How I Got Admission to LL.M. Programs at Harvard, Cambridge, NYU, MIDS Geneva and Over $140k in Scholarship Offers: My System Explained
photo credit (c) Himesh Kharel
Introduction
Several years ago, I decided to do a master of laws (LL.M.). I secured four offers: from Harvard, NYU LL.M. program in arbitration, Cambridge, and MIDS in Geneva. I also received over $140,000 in scholarship offers, including CHF 40,000 from MIDS Geneva, a $30,000 Dean’s scholarship from NYU, a $30,000 grant from Harvard, an $8,000 grant from the Harvard General Committee on Scholarships, and $28,000 from the Russian-U.S. Legal Education Foundation.
With 1,600 applicants annually and 180 spots to distribute, Harvard LL.M. program has about 11% acceptance rate. There are multiple factors influencing admission, such as the strength of your background, your motivation, and the overall LL.M. applicant pool. In this context, it's crucial to have a strategy to help you maximize your chances for success.
In this post, I’ll distill my success strategy in 8 steps.
A couple of notes beforehand.
- LL.M. application success will not necessarily be linear:
I applied over two years. The first year, received an admission offer from the University of Cambridge and both admission and a full scholarship from MIDS Geneva. But after reflecting, I realized that my vision for the future had changed - I no longer planned a career in international arbitration. I decided to reject the offers and reapply the following year to LL.M. programs in the United States. That's when I was admitted to Harvard and NYU LL.M.
- LL.M. application process will not necessarily be linear as well:
The steps I outline here are not meant to be performed in a linear fashion, one after another. They will overlap. For instance, determining when to start will depend partly on the language you plan to study in and whether you need to improve your fluency for a required language test.
At the same time, your LL.M. application timeline will depend on where you're applying. For instance, deadlines for top U.S. programs are usually earlier than for continental Europe. You’ll need to first map your application timeline, then choose your LL.M. programs, and then most probably update your timeline accordingly.
If you're applying for scholarships, start the scholarship search in parallel with the LL.M. program selection. Many scholarships have early deadlines, and some may even require applications before submitting your admissions materials. Scholarship availability might also influence your choice of programs.
Let’s dive in!
Step 1: Choose Your LL.M. Programs
It may sound a bit obvious, but start with your why – why do you want to pursue this LL.M. degree? What is it that you want to get out of it?
Otherwise it’s a bit like Alice in Wonderland:
“If you don't know where you want to go, then it doesn't matter which path you take.”
To plan your steps and the path to take, you need to know where you are going and why.
When I was choosing the LL.M. programs, I started with a long list of options - everywhere I could potentially apply, without constraints. I then went through the list and made notes. I assessed each program in light of what mattered to me. (see more detail in my Harvard State of Mind on Demand course).
For instance, I noted that Stanford didn’t offer financial aid to LL.M. students, and they only had one merit-based scholarship. I also noted that I didn't feel attracted to programs in the EU because I’ve done multiple shorter study programs there before and knew a lot about European systems of legal education. For an LL.M., I wanted to turn my world upside down and do something completely new.
Notes I made related to:
- funding, i.e. available scholarships and resources I could access.
- industry focus: programs connected to industry clusters, like MIDS Geneva.
- reputation: renowned universities globally or in my field.
- proximity: close to home and easy to visit.
- career connections: programs that facilitated the transition from study to work.
- academic focus: Yale LL.M., for instance, as I was planning to pursue academic career.
- curriculum, especially experiential and hands-on learning.
- my knowledge of country’s culture: I personally eliminated programs in already knew well.
After adding my notes, I created a shortlist.
When you do this exercise yourself, certain programs will naturally stand out as priorities. I applied to three programs in the first year and four in the second year, seven total. It felt like a lot. For you, it may be different. The final number of programs you apply to will ultimately depend on how much effort you can invest and your goals. Most people target between 4 and 10 programs.
Step 2: Create a Rough LL.M. application Timeline
When planning my LL.M. applications, I first checked the deadlines and then worked backward to allocate the time I needed. For each estimate, I multiplied the time by 2-3 times to account for any unexpected delays that might derail the process. This strategy has worked for all my applications since.
I also considered specific planning requirements for each document, eg, waiting times for the English test.
If you work at a law firm, I recommend multiplying all timeframes by 3-4 times, as tasks will take longer than you expect.
Depending on what works for you,
- frontload the effort, especially in the beginning: invest more time early in the process so you can reduce stress closer to deadlines. I completed a lot of work early on to ensure I had a safety net later.
- set aside focused time: dedicate periods when you can solely focus on your LL.M. applications. This might mean taking holidays, working part-time, or committing weekends. I used a lot of weekends to write my applications.
- find pockets of time you can use: use small windows of free time. For me, it was the waiting time at train stations; for you, it might be something else.
For more detail, see my productivity guide on how to write your LL.M. applications without sacrificing your family, career, or studies.
Step 3: Think Through Your LL.M. Funding Strategy
Consider as many funding options as possible. You won’t necessarily use all the options you explore, but having a fallback plan is essential.
