Admissions offices have all stated that the competition for spaces in their LLM programs this year has been unprecedentedly fierce. While part of this might be the usual hyperbole, it seems true that in light of the poor job market many graduates seek to bridge one year in hope of better employment opportunities later by taking up LLM studies now.

On the other hand, the feedback I've gotten from collegues that already got their LLM (and thus got in under less competitive circumstances) is that - except the top ten - universities in the US would take anybody with decent credentials.

What's your take? Is it possible for somebody with decent, but not excellent credentials to get into first-tier, but non-top-ten universities this season? Particularly in large cities with several universities overshadowed by top universities - Say NY: How hard is it to get to Fordham or Cardozo? Or Boston: How's the competition for BU or BC? Or Washington: GW or AU? Has anybody been rejected by any of these universities?

I'd really appreciate your feedback on this. I've been asked by somebody to gauge his chances of admission and so far I'm somewhat at a loss. Thanks!