less person I would post every single last detail about my two interviews at Cambridge and Oxford. (It is rare for one person to be interviewed by both.) I'm not going to do that. I may talk about it more later, but right now I'm going to be circumspect about the whole thing. One thing I can say is that this is a once in a lifetime experience and it somewhat defies description.
In other news, commenter DA has gotten back to me and asked a few more questions, which I am happy to answer. I'm really pleased he's been following my blog and am delighted with the power of this series of tubes.
I'll answer his questions now.
Where did I apply for schools in the UK?
I applied to Cambridge, Oxford, University College London, The London School of Economics and King's College London. I am most interested in Cambridge and Oxford, though, depending on what happens I'm open to them all. I am not currently on a course. I have interviewed at Cambridge and Oxford.
And this question about the UCAS application: UCAS has no area I can see under qualifications for my degree (Bacc - United States), what did you put on yours?
I had this problem as well and rang the UCAS helpline to ask what to do. They are very helpful. You need to put your qualification under 'degree'.
And... any last advice?
Nothing specific. Relax, have fun, be yourself.
Getting back to the Cambridge and Oxford interviews. They will have made their decisions by now and it is very likely that sitting on the doorstep of my flat in London right now are two letters one from each indicating my acceptance or rejection. This is somewhat distressing. But I'm going back in a few days and will find out which it is.
I have nothing more to report now except I'm having a lovely holiday at home.
Tuesday 15 December 2009
Tuesday 8 December 2009
Feeling Better
Okay I'm feeling much better today, still going down for interview. Going down tonight to stay with a friend for early morning interview tomorrow. Rabidly re-reading things I should have read ages ago. Should I also read HRA? ECHR? UDHR? Too late for that. Wish me luck.
Monday 7 December 2009
Damn it I'm sick
Damn it, I'm supposed to go down to Cambridge tomorrow for my interview the next day and I have a bloody cold and a fever, possibly the flu, possibly H1N1 flu. I'm trying to take it easy, drink lots of fluids and rest, but I'm supposed to be studying for these interviews right now.
I don't know what the deal is with Britain but I have never been sick so frequently in my life as I have been ever since moving here. I just got over the worst cold of my life a few weeks ago but here I am again. Hopefully it won't last two weeks like the last one did. Gaaaaahh!
I don't know what the deal is with Britain but I have never been sick so frequently in my life as I have been ever since moving here. I just got over the worst cold of my life a few weeks ago but here I am again. Hopefully it won't last two weeks like the last one did. Gaaaaahh!
Sunday 6 December 2009
Random Ha Ha
I saw that someone found my website by googling "lsat tomorrow help". Ha ha, you're effed.
Thursday 3 December 2009
Oxbridge Collegiate System
Did I ever explain this whole Oxbridge college thing? Let me tell you something about that.
Oxford and Cambridge Universities use a collegiate system. That is, there are two distinct parts of the 'university' as a whole. First, there are academic departments called faculties--faculty of law, of economics, etc etc etc. The faculties are responsible for delivering lectures and administering exams. That is their job, exclusively. Second, there are a collection (around 30 at each university) of colleges. A college can roughly be thought of as a combination of an American-style dorm and a Hogwart's-style house. Each student is a member of a college and all their university activities outside of lectures and exams take place in college. They live in college, do sports with their college, have social events, student government and all those types of things with their college mates.
Also, and this is the most important aspect, each college will have several fellows in each subject who are employed in the faculties of the university. They are members of the college in which they are fellows and are responsible for being what in the US we would call TAs (teaching assistants). The faculties handle lectures and the colleges handle small group sections, which my university called discussions. Other American universities call them seminars, tutorials, small group, or whatever. Obviously in lecture there can be hundreds of students. In order to discuss the subject and answer questions, you have a discussion section of around 30 students. In the Oxbridge collegiate system, because the numbers are so small and because each college employs several fellows, undergraduates will have these discussion sections (with an eminent expert in each field of study) in groups of two or three. Sometimes one-on-one. If you are a fan of learning and discussing what you're learning with someone with so much knowledge to impart, you understand what an amazing system this is. This is what separates Oxbridge from everywhere else in the world.
It's also one of the reasons I want to go there.
I did my master's degree at another well-regarded British university (let's call it my Master's University) and unfortunately had a disappointing experience in some ways. Most importantly I was disappointed in the commitment level of the other students. They didn't seem genuinely interested in the subject and it diminished the academic experience for me. I like learning, I loved the subject I was studying (mostly). It frustrates me to be in classes with people who fail to prepare for discussion, who have no enthusiasm for the subject at hand. I suspect that since Oxbridge are such aspirational institutions I would be with students who are more keen and I would really appreciate that.
Gunner in the making.
