Hello,

I am trying to figure out my chances of getting into NYU's full-time LL.M. in tax program. I am sorry to be this person, but the application process is a stressful time and I can't find information anywhere else.

I have a 3.2, ranked in the top 25% at a tier 2-3 school. I went to school at night my first year and worked full-time as a political consultant on federal campaigns. I will graduate with a certificate in taxation law, and well over 50 hours of VITA for which I am certified to prepare and review tax returns. I am the President of the Tax Law Society at my school, Managing Editor of a Journal (not law review), and I have a comment on the taxation of shipping companies that is going to be published this fall that addresses ambiguities in the treasury regulations. I got a B- in Income Tax I (had some personal stuff going on), got an A in another Tax Class where I wrote a paper defining domicile and residence for income tax purposes, the highest grade(****) in my state & local tax, and I am doing very well in an advanced income tax class and will likely get an A according to the professor (who is also writing me a rec). I will also be enrolled in Tax Procedure, Taxation of Partnerhsips and Taxation of Wealth Transfers in the Spring. I also got an A in Business Organizations (Professor was my professor from Income Tax I, writing me a rec) and a Business Planning seminar class where we created various business entities. I served as a research assistant to a tax professor and helped her with a forthcoming tax management portfolio and a forthcoming law review article on taxation. I have four letters of recommendation from tax professors, three of which will be sent to NYU (two of them are NYU alum, one is georgetown alum). I have worked for a state district judge and a firm, writing memos on various corporate, tax, and oil & gas issues. I have indicated on my application that I plan on pursuing an advanced professional certificate in law & business, which I definitely plan on doing if admitted. The only reason my grades are low is because I worked full-time and went to school at night my first year, it was very difficult, especially the income tax I since I hardly had any time to prepare. Since going to school full-time, I have never taken less than 16 hours and my GPA in subsequent semesters was a 3.18 and a 3.6. My GPA and ranking will increase quite a bit after this semester. At the very least I will jump well into the top 20%, top 15% would be a stretch after this semester, but maybe after the Spring when it is too late for app time. I believe NYU will not consider my application until after this semester and I send them my fall grades.

I have been told by several NYU alum and a professor that they are big on geographical diversity. I am from Louisiana and plan on returning after getting my LL.M.

Does anyone have any insight into my chances? I am sorry for being one of those paranoid people, but while everyone else is applying for jobs, I am applying for LL.M. programs and there is very little info.

Apply early. If the committee thinks Fall/Spring grades will make a difference you won't receive a decision and they'll ask you to submit the transcript(s) as supplemental info. Not sure how/if mentioning the tax preparer certification hours or professional business certificate will help or maybe hurt your chances.