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The secret of my success
Profile on: May Ling Wong
LLB graduate, Hong Kong
Hong Kong student May Ling Wong is a recent addition to the illustrious ranks of University of London LLB graduates. What's more, she is now the proud owner of a First Class degree - a remarkable achievement, particularly given the added pressures of External study. But before we talk about the result, what made her choose the University of London International Programmes in the first place?
"I particularly liked the way in which the programme was structured. It gave me the flexibility I wanted. Another influential factor was being able to get a qualification from a prestigious institution like the University of London."
With additional educational support provided by a local institution, HKU SPACE, May Ling managed to complete in the minimum study period of three years. So, after three years of intense hard work, how did it feel to get a First? "To be honest, it still hasn't really sunk in. I remember reading the Student Handbook in my first year, looking at the range of classifications awarded, and thinking to myself 'Well, there's no way I'll get a First, so I'll just try my best to get a 2:1'. Of course I'm extremely pleased with the result, and the fact it has opened so many doors for me."
As she was working and studying at the same time, good time management skills proved absolutely essential. What kind of study routine did she have? "In the first year, it didn't quite hit home how much there was to learn until it was close to the exams, so there were days where I literally revised through the night until it was time for work. In the second year, I paced myself a bit better, and began earlier in the year."
It seems that her hard work is already paying off, and that gaining the LLB has resulted in some major, life-changing decisions. "I'm now doing a Postgraduate Certificate in Laws in order to progress onto legal training. I've already decided to change my career completely, from medical research to law, and there's no way I would've been able to do that without the University of London. I've thought about pursuing an LLM, but will leave that until a later stage when I've had time to consider which area I'd like to do that in."
Finally, after such an outstanding result, there's the question that's on the lips of every single External student. Just what was the secret of her success? "One word - discipline. There really is no substitute for discipline when doing a degree by External study. There's no one, apart from yourself, who can make you sit down and open your books every day, every night, while everyone else seems to be out enjoying themselves. Believe me, at the end of the day, it's worth it, and it's a skill that will serve you well in the future too."