Chloe Liu - Law

Background 

Hi! I’m Chloe, a first-generation Irish-born Chinese who has lived in Cork my whole life. Some of my hobbies include drawing, music, and Irish dancing. Having sat my Leaving Certificate in 2024, I’m now in my first year studying law at Murray Edwards College, Cambridge. Unlike the majority, my decision to apply to UK universities was quite last-minute. While most people decide and start preparing in 5th year, I only made my decision in the July before 6th year. While still on holidays in China, I began researching and quickly realised I needed to sit an admissions exam called the LNAT in September, so I started straight away—and that’s a brief description of how my UCAS journey began.

The National Law Admissions Test (LNAT)

As you may already know, The LNAT consists of two sections: Section A with 42 multiple-choice questions and Section B, an argumentative essay on one of three prompts. Cambridge has reverted to using the LNAT, so you no longer need to worry about preparing for the CLT.

With only 2-3 months to prepare both my personal statement and the LNAT, time management was critical. I spent every day at my desk researching, practising, and writing. Here are some resources I found helpful during my LNAT preparation:

• Official LNAT practice tests: Free sample tests with commentary

• Official guide to the LNAT: LNAT Preparation Guide

• The textbook I used: The Ultimate LNAT Collection

• I’ve also heard great things about Arbitio

(Some websites recommend you practice the LSAT as they’re similar, but there are more than enough resources on the LNAT out there, so please don’t make the same mistake as I did. However, if you’ve burned up all the resources possible for the LNAT, then give the similar LSAT sections a try!)

For Section B, I would recommend reading up on controversial topics that are relevant in today’s world. Think about arguments for and against each topic. Furthermore, it is always helpful to get another opinion, so ask a teacher or a parent to read over your essay! If that’s not possible, Irish2Oxbridge tutors are more than happy to help you out and offer our expertise. Feel free to contact us through our website or email! Many people overlook the importance of the essay, but the essay is an imperative area of consideration for not only Cambridge, but for most top universities in the UK.

One last note on the LNAT, be sure to take care of yourself! I pulled an all-nighter before my exam and travelled three hours by coach at 4am without breakfast. This had a negative impact on my performance. Ensure you get a good night’s rest, have a nourishing breakfast, and stop practising at least 12 hours before your exam. Do as I say, not as I did!

The Personal Statement

With limited time, I chose my super-curricular activities carefully. These are activities or research you have done to deepen your knowledge of your chosen subject area. Cambridge has compiled lists of possible super-curricular activities for applicants which I found very useful, so I’ll link it here.

While engaging with these activities, I took notes and documented my own thoughts. Admissions tutors care most about what you think, not just what the author or scholar says. I then wrote several drafts, refining the ideas, language, and content to align with what was required and expected of me. It is recommended that personal statements tailored for Oxbridge should be 90% academic and 10% extra-curricular. A common misconception is that the ‘90% academic’ section of the personal statement refers to discussing school subjects, but it is actually about super-curricular activities. 

Lastly, just be authentic to yourself and to your interest in the subject. The admissions tutors want students who are just as engrossed as them in their subject area. One more piece of advice: focus more on the academic study of the subject, and not the career! This is a common mistake I see students making. The admissions tutors are not hiring managers—they want to see your academic intrigue and not so much your commitment to a career.

Starting in 2025/26, the 4000-character personal statement will be replaced by three targeted questions. If you’re applying soon, don’t hesitate to contact Irish2Oxbridge for help!

My Cambridge Application (My CAM)

After submitting your UCAS application, Cambridge requests additional details via MyCAM. This is a separate application form for Cambridge only. This includes an additional personal statement section. However, this section is optional. I chose to leave it blank, as this section is more helpful to those applying for subjects that only Cambridge offers (e.g Land Economy, Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic etc.), or to allow people who have applied for different courses at each of their universities to elaborate on the specific course that they have chosen. 

You will also need to provide transcripts of past examination results (e.g. Junior Certificate and school exams), and a photo for your potential student ID.

The Interview

The last part of the application process is the interview. I received my invite to interview in late November, and my interview took place online in early December. Cambridge interviews vary: some are subject-specific, while others are more general, and formats range from two 25-minute interviews to one 50-minute session. My main advice for this section is to just be confident, convey what you are thinking, and be ready to get things wrong. The interview is designed to intellectually challenge you, and to give the interviewers an idea of how you would perform in ‘supervisions’ (group teaching and discussions consisting of 1-4 people). I would also recommend picking apart your personal statement to ensure you can answer any questions they throw at you about it. Ultimately, just be yourself and be a pleasant person to converse with. 

Medium has many useful blogs relating to law interviews at Cambridge:

• About the Cambridge Law Interview

• Ask a Student: Interviews

Including two sample law interviews!

• Sample Cambridge Law Interview 1

• Sample Cambridge Law Interview 2

Practice is the best way to prepare for this part of the process. At Irish2Oxbridge, we offer many tutors specialising in various subject areas who can help you practise and prepare. 

Choosing a College

Cambridge has approximately 31 colleges, including postgraduate colleges. Making a decision can be challenging! I found it so difficult that I decided to opt for an open application instead. This is where you opt to not choose a college and alternatively, a computer-system allocates you to a random college. I was allocated to Murray Edwards College (formerly New Hall). While I sometimes regret not choosing a college more suited for me, the notion that you will always come to love and defend the college you end up at holds true. Murray Edwards is one of the two all-girls colleges at Cambridge. Unfortunately for me, it is the one that is further to Sidgwick Site (where law lectures are held). When choosing a college, I would recommend you consider these factors: 

• Location: Proximity to the city centre and your lecture sites.

• Accommodation: Shared rooms or en-suite options.

• Catering: Availability of kitchens for self-catering or dining hall services.

• Atmosphere: College culture, alumni reputation, and ranking.

• Special Features: Some colleges (like Murray Edwards and Newnham) are all-female, which may suit personal preferences.

Whilst many people believe that Oxford and Cambridge are full of people who fit the “elitist stereotype”, I can assure you that this has not been my experience of Cambridge thus far. Everyone has been welcoming and down-to-earth, and you will certainly meet people similar to you. Furthermore, I enjoy living in accommodation as it provides me with the “college dorm” experience. This helps create lasting and deep friendships which have enhanced my overall experience.

My time at Cambridge so far and my advice for incoming first-year students

Despite the workload (trust me, it’s tough), I am thoroughly enjoying my time at Cambridge. Gaining full independence, forming strong friendships, and participating in all the events Cambridge has to offer has been an enriching experience for me. My advice to incoming students would be to:

1. Try to maintain a good balance between work, social life, and sleep, though it can be difficult.

2. Do participate in events that societies, clubs, and your college organise. These are where you can create those lasting bonds and meet people from other colleges.

3. Use the resources and facilities that are available to students. Cambridge offers great career services and wellbeing resources. 

Lastly, I found Irish2Oxbridge through The Student Room (highly recommended for anything UCAS related) after receiving my offer, and they helped me prepare for life at Cambridge and with settling in as an Irish student. I wouldn’t have been able to adapt to life at Cambridge if not for all the advice and help I received—so a big thank you to Irish2Oxbridge and to the President, Conor! 

If you are thinking of applying or want to know more about my journey, please do not hesitate to contact me on Linkedin or by email at cql23@cam.ac.uk. Moreover, you can also ‘Request a Tutor’ on the homepage of Irish2Oxbridge’s website if more personalised and tailored support is required. Best of luck!