I know it sounds weird. But the thing is before I became an active member of LL.M. Guide, I had been so flexible about my choice of LL.M program. For example, I did not base my preference on rankings. I was a big fan of NYU just because it's in New York and the name sounds really cool!

I hadn't known Columbia before I was introduced to this webboard. Now, my priority has changed to be based on ranking. Harvard, Columbia, then NYU. I'm now even considering Chicago...same as Columbia...the name of which I only heard about from people here.

Not that I am qualified for all these schools or any one of them is better than another. It's just that I feel like I have been indoctrinated. I never wanted to go to Harvard but now I do. Weird?

I know it sounds weird. But the thing is before I became an active member of LL.M. Guide, I had been so flexible about my choice of LL.M program. For example, I did not base my preference on rankings. I was a big fan of NYU just because it's in New York and the name sounds really cool!

I hadn't known Columbia before I was introduced to this webboard. Now, my priority has changed to be based on ranking. Harvard, Columbia, then NYU. I'm now even considering Chicago...same as Columbia...the name of which I only heard about from people here.

Not that I am qualified for all these schools or any one of them is better than another. It's just that I feel like I have been indoctrinated. I never wanted to go to Harvard but now I do. Weird?

Another thought: You refer to a quite general question that could as well be put this way: "Will I lead a happier life if I stay in my little village in the countryside and do not learn anything about the world going on around me?" Probably, if you prefer a quiet life, the answer is yes. But probably, you will lead a life that's quite remote from today's world's developments.

while this site no doubt provides a valuable function in allowing you to see things from different perspectives which you may not ordinarily have done, it should be borne in mind that a lot of what people try to pass off as facts is in many cases nothing more than their own personal opinion, which when challenged, they defend very...defensively.

in other words, approach with caution! reap the benefits of other's experiences and learn from the clash of perspectives, but do not take this forum to be gospel!

another thing is, around april, this board will give you lots of companionship with like-minded people when you bitch about why the results aren't out yet, why you don't have the "file complete email" yet, why you got accepted here but not there. no one will understand you better than your fellow LLM applicants, and maybe old timers like myself (who will defend my facts/opinions to the death, hahahahaha).

agree, it is so true :)

slowbutsure: only you can decide which program is a good fit for you - but I don't think it's a bad thing to be exposed to new options. Columbia and Chicago are obviously both excellent schools, so if you ended up successfully applying and ended up with the option to go there, this shouldn't be a bad thing! it just means you could have some soul searching to do come the spring. I think it is important to know what you want from the program and what you want to do with the degree. Knowing this will help you determine what's best for you personally.