Hello! I recently enrolled to one of the universities that offered me admission. Admittedly, it wasn't my first choice, but I would say it was on my top 5 (given the circumstances). The thing is, when I started applying for an LL.M I really didn't take the time to think about it too thoroughly. Thus, I ended applying on a not-so-serious note. And I applied to the schools for which I hadn't missed the deadline. Now that the frenzy is over and I actually have the time to think about my choices, I have started having second thoughts... I have always -like most likely everyone!- dreamt of going to an Ivy school and I'm afraid that going to a top15 will just not make this inner voice shut up. On the other hand, is spending/wasting one more year just to apply and risk it all worth it? I know my potential and I know that I could probably get in an Ivy (not HLS or SLS but still an Ivy) but that would mean dedicating the next year to publications, research, anything that would increase my chances. Is it worth it? Should I just take what I can get now? Or should I wait and take the "slow-yet-still-not-sure" way? I would really like to hear/read your thoughts. Thanks!

try the "slow-yet-still-not-sure" way.

Take what you have right now. Don't waste a full year for an application that may probably not lead to success. And even if it does, you will have lost one year of job experience (and income!), which is much more important than any academic degree. From my point of view you should rather try to perform as good as you can in the course you got - as a good performance in the LLM is definetely a big plus in ur CV - and then move on to find a decent job (at a highly prestigeous law firm, a global player company, a great Uni...) or a PhD programme (maybe at an Ivy League School?). I think this should make ur inner voice shut up.

Difficult decision. I think it depends on where you were admitted and wht you think you can get and also what is your field of interest. If you think that applying in time, dedicating effort to your applications and so on, you can get Columbia or NYU, for example, then try again next year.

There's nothing worst than feeling that you could have done more or that you made a bad choice in life, and certainly an LLM is not smething to take light, I mean, it's a whole year of your life, it will have impacto on your entire carreer ad also costs a lot of money! Don't do things on the run, take your time to asses what's good for you, what your chances are (you can see which people you know have gone where and see if you are a match, that's a start),

Also, I think that all the schools that accepted you this year will still accept you nexte year, so you wont be loosing much. This all is said without knowing your personal motivations and circumstances, but I think that's the right move. If you are now having second thoughts, when you can still do something about, imagine what you may feel after the LL.M.

But, that's just my opinion. Good luck with your decision.

Cheers,

I would postpone since it appears you have some unresolved issues. However, do know that nothing in this life is guaranteed----something out of your control could take the LLM off the table in the future (e.g, family member gets sick and you have to care for them, you have a kid, unforseen financial problems, etc.)

...(not HLS or SLS but still an Ivy)