Hi everyone! Nice to meet you guys. I received an email from BU telling me that I have been admitted with a $15,000 scholarship. But they ask me to decide if I will take the offer by February which means the only decision I can get before then is the one from Georgetown. But clearly I will not get any scholarship from Top 14 because I actually do not apply for any scholarship. And BU is the best rank other than Top 14 in my application list. What do you think? Take it or ask for an extension or something? I really like this university and the city and the application committee is very nice to me too. But I do not have much information about their LLM program. PS: I apply for American Law Program. I am also thinking about transferring to JD after that because I think one year in not enough for me to learn as much as I want. But it seems that I still have to take LSAT? Anyway, any advice will be highly appreciated. Good luck for everyone!!!

Hi victorial,
In my opinion I think you should take it. BU is definitely a very good school. Of course Georgetown and the other law schools which you are applying to are great as well, but as you said you like BU and the city, which you have to take into account when deciding where to study. Moreover, you got a really nice scholarship. I think you should talk to someone who attended their program or is currently attending it in order to get some informations about it. Then ask yourself whether the American Law Program fits your goals. If it does you should go forward. You have two months for that.
Regarding your question about the JD, as far as I know you have to take the LSAT. You´d better ask their Gradute Program Office.
Anyways, I hope I have helped you out.
Good Luck!

First congratulations to you!

If I were you, I will try to ask for an extension. You should also contact their office regarding to JD transfer policy before you make your decision. Of course, your financial staus will play a significant role in this decision.

I don't have your background, but since you got such an early scholarship offer from BU, I will say your chance to get into one of the T14 schools is very decent. If you only want this LL.M degree, i would say the rankings should not be an important consideration. But if you will end up going into JD program eventually, then it does matter.

Hi guys,

I am currently doing Banking and Financial Law LLM in BU. First - don't way for answer from Georgetown - even if you are accepted, they don't provide any financial assistance for international students (as me); their financial aid office is terrible - so slow and unhelpful. That was my experience with them.
Now about BU: you should be sure why you want to do American law LLM. Honestly, the career development office cannot provide you a lot of job opportunities as an LLM student. BU participates only in one job fair. Also if you want to do JD - why you plan to spend money and time doing LLM?

Ask me if you have more questions. Also you should check some of the topic here from the spring. In some of them there are contact details for current students in that program. I know most of them so if you need some information, I can connect you with them.

I hope it is hepl!

Good luck!

Mariya

My friend turned down full tuition and accomodation scholarship in Northwestern (60k) in favour of CLS (25k scholarship). I would do the same. $15k is a monthly salary of a midlevel associate.

Good luck,
V

Thank you so much everyone! Your replys are very helpful. I choose American Law Program because my intersts are kind of flexible so I don't want to confine myself in a particular program. But a friend told me that BU's strongest is Banking and Financial Program. I am not interested in banking but I like financial law quite a bit. Is it possible that I could enroll in a few courses in this program? They said in the website that it is available only with dean's permission and space availability.
Hi Mariya! Would you mind to connect me with some current students from BU. I'd love to know them and ask more information. Thank you a million! :)
And hi Richard. This is actually Elle. Still remember me? You are so nice to look over my personal statement before though I end up writing a new one. But thank you so much for your warm help!!!
Best luck for everyone.

Hi Victorial,

You can take some financial courses from our program. The premission is not a such problem. Tell me a little bit more about yourself - like nacionality, so I can connect you with somebody from your country or region.

Mariya

Thank you Mariya! I am a 21 year old student from China and I will graduate in June next year. What about you? :)
One good thing about American Law Program is that we actually do not need to write thesis. So does that mean BU concentrates on legal practice or something? Did you take the Summer English Program? I probably will take it to get me incorporated to this law school more quickly.

Hi,

I am 26 year old student from Bulgaria and I have previous work experience. I didn't attend the summer course because of the money. But some of my colleagues told me that it is very useful and the teachers are excellent. I don't know anything about the thesis for American LLM. At the moment we are in Thanksgiving break, so I wil try to send you the contacts in the middle of next week.

In my class there are 5 people from China so just in case I will give you and their contacts (first I will ask for their permission).

So talk to you later!

Mariya

Hi Elle,

Of course I remember you. Congratulations on you acceptance and scholarship at BU!!! I think you will love Boston.

What exactly are your goals that you feel will be met by an LLM?

As Mariya hints, BU's strongest program is their Banking and Finance LLM. I wouldn't be surprised if Harvard students went there due to research regarding Banking.

Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you guys! The suggestions you give me are very important.
As to the question of my goals. My long goal is to be a professor and a public consultant. But I actually don't think I am qualified now because my knowledge is still too limited and horizon too. A very respectable professor in China urged me to learn as much as I can and he is a comparative law professor too. I want to be someone like him one day-an advocate of Chinese judicial reform. :)
But since I will study in BU, I will definitely choose the best course they have. Could you give me some advice like which professors are better? What about international law in BU? I am interested in this area too.
Thanks again for your warm help. Best luck with everything

To be honest, it sounds like you just want a good cross-section of American and international law, as many Chinese students do when they go for US LLMs. Banking, finance and securities are very technical and specialized subjects that require a serious commitment, including passing up a broader curriculum.

If you choose BU, you have to be sure to touch base with the other LLMs in Boston, beginning with the Chinese and other Asians. For example, there are a number of China and comparative law-related activities, from a Harvard talk on Chinese judicial independence by a member of the Supreme People's Court (note Harvard has a lot of these if only because it's the largest in the area) to inter-law school Mooncake Festival gatherings.

These sorts of things, more than your actual classes, give a Chinese student the desired perspective for the above desired goals.

Thank you Josepidal. Your advice is very helpful. Wish you good luck. Do you mind to tell me which law school are you in or you are during the application process too? :)

Just an insignificant LLM gadfly in Boston.

To Victorial:

I sent you a P.M. with contact names and e-mails.

Good luck!
Mariya