BPP vs College of Law
- Thread starter Sudden
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I did the GDL at CoL last year, and found it quite fun. But I was told repeatedly that BPP GDL is easier - much more spoon-fed and also you can skip whole chunks of the syllabus in time for revision because you know which topics are meant to come up, apparently.
Currently doing the LPC at Bloomsbury which is not quite as interesting, and people are nowhere near as much fun in this year's class, but at the end of the day it's just a stepping stone...
I don't think firms generally tell you where to go for GDL - it's usually for the LPC that they have specific arrangements.
Currently doing the LPC at Bloomsbury which is not quite as interesting, and people are nowhere near as much fun in this year's class, but at the end of the day it's just a stepping stone...
I don't think firms generally tell you where to go for GDL - it's usually for the LPC that they have specific arrangements.
Go to the CoL the exams are open book, whereas the BPP's are not. Furthermore the BPP's atmosphere is rather more pretentious with students wearing suits to lessons. CoL is more relaxed and I think more firms prefer it (although I can't back this up), nevertheless in a nasty bout of stupidity I went to neither and chose to do my LPC at Cardiff.
Yup, a definite bonus. Makes exams so much less stressful.
Not sure about the GDL, but I do know they definitely dress smarter at BPP and also at CoL Moorgate - it's more to do with the number of people with City TCs than anything else, I think. They often have to go to functions at work etc as well.
I'm pretty certain that there is absolutely no preference between the two for GDL - any of those two will be regarded as excellent. Assuming you have a City TC before you start, 90% of the time you will not be given a choice of where you go for the LPC as they often have firm-specific or specialised LPCs.
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It might sound crazy but I had the most fun in education for the last 7+ years while doing my GDL last year - met some really nice (but crazy) people, had loads of fun, studying was quite enjoyable as well - all in all turned out really well. Now just need to find a TC...
Really? I was semi-under the impression that it made it a bit harder because there was no margin of error since the examiner would just think - "he's got the book in front of him, why's he made this mistake?". But this was speculation
Also, you mentioned you're doing the LPC at bloomsbury. Did you do the GDL there as well or at moorgate? I'm currently leaning towards the moorgate campus atm as it just seemed a lot nicer during the open day. + i'm at UCL right now, so have had plenty of the whole bloomsbury area
Does it make a difference which one really? I know that for the LPC I basically need to go to the moorgate one anyway. (city TC hopeful and what not). And also, can you use the facilities of the other campus if you need to? And how good are they with giving your choice of campus?
(this is stuff I had asked at the open day, but it's always better to hear from a student
)It might sound crazy but I had the most fun in education for the last 7+ years while doing my GDL last year - met some really nice (but crazy) people, had loads of fun, studying was quite enjoyable as well - all in all turned out really well. Now just need to find a TC...
That's good to hear
From what everyone's been telling me, i'l basically be working 7-8 hrs a day with little time for anything else. Good to see that you can still have fun on it 
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here goes, my first post
I’ve recently graduated from the LPC at the COL and previously completed the GDL there too, at the end of it I can easily say it was a wicked experience where I met some great people and tutors.
The general feel I got for comparing the BPP and COL was that the GDL is easier at the BPP and LPC easier at COL, this is rubbish in reality because in my view anything is easy if you study hard for it. But the deal breaker for everyone at this moment is that if you complete the GDL and LPC at COL, the GDL becomes a LLB degree, which looks great on your CV.
Regarding open book exams, it is sodding hard. You may think it’s easy because the book is in front of you but by the time you've looked at any page you've already lost precious time. there were people coming out of exams crying because they didn't have enough time to do all q's as they spent time looking through everything. The books are there for quick reference only.
Sorry for long post, and let me know if I can assist any further.
I’ve recently graduated from the LPC at the COL and previously completed the GDL there too, at the end of it I can easily say it was a wicked experience where I met some great people and tutors.
The general feel I got for comparing the BPP and COL was that the GDL is easier at the BPP and LPC easier at COL, this is rubbish in reality because in my view anything is easy if you study hard for it. But the deal breaker for everyone at this moment is that if you complete the GDL and LPC at COL, the GDL becomes a LLB degree, which looks great on your CV.
Regarding open book exams, it is sodding hard. You may think it’s easy because the book is in front of you but by the time you've looked at any page you've already lost precious time. there were people coming out of exams crying because they didn't have enough time to do all q's as they spent time looking through everything. The books are there for quick reference only.
Sorry for long post, and let me know if I can assist any further.
Great first post though
Which campus did you do the GDL at? Did you know people at others? much difference? I'm considering the Moorgate one myself. Also, if you're at one, can you use the facilities of the other?
Yea, the LLB is very imp. to me. Mainly cause I think an LLB means I can practice in India as well after passing an exam rather than having to study first. BPP offers one too now, but you have to do 2 extra exams at 900 pounds each after the GDL to get it, which is a bit of a pain in terms of effort as well as the extra cost.
Yea, I had the same worry about open book. Less margin of error and spending too much time looking at the books. Obviously something I do need to look out for. Oh and also, did you find it particularly troublesome to have all the exams so close together? I know BPP spreads theirs out a bit more, but was wondering if at that point, an extra few days would make much difference? Apart from just being less exhausting.
Thanks for the help
Great first post though
if you're at one, can you use the facilities of the other?
Students from any of the COL centres can use the library, careers service etc at any of the other COL centres. I work at the Birmingham COL, so just let me know if there are any other questions I might be able to answer for you.
Ah sweet
Thanks. I asked some people at the open days at the London campuses, but they weren't very sure about it. Staff and students, lol. Thanks for the offer
Will definitely keep it in mind.
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Great first post though
Which campus did you do the GDL at? Did you know people at others? much difference? I'm considering the Moorgate one myself. Also, if you're at one, can you use the facilities of the other?
Yea, the LLB is very imp. to me. Mainly cause I think an LLB means I can practice in India as well after passing an exam rather than having to study first. BPP offers one too now, but you have to do 2 extra exams at 900 pounds each after the GDL to get it, which is a bit of a pain in terms of effort as well as the extra cost.
Yea, I had the same worry about open book. Less margin of error and spending too much time looking at the books. Obviously something I do need to look out for. Oh and also, did you find it particularly troublesome to have all the exams so close together? I know BPP spreads theirs out a bit more, but was wondering if at that point, an extra few days would make much difference? Apart from just being less exhausting.
Thanks for the help
i am sure you can use the facilities of the other, you'll be mainly on the elite system anyway, which is a portal to do all the online work ie itutorials and test & feedback. Ive only used Moorgate to sit exams, the lessons in Moorgate are based on commercial law so it depends on the area of law you'll be doing later.
having the exams one after is not a major problem, if your ready from a few weeks before the exams, you freshen up the day before and its all over before you know it.