For instance, when I was crowdfunding for my Harvard LL.M. tuition, a partner at my law firm offered me a personal loan. I managed to raise the needed amount without accepting his help, but knowing I had a backup plan was very, very helpful.
Expect that your funding strategy will evolve throughout the application cycle, and some options may fall through.
Incorporate your funding considerations into your choice of programs:
- If you rely on scholarships, prioritize programs offering relevant scholarships.
- Alternatively, target LL.M. programs where you can source funding through other means, such as loans from family, friends, employer, or a bank.
Some funding options, like negotiating financial aid, will only become available after you're admitted. While you can't plan extensively for these in advance, it's good to know they exist.
Generally, consider where you are and the actions you can take to get where you want. Your funding path might not be straightforward, but that's ok – be prepared for it, and consider what you can do in the circumstances you've been dealt.
What helped me tremendously was talking to former LL.M. graduates and learning how they funded their degrees. Not everyone will be open to share this information, and that's ok. But some of them will, and you’ll discover there's no single way to finance a degree.
For more detail please see my 70-page Ultimate Guide to Funding Your Master's Degree.
Step 4: Have an LL.M. Personal Statement Strategy
I attribute a huge part of my success to my original 5-step methodology for writing LL.M. personal statements that I started developing during the time of applications.
Note: When I talk about essays here, I mean LL.M. motivation letters, LL.M. personal statements, and any writing that explains your background, goals, and motivations for pursuing an LL.M. degree. For example, Cambridge asks about your 'reasons for applying,' while Yale simply calls them 'required essays.'
An LL.M. personal statement, as well as a statement of purpose or a motivation letter, is one of the most critical components of an LL.M. application. This essay is your opportunity to talk about your past, present, and plans for the future. It’s one of the most important documents in your application because it’s the one you have the most control over. One of the biggest mistakes you can do here is to simply restate your CV. So it pays off to have a strategy for your essays to maximize your chances of success.
My LL.M. personal statement strategy included several elements:
4.1. reserve 2 to 3 months for writing your LL.M. personal statements, preferably more:
Personal statement writing is often the most challenging part of the LL.M. application process, so allocate enough time for it. If you aim for around 2 months, expect to work on them almost every day; otherwise, you’ll need more time. If you're not a native English speaker or it’s your first time writing about yourself, plan for even more time.
I applied two years in a row, and both times I started 3-4 months before the deadline. For the U.S. LL.M. applications, with December deadlines, I began in August - September. It felt barely sufficient, and if I had to do it again, I would start sooner. The only reason I managed to submit my applications on time was because I was not starting from scratch: I had material to reuse from the previous year.
Writing is a continuous alternating between focused writing and your brain working on it in the background. Allow time for both - actively developing ideas and letting them ‘stew’ in your mind.
4.2. track the LL.M. personal statements you need to write:
I used a separate Word document to track each LL.M. essay. I kept track of the questions asked, i.e., the essay prompts, deadlines, and required word counts.
4.3. read the questions early, but don’t answer them directly at first:
Early on, I made the mistake of trying to answer questions directly. It kept me stuck, until I started to develop a coherent narrative about who I was first, and then map it to the questions.
To be clear: You still need to answer the essay prompts. There is nothing more annoying to the admissions committee than an applicant who ignores the questions asked or answers a different question. However, if you start writing by immediately trying to answer the questions, you’ll most probably get stuck, and your LL.M. essay may sound unconvincing and shallow because it won't reflect your deeper motivations.
Instead of letting the questions drive what you say, I suggest developing your personal story first, then aligning it with the essay prompts.
Most prompts are broad and cover a mix of your past (background), present (where you are now), and future (post-LL.M. goals). Even seemingly narrow questions are often hard to answer without digging into your background and choices. This overlap simplifies the process since ideas from one essay can often be reused in another.
I was only able to produce strong essays after reflecting deeply on my background and addressing the questions at a much deeper level than they seemed to present at first.
4.4. separate your LL.M. personal statement writing into distinct stages:
There is no such thing as a continuous process of ‘writing.’ ‘Writing’ is an umbrella term for a variety of activities that include idea generation, idea selection, writing the first draft, and editing.
I believe that they key to success was protecting my creative process from the inner critic. For essays, it’s vital to recognize and separate these two modes:
- Use the creative mode for generating ideas and writing you first draft.
- Use the critical mode for selecting ideas and editing.
If you allow your critic to judge your work during the creative stage, it will inevitably stifle the progress. I trained myself to recognize when the critic interfered and politely asked it to “wait” until the editing stage. I didn’t suppress it, I just handled it carefully.
4.5. write one core LL.M. personal statement and customize it for other programs:
I focused primarily on the Harvard LL.M. personal statement because it offered the most significant payoff. It consumed about 90% of my effort. Once it was polished, I adapted it for other programs, which required far less time.
4.6. edit your LL.M. personal statements like your life depends on it:
I edited and rewrote each LL.M. personal statement and other essays multiple times, literally dozens of iterations. I treated them like as if my life depended on it, because in admissions, it does.
It took me approximately 30 drafts to reach a point where I felt I could submit the Harvard LL.M. personal statement Part B, the same for Part A. I only stopped when I could no longer think of anything else to improve.
