Hi,
I'm a lawyer from Bolivia, South America and I was also accepted to NYU, to the exact program you were accepted. I received the Dean's Graduate Award, which is a half-tuition grant.
I am also waiting on Harvard, Columbia and Stanford and I have until March 21 to answer to NYU.
I have been following this blog because its so similar to my case and I have a question.
Do any of you guys know when those universities could be responding?

@StudentMadSpain: assuming that you are not the heir to the Duquesa de Alba's fortune, and that your last name is not Thyssen-Bornemisza, if there is no scholarship from anybody else, you would then be mad not to accept NYUs offer...

@ Ale888, StudentMadSpain and Sam Seaborn: did you request HLS an early review?

I am in the same situation: (Arthur T. Vanderbilt from NYU, admission from CLS through early review program and with hope from HLS), hence requested HLS an early decision and got this:

We have reviewed your request for an early decision, and unfortunately we are unable to provide you with a definitive answer at this time. We would suggest that you try to ask for an extension from NYU Law School. Most top U.S. law schools will usually grant such requests in order to help you make an informed decision.

If you are unable to get get an extension until at least March 28, 2011, then we would have to advise you not to give up the offer of admission and financial aid from NYU for the possibility of being admitted to Harvard Law School, especially since we will not be able to provide you with our financial aid decisions until early April.

Did you ask or get something like this? At this point my sense is that I have no option other than happily accepting NYUs offer, that is the outlet of my conscience.

My point of view: They say HLS makes very odd decisions that could surprise you guys and it is a fact that none of us have been admitted and nothing guarantees admission to any of us. As you do, I could reasonably expect admission from HLS given that I have been admitted from top schools; however I think that the pain would be far more intense if you let go NYUs scholarship and eventually get rejected from HLS (which is possible), than taking NYUs scholarship and eventually being admitted from HLS.

@Daap11. I think you are right and finally convinced me. The possibility of being admitted in Harvard is not worth turning down a full-tuition scholarship at NYU. I have also been admitted to Columbia and Berkeley (withhout any finacial aid) and to UCLA (half-tuition dean's fellowship) and USC. Still no news from Harvard (I was told that I will get no news until the end of March) nor from Stanford (till first of April). I really preferred sunny California to the cold winters of the East coast but a 47k scholarship is quite a good reason to cope living one year in NYC (what a sacrifice!). Therefore I will pay the USD 500 deposit tomorrow and get rid of the stress. Hope to see you some of you in August at NYU.

@ Ale888, StudentMadSpain and Sam Seaborn: did you request HLS an early review?

I am in the same situation: (Arthur T. Vanderbilt from NYU, admission from CLS through early review program and with hope from HLS), hence requested HLS an early decision and got this:

We have reviewed your request for an early decision, and unfortunately we are unable to provide you with a definitive answer at this time. We would suggest that you try to ask for an extension from NYU Law School. Most top U.S. law schools will usually grant such requests in order to help you make an informed decision.

If you are unable to get get an extension until at least March 28, 2011, then we would have to advise you not to give up the offer of admission and financial aid from NYU for the possibility of being admitted to Harvard Law School, especially since we will not be able to provide you with our financial aid decisions until early April.

Did you ask or get something like this? At this point my sense is that I have no option other than happily accepting NYUs offer, that is the outlet of my conscience.

My point of view: They say HLS makes very odd decisions that could surprise you guys and it is a fact that none of us have been admitted and nothing guarantees admission to any of us. As you do, I could reasonably expect admission from HLS given that I have been admitted from top schools; however I think that the pain would be far more intense if you let go NYUs scholarship and eventually get rejected from HLS (which is possible), than taking NYUs scholarship and eventually being admitted from HLS.

Bad news for HLS then, they are missing fine students out of their whims.

See you in august in NY

daap11: I received the same answer from HLS. I thought I had received this answer because I had less chances of getting into Harvard... it seems they didn't even consider any of our early decision requests.

Anyway, I cannot stand the doubt so I just accepted NYU's Vanderbilt Scholarship. It seems a much more rational choice to me not to spend 47k and having a meritorious scholarship than waiting for a law school who might consider your credentials "too normal" for deserving admission. Let's keep in mind at least 50% of the HLS applicants received academic honors and were highly ranked in their classes (as probably most of the Vanderbilt Scholars).

Now that I made up my mind I'm well relieved and I can start living again... lol. Hope to meet you guys in August!

Guys,

I am facing a similar situation. Got accepted to several universities (with no scholarship), but I am waiting for Harvard's decision.

Do you know if there is a consequence for paying the deposit and later withdrawing your acceptance? Specifically Columbia.....

if I were you, I would decline Harvard's admission. NYU is a great law school and NYC is such a fantanstic city. The difference between NYU and Harvard can be neglected with the full tuition scholarship from NYU.
BTW, I think Harvard is kind of arrogant during the admission process, they put the applicants who got admission from other schools under great risk.

Guys,

I am facing a similar situation. Got accepted to several universities (with no scholarship), but I am waiting for Harvard's decision.

