withdraw or defer(many schools don’t allow this unless you have a medical issue) your LLM applications. Do not jeopardize your LLM investment by coming this year. It will be a huge gamble. Focus on your work for one more year. Schools will not give you any discount for joining with COVID uncertainty . Happy to answer questions.

[Edited by tundraKen on Apr 21, 2020]

withdraw or defer(many schools don’t allow this unless you have a medical issue) your LLM applications. Do not jeopardize your LLM investment by coming this year. It will be a huge gamble. Focus on your work for one more year. Schools will not give you any discount for joining with COVID uncertainty . Happy to answer questions.

withdraw or defer(many schools don’t allow this unless you have a medical issue) your LLM applications. Do not jeopardize your LLM investment by coming this year. It will be a huge gamble. Focus on your work for one more year. Schools will not give you any discount for joining with COVID uncertainty . Happy to answer questions.

Could you tell us some more about your general impressions? In your opinion, how is CLS handling this issue?

[Edited by tundraKen on Mar 18, 2020]

Hi, thanks for your update. So this means your (and your cohort) OPT chances are next to nil?

Hi, thanks for your update. So this means your (and your cohort) OPT chances are next to nil?

withdraw or defer(many schools don’t allow this unless you have a medical issue) your LLM applications. Do not jeopardize your LLM investment by coming this year. It will be a huge gamble. Focus on your work for one more year. Schools will not give you any discount for joining with COVID uncertainty . Happy to answer questions.

Hi, thanks for your update. So this means your (and your cohort) OPT chances are next to nil?

What is OPT, please?

Hi, thanks for your update. So this means your (and your cohort) OPT chances are next to nil?

...

I would IGNORE this poster. If you see their posting history, they were asking one day ago NYU admissions questions related to their application. This type of behavior is reckless, irresponsible, and unethical, certainly not behavior becoming of an attorney let alone decent human being during a pandemic crisis. What their motivation may be, from pure mischief to hoping people drop out to free up waitlist or scholarships, who knows...

My advice: do NOT defer or withdraw until the university updates you. No university would force an online, distance education on students without first giving them the option to withdraw, defer, or request a refund for any funds committed.

And remember to take all advice on these forums with a grain of salt. Law student forms are generally the blind leading the blind.

I would IGNORE this poster. If you see their posting history, they were asking one day ago NYU admissions questions related to their application. This type of behavior is reckless, irresponsible, and unethical, certainly not behavior becoming of an attorney let alone decent human being during a pandemic crisis. What their motivation may be, from pure mischief to hoping people drop out to free up waitlist or scholarships, who knows...

My advice: do NOT defer or withdraw until the university updates you. No university would force an online, distance education on students without first giving them the option to withdraw, defer, or request a refund for any funds committed.

And remember to take all advice on these forums with a grain of salt. Law student forms are generally the blind leading the blind.

Actually, tundraKen enquired about NYU last year, not in 2020.

However, whilst people should not not take this crisis and the financial situation lightly is there no need to panic. Keep calm, carry on - no one knows what will happen in the future (especially not during the present pandemic).

Law firm layoffs - https://abovethelaw.com/2020/03/law-firm-layoffs-amid-covid-19/

New york city and new york state lockdown - https://nypost.com/2020/03/20/coronavirus-in-ny-cuomo-orders-lockdown-shuts-down-non-essential-businesses/amp/

Law firms are non-essential business so they are ordered to stay home by a new york executive order. Here's the list of essential businesses - https://esd.ny.gov/guidance-executive-order-2026

Are harvard in boston, yale in new haven, stanford in california and chicago areas affected too? Do you know?

I would IGNORE this poster. If you see their posting history, they were asking one day ago NYU admissions questions related to their application. This type of behavior is reckless, irresponsible, and unethical, certainly not behavior becoming of an attorney let alone decent human being during a pandemic crisis. What their motivation may be, from pure mischief to hoping people drop out to free up waitlist or scholarships, who knows...

My advice: do NOT defer or withdraw until the university updates you. No university would force an online, distance education on students without first giving them the option to withdraw, defer, or request a refund for any funds committed.

And remember to take all advice on these forums with a grain of salt. Law student forms are generally the blind leading the blind.

Actually, tundraKen enquired about NYU last year, not in 2020.

However, whilst people should not not take this crisis and the financial situation lightly is there no need to panic. Keep calm, carry on - no one knows what will happen in the future (especially not during the present pandemic).

Thank you. Yes, I did enquire about my nyu application last year and finally enrolled in columbia. I’m not asking you not to apply because you already have. And yes, you should put down the deposit considering someone has already got gls confirmation that funds will be refunded because of covid. I would obtain confirmation individually. But there is a bigger picture which I don’t want you to ignore:

1. We have entered a recession
2. You will have to give notices at work 1-3 months in advance
3. You will be spending almost 100k in fees and living expenses
4. Job hiring may not as robust as 2018 or 2019.
5. Make an informed decision. Reach out to current students on linked or those listed on the cls website. Ask them about the recruitment scene.
6. My posting is mostly for those coming with an aim of becoming attorneys.

We are bitter here because we have lost one semester of opportunities and I do not see any hiring activity amongst my friends. This is just opinion.

I have never asked people to drop out so that I can gain anything. It is your call at the end.

Some of you may already know but CLS and CU have refused to refund tuition for any amount. More than 7000 signatures were collected across the university (https://www.change.org/p/columbia-university-partial-tuition-reimbursement-at-columbia-university). There are already news reports that fall semester students will also have zoom classes. My recommendation at this point is if you are paying for this course from your savings or a loan; skip this year and come next year. Partly because if you have zoom classes, you will still pay full fees and second because you will not get even 1/5th the same experience is you have online classes. And of course, once you have paid your fees, you will not receive any refunds.

[Edited by tundraKen on Apr 21, 2020]

Some of you may already know but CLS and CU have refused to refund tuition for any amount. More than 7000 signatures were collected across the university (https://www.change.org/p/columbia-university-partial-tuition-reimbursement-at-columbia-university). There are already news reports that fall semester students will also have zoom classes. My recommendation at this point is if you are paying for this course from your savings or a loan; skip this year and come next year. Partly because if you have zoom classes, you will still pay full fees and second because you will not get even 1/5th the same experience is you have online classes. And of course, once you have paid your fees, you will not receive any refunds.

https://www.law.com/2020/04/23/law-schools-hit-by-financial-fallout-from-covid-19/

French 2019-2020 LLM Candidate here. I am not here to tell you what to do: the decision to enroll for the academic year 2020/2021 is entirely personal, but I think you should also prepare alternative plans. I don't know how the news reporting is outside of the US, but here it seems pretty obvious universities won't be able to welcome many international students because of visa and travel restrictions that should last for months: 
- https://www.law.com/2020/04/15/due-to-covid-19-fewer-international-students-could-hit-law-schools-hard/
- https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article242345461.html 

Thank you for your perspective. It is so hard to get a clear picture of what is going on on the ground, but all your advice is  very helpful. I will probably put off my plans for a year due to the uncertainty. All the best everyone!