the us llm experience
DESCRIPTION
Thinking about LLmTRANSCRIPT
2012
MissionMission
• Wide array of options• Flexibility• Not just academic study• Internationalize your CV• Opportunity to travel to the US
Why study in the USWhy study in the US
Where can I go with my degree?
• Public sector/government
• Academia• Non-profit sector
– Foundations/institutions– Think tanks– Non-governmental
organizations (NGOs)– Public interest/advocacy
groups
• Multilateral/inter-governmental organizations
• Private sector– Consulting– Financial services– Media– Technology– Law Firms– Energy
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Where Do Our Alumni Work?5
• Teaching and classroom styles• On-campus life and opportunities• Ranking system• Letters of recommendation• Personal statement
Differences to expectDifferences to expect
Top 5 Receiving Institutions Top 5 Receiving StatesInstitution State % of Total
New York University New York 13,24 %
Stanford University California 12,14 %
Columbia University Massachusetts 10,62 %
University of Chicago Pennsylvania 7,03 %
Harvard University Illinois 6,76 %
Some interesting figuresSome interesting figures
Student MobilityStudent Mobility
• Public (or State) Universities
• Private Universities
Types of institutionsTypes of institutions
o Accredited?
o Size?
o Location?
o Research?
How to choose a program?How to choose a program?
o Number of international students?
o Majors/Specialization offered?
o Cost?
Key Topic Areas
• Foreign Policy• Environment & Energy• Business• Economic Development• Trade• Law • Security• Human Rights• Conflict Resolution• Diplomacy
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oThousands of accredited universities in the USA, take time to find the right one.
oConsult www.fulbright.be and/or visit the Commission’s Advising Center. University catalogs, reference books, test registration bulletins and preparation materials are available.
oVisit the websites of the universities.
oContact 5 to 10 different universities.
Choose the right programChoose the right program
• $ 225• Brussels,
Luxembourg, Paris, Arnhem
• Reading, listening, break, speaking, writing (4.5 hours)
• http://www.ets.org/toefl
English testsEnglish tests
€ 185 Accepted by many but not
all universities Listening (30min), Reading
(1h), Speaking (11-14min), Writing (1h)
http://www.britishcouncil.org/brussels-exams-ielts.htm
12 to 18 months before you want to go to the USA:
oEvaluate your motivation and objectives.
oChoose 5 to 10 universities.
oDetermine what is required for each application (tests, essays, letters of recommendation, etc).
oRegister for required tests (TOEFL, IELTS, etc).
oNote all deadlines on a calendar.
Start earlyStart early
• 12 to 18 months before departure: Evaluate your reasons
• June - September Select 5 or 6 universities on the basis of their programs, degrees offered, accreditation, level of selectivity, cost, location and size
• July - August Find out which standardized tests are required
• August - September Write to 5 or 6 universities to request application forms for admission and financial aid.
• October - February Prepare transcripts and literal translations ,certified at the Commission Have professors send recommendation letters Send applications to universities well in advance of deadlines
• February - April Wait for letters from the universities.
• March - April Contact universities to which you have applied, but not yet received a response.
• April - June Accept /Decline offers from other universities where you were also accepted. Contact housing department and international student office.
Dates to rememberDates to remember
Education USA – State Dept websiteEducation USA – State Dept website
Teaching Style:Socratic Method
Active vs. Passive Participation No Lectures
Requires Pre-Class PreparationDiscuss Case Details Without Warning
Goal Think Like a LawyerIdentify Key Matters = Issue Spotting
Consistent Amongst U.S. Law Schools: The Socratic Method
A system of learning where professors ask students a series of questions that encourage critical analysis of the subject being taught.
1. Choose 5-10 universities & prepare the applications for each one.
2. Determine which tests are needed to apply & take them (TOEFL, GRE, GMAT).
3. Look for financial support.
3 Simultanious Actions3 Simultanious Actions
1. Personal funding2. Loan from a bank3. Fellowship from U.S. university
o Research assistantshipo Teaching assistantshipo Work Study (20 hrs/wk)
4. Scholarship from another organizations◦ Fulbright
◦ BAEF
◦ Rotary
◦ Etc.
