What do you think?

What would you do if you were admitted to both???

You have to give us more information about what you are looking for in an LLM program.
I would probably go to Stanford because the LLM class is smaller but it is a matter of personal preference.

Do you think the size of the program makes it more competitive than the other LLM programs? So competitive that you do nothing but studying?

I would definately chose HLS - for the opposite reason - class is large! Besides, HLS is not far from NYC...

Hello V-2007:

I understand you are from Russia too! Nice to meet you here!

I called Stanford yesterday. Unfortunately, they told me that nobody from Russia has been admitted to the Stanford LLM Program (Corporate) this year. I am now waiting from Harvard (I have been accepted to Columbia, NYU and Chicago so far) but the question "Stanford v. Harvard" is definitely not for us this year!

Personally, I would have chosen Stanford over Harvard but both are great choices!

Hope to see many Russian people in New York or Boston next year!

I.

Stanford rocks! Be nerdy but with flip-flops, be exclusive and feel priviledged, be an entrepreneur! The Stanford class of 2007 is happy to welcome the future class of 2008.

Black, what about living in Palo Alto??? Is there anything to do other than studying??? I was admitted to Stanford but am still waiting for HLS...

Today, March 11, on campus, people were lying in the grass in swimming suits and playing volley-ball. This is what you get at Stanford. It is not living in a city. You must like having space, the outdoors. You can surf and ski very close. You can do any possible sport on campus. There is a huge pool center, with heated pools yearlong. There are no cars; It s bike zone. You have wild little animals, flowers smells, palm trees.
Palo Alto is lively, but in the style of a cute along-the-sea small city. You have restaurants and bars where you can hang out. I do not know which country you are from so it is tough to compare.
If you want the big city, San Francisco is 40 minutes drive one-way. We do not go very often but it is up to each person of course. I did go twice this week, including once just for drinks and once for dinner.
I would advise that you get a car (I bought mine for 2,000usd and will resell it for same price or a little less so it does not cost much to have a car. basically insurance and few hundreds dollars for the purchase/resale). It is easier than the train.
I am not sure how Harvard is close from Boston. but for sure, the climate is better here. and Stanford is west coast. it s different from the east coast culture.
I see Stanford as a break year from living in big cities. It s like living in a bubble. All of us share that feeling. You feel protected, priviledged. It is just unique.
Good luck in deciding.

Great! It sounds like fun (specially for a Brazilian student...)

I always read about California with envy -- because of the weather. It's just amazing. Studying at Harvard this year I must say that New England weather is the only bad thing about the school. January & February were really tough this year. I live really close (about 100 meters from the Hark) and recently appreciated this distance a lot. And I am used to strong winters, coming from Eastern Europe.
Boston is very close - a 25 min. ride from Harvard Square by the underground ("T"), but believe me that classes & library are far more attractive. So don't choose the school because it's close to any big city. Cambridge or New Haven are nice enough. Description of Palo Alto sounds even nicer :)

Stanford rocks! Best LLM Corporate Program. It's "elite". Great place to live and study! I did turn down HLS for SLS and it was the best thing I could ever have made!

Could you describe the SLS corporate courses?

small classes. intense interaction. great teachers. undisputable reputation. leading venture capital/private equity/corporate governance courses.

...in a little more detail?

Private equity is something I'd have loved to have more exposure to, in retrospect, or even the practical side of 144A/Regulation S transactions. It's really one of the big things right now, but not a lot of students realize it.

small classes. intense interaction. great teachers. undisputable reputation. leading venture capital/private equity/corporate governance courses.

Hello V-2007:

I called Stanford yesterday. Unfortunately, they told me that nobody from Russia has been admitted to the Stanford LLM Program (Corporate) this year.

Stanford generic? It s all but generic. I advise anybody who hesitates a lot between two schools to come check it out if possible. I have no doubt that you'll pick Stanford when you see what it is exactly.
It is very close to individual tuition, i.e. top scholars know you personally and advise you as per your needs and aspirations. The diversity of courses is huge (reminder: you can pick courses at any school outside the law school, i.e business school obviously, but probably also history or political sciences, or medicine or engineering). The law library is not crowded, you do not fight to access a printer (free printing). We have seats and couches where people take naps during the day in between two readings. There will be a 24h reading room from next year. Outside speakers come all the time to give lectures during lunch time (practioners and researchers). There are plenty of workshops and clinics. This year, you could meet on campus Bill Gates or Nobel prizes. Finally, and without sounding dramatic, Stanford is an identity for life. The alumni network is strong. You can send your kids on summer camps here. Amazing trips organized for alumni. etc etc. In short, come if you believe in top quality and entrepreneurship.

The diversity of courses is huge (reminder: you can pick courses at any school outside the law school, i.e business school obviously, but probably also history or political sciences, or medicine or engineering). .

I did not elaborate on the law school course offerings as it has been described repeatedly by other Stanford students posting on this website and it is available for review online at
http://www.law.stanford.edu/program/ and
http://lawreg.stanford.edu/
The access to other schools within Stanford university is however unique, so sthing to be reminded.
I have been to two other law schools libraries and it was very crowded and messy.