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NYU or Northwestern?

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silversky

Joined: 29 Mar 2008
Posts: 3
NYU or Northwestern?
Sun Mar 30, 2008 12:31 PM
I must make my final decision between the two universities and I really need some helps and serious advices.

I am not rich, the cost of studying in NYU is too egregious for me to afford, but fortunately the NYU provides the loan for international students and a co-signer is not required. As for the Northwestern, the tuition fee is about $3000 higher than NYU, but the living expenses in NU are definitely lower than NYU and so is the total cost.

I understand the NYU has a higher ranking according to the USNEWS. If I want a specialized LLM, I should go NYU, since Northwestern gives me an admission in general LLM. But I think general LLM has a higher percentage to pass bar examination and I still can have more chances to explore more areas of law studying.

I know the prospect after graduation is also a crucial factor to considerate. NYU has better location, but I doubted that if so many students are studying there, the situation may make the job-hunting difficult and opportunity slim. In my country, about 30-40 LLM students graduated from NYU come back every year. Maybe a particular background like studying in Northwestern in job-hunting will win the favor of the future employer.

Is anyone in the same situation? I really need some wise advices. Thank you.
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dynamo

Joined: 02 Jun 2007
Posts: 34
NYU or Northwestern?
Sun Mar 30, 2008 02:02 PM
I must make my final decision between the two universities and I really need some helps and serious advices.

I am not rich, the cost of studying in NYU is too egregious for me to afford, but fortunately the NYU provides the loan for international students and a co-signer is not required. As for the Northwestern, the tuition fee is about $3000 higher than NYU, but the living expenses in NU are definitely lower than NYU and so is the total cost.

I understand the NYU has a higher ranking according to the USNEWS. If I want a specialized LLM, I should go NYU, since Northwestern gives me an admission in general LLM. But I think general LLM has a higher percentage to pass bar examination and I still can have more chances to explore more areas of law studying.

I know the prospect after graduation is also a crucial factor to considerate. NYU has better location, but I doubted that if so many students are studying there, the situation may make the job-hunting difficult and opportunity slim. In my country, about 30-40 LLM students graduated from NYU come back every year. Maybe a particular background like studying in Northwestern in job-hunting will win the favor of the future employer.

Is anyone in the same situation? I really need some wise advices. Thank you.


silversky,

I am pretty much in a very similar situation.
The reason I applied to NYU in the first place was because of their famous corporate oriented program. I have also heard from various people that finding a job is easier for NYU graduates, especially since law firm "hunt" around the campus and you can add to that equation the proximity to the city itself. in spite of the above, I am not entirely convinced that choosing certain courses at Northwestern (e.g. corporate oriented) would not yield the same results.

Another factor you might want to consider is that NYU is big program (more than 300 llm students) whereas Northwestern is significantly smaller -- this might help with better networking and student - professor relationship.

The cost will always be a problem. Even though both universities differ in their tuition, i believe that living expenses would be more or less the same.

last thing is the new 2008 ranking which shows an improvement for Northwestern.

just to sum up -- i guess that if you are "career oriented", NYU would probably be a better place. However, if you consider other "non-legal" issues, then maybe Northwestern is the right choice.

I believe that both universities are great -- and anyway, we are lucky to have the option to choose :-)
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silversky

Joined: 29 Mar 2008
Posts: 3
NYU or Northwestern?
Sun Mar 30, 2008 02:23 PM
Dear dynamo, thank you very much for your suggestion, I will value your opinion. So you have decided to go to NYU, right?
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dynamo

Joined: 02 Jun 2007
Posts: 34
NYU or Northwestern?
Sun Mar 30, 2008 02:39 PM
Dear dynamo, thank you very much for your suggestion, I will value your opinion. So you have decided to go to NYU, right?


To be honest, I haven't made up my mind quite yet.
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batsuhuang

Joined: 30 Mar 2008
Posts: 2
NYU or Northwestern?
Mon Mar 31, 2008 03:28 PM
I
I am not rich, the cost of studying in NYU is too egregious for me to afford, but fortunately the NYU provides the loan for international students and a co-signer is not required.


Dear silversky,
I also get the admission of NYU but I still wait for the decision from Northwestern. NYU's high living expense is also my big concern. Does NYU really provide loan for international students? Can you provide revelant link?
Thanks.
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silversky

Joined: 29 Mar 2008
Posts: 3
NYU or Northwestern?
Tue Apr 01, 2008 08:50 AM
batsuhuang,
sure, NYU provides loan with maximum $40000 for international law school students and a co-singner is not required, but the interest rate is very high, about 9.25%, please see the link as following:
www.law.nyu.edu/depts/financialaid/forms/index.htm…
see the "Loan Comparison Charts" click the 3rd item in the left collum for details.

www.nyu.edu/financial.aid/citiassist_global.html
www.nyu.edu/public.affairs/releases/detail/484

and wish you good luck!

[Edited 01 Apr 2008 by silversky]
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batsuhuang

Joined: 30 Mar 2008
Posts: 2
NYU or Northwestern?
Tue Apr 01, 2008 04:15 PM
Dear silversky,
Thanks for your reply. Actually, the interest rate is very high. The rate in my country is much lower. I thinks I would get a loan from a local bank and wish you getting a loan with a lower rate.
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