Do you know if there is a consequence for paying the deposit and later withdrawing your acceptance? Specifically Columbia.....

Guys,

I am facing a similar situation. Got accepted to several universities (with no scholarship), but I am waiting for Harvard's decision.

Do you know if there is a consequence for paying the deposit and later withdrawing your acceptance? Specifically Columbia.....

If you got a scolarship from NYU, pay the deposit but don't withdraw your other applications and then go to another law school, it could have severe consequences. With no scolarship, you should just be blacklisted from the law school you gave up...

Guys,

I am facing a similar situation. Got accepted to several universities (with no scholarship), but I am waiting for Harvard's decision.

Do you know if there is a consequence for paying the deposit and later withdrawing your acceptance? Specifically Columbia.....

If you got a scolarship from NYU, pay the deposit but don't withdraw your other applications and then go to another law school, it could have severe consequences. With no scolarship, you should just be blacklisted from the law school you gave up...

What does blacklisted mean? I paid the deposit at Columbia, convinced that I would not be accepted anywhere else since I had not heard. Since then I learned that some schools notify admitted students as late as March or April.
I honestly thought that by paying the deposit, you were just reserving your seat in the program...They expressely state that the tuition is not refundable, which must be for a reason...

Blacklisted from the School. I do not think so. With the number of applicant they are receiving each year, how they will remember me. Please. In addition, I am not planning to re-apply to their LLM program at any rate. I want to do it once and at the right place period and I am willing to loss $ 500 to cover my back. My 2-cent of advice. All the best to all.

The admission letter from CLS only indicates that payment of deposit in non-refundable, whereas the scholarship offer from NYU is very specific as to commitment to withdrawing and rejecting any other pending application and offer of admission, they spend lots of text in that. My sense is that if you eventually withdraw CLS`s sole offer of admission it wouldn't hurt that much, but withdrawing a scholarship offer from NYU once enrolled, that would be far more offensive
leolusvarghi: I am pretty sure that they didnt even consider our early revision request. I saw in a similar blog started last year that an applicant in our same situation received that very same language from HLS. See you in august in NY!
KingArthur: I think Harvard is EXTREMELY arrogant and negligent during the admission process, how do they dare to affirm that most top us law schools would grant an extension to a scholarship in order to allow the applicant to make an informed decision!!
Dbk: Im with you, but do you have any specifics on those severe consequences arising from withdrawing NYUs scholarship?

Guys,

I am facing a similar situation. Got accepted to several universities (with no scholarship), but I am waiting for Harvard's decision.

Do you know if there is a consequence for paying the deposit and later withdrawing your acceptance? Specifically Columbia.....

When is Harvard releasing decisions? Is it March 21 (i.e. do they release everything on the same day)?

The admission letter from CLS only indicates that payment of deposit in non-refundable, whereas the scholarship offer from NYU is very specific as to commitment to withdrawing and rejecting any other pending application and offer of admission, they spend lots of text in that. My sense is that if you eventually withdraw CLS`s sole offer of admission it wouldn't hurt that much, but withdrawing a scholarship offer from NYU once enrolled, that would be far more offensive
leolusvarghi: I am pretty sure that they didnt even consider our early revision request. I saw in a similar blog started last year that an applicant in our same situation received that very same language from HLS. See you in august in NY!
KingArthur: I think Harvard is EXTREMELY arrogant and negligent during the admission process, how do they dare to affirm that most top us law schools would grant an extension to a scholarship in order to allow the applicant to make an informed decision!!
Dbk: Im with you, but do you have any specifics on those severe consequences arising from withdrawing NYUs scholarship?

How is it posssible for NYU to release information to other University, that I never told them that I applied to, without my express consent. It does not make sense. Really.

How is it posssible for NYU to release information to other University, that I never told them that I applied to, without my express consent. It does not make sense. Really.

I would wait for HLS's decision before saying yes to any other school, if I could.

If not, then it's a matter of taking a risk. As far as I know, Chicago cares a lot about honesty and actually warns that any lie would result in communicating such dishonesty to other schools.

I think NYU could have the same ways to let other schools know about it but would they do it? I dont think so. They have plenty applicants. However, just to be few examples, they could still go after few students.

After all, it is a risk that you are taking and I think it is a big risk, a risk to lose your reputation/honesty. Besides, if you plan to sit for bar exam, that can be a bar for taking the exam, since usually Bars have a guideline about ethic rules concerning attorneys. Anyways, it's a personal decision.

I would wait for HLS's decision before saying yes to any other school, if I could.

If not, then it's a matter of taking a risk. As far as I know, Chicago cares a lot about honesty and actually warns that any lie would result in communicating such dishonesty to other schools.

I think NYU could have the same ways to let other schools know about it but would they do it? I dont think so. They have plenty applicants. However, just to be few examples, they could still go after few students.

After all, it is a risk that you are taking and I think it is a big risk, a risk to lose your reputation/honesty. Besides, if you plan to sit for bar exam, that can be a bar for taking the exam, since usually Bars have a guideline about ethic rules concerning attorneys. Anyways, it's a personal decision.