I desperately need your advice in deciding on the
University for my LL.M.

I have been accepted by the George Washington University for LL.M in
IP law. However, they have declined to give me any financial assistance
!! So, I have to cough up $500 by 30th April. However, University of
Virginia (UVA) has also sent me an admission offer, but has not responded on my request fir financial aid as yet. I will be grateful if
you tell me regarding which University should I prefer ? Is Virginia a
better option than GWU ? Virginia also offers a concentration in IP
law. I am very confused between the two and the 30th April deadline
for the GWU $500 deposit is making things worse !!

I have also been placed on the waiting list by the University of
California-Berkeley. They will inform regarding my status by 1st May.
I request you to tell me regarding one's chances in making it to the
University after being placed on the waiting list.

I will be very thankful if you can give me some advice in this.

In my opinion George Washington University has better reputation that Un. of Virginia and the courses offered are very good. One of my classmates at university did her master degree there and said the teaching was excellent as well as the campus.

However, if you get admitted to Berkeley...GO THERE FOR SURE!!! Berkeley's reputation is well,,what can I say,,,excellent,,hope you can make it here :)

Thanks a bunch !!!!!
However, do you think GWU's IP program outshines UVa, inspite of Uva's long standing top 10 ranking?

Congratulations. GW has one of the best LLM in IP. And in my opinion, its location (DC) is an undeniable advantage over UVA (Charlottesville).

If you want to specialize in IP, it's a solid choice. However, if you're not that much into IP, UVA is a far superior school in every other aspect: academics, faculty, campus life, rankings, reputation among top US firms, and so forth.

I don't know whether I'm biased, but to give you an idea, I chose Georgetown over UVA, but I think I would have chosen UVA over GW.

I'd rather rank UVA as first pick, Berkeley in case you finally gain admission, and GWU last. GWU is a great school, but cannot be compared to Georgetown, for either faculty or brand...

I think I would go:
1) Berkeley (good IP and good school reputation)
2) UVA (good school reputation)
3) GWU (good IP school, but lacks reputation)

Hey,
I really appreciate your comments. Thank you !!

I guess, Uva seems to offer a better deal than GWU. I definitely want to pursue a concentration in IP. However, the "brand-value" of a school will help me, in securing a better job, both in US and in my home country. Can I still afford to overlook the benefits which a top-10 university offers, in order to study in a "good" IP school?

As both these law schools (GWU & UVA) are good law schools, I do not think that the difference in the quality of their teaching will be substantial.

Moreover, as both of them are located in the same area, one of them can't have an edge over the other, when it comes to location.

I guess, the overall package which Uva offers is more attractive than GWU...hmmm...have I made a rational choice ???!!!!! Do you agree with me?

I'd go to UVA, but hey I'm going to UVA so :p

Also, the specialized Law school rankings seem to omit considering the law school which does not offer a degree called "LL.M in IP". Even if a particular law school offers a concentration in IP, however the degree which they offer is called "LL.M", they are automatically disqualified from running in the race for best IP law school. Therefore, schools like Harvard, Yale, NYU, Upenn, Chicago or UVa do not feature on the best IP law schools list, in spite of offering a concentration in IP law. Had they been considered for the best IP law school category, would GWU still score a RANK 2 on the list ?

What is your take on it ? Everyone's comment is very important for me. You all have incredibly helped in clearing out my confusion. Thank you !!

CONGRATS !!!!!!!!!!! Santa :)

Indeed ayu, people shouldn't be as obsessed with USNWR's ranking. You pointed out a sensible flaw in their methodology, and there are many others.

I happen to pay attention to rankings only because they shape and reflect the opinion of recruiters.

Now no matter what US News says, there's no questioning that GW's IP LLM is excellent. That said, the problem with specialty is that only professionals in the relevant field know about it.

For instance, if you're interviewed by a US law firm specialized in IP, GW's reputation in IP will help you. But if it's a company or unspecialized law firm looking for an IP lawyer, the overall reputation of UVA will probably have a bigger impact on them.

As for location, I'm going to state the obvious here but... America is America :) If you drive from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, both in Pennsylvania, you've just crossed 3 European countries. Saying GW and UVA are in the same location is like saying London and Manchester, or Amsterdam and Rotterdam are the same place.

I think Philadelphia is as close to NYC as Charlottesville to DC.

To give any indication: I've heard that Washington DC is a 45 minutes drive from Charlottesville and NY a five hour train ride.

According to google maps, Charlottesville -> DC 99 miles and Philadelphia -> NYC 95 miles.

Sorry to disagree, but there's no way to reach C'ville from DC in 45 minutes...I was living in DC last year, and if you're lucky it takes you -at least- 2 hours...

That's what I heard from an alumni at UVA. Possibly a bit longer, but probably good roads and stuff ^^

right! can tell you some tips if you wanna go visiting DC...let me know. isn't far anyways. you can easily go on weekend

Thanks again for your advice :D
But now doubts again seem to be creeping in....
Your FINAL take...GWU or UVA
Considering the fact that both these schools offer a concentration in IP, however, merely, the nomenclature of the degrees offered by these school is different i.e. LL.M - UVA & LL.M in IP - GWU

Thanks again for your advice :D
But now doubts again seem to be creeping in....
Your FINAL take...GWU or UVA
Considering the fact that both these schools offer a concentration in IP, however, merely, the nomenclature of the degrees offered by these school is different i.e. LL.M - UVA & LL.M in IP - GWU

UVA is vastly superior to GW. This shouldn't be a hard choice.

Cool :D
I think I get the picture !! (phew !!)
I'll wait for UVA to respond regarding my request for financial aid. If I'm lucky with UVA, I guess the choice is obvious. However, if UVA refuses to oblige me...hmmm...

I'll again request for financial assistance to both these schools, using my admission to the other school as a bargaining chip. I know this sounds awfully commercial...but, hey, ITS RECESSION TIME !! I hope I'm thinking right...However, I am definitely more keen on UVA.

I SINCERELY appreciate all your advice!! Thanks so much for your time.