Hello everybody!!

I'm looking for an LL.M in International Tax or Tax in the US, but I want to know if I'm an eligible candidate to US Universities.

I am a junior tax attorney with solid professional experience in medium and large offices in Rio de Janeiro - 5 years counting 4 as a trainee and 1 as a lawyer -, such as Barbosa, Mussnich & Aragão (tax advisory); Bichara, Barata e Costa Attorneys Office and Tozzini Freire Teixeira e Silva Attorneys Office (tax litigation)

I have bachelor degree in law (LL.B) at Rio de Janeiro Federal University (UFRJ), and I am currently attending a Master (LL.M) in Brazilian Tax Law at Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV). I am fluent in English and I have intermediary knowledge of Spanish.

My graduation GPA was 7,5 and currently in LLM my averages are all A or B (8-10).

After completing the LLM at FGV I want an MBA in economics or corporate finance (Ibmec or UFRJ / Copeead); in 2014 I will also do a specialization in international business at FGV.

My first choices would be:

- NYU (first option)
- Michigan
- Georgetown
- Boston
- UCLA
- Florida
- Miami
- John Marshall
- Harvard
- Stanford
- Northwestern University (NU) School of Law

I'm also planning to apply to other universities in Europe (Tilburg, Leiden and Maastricht) and Australia (Monash and Melbourne).

What do you guys think of my chances of getting in any of these schools with my actual professional and education backgroud and considering my plans for future academic experience (MBA in finance + specialization in international business)??

And what are my chances of getting a scholarship?!

Thank you very much in advance!

Best Regards!

I can't comment for sure about your chances at these schools, but I would guess that your work experience and background would probably be interesting for a lot of them. The only way to find out is to apply.

It's interesting that you are aiming for an MBA after an LLM - that's a lot of academic plans, and I'd guess that these schools would want to know about your career goals. Depending on your chosen career path, it may be easier and quicker just to bypass the LLM and go right to the MBA.

Your GPA is 7.5 out of what? Maximum GPA in US is 4, therefore, there is no way you could have a 7.5 in their grading scale.

Find out about GPA grading scale in the US, and try to convert your Brazilian GPA into such. Otherwise, US Law Schools won't be able to compare "apples to apples".

You have very little chance of getting a scholarship in NY. Particularly, considering you are a foreign alien. An LLM and an MBA, are both considered "private interest" degrees, so only student loans may be available and from your source country or international organizations such as OEA. But, in either case, you would have to repay the loan.

If you want a government or school scholarship, you would have to bypass both your LLM/MBA goals, and go right to a PhD in Business or a JSD, with your Brazilian LLM.

Regards,

Barmenator, thank you for your reponse. I did not know about the criteria concerning the GPA granding scale in the US and its difference to Brazilian one.

My GPA, for US grading scale purpose is 3.0. I calculated the convertion on this web site: http://www.foreigncredits.com/Resources/GPA-Calculator/

I don't know how precisely it was because the calculator only considers grades A, B, C, D or E. I think my GPA would be around 2,7/3,0.

What do you mean when talking about a LL.M. or a MBA as a "private interest". A LL.M. in International Taxation wouldn't be either?

And what can you tell me about the process to get a scholarship in other US universities?

Regards,

Hi, PhRj.

Public interest = common interest. Which means you will make either the US or your country better. As a degree in environment science or genetics would, for example.

An LLM and an MBA are not considered priority degrees, given their business nature, therefore, very few give access to scolarships (particularly, if you're looking for a free ride).

There are some, but all are granted on a competitive basis.

All Law and Business schools have some sort of scholarship programs, but are awarded on a very small scale in full tuition waiver, and on a very large scale on just a partial tuiton waiver.

You would have to visit your desired Law or Business school, write them, and ask them about their scholarship programs.

All scholarship programs are conditional upon something. Therefore, your profile or CV goals have to fit there. It's not just a matter of having a good GPA, and professional experience (given a lot of lawyers have these, and scholarships are limited). But, also a matter of having something extra the specific program looks for.

I.e. Certain nationality, age, NGO or community service, public service, PhD status, books published, teaching experience, etc.