Canadian student to attend US University & study Law. Chances at NYU, Yale, etc...?

<p>I live in Montreal, Canada but my heart is set of pursuing my university studies in the States. I've always wanted to go to NYU, but I'm not sure how good my chances are. I aspire to be a lawyer when I grow up but don't want to study Quebec laws and everything...</p>

<p>I'm currently in grade 10 and am an honor role student. My last term average was an 86%, which is a 3.7 GPA. I take AP English and French classes and am also fluent in Greek. I know that having extra-curricular activities and volunteer work help your chances at big American Universities, but since I live in Canada, no one is really big on volunteering or anything since we don't really have the big Ivy League Colleges or anything.</p>

<p>Although I'd love to attend NYU, I'm also considering Havard, Yale, Columbia, Stanford and Berkeley. Which one would I have the best chances at?</p>

<p>Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, I'm really confused!</p>

<p>In the USA a law degree is a post-graduate degree. That is, you normally must complete a full undergraduate degree before applying to law school. Legal studies are specific to the country and/or state where you study. You need to know where you intend to practice law so that you can choose the right place to complete your law degree(s). Chances are that you would be better off completing your first law degree in Canada. Then you can come to the USA for a specialization in international or business law as a graduate student.</p>

<p>Take a look at the Graduate School, and International Student forums here. You can reach them by clicking on "College Discussion" at the upper left of this screen, and then scrolling down.</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

<p>I also wouldn't make sense for you to study law in the states as the laws are different than in Canada. Unfortunately, you don't just get to stay in the States if you study here. With a student visa, you can only work in the US for one year following your studies.</p>

<p>As for getting in, NYU is much, much easier to get into than the ivy league schools and Berkeley as an international student.</p>

<p>I dont plan on being a lawyer back home so as for the US having different laws, I dont think it will be a problem since I do plan on living in the States</p>

<p>Do you have a green card? Lots of people want to live in the States but they can't just come and take up residence.</p>

<p>I am really not sure if I have a green card, but I guess I'll be getting one...</p>

<p>If your parents are not American, you can't just get a green card. You can get a student visa to study in the US, but after a year of training you must return to your native country.</p>

<p>Every year I get hundreds of resumes from international students who came to the States and want to stay. Many didn't know the rules before coming and borrowing lots of money to do so. Unfortunately, I can't hire them.</p>

<p>Also take a look at the cost of US colleges. They cost way more than Canadian schools. Make sure your parents are willing to go along with this.</p>

<p>So if I go to NYU and study Law, I can't get a job and live in the states?</p>

<p>Probably not unless you marry an American. The way it works is that you would need an employer to sponsor you for a job saying they can not find an American for it. This is incredibly hard to do for someone just out of law school. You would need to have a highly unusual specialty for a firm to want to go to great trouble and expense to do that. If you find such an employer, you then become part of a lottery to see who gets the visa to stay which is a lottery of chance. Most even with sponsors don't get to stay. And all this is getting even harder to do with the high rate of unemployment in the States. It's expected the number of visas will be further reduced.</p>

<p>So all you can count on is staying in the States for one year following graduation. And given the cost of US schools, many decide it's not a good deal for them.</p>

<p>If anyone who wanted to live in the States could do so by just going to school here, many more would do so.</p>

<p>Thank you very much for you advice. Although NYU is my dream, ill consider University of Toronto.</p>

<p>Not true at all. International students CAN work in US if that’s what they want. Esp. Canadian students. And it’s not that hard to get a job, especially if you’re coming out of NYU.</p>

<p>[Studying</a> Law in New York City](<a href=“http://www.studyinnewyork.com/articles-index/law-study-newyork-city.htm]Studying”>http://www.studyinnewyork.com/articles-index/law-study-newyork-city.htm)</p>

<p>Hmom: NYU isn’t “much, much easier” to get into than the Ivy League schools. It is somewhat easier, but by no means is this OP a shoe-in. In fact, it would still be in the match/low-reach range. </p>

<p>Jessicaa11: As mentioned above, you can’t study law at the undergraduate level in the US. Any idea of what you would want to study? </p>

<p>In terms of finding employment, as an NYU student (being in NYC), you’ll have the chance to work/intern during the school year. Students at other schools, including the Ivies, dont’ have this opportunity. These internships can lead to jobs post-graduation. Just make sure you have all your technical stuff worked out (visas and all that).</p>