I am an american JD. Was wondering my chances at Georgetown and NYU

I am in the top 20% of my class, will have completed 8 tax courses by graduation and have received all A's in tax classes as of now(applications are ready to be sent).

I have volunteered for VITA programs and low income tax clinics during my law school tenure.

What do you think my chances are so far? I was able to secure recommendations(one from an alumni of each school) stating my dedication to tax law.

Since you didn't give the name of your school I am going to assume it is T4. Normally I would say top 20% wouldn't get you in to NYU or GULC. But, A's in all 8 of your tax classes is fairly impressive. I would say your chance of getting into one of those programs is better than 50%. If you are still in school and could move your class rank into the top 15% I would say your chances would be more like 90%. How are you only top 20% with 8 A's in tax classes? Did you bomb 1L?

I'm not a tier 4. I'm at a top 100 but towards the back end. I haven't completed all 8 of my tax courses, but the ones I have are a's and the top score. 1l grades were just median so not horrible but just average(few bs and A-), hard to move up when some 1Ls received almost all 3.7+ and then coasted with externships their 2nd year to lock in their rank. I know 3 of the guys that were in some of my tax classes got into Georgetown this year so in hoping for some good results. Also hoping my dedication to low income taxpayers and LOR help me on the back end.

Do you know if the schools wait until all tax classes are completed or view you now?


Btw nice username and thanks for your help!

I came up with the idea for my screen name when I saw another user's great screen name.

I still say top 15% at T2 with good tax grades is almost autoadmit. Top 20% with all A's in all tax taxes give you a really good shot, but I wouldn't say autoadmit. If I was a betting man I would say you get into GULC.

I've never heard of a school waiting until all grades are in to review an application. If you already applied I think the worse case secnario is they waitlist you. If that is the case you can always send them an updated transcript and class rank if it goes up, but not if it goes down. Unless, they request it.

Thanks for the help!

Just submitted my applications and got my online status checker for NYU(Haven't gotten Georgetown yet).

Of course I would love NYU but would be very happy with georgetown. No idea how the employment out of either is, just want to practice tax law as I love the field and study of tax(yes I am a nerd).

Undergrad- large public university; graduated summa in an unrelated major; phi beta kappa

Law school- upper third tier, went mostly because I was offered an almost full scholarship; top 23% (it would be higher but we had an incredibly small class- 101 people); GPA: 3.39 and graduated Magna; took 8 tax classes (one of them pass-fail) and have 3.75 as the average for them; published editor on a secondary journal regarding estate planning; did VITA and was vice president of our tax law society; worked in our school's tax clinic representing low income individuals (also successfully obtained a substantial refund for a client previously defrauded by a tax representation company); various other non-tax extracurricular activities (e.g. SBA, Phi Delta Phi) and awards (e.g. best legal scholarship; AMJURed 2 classes)

I also have an MBA as I was in the law school's JD-MBA program. The business school does not publish class ranks but I graduated as a member of an honor society only open to the top 20% of the class so, presumably above 20%; GPA: 3.85; A- in accounting.

Licensed to practice in 2 states and before the tax court

Since school I have worked for a little over a year at an accounting firm just outside the big 4 focusing on estate & gift tax and high-net worth individuals; have worked on various tax issues for multimillionaires and even a multibillionaire; also been actively involved in issues related to the filing of fraudulent returns; Additionally in the process (it should be done by the time I enroll in an LLM program) of taking the CPA exam.

I can also probably get at least 1, if not 2, LORs from professors who are NYU alums.

Thoughts on how much my grades and law school ranking will set me back?

You are a great candidate. In my candor talk with people, the tier of your school plays a role but not as much as people think. They are trying to figure out your aptitude for tax. Obviously your Tax GPA is amazing, your work history tends to make someone understand you have an immense interest in tax and therefore you should be fine. There are never locks but I believe you would be as close to one as possible.

For anyone admitted to both NYU and GULC Tax LLM programs, which program have you selected?

Many GULC admissions have been sent. NYU seems just to have started sending admissions decisions.

Anyone admitted to GULC Tax LLM waiting for NYU Tax LLM admission decision?