What would you guys do in the hypothetical situation where you get admitted to Harvard (no scholarship), NYU and Columbia (both with half tuition scholarship)?
Suppose you could find enough loans to pay por Harvard...
Would you automatically choose Harvard over the others? Is it that better?
Does Harvard´s prestige really beats the New York city experience??

Depends on your perspectives after HLS and you financial situation.
Case 1: If you can afford it without serious damage to your finances, then ... I would go for HLS.
Case 2: If you can't afford it and you have to get into ugly debt. I would go for Columbia or NYU depending on your academic interest.
Case 3: If you have a serious chance of working for a big firm in the US upon graduation, I would say... go to HLS because you will definitely recover what you will have paid in a blink of an eye.
This is completely personal and if you feel you would not forgive yourself for not going to HLS having being admitted, then you should go. But I don't think carrying the burden of a heavy debt is worth it if it will not pay off afterwards. Plus, CLS and NYU are really amazing schools.
Hope this was helpful

What would you guys do in the hypothetical situation where you get admitted to Harvard (no scholarship), NYU and Columbia (both with half tuition scholarship)?
Suppose you could find enough loans to pay por Harvard...
Would you automatically choose Harvard over the others? Is it that better?
Does Harvard´s prestige really beats the New York city experience??

In your situation, i will say HLS hands down. I know people that have enter in a 100% debt for doing a JD in HLS and they say it was 100% worth it; a LLM is much cheaper since it is only one year.

HLS will most certainly help you get a job anywhere in the world. HLS is not only know to lawyers, but to business man, etc.etc.etc. Not as quite with NYU, Columbia; therefore, you have better odds on getting a job an paying your debt.

Go to HLS man, and either way, if you don´t, CLS first than NYU.

Hope this helps. And Congrats!

Harvard. Half-tuition waive (or even full) is not quite attractive - it will only be a difficult choice if it is a full cost (including living cost) scholarship for me.

Being an IP attorney, brand is important :)

Similar and interesting discussion, but in real scene.

http://www.llm-guide.com/board/100127

Well, it is a real situation...
I have been offered 25k in both, Columbia and NYU. Harvard has not released a financial aid decision but I am trying to work with the worst case escenario.
My area of interest is constitutional theory, jurisprudence, etc. That´s why NYU looks like a great option for me... even beyond Columbia...
Ayways, thanks for the advice you guys! it was helpful
:)

Although NYU and Columbia are prestigious lawschools, Havard seems to be better choice considering its international reputation.