How to finance your studiesHow to finance your studies
FULBRIGHT GRANTS
MissionMission
Commission for Educational Exchange Between the United States of America, Belgium and Luxembourg
“ to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and people of other countries " former Senator J. William Fulbright
established in 1946
Be an ambassador of Belgium to the US
Since 1946:More than 300,000 Fulbrighters from over 155 countries
have participatedMore than 189.000 foreign nationals have gone to the
United States for study, teaching, lecturing or researchMore than 101.000 Americans have gone abroad
140 programs worldwideIn the United States, the Fulbright Program is funded
by the U.S. State Department through annual appropriations from the U.S. Congress
Overseas, the Fulbright Program is administered by bi-national Fulbright Commissions. In non-Commission countries, the Fulbright Program is administered by the Public Affairs section of the U.S. Embassy
Facts & figuresFacts & figures
How to apply?How to apply?
PreliminaryApplication
Send3 letters of rec
Final OnlineApplication
Provide letter of acceptance NotificationInterview
October 31 Foreign Language Teaching Assistants Program
October 31 Frank Boas Scholarships for Harvard
October 31 Fulbright - Hays Journalism Grant
October 31 Summer Seminar in American Studies
March 1 Fulbright Awards for Research Scholars & Lecturers
March 1 Fulbright - Schuman Grants
March 1 Fulbright Awards for Graduate Study
Deadlines for Fulbright GrantDeadlines for Fulbright Grant
• Full scholarship to Harvard for one year
• The Frank Boas Scholarship in International Legal Studies• The Frank Boas Scholarship for Graduate Study
• October 14, 2012: Suggested deadline for preliminary application form consisting of biographical data (roughly 2 pages)
• October 31, 2012: Final application deadline at NOON (12pm) to submit a hard copy of the FINAL application (consisting of a 15 page application form with CV, (optional) writing sample, 5 photos, etc).
• Mid-November 2012: interview• Mid-November 2012: Applicants notified by physical mail• April 2013: Notification by Harvard of final selection
Frank BOAS award for HarvardFrank BOAS award for Harvard
• Fulbright Awards• BOAS Scholarship• Ambassador Fox Award• University of Chicago Alumni Award• Columbia Club of Belgium Award• Dorothy Deflandre Award• Fulbright Alumni Association Award• Harvard Club of Belgium Scholarship
Grants for General StudiesGrants for General Studies
o Allen & Overy Award
o Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Award
o Liedekerke, Wolters, Waelbroeck & Kirkpatrick Award
o Loyens and Loeff Award
Note: only for students who have attended law school in Belgium
Grants for Law Students (LLM)Grants for Law Students (LLM)
Other Fulbright CommissionsOther Fulbright Commissions
Visit the Commission’s website in your home countryfor more information
Austria www.fulbright.atBelgium and Luxembourg www.fulbright.beBulgaria www.fulbright-bg.orgCyprus: www.fulbright.org.cyCzech Republic www.fulbright.czDenmark www.daf-fulb.dkFinland www.fulbright.fiFrance www.fulbright-france.orgGermany www.fulbright.deGreece www.fulbright.gr Hungary www.fulbright.huIceland www.fulbright.isIreland www.fulbright.ie
Italy www.fulbright.itNetherlands www.fulbright.nl Norway www.fulbright.noPoland www.fulbright.edu.plPortugal www.ccla.ptRomania www.fulbright.roSlovak Republic www.fulbright.sk Spain www.fulbright.esSweden www.fulbright.se Turkey www.fulbright.org.tr United Kingdom
www.fulbright.co.ukRussia http://fulbright.ruUkraine www.fulbright.org.ua
Youtube.com/fulbrightbe Youtube.com/fulbrightbe
• Timothy Hirs, LLM, Cornell University• Gilles Teerlinck, LLM, University of California, Berkeley• Emilie Maes, LLM, University of Chicago• Vanessa Foncke, LLM, Columbia University• Ravi Mehta, LLM, NY School of Law• Stef Feyen, LLM, Harvard University• Marco Benatar, LLM Studies at NYU School of Law• Céline Vanbever, Studying Law (LLM) in New York (NYU)• LLM at Harvard Law School: Sarah Panis• LLM at NYU University: Pauline Begasse• LLM at NYU: Noemi Blumberg• Law School in the US (LLM at NYU): Charles Rase• Louis Hubert Pacco: UPenn Law
Royal Library Albert IBoulevard de L’Empereur, 4, Keizerslaan
B-1000 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)2 519.57.72Fax: +32 (0)2 519.57.73
Commission for Educational Exchange Between the United States of America and
Belgium