If you'd like to learn more, I've created a comprehensive course, The Ultimate Guide to a Personal Statement That Gets You Admission, with a full roadmap for writing a winning LL.M. personal statement, motivation letter, or statement of purpose.
Step 5: Polish Your LL.M. CV
CV is a core component of an LL.M. application as well, and it's important to get it right. I've written in depth about my insights from evaluating hundreds of LL.M. CVs as a member of the admissions committee, but for the purposes of this post I'll give several actionable recommendations:
- Readability: Above all, optimize for readability. Your LL.M. CV should be skimmable. The reader should be able to identify your professional milestones within seconds.
- Prioritize education: Your education should come first, and it should be crystal clear what your degree programs are. Degree programs act as guarantors of your eligibility, so ensure they stand out.
- Length: Check the LL.M. program’s requirements. If no length is specified, limit your CV to 2 pages maximum.
In my view, this will make the most difference.
Step 6: Get Stellar LL.M. Recommendations
To secure recommendation letters, early in the process I made a list of potential recommenders, prioritizing:
- academic references
- people who knew me well and could comment on different aspects of my profile.
Something I strongly recommend is try to have a list of people who are your plan A and then plan B. One of my references fell through last minute, and I had to find a replacement. I asked a professor from a summer school I attended, and she kindly agreed. It worked out, but things might have been very different.
If finding recommenders is difficult, try:
- reviving old relationships, e.g. reach out to former professors or colleagues.
- asking newer connections (eg, if you started a new job recently), but keep in mind that they should write an academic-sounding reference. If it’s your employer, your teamwork and workplace achievements (like raising the company's revenue) might be important in the context of your work but irrelevant for your future academic study.
Actionable tips:
- Reach out to your recommenders at least 4 weeks in advance - the sooner, the better.
- After they agree, have a list of things you'll ask them to include in the reference letter.
- Be clear about your needs: Specify how many letters you need upfront. Asking for one letter after another can lead to “recommender fatigue” and strain the relationship.
- If asked to draft a letter yourself, identify the experiences and qualities you want them to mention. These should be the things your recommender knows about you or can be reasonably expected to know.
- Check the vocabulary. Use achievement words, ie words that signify accomplishment.
- Minimize bias: Research shows that recommenders sometimes use different vocabularies for male and female applicants. Test for bias by switching pronouns in the draft and see if it still works. If it doesn't, rewrite.
I talk in more detail about the process of choosing recommenders, including what to do if you've been asked to write a letter of recommendation yourself and provide it to your recommender for review, in my Harvard on Demand course.
Step 7: Talk to LL.M. graduates
During my LL.M. application journey, I sought help in various forms.
Note: many universities state on their websites that you should not seek help. What they mean is unethical help, e.g., having someone else write your LL.M. applications for you. This is dishonest and unfair to other applicants and is definitely something you should not do.
The type of help I refer to is different. I’m talking about help that does not interfere with the authorship of your LL.M. application materials. For instance, for my LL.M. applications the things I asked for included:
- Feedback on LL.M. personal statements: I asked for substantive feedback on my LL.M. personal statements and other essays. I also had a native English speaker review grammar as there was no AI back then.
- Information, especially funding-related: I asked other LL.M. graduates how they funded their degrees. Not everyone wanted to share, but those who did provided valuable insights that informed my own funding strategy. They are accounted for in my Ultimate Guide to Funding.
- Examples of winning LL.M. personal statements: I asked for sample essays to understand what worked and what didn't.
Even if you don’t know anyone who’s done an LL.M. personally, you can always find someone who does. For instance, you can find current students or alumni of your desired program on LinkedIn and reach out to them.
Step 8: Note on tOEFL and IELTS
By the time I applied for an LL.M., I had been working in English for years. I took both IELTS and TOEFL without formal preparation. I read about the test format beforehand, and then came to the testing center and took the test. I achieved a score of 7.5 on the IELTS and 106 on the TOEFL.
If you need to prepare for the TOEFL or IELTS test:
- Factor it into your strategy, including deadlines, assessing your level, and improving weaker areas.
If your resources are limited:
- try requesting a waiver. Be very clear about your circumstances – don’t make the admissions committee guess what your life circumstances are and how they affect your ability to take the test. Plan it in advance, don't do it last minute.
- provide evidence of your English proficiency. Indicate the things you’ve done in your life, professionally and academically, that qualify you for a full-time study in English.
The test is not a just formality. It proves your ability to handle rigorous academic work in English and succeed during the LL.M. study. If you ask for a TOEFL waiver but simply state that you cannot afford the test without demonstrating your proficiency, the committee will likely decline your request due to lack of evidence.
A final note: it's a cliché to say that the language test is about the format, not the language. It's true, with a reservation that you still need to develop sufficient language skills to be able to train yourself for that test.
Final Thoughts
If you'd like more guidance, I've created Harvard State of Mind, a comprehensive course on major aspects of a successful LL.M. application.
If you'd like me to review your LL.M. application materials or help you get started, please read about my workflow and fill out a short application form.
Hope this helps and good luck! ☺️