How important are acdemics (GPA and perfect academic record) when applying to an LLM? I am about to send my aps to Columbia and NYU for an LLM in International Law though I am EXTREMELY concerned 'cause my grades are FAR from being excellent!

On a better note, I was a two time Jessup Moot Court participant in Washington, Student Council President in School, Worked Pro bono as a public defender in civil, labour and criminal matters for a year and recently finished my law internship with Royal Dutch Shell.

Do these Unis take these things into account? Or having failed a couple of subjects during my college years leaves me completely doomed???

Thanks for any feedback regarding my concerns!

pd.: I am a 24 year old Colombian student from the top Uni in my home country......

I'd like to believe that grades are necessary to get your foot in the door and are just par for the course. Past a certain point, however, the other things you've done and how you describe your background matter. I'm in Harvard now and was not at the very top of my class, but got in with a large financial assistance package.

Two anecdotes not directly related to the LLM program selection itself.

I applied for a special program within Harvard's LLM, and there were so many applicants they had to make a cut. After the selections were made, I got the impression that grades were the least considered at that point, compared to background.

I've shown my resume to law firm partners on the spot and see their reactions. They pay no attention to listed grades or class ranking, but focus on writing credentials and journal work.

I'd like to believe that grades are necessary to get your foot in the door and are just par for the course. Past a certain point, however, the other things you've done and how you describe your background matter. I'm in Harvard now and was not at the very top of my class, but got in with a large financial assistance package.

Two anecdotes not directly related to the LLM program selection itself.

I applied for a special program within Harvard's LLM, and there were so many applicants they had to make a cut. After the selections were made, I got the impression that grades were the least considered at that point, compared to background.

I've shown my resume to law firm partners on the spot and see their reactions. They pay no attention to listed grades or class ranking, but focus on writing credentials and journal work.

It's irrelevant in the sense that you formally apply to concentrations after you're accepted and the deadline is shortly after you move in.

I have the impression that they screen the stated interests in the personal statements so that the LLM class has a balance of people interested in academe-oriented constitutional philosophy and legal theory, corporate fields, human rights and advocacy, etc.