Hey everyone,

I’m looking for some advice and insights on my chances of getting into Georgetown, Columbia, USC, or NYU for an LLM program. I haven’t been the top student academically because I had a high-responsibility job during my undergraduate studies. This job took up a lot of my time, which impacted my grades. I ended up with a GPA of 12.5/20 and took an extra two years to complete my studies in Belgium.

By the time I apply, I’ll have one year of work experience after graduation and will also be pursuing a second master’s degree. I’m really passionate about continuing my education with an LLM and willing to put in all the effort needed to build a strong application.

What do you think my chances are at these schools or other schools? Any tips on how to strengthen my application would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Working for 3 solid years will give you higher changes, especially if you don't have the best grades. The average years of experience at Columbia is 5 years. People with less experience usually have better grades. I would suggest that you try to get into a top law firm in your country and try to get as much exposure as possible: write articles, do conferences, meet people, become a teaching assistant... all of these will only work in your favor. Of course other law schools could grant you admission but Columbia, Georgetown and NYU are highly ranked. Also, the more attractive you are as a candidate, the more changes you have on these schools giving you a scholarship. Columbia and NYU are 80k this year. It's insane. I hope that helps. Bon courage !!

Gain at least a few more years of work experience, write a paper and get it published, gain additional other experiences (volunteering or fellowship opportunities).

With a lower GPA you can still make it into the LLM programs at USC or Georgetown, however, why not to wait a bit longer and prepare yourself to increase your changes for getting admission and scholarships :)

Best of luck! Happy to answer any additional questions!