Vedika Khandelwal applied to several prestigious LL.M. programs in the U.S. She chose Vanderbilt after reviewing the qualifications of the faculty. “Vanderbilt was just a better option in terms of ranking, faculty-to-student ratio, and the qualifications of the faculty,” she said. “Vanderbilt’s faculty is its strongest asset.”

Khandelwal plans to pursue a career in commercial litigation in New Delhi and decided to earn an LL.M. early in her career to inform her practice. “I wanted to study at a top U.S. law school and gain an international perspective,” she said. “My experience at Vanderbilt has been wonderful—I discovered many new perspectives to understand the law and the U.S. legal system, and I learned a new way to look at law. I also definitely improved my skills at reading and understanding law and applying it to the real world.”

Khandelwal chose classes she thought would bolster her training as a litigator, including Antitrust Law, International Business Transactions, International Trade Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporations and Securities Regulation. “Professor (Tim) Meyer, who teaches International Business Transactions and International Trade Law, is an amazing professor,” she said. “And Professor (Yesha) Yadav entertains the class—I laughed my way through Securities Regulation, which is a very hard subject. She also made studying monotonous SEC guidelines fun in the classroom. Professor (Rebecca) Allensworth is a brilliant professor and makes every class a fun challenge.”

Khandelwal’s sister, who earned a graduate degree at Vanderbilt’s Owen Graduate School of Management, gave her an encouraging report about the high quality of Vanderbilt’s academics and the city of Nashville, where Vanderbilt is located. “Nashville is a quiet, yet fun city,” she said. “I loved Nashville because it’s not crowded, and it’s the best place to be if you’re a music lover. It’s a city where you can study and balance it with fun.”

Khandelwal believes her LL.M. will “give me an edge” when she returns to India to practice. “The LL.M. program is a once in a lifetime opportunity that will change you completely and equip international students to compete anywhere in the world,” she said. “I made amazing friends and built friendships that will last a lifetime. But the academic coursework stands out the most. My Vanderbilt classes have given me a whole new insight towards the world outside my country.”