Oxford and Cambridge Universities use a collegiate system. That is, there are two distinct parts of the 'university' as a whole. First, there are academic departments called faculties--faculty of law, of economics, etc etc etc. The faculties are responsible for delivering lectures and administering exams. That is their job, exclusively. Second, there are a collection (around 30 at each university) of colleges. A college can roughly be thought of as a combination of an American-style dorm and a Hogwart's-style house. Each student is a member of a college and all their university activities outside of lectures and exams take place in college. They live in college, do sports with their college, have social events, student government and all those types of things with their college mates.
Also, and this is the most important aspect, each college will have several fellows in each subject who are employed in the faculties of the university. They are members of the college in which they are fellows and are responsible for being what in the US we would call TAs (teaching assistants). The faculties handle lectures and the colleges handle small group sections, which my university called discussions. Other American universities call them seminars, tutorials, small group, or whatever. Obviously in lecture there can be hundreds of students. In order to discuss the subject and answer questions, you have a discussion section of around 30 students. In the Oxbridge collegiate system, because the numbers are so small and because each college employs several fellows, undergraduates will have these discussion sections (with an eminent expert in each field of study) in groups of two or three. Sometimes one-on-one. If you are a fan of learning and discussing what you're learning with someone with so much knowledge to impart, you understand what an amazing system this is. This is what separates Oxbridge from everywhere else in the world.
It's also one of the reasons I want to go there.
I did my master's degree at another well-regarded British university (let's call it my Master's University) and unfortunately had a disappointing experience in some ways. Most importantly I was disappointed in the commitment level of the other students. They didn't seem genuinely interested in the subject and it diminished the academic experience for me. I like learning, I loved the subject I was studying (mostly). It frustrates me to be in classes with people who fail to prepare for discussion, who have no enthusiasm for the subject at hand. I suspect that since Oxbridge are such aspirational institutions I would be with students who are more keen and I would really appreciate that.
Gunner in the making.
Tuesday 1 December 2009
Response to Comment Regarding LSAT and LNAT
How exciting, I got an actual question in the comments section! I will now dutifully answer it.
This comment comes from DA, who I hope will answer my question afterwards. The comment was
hi, I'm in almost the same situation as you...I'm an american, but living in the states trying to get into law school in London. I'm trying to figure out if there is any LSAT/LNAT conversion scoring, I've taken LSAT, but want to try and predict my results on LNAT. Any advice or are they wholly incomparable? Thanks!
Well, DA, you came to the right place.
First, as far as I know there are no set conversion tables and they would probably be pretty useless because the LNAT and the LSAT are two very different exams. In order to learn some of the basic differences between the two, check out this post. Also check out this post to learn why the LNAT is a stupid, stupid, stupid test.
Now as far as predicting your outcome, your guess is as good as mine. I took three practice exams and got one quite low score, one average score and one quite high score, which suggests it's not a very reliable test. The best thing you can do is just take some practice tests yourself.
My advice would be, first, to get a prep book on the LNAT and familiarise yourself with the format and content. Second, I would start reading the British newspapers because most of the excerpts in the LNAT come from there (especially the London Times and the Guardian) and it's always useful to learn their style. Third, I would take as many practice tests as you can and very, very carefully try to dissect the answer explanations, trying to learn what it is they want you to be thinking as you read. There are three practice tests available on the LNAT website and several prep books are available.
Now, I hope DA will answer some of my questions!
First, why are you trying to go to law school in London? I hope that's not impertinent, I'm just curious because it's an unusual choice. What are your career plans? What schools are you applying to? When are you going to be applying?
Yay internet.
This comment comes from DA, who I hope will answer my question afterwards. The comment was
hi, I'm in almost the same situation as you...I'm an american, but living in the states trying to get into law school in London. I'm trying to figure out if there is any LSAT/LNAT conversion scoring, I've taken LSAT, but want to try and predict my results on LNAT. Any advice or are they wholly incomparable? Thanks!
Well, DA, you came to the right place.
First, as far as I know there are no set conversion tables and they would probably be pretty useless because the LNAT and the LSAT are two very different exams. In order to learn some of the basic differences between the two, check out this post. Also check out this post to learn why the LNAT is a stupid, stupid, stupid test.
Now as far as predicting your outcome, your guess is as good as mine. I took three practice exams and got one quite low score, one average score and one quite high score, which suggests it's not a very reliable test. The best thing you can do is just take some practice tests yourself.
My advice would be, first, to get a prep book on the LNAT and familiarise yourself with the format and content. Second, I would start reading the British newspapers because most of the excerpts in the LNAT come from there (especially the London Times and the Guardian) and it's always useful to learn their style. Third, I would take as many practice tests as you can and very, very carefully try to dissect the answer explanations, trying to learn what it is they want you to be thinking as you read. There are three practice tests available on the LNAT website and several prep books are available.
Now, I hope DA will answer some of my questions!
First, why are you trying to go to law school in London? I hope that's not impertinent, I'm just curious because it's an unusual choice. What are your career plans? What schools are you applying to? When are you going to be applying?
Yay internet.
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