For some reason I can no longer answer to personal messages sent via this board. So I will abuse the board and answer to an Indian friend here:

Dear Megha. Thank you very much for your email. First of all, your list of credentials is extremely impressive. You have just that kind of credentials and experience that Yale, Harvard, NYU, and the rest are looking for: Law Review, publications, Moot Court, teaching, and work/internship experience. For instance, contrary to what you have heard, I believe that your excellent performance in Phillip Jessup will be very much appreciated in the US. In fact, if you would be a Finnish applicant, you would make it to any U.S. law school you would apply, period (and yours would make my credentials look poor in comparison). The problem, from your point of view, is that there are many Indians aspiring to study in the US, and you have to compete with all of them. But I'm sure you will be exceptionally qualified applicant, even by Indian standards. What you should do now, I believe is to:

1) assess different LL.M. programs, and choose the ones you wish to apply to. You said that you want to make it to an Ivy League School. In my view this should not be a criterion in your decision. Neither NYU nor Georgetown are Ivies, but both are extremely strong on public international law. I suggest you apply to Yale, Harvard, and Stanford, and additionally to Georgetown, NYU, and Columbia. Also consider Michigan and Chicago. Both are great schools and, I believe, strong on PIL, too. Doing background research on all of these is very important, and that is actually what you're doing at this board all the time. See their homepages for start. But don't limit yourself to Ivy League schools, as that is a rather artificial criterion from the point of view of good legal education.

2) contact the people you will be asking recommendation letters from. Tell them about your plans, and ask whether they are willing to write you a recommendation. Tell them also that if they will write you a letter, you will provide them detailed instructions later on. And once you ask them to write it, insist that they be specific. The most important thing with recommendations is not that they are written by academic "stars", or people who went to Yale etc., but that they are written by people who really know you and your achievements. I am absolutely positive that you will get very good recommendations, considering your impressive credentials.

3) Regarding financial aid, bear in mind that there are different international scholarships you may apply to: Fulbright may be the best-known, but certainly not the only one. And if you make it Harvard or Yale, they will almost certainly grant you some need-based financial aid. You should really start to do research on financial aid now: look at international organisations, big multi-national firms (some grant awards for higher study), and Indian universities.

4) I wouldn't worry too much about not having stellar grades. You have very good grades, and other credentials to boot. The grades won't be the decisive factor in your case, I believe, as you have so much extra-curricular experience and merit. Highlight your international experience and internships at your personal statement.

5) Really concentrate on your personal statement. Highlight your achievements and interests. And polish the details. I sent mine to English-speaking translator for grammatical corrections. Indians speak and write, of course, excellent English. But you might want to give it to American reader for last polish. It may cost you some dollars, but will make for a nice, polished appearance. It's always good to have someone reading your texts, it almost always improves them

Well, here are my tips. I believe you have excellent chance of making it to the very best American law schools. Should you have further questions, do not hesitate to contact me again. Best of Luck. -Toni-

Dear Toni,

As I can see you are willing to help people with advices, so I would like to ask you one question, that might help me (truth is - just to calm down my impatience, because there is nothing what I really can do about it). So please forgive me using this post for my quaestions since it is not related with the topic.

I saw on thread Harvard Decisions that you were admitted to HLS. First of all I would like to congratulate you! Then, since a lot of confusion has been made because of that terrible test mails, I would like to ask wheather you have received your second test e-mail after admission e-mail. I received this secont test e-mail only. I applied to Harvard and Yale -academics and business people encouraged me to do so (rector of the university, professor emeritus, HBS MBA graduate, Duke school professor, Minister of Finance, Head of trading floor in WS Hedge Fund, etc. - all wrote letters of recommentadion). I'm waiting for tomorrow decision but, since you received admission on Friday, don't have too much hope.

Thank you very much for your time and answer.

Dear Luboego. I got two "test mails" from Harvard, and I don't have a clue what that means. Yes, you must be patient. And remember, I will almost certainly decline Harvard's offer, so there will be at least one additional slot offered later this Spring. I hope you'll make it. -Toni- P.s.you have very impressive amount of prestigious recommenders, it will undoubtedly count for much.

Thanks a lot for your reply! I'll be very happy if I pull it off.

i'd also like to thank you for your support and optimizm. it means a lot to me in this moment.

You're welcome, Lubo. May the force be with you. Monday will bring us more information about Harvard, I'm sure.

Live long and prosper Toni! As you said, we'll be smarter tomorrow...

Dear Toni,

Firstly thanks so much for your advise....frankly at this stage it means a lot because I have just been on the edge trying to decide whether to apply itself or not... especially because some of the indian decisions from the law schools you have mentioned have been a little surprising this year.

Secondly, I was reading another post put up by you and you said that you had got both into Yale and Harvard- that is just brilliant !!!!! congratulations on that....

Also I was wondering now that you have got your admissions if you will still be available on this board? Otherwise will it be possible for you to give me your email Id so that if I need help (and not indian help) it would be possible to do so?

Once again, thank you so much, I will take your advise - as I expected it was extremely concise and specific.

Megha

Dear Megha. I will be hanging on this board for the next few months. I hope there will be discussions on housing, living in the U.S. etc., once the admissions are complete. You can either see me here or email me at toni.malminen@helsinki.fi. I strongly suggest you to apply next year, as you obviously want to have an international career. A degree from an U.S. law school will undoubtedly be a major asset for you. The application process is full of mystery, but don't be discouraged. I'm sure you'll make it to top law school. Regards. -Toni-

Dear Toni,

Thanks for giving me your e mail id... I will keep all your suggestions in mind and yes I will be in touch!!!
Meanwhile Best of Luck for the post admission procedures.... the worst tension is over for you I guess so just enjoy yourself now.
Best
Megha