Hi everyone

I am intending to apply to LLMs, starting in fall 2009. i am currently gathering the documents etc. and i'd like to send the applications in August / September. My question may seem stupid but would that be considered too early (ie some universities' deadlines are in March, April)?

would an admissions committee think I did not work enough on the application? Do you think it would influence their decision?

anyways, i've read many posts on this forum, i just wnt to congratulate all the students who gat accepted, wherever that be.

thanks!

most schools will post the earliest/starting application acceptance date on their website

Hi laodeshu!

I'm also applying for 2009-2010. I'm taking the TOEFL test on mid-August, and as well as you, I still need all the documents (transcripts, recommendation letter, personal statements, etc.)

Since I'm working as a junior lawyer at the sime time, i don't believe i'm planning things too early, on the contrary, i think everyone who decides to apply for 2009-2010, with all the "burocracy" required should start to gather all the doc's now.

Bye!
Carolina

Hi Carolina!

thanks for your post, i am also working as a lawyer, i feel better knowing that i'm not applying too early.. where are you applying?

cheers!

Hello applicants!
I plan on applying for a Human Rights LLM in 2009-2010 and have been going crazy lately with all the documents and deadlines I must keep in mind... My biggest problem is that I depend on funding to complete any LLM, so Im also looking out for information regarding all types of scholarships/dates/requirements, etc... Is anyone in a similar situation?
Does anyone know if I should submit a request for an external scholarship (Fullbright Comission, British Council, Erasmus, etc...) before applying for the LLM (I thought it should be after acceptance, but I read a few blogs saying differently)?
How exactly does the "preference" thing work with LLM scholarships (if I apply for one US University LLM scholarship may I not apply for any other in the US)?
Thanks for your time!
Gabriela

Hi Gabriala,

I guess the answer to your questions depends on where you're originally from. Scholarships like Fulbright (one "L" ;-) ) vary along the country an applicant is residing; some want you to apply ahead of uni deadlines (they even send in applications in your name) while others grant you money only if you can provide them with a proof of admission. You'll need to check that with your local commission.

As you want to focus on HR, it might not be a terrific option to have Fulbright send applications for you, as you obviously want to pick that particular university where you'll be able to choose from a wide variety of HR courses and you're never really sure whether Fulbright will make the right choice for you (again, depends on the country, it wasn't the case for me personnally since I got the Fulbright after my admissions). There are (quite) a few law schools providing fellowships for HR students - I believe Georgetown had one, as has Columbia University (need to prove experience in the field though). NYU has the Grotius fellowships for international legal studies, which would waiver your tuition (i.e. 3/5 or even 2/3 of your total expenses...).

Where will you apply? What do you mean with the preference thing?

Hello Fleur de Lies,
Thanks for your answer!
I will check with the Fulbright Commission in my country (Brazil)
I am thinking of applying to Columbia, American University, NYU and Harvard.
By the preference thing I mean, for example, this requirement NYU makes for Hauser Global Scholarship applicants: Applicants should apply to the Hauser Global Scholarship or the Singapura Scholarship only if NYU is their first choice. We understand that you may be interested in and may be applying to many different law schools. However, these elite scholarships are intended for those who know definitively that NYU's unique global approach is what they seek in graduate legal education. Therefore, you should apply for these scholarships only if you are certain that, should you receive the scholarship for which you apply, you will definitely enroll. Please note that you will be required to withdraw all other pending applications in order to enroll with NYU. We hope you will understand that we want to give preference to those whose preference is us.
Thanks!
Gabriela

Oh ok, I see the preference thing now.

In terms of applying, you are free to go for any of the scholarships on offer and simultaneously apply for the Hauser at NYU, the HR or Appel fellowship at Columbia, etc.

The tricky part comes at the time you're being awarded one of those: then, they'll ask you to withdraw your pending applications from other schools before even knowing whether you would have been accepted there. Two friends of mine were granted a vanderbilt resp. grotius last year at NYU, and they sent an email to Harvard to fasten up the decision process there; they got a 'secret' offer so that they could let the scholarship go without regret ;-)

There's one thing however: if you really want to do human rights AND you're offered a Hauser at NYU, don't doubt a single minute and go for it, I don't think it gets any better than that combination.

