Hi,

Depends on what you mean by disadvantageous. I lived in the Columbia area for quite a few years (did my undergrad there). It is definitely not as busy or hip as the NYU area, but I actually preferred it that way. I liked having a real campus and being next to Central Park and Riverside Park. The area has really gentrified over the past few years (too much for my taste, actually). I suppose it depends on what you want. If you want to be in a more active and "happening" environment, NYU is the place to be. Otherwise, I myself actually prefered the calmer pace of the Columbia neighborhood (from where I could still head downtown quite easily when I wanted to go out). If you're still concerned about safety, I would suggest taking an apartment on Broadway (or towards Riverside Park and nothing above W.116th) instead of Amsterdam Ave (or anywhere further east or above W.116th). Hope this is helpful.

thanks a lot - very helpful - any thought on campus-housing? - do's and don'ts ? or useful links to find apartments etc.?

Is it more expensive to live in NYU neighbourhood than in Columbia? NYU offered a 10k grant, but if it costs more, it won't make a difference.

and do you think Columbia has a better reputation than NYU when it comes to job hunting?

Thanks a lot!

From what I heard when it comes to Job hunting in continental Europe - Columbia would be more appealling

I think housing for grads and undergrads is different. For undergrads, they used to have guaranteed on-campus housing. I don't think that is the case for LL.M. students. I kind of remember a lot of the LL.Ms were housed at International House. They were set up like dorms- some with shared kitchen space. I had a friend there who didn't like it very much. I suppose the upside would be that you would meet a lot of students from different countries.

Otherwise, there is an off-campus housing registry with listings on the Columbia website. At least back then, you had to show your Columbia ID at the office to actually get the contact numbers to be able to see the apartments. I found an apartment through them. You could also check out the Village Voice online. This was several years ago, but they used to post listings on Tuesdays, if I remember correctly- sometime in the afternoon NY time. It was rather competitive so you have to check and call quickly.

You might also put an ad out in the Columbia Spectator? I know some grad students end up leaving for a year for various study abroad programs so perhaps someone would be interested in subletting their apartment for the year? I've never tried this, but maybe it would work?

Otherwise, if Columbia offers you housing, I would probably take it. If you know the name of the residence hall, I could rack my brain to see if I ever saw it.

Best of luck!

Oh and in terms of housing costs (NYU vs Columbia), I suppose the housing in the Columbia area would be cheaper but I don't think the costs for on-campus housing would be really that different between the two schools. And, I don't think the difference would be 10k for off-campus housing for the year! Best of luck to you as well.

Sage,
I am very happy with all my courses at Columbia. And if corporate law is your interest (as it is mine), you will be happy here, too.
A great benefit of studying at Columbia (and at NYU too, I guess) is that they offered some seminar courses taught by partners at top law firms in New York. Those partners have a lot to teach us.. much more than any textbook could. And, if you want to work here after graduation, this can be very very helpful. You know what I mean.
Second fiddle? I don't think so. I think they don't give a damn if we are LLM or JD. (And as you may already know, Columbia, unlike most US law schools, treats its LLM and JD students equally in exams.)
I would recommend Prof. Goshen's Corporations and Prof. Kaufman's Deals Workshop. Another interesting one, which I didn't take but heard is very good, is Deals. (But you need to be really good at English to enjoy this one.)
Hope this helps.

(And as you may already know, Columbia, unlike most US law schools, treats its LLM and JD students equally in exams.)

sc2411,
Thank you for your thoughts and suggestions about Columbia LLM. Your first hand knowledge is greatly appeciated. Do you plan to stay in the US after your LLM and do you know any LLM classmates, incl. yourself, who managed to get a job with a NY firm? Did you attend the LLM job fair?

Sage,
My plan is to go back to my home right afer graduation, so I didn't attend the job fair. Some of my classmates attended it and finally got offers from big firms in New York. All I knowis that those guys (1) can communicate very well in English (much better than I do), (2) got good grades in Fall semester (again, better than mine) and (3) have at least a few years of work experience at some big law firms in their home countries. If you have the same kind of qualifications (and if you are not too unlucky), you may get a job, too.
Good luck.

Hi! These last posts have really been really useful. I´d like to add that I know 2 LLM graduates from Columbia that got jobs in NY after their LLMs: one is working at a top law firm there, and the other works at a Human Rights NGO. I have also heard of other Columbia LLM graduates who have done very well back in their home countries. I guess this gives us hope!!! :)

hi, i got accepted in NYU and Columbia. I think i'm going to go with Columbia but my letter of acceptance says that when the decisions concerning financial aid are made (mid april) then i will be rquired to make the deposit to reserve my seat but Bruselas said that he was making his deposit now. So i'm wondering why he's not waiting for the financial decisions to be made or if i should do the same.

Probably cause I didn't request any financial aid from Columbia ...

hope to see you there

xxx

We would like to announce that all admissions are finally over for Columbia as we have just confirmed it on the phone. Finally, we have all been admitted to Columbia (20 friends from Philippines). We are sorry for the ones who haven't heard from Columbia, yet. See you all admitted candidates in Columbia.

Best Regards from Philippines.

hope to see you there too......and congrats to the 20 friends from the Phillipines...i think i'm the only one from Pakistan.

What are the chances that 20 people from the same country were admitted to the same school and that they all are friends? Please, spare us.

please be serious Sunrise.
I'm pretty sure the admission process is not over in Columbia. So to those still waiting, do'nt worry there's hope !

people at CLS, i was wondering that once i get to CLS, will i be able to pick n choose my subjects and if i want to change a few courses that i mentioned in my admission forms...will it be possible? Because i'm kindda not 100% sure if i want to go corporate or international.
thanks

Hi Guys,
Most probably cutting my decision really-fine but, I got into Berkeley but, have not heard from Columbia or Cambridge.I need to accept Berkeley by the 5th but, I havent received my financial aid decision from Berkeley so do you think I can make a provisional acceptance based on the decision outcome? Oh, do you guys know if all the Columbia offers have been made. I just aint sure. Thanks

Columbia are still mailing out offers. Sunrise is obviously full of crap.

As for Cambridge, I don't know anybody who has received an offer. My self-service page definitely still says Applicant rather than Offer Set or Cancelled.

I think admission and financial aid decisions are made on a case by case basis. call them to find out. deadlines for placing deposit differentiate because if you turn down the offer, they will fill someone in.

so long you haven't received rejection letter/call/email, there is hope.

I suggest if you can't make decision now, just paid the deposit to secure a place at at least one school. I know it's $500, but you don't want to loose a life time chance.