Hi. I need serious help in deciding between UMICH and NYU. Though NYU is better ranked, smaller class size at Michigan is really appealling. Any advice?

I am thinking of going to UMich as I have not yet heard anything from NYU

Definitely NYU.

NYU ranks higher, but it recuites 400 llm students which means you can place yourself in a gobal atmosphere whereas also means you have to share the resources with so many people, say the library, the classroom, the attention from the professors and the lodging hourse.Howerver in Umich, you may have the chance to study the same course with JD. NYU is a good place, so is UMICH. The decision depends on what you really want. NYU means more intern opportunity because there are so many law firms in NY and NYU provides convenient location for you to arrange your bar exam,but it may also means you are not so valuable because so many people graduated from NYU lawschool with the same llm degree. If you want to concentrate in a real American Law study atmosphere, small size is really an attractive factor.
I still cannot make the final decision if I shall go to NYU.

Dear All,

I partly agree with Shengsheng.

However, consider the following, when making a decision.
(THE ORDER IS GONNA BE RANDOM)

1. Cost: NYU....well as a Michigan LL.M. having lived in NY for a year before, I can tell you exactly that staying in NYC is gonna cost you $15-20,000 more.

2. The place generally: NYU -- its in NYC, no comment! :) It's a truly amazing place with the museums, shopping, entertainment and so on...
Michigan: it is a small university town. Same cool restaurants, cool bars and clubs, 3 movie theaters, lots and lots of cultural or student/school related events, great sports.

I am not saying that sometimes I do not miss the city, but believe it or not, other than the tall buildings and museums you will not really be disadvantaged. (Ok...you cannot shop for Gucci on 5th :) Sorry, was not meant to be a discriminatory comment!)

Sometimes living in Ann Arbor is SO much more convenient. Just an example. Every time we went clubbing in NYC, we had to stand in line for an average of 30 minutes and the cover was usually $15-30. Here: NO line and the max cover is 5-10, but generally no cover at all :) (AGAIN JUST A VERY SUBJECTIVE EXAMPLE and NO you cannot bump into KANYE WEST here...or you have a lesser chance than you would in NYC)

You could make a similar argument swinging the pendulum to the opposite direction for NYU...

3. ACADEMICS (THE MOST IMPORTANT PART):
NYU: Ranked No. 4th (US NEWS)!
Big names, awesome faculty, great resources. Class size: J.D. 448 (Sep 2007) and LL.M. 400 (approx.).
When you sign u for classes, you have a lottery system and sometimes you have to go to class with a lot of students.

Certainly if you would like to have access to professors, you can take a seminar in a small class setting...

Very important from my perspective: IT IS A GRADUATE PROGRAM. You can not enroll in (I asked last year, when I applied, it may have changed since then) FIRST YEAR J.D. COURSES (contracts, property, torts, civil procedure...) with J.D.s, you have special graduate courses for such disciplines.

For people willing to stay in the US, I strongly suggest taking Contracts at least.

Michigan:
Amazing (however smaller) faculty, better law library in terms of size (4th best in the US -- http://www.law.umich.edu/library/pages/about.aspx)

J.D. class size 350 (Sep 2007) (See -- http://www.law.umich.edu/prospectivestudents/admissions/Documents/viewbook.pdf)
LL.M. class size 45 people (incl. TAX)

No lottery for class registration; GREAT access to professors; ALL ACCESS in terms of registration. Lots of special opportunities like Mini-Seminars in the homes of professors...

4. Internships, job search:
NYU: you will be in NYC. If a firm wants to interview you, they do not have to pay for your flight and accommodation. In that sense, NYU is more convenient.

It does not mean that you just walk in on every firms door though You still have to send them your resume and they are not going to waste a moment of their time on you if they do not think you worth it!

Michigan: firms do come to recruit on campus every week so you have plenty of opportunities to make contacts with potential employers.

Also, a job search depends on your own efforts and skills (connections, previous experience).

In my view the convenience of organizing your Bar Exam is an irrelevant topic as half of it is done over the internet and the other half is by sending in your application materials by post (no matter where you are).

CONCLUSION: the decision really depends on what your preferences are (specific faculty, money, big city-small city dichotomy)...

Good Luck!
SEE ALSO: http://www.llm-guide.com/board/40596

Dear All,

I partly agree with Shengsheng.

..................

Hey ~~`Oak. i talk to another admitted chinese LLMs (xiaoming), and she told me about you. I knew you also got admitted to nyu and umich and is having difficulties in choosing among them. Same here!
so, have you finally decided yet? i have been thinking about this choice all day every day, and i am frustrated...wish to know how do you think...maybe we will be classmates in the coming Aug ^^

Hey ~~`Oak. i talk to another admitted chinese LLMs (xiaoming), and she told me about you. I knew you also got admitted to nyu and umich and is having difficulties in choosing among them. Same here!
so, have you finally decided yet? i have been thinking about this choice all day every day, and i am frustrated...wish to know how do you think...maybe we will be classmates in the coming Aug ^^

hey Oak, thank you for responding! yes, i am from China, BJ. What about you?
my heart keeps on me telling to go to NYU (well, i am a city kid)...from the first impression, NYU, with its ranking and location, i was sooooo sure NYU IS THE SCHOOL!
but later, my mind keeps on telling me that umich might be a better place for academic improvement...

i have to make a decision shortly too, but it is really a tough call...there are so many factors to consider: repuatation, location, job prospect, alumni network, exposure, class size, classmates composition, teaching quality, peer-peer and student-professor intimacy...i really dont know how to do the trade-off...

if more money-driven and practical, NYU wins...
if be simple and student-minded, umich is perhaps a better place for serious studies...

what is the most important factor to you?

Not that anyone has asked my opinion, but I would like to express it anyway. Both Michigan and NYU are great universities and will offer excellent opportunities in your future. That said, I believe that the U.S. News and World Report's ranking of U.S. law schools is directly linked to employability and starting salary after graduation.

If you can't decide between Mich and NYU, NYU's higher ranking, and it's more well-known reputation nationally should provide you with a better chance of being employed at graduation as well as a higher starting salary and benefits. Not to mention a better chance of being accepted to as SJD program.

Personally, I would choose NYU, but I was not offered admission.

I agree. Definitely NYU.

hey Oak, thank you for responding! yes, i am from China, BJ. What about you?

Just a link (mentioned elsewhere on this board) to the the discussion of future job search and attractiveness of NYU degree to UMICH degree to employers

http://www.vault.com/lawschool/top25/

Vault surveyed nearly 400 hiring partners, hiring commitee members, associate interviewers and recruiting professionals across the country ... (it's probably related to JD's but anyway..)

definately umich...thats wat i chose and nevr felt the loss..as fer industry interface is nconcerend u cn always mail partners/directors,,,evn if you in NY you obviously wont barge into their offices.
Plus the class size does matter...no use flyin the cattle class when you cab hv the luxury of bein in business class.
I also know of lot many people who dint like the NYU experiene;however till date nbdy has evr critised UMich like it.Also check out the usnews rankings as far as law firm opinions are concerned.Its rank 3 on usnews.

BTW i made it to both ,so its not a case of sour grapes.

Also chk the Vault rankings for employment prospects.
UMich is no 1 in the US and NYU both.Plus remember the class size, it is always easy to place 45 people than 400. :)