Hi there,

I feel extremely lucky to be admitted to NU and UPenn. Soon, I will have to make up my mind between these two schools.
I'm an in-house legal advisor working at a Korean conglomerate focusing on international business.
Upon completing my studies, I may;
(i) come back to my current position;
(ii) transfer to a business development department within the company; or
(iii) move to a consulting firm or an investment bank in Korea or in the US.
Taking these into consideration, I applied to business related and specialized programs, such as LLM/Kellogg at NU, Wharton Certificate Program and NYU/Stern program. Although my admission to NYU is pending, I would appreciate your thoughts.
BTW, for those who are still waiting for the letters, hang in there! In all honesty, I do not have a very prestigious background as most of the candidates here but I made it. Im sure all the rest of you will do just fine.

Hi bcool,

Congratulations, you have been admitted into 2 great Law Schools.

About the programs, I know only about the one of UPenn. The problem, one friend told me, is that you will not have classes with MBA or undergraduate students, but with other people that are studying there English and students of other areas (journalists, doctors etc.), so, you dont imagine that you will met MBAs or other business students, and you cant take their same classes. So, you certificate will say Wharton, but is only a certificate, not even a degree and that doesn't imprese anyone.

I dont know about NU and NYU, but I think that it has to be something similar.

Have you ever thinking in an MBA instead of an LLM? That appear as the right option in your case.

Another time, congratulations.

Please consider these programs in the following order of preference:

1. University of Pennsylvania LLM/Wharton Certificate
2. Northwestern LLM/Kellogg Certificate
3. NYU LLM/Stern Certificate

If you are sure of pursuing a career in management instead of law, Jenny1980's suggestion of taking an MBA instead of an LLM is sound advice.

Hoping to help you clearing your mind, I totally agree with the ranking written by Opinio-Juris.

Also, bear in mind that Wharton (probably the best Finance School in the world) and Stern (w/ Professors like Aswath Damodaran) are best known for their excellence in Finance, while Kellogg is more focused in Marketing (suffice it to note that Philip Kotler teaches there)...

Anyway, you have 3 excellent universities to choose from!

I am deeply touched by your candid responses.

Yes, I have considered a full time MBA. Hell, I even took the LSAT and got a 171 six years ago. (There's a personal history behind why I didn't apply to JD then. Those who are curious are free to email me)

To tell you the truth, I've seen too many top MBA graduates suffer in pursuit of their career in management and too many JDs suffer in pursuit of their partnership in lawfirms. this is why I pursued an education in both law and business. A JD/MBA joint degree may have been the best course in consideration of my career goal but hey,,, I'm 36 and a year in the industry felt like several years worth in the academy.

Well bcool, the thing (my personal opinion) is that it doesn't matter too much if -as Franciscaner wisely said Wharton and Stern are known for their excellence in Finance, while Kellogg is more focused in Marketing, since you will not pursue and MBA, just a certificate that anyone could have without the necessity of takink an LLM. BTW, the star professors of those school will not teach you, and you will not have the same classes that MBAs have (see http://executiveeducation.wharton.upenn.edu/wpwp/). From my humble point of view, it doesnt worth it.

Why dont try and go for an MBA? One difference between the MBA and JD and LLM is that the last is not really considered a real degree by US citizens (if you have an MBA, you can work everywhere in the world. With a JD, In US and in your home country; on the other hand, an LLM will only enable you to work if you are extremely lucky- one year in the US as a legal intern.

You should have very good credentials, maybe you should rethink the MBA option, and, if you prefer an LLM, choose the best Law School among those that admitted you, without considering the fame of the respective Business School, since, as I said, the certificate doesnt impress anyone.
My best regards and congratulation again.

I can't agree with Jenny1980 more.

Personally, Chicago over Philly :)

Jenny,

The truth is my credentials aren't that impressive compared to those of many candidates on this site. I was never top in my classes. The schools I got into, in my opinion, gave me credit for my experience in various projects over the years in countries such as Saudi Arabia, China, US, Japan, France and what not.
My strength may be language since I am native in Korean and can pretty much get a perfect score on any test of English as a 'foreign' language. My Chinese and Japanese are proficient. But then again, I'm sure that there are plenty who possess such language skills.

You are absolutely right about MBA and choice of law school for llm, in principle. I may consider shooting for a 1 year MBA course @ Kellogg upon my llm and bar. Another reason for applying to llm in law and business is to earn enough credits in business to be eligible to apply to a 1 year MBA @ Kellogg.

I don't believe any 'special LLM' will take me to places, just like that.
Similarly, especially these days, I don't think any 'degree' will take anyone to places, just like that.

There are several factors that need to be considered. I don't plan to land a job out of nowhere. I plan to make the most of my business connections, already familiar with my background and skils as a negotiator.

As I experienced throughout my professional career, I'll have to be there to see more.

I truly appreciate your opinion and will certainly take your advice into serious consideration.

In the meanwhile, any other thoughts from anyone in a different perspective?

Well bcool, the thing (my personal opinion) is that it doesn't matter too much if -as Franciscaner wisely said Wharton and Stern are known for their excellence in Finance, while Kellogg is more focused in Marketing, since you will not pursue and MBA, just a certificate that anyone could have without the necessity of takink an LLM. BTW, the star professors of those school will not teach you, and you will not have the same classes that MBAs have (see http://executiveeducation.wharton.upenn.edu/wpwp/). From my humble point of view, it doesnt worth it.

Why dont try and go for an MBA? One difference between the MBA and JD and LLM is that the last is not really considered a real degree by US citizens (if you have an MBA, you can work everywhere in the world. With a JD, In US and in your home country; on the other hand, an LLM will only enable you to work if you are extremely lucky- one year in the US as a legal intern.

You should have very good credentials, maybe you should rethink the MBA option, and, if you prefer an MBA, choose the best Law School among those that admitted you, without considering the fame of the respective Business School, since, as I said, the certificate doesnt impress anyone.
My best regards and congratulation again.

How much it will cost at

1. University of Pennsylvania LLM/Wharton Certificate
2. Northwestern LLM/Kellogg Certificate
3. NYU LLM/Stern Certificate

i heard that KLLM will cost us 80K $..

What is the prospect of getting in Wharton or Kellogg after the completion of LL.M. Will the B-School take the student from the LLM/(respective b-school program) after the completion of the student's LLM.

What is the prospect of getting in Wharton or Kellogg after the completion of LL.M. Will the B-School take the student from the LLM/(respective b-school program) after the completion of the student's LLM.