Fleur de Lies ~
OK, I understand what you mean. Thats a relief! I was afraid I couldnt even apply to other scholarships See, I really depend on getting a full tuition scholarship plus living expenses (or a part-time job) because my family could never support me living in another country for a year. So I must apply for all scholarships I can
These two friends you mentioned, they ended up going to Harvard then? Did they get a specific type of scholarship like Stoffel?
And regarding the Hauser at NYU, why do you think its the best combination for Human Rights? Isnt the Stoffel at Harvard equivalent (or maybe even better)?
Thanks again for all your help!
Gabriela

Yes the two friends ended going to Harvard; they both had a generous scholarship from the Belgian American Educational Foundation (BAEF). I'm not sure whether they were granted an additional Fulbright on top of that, but they didn't get financial support from Harvard itself. Then again, a colleague who was at Harvard this year was granted support even though she also had the BAEF, because she comes from a 'famille nombreuse' with tons of siblings =) I guess once you're accepted at Harvard, they'll do their best to grant you tuition waivers and the like to get you there. Same with Columbia I guess, where they look at your financial situation to grant you (partial) waivers.

The reason why I think Hauser at NYU would be the best you can get is that NYU has a tremendous record for human rights teaching and research, in my opinion better than at Harvard (admittedly, only telling from what I read of their respective faculty and what I've heard on teaching qualities from friends that have been there). Moreover, they have a nice-nice network that comes along with it, and if you're granted a Hauser, you're actually in the very middle of that network, you're likely to be granted a research assistantship with a professor of your choice, etc. Plus no tuition, plus a stipend. Good luck =)

Thanks! I'll let you know what happens in a few months!

Hi Gabriela:

I am also interested in applying to American University International Legal Studies Program. They have a great human rights program. I was looking at their website and they offer 5 Full Tuition Scholarships. Here is the link to where I was reading this (maybe you would be interested): http://www.wcl.american.edu/ilsp/llm_scholarships.cfm.

Olivier

Hello Fleur de Lies,
Thanks for your answer!
I will check with the Fulbright Commission in my country (Brazil)
I am thinking of applying to Columbia, American University, NYU and Harvard.
By the preference thing I mean, for example, this requirement NYU makes for Hauser Global Scholarship applicants: Applicants should apply to the Hauser Global Scholarship or the Singapura Scholarship only if NYU is their first choice. We understand that you may be interested in and may be applying to many different law schools. However, these elite scholarships are intended for those who know definitively that NYU's unique global approach is what they seek in graduate legal education. Therefore, you should apply for these scholarships only if you are certain that, should you receive the scholarship for which you apply, you will definitely enroll. Please note that you will be required to withdraw all other pending applications in order to enroll with NYU. We hope you will understand that we want to give preference to those whose preference is us.
Thanks!
Gabriela

Hey guys, I just submitted my NYU LLM application today (for 2009/10)...does anyone know how long we need to wait before hearing from them? Has anyone submitted their application already and heard back?

I saw a posting somewhere that said they heard back from NYU in Oct/Nov having submitted in Sep......

Cheers

OMG! You've already sent your application? Thats awesome! i haven't start NYU yet. Working on Columbia right now. Whats the deadline for NYU Early Review?

Good Luck

I've already submitted application too. I also got the confirmation email for completing application. Next step should be the committee review, I think.

Have you submitted it to any other school besides NYU yet?

Hey,
No, I am only applying to NYU in the U.S...which is my number one choice! Other schools im applying yo are in the U.K.
Does that make a difference?
Have you applied yet?

Cheers

I take it the early review thing is for U.S. applicants only?? Iv not heard of it at all....I assumed 01 December is my deadline?

I'm applying to 5 other schools. Will send out my NYU application in mind-Nov.

Early Review is for everyone...however only a ew schools offer it and i guess NYU isn' one of them.

Good luck!

btw what program have you applied for?