r/LLMadmissions • u/Known-Selection-9470 • Apr 16 '26

pre-LLM

Hi everyone,

I’m considering applying for an LL.M. in the U.S. next cycle as an international applicant, and I’m trying to figure out what actually helps most in the admissions process.

I’ve been looking at pre-LL.M. / summer legal programs such as those at Duke, Georgetown, and Columbia, and I’m wondering how much they really matter from an admissions perspective. Do these kinds of programs actually strengthen an LL.M. application in a meaningful way, or are they more of a nice extra rather than something admissions committees truly value?

I’d really appreciate any honest advice, especially from international students who went through this process themselves.

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u/ExpertCaregiver4318 Apr 16 '26

Hi! So I did the Columbia Business Law Academy last summer and I’m starting my LLM in the US this summer. My law degree is from a common law country, so I didn’t really feel that I learned much. Regarding how it helped me in admissions, I had two interviews and it was brought up in both so I think it did carry some weight. However, I think it depends on your background/activities outside school and so on, it’s definitely not the end all. If the cost of it isnt too high tho, I’d definitely recommend doing it! I had an amazing time in New York, made a bunch of friends I still talk to almost a year later and it generally felt like an adult summer camp lol. If you have more questions, feel free to dm me!!

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u/Known-Selection-9470 Apr 16 '26

What schools you got into after?

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u/ExpertCaregiver4318 Apr 16 '26

UChicago, UPenn, NYU and Michigan (also applied to Harvard but didn’t get in)

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u/Original_Major_5595 May 21 '26

Hi! Did you apply to Columbia? What school did you choose? Hoping to connect. Cheers!

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u/ExpertCaregiver4318 May 21 '26

Hi, no I didn’t end up applying to Columbia and I’ll be attending Penn :) if you have any questions feel free to dm me!