I totally agree... but if the long period of time I've spent checking out the llm world has learnt me anything, it's that name matters ! For the record, I know an uva alumna who is quite satisfied with her experience and 8k$ might be a decision maker, even though I personnaly think it looks like a lot more today than it might actually feel like 3 or 6 years from now

The LLM class is also much smaller than the NYU LLM. You follow courses with JD students, which must provide for an incredible experience. In NYU there are courses especially for LLM students (or so I've heard), and that must be a bit awkward.

Hey everyone!

I was reading your discussion on this thread and was curious to see where everyone ultimately decided to go. I am applying now for the 2010 session and would love any recommendations you may have. I am looking at a vareity of schools including UVA and NYU and I plan on applying for an LLm in international law.

Thanks!

Hi Scha!

I finally decided to go to NYU over Duke.
I don't know if my experience in NY is better than it could have been at Duke but at least I don't regret my decision.

I was affraid of the big classes, the big city life, the faculty being less accessible... and in the end, believe me, it's all cool. I'm in the corporation program and I am having a lot of fun going to classes, meeting LLM and JD students, talking to Professors... There really is nothing to worry about. It's a bit difficult to get started, to talk in class to go towards other students but it all comes quite quickly and naturally.

Base your decision on the schools program and on what the school's community may offer you. NYU has lots of students and in the end, it turned out being a good thing for me because you meet more interesting people from all over, you have much more events going on, you have study groups with very different people in your various classes...

Regarding the costs of NY, it is expensive if you don't pay attention and if you're not wise. Don't run for the first appartment or room you see. Do some research and think about commuting from Queens, New Jersey or Brooklyn rather than staying in the city if that's too expensive. For the rest, food, partying, books you name, I don't think there's that much of a difference from other places int the US or even Europe.

To conclude, let me say that you should really take the programs as well as what the school's location and its community offer into consideration when deciding where to go. Don't be affraid of the big schools or cities, they're not so impressive once you get there.

What you make out of your experience and how you valorize it count more than where you wind up going.

Good luck!
Keep in touch if you would like me to share a bit more of my experience in the application process or as a current NYU LLM.

ed74, thanks so much for this! I'm not too worried about the challenges of the location, i'm focused more on the law school and the program standing which seems to be the consensus and the gist of what you have said. this is really helpful. do you have any pointers on what NYU likes to see specifically in a statement of purpose? I have 2 yrs experience as corporate finance lawyer and will be applying for a LLM in international law.

I know this discussion is a bit old but I'm curious as to what you decided?

I want to study international law, my top choice is NYU, but still haven't heard anything from them. But I have been accepted into UVA with a small scholarship and to Columbia without any scholarship...

since international law is what interests me i feel that NY would be a grat location to study that. And I happen to really like the city since I've been there as a tourist several times. But, UVA seems pretty good as well in this field...

any advice?