I have a partial waiver of tuition fees (20K) from Upenn, but no aid from Columbia. I want to work in th US after my LLM. In this context, what would be a better offer to accept.

if i were you, i'd take upenn with the waiver - both will stand you in good stead for a career, but in which state do you want to practice?

I would want to practice in new york

slightlykirix

Can you let me know when you received the tuition waiver from Penn? I am still waiting for their decision on the financial assistance. Thank you.

i heard from Upenn on friday (March 23, 2007)

I will take the offer form UPenn, it the US it is considered very positive to have obtained a merit-based scholarship

I have a partial waiver of tuition fees (20K) from Upenn, but no aid from Columbia. I want to work in th US after my LLM. In this context, what would be a better offer to accept.

How much did you received as financial aid? Who informed you about said assistance? My decision to go to Upenn was based on receiving financial aid. Do you think they have already notified everyone who received financial aid from Upenn?

I was contacted by the assistant Dean.
I think they are waiting for people to accept scholarship offers and depending on acceptances, they may offer others - but its just speculation from my part - not sure.

that's really a tough call if you want to practice in new york. as in, you could be contacting firms or organizations in new york if you were in new york and networking. BUT, UPenn isn't exactly on the other side of the world from new york either, so if it were up to me, i'd, personally, have no doubts going with UPenn with a scholarship.

Does Penn participate in the NY job fair? I can't remember but if it doesn't then that is something to bear in mind.

the firm at which i currently work hired a new associate who had has LLB from Cambridge, and his LLM from UPenn (and then passed the NY Bar). he now works at Akin Gump. I don't think you're at a disadvantage going to UPenn.

both are very good. But still I think that CLS is better known internationally than Upenn. So if you don't plan to stay in the US, and if you want to work a bit in NY afterwards, I would suggest you to go to CLS. I think that 20K is very interesting waiver, but if you work in NY after, it shouldn't be the first of your concern to make such a decision.

personally I would go to CLS.

I am inclined to think you have more of a chance at getting a job in NYC if you went to Columbia (but that could just be because I went to Columbia and got a job!)
You would pay $20k back in no time working at a firm.

I think it is a tough call, not because of the money - I agree with flygirl that 20K are not a significant amount -, but for the prestige attached to a merit scholarship.
However, it is hard to give any advice without knowing your field of specialization. Would you mind telling us that?

I tend to think US firms (and US lawyers generally) will be more impressed by which school you went to than what scholarship you had. My experience is that if you didn't go to a school they respect they automatically discredit you. That being said, I am sure there is very little difference between CLS and Penn.

I disagree in this point, but it is a matter of opinion. I think that a scholarship from a Top 15 university it is a good sign that a student has a high profile - obviously, LLM grades should show that as well. I agree with you only when the dilemma is between law schools that are not too close in rankings (e.g. if you have a scholarship from a non-top 15 and a top 15).

In any case, in every university (even the top ones) you´ll find extremely bright people and people who think you can find kangaroos in Austria (the ones not acquainted with the joke can find an explanation in the thread "what happened to tmalmine").

I tend to think US firms (and US lawyers generally) will be more impressed by which school you went to than what scholarship you had. My experience is that if you didn't go to a school they respect they automatically discredit you.