Hi,

I've been admitted to both Columbia and UPenn, the latter with 25% scholarship. I'm keen on studying women's rights. While Columbia has a centre and a clinic dedicated to it, UPenn doesn't quite though it does have a tie-up with UN Women. I can't afford an LLM without a scholarship, I don't want to take a loan given that there's really no job security but I might consider it if push comes to shove.

Any advice regarding how to go about such a decision is welcome. Trying to make a pro-con list to make my decision easier, so it would be nice to hear different perspectives on this, especially from people who are planning to attend, have attended or are currently attending either of these two Universities with a focus on women's/human rights.

Thanks!

Hi,

I've been admitted to both Columbia and UPenn, the latter with 25% scholarship. I'm keen on studying women's rights. While Columbia has a centre dedicated to it, UPenn doesn't quite though it does have a tie-up with UN Women. I can't afford an LLM without a scholarship, I don't want to take a loan given that there's really no job security.

Any advice regarding how to go about such a decision.

[Edited by AdmissionLLM on Mar 15, 2018]

Isn't it obvious if you "can't afford an LLM without a scholarship" and "don't want to take a loan given that there's really no job security"?

I wish decisions were always so simple. Columbia definitely has a better brand name, and I hear they offer Postgraduate Fellowships. UPenn isn't offering me a full or half scholarship and is better known for its Wharton Program and Corporate Law Curriculum. Given there's no way I can know LLM rankings, this decision isn't particularly easy for me. Push comes to shove, I might consider a loan, but I'd definitely like to avoid it.

The point of the question is to hear different perspectives, in case that wasn't clear.

Columbia does not have a better brand name than Upenn.

Columbia does not have a better brand name than Upenn.

Columbia vs Upenn/Wharton is such a hard decision...

YES, THANK YOU @JJM5.
Though I'm interested in studying Human Rights.