Cornell 1L taking questions Forum

[holybartender]

What does AOP stand for?

edit- Owned.

[jrstephens1991]

I'm sure this question has been answered numerous times but how does Cornell place for BigLaw in other areas like Chicago or D.C.?

[vexion]

So is this AOP by invitation-only? Cause I haven't been invited AFAIK.

[mbw]

So is this AOP by invitation-only? Cause I haven't been invited AFAIK.

It is by invite, but they won't send out info until late June or July. Last year, essentially anyone who wrote a diversity statement on their app was invited -- I'm not sure if they'll do it differently this year, because it ended up being half the class. It's not really a huge academic leg-up or anything -- but it does help to get acclimated to the school and area.

[Big Tuna]

Why is almost none of Ithaca available for streetview on Google maps? I want to be able to look around Collegetown online!

[acdisagod]

Whats the deal with parking and guest parking if you live in Hughes? What if I have someone come visit for the weekend, where would they park?

[fsohn]

Whats the deal with parking and guest parking if you live in Hughes? What if I have someone come visit for the weekend, where would they park?

There are no parking restrictions on most of the lot behind the law school on weekends. You can rent a parking space from the school, but your lot will be a good walk from the law school building. You can also rent a parking space in collegetown from random people who offer them.

[turkishangora]

For Hughes, what floor are L rooms on? e.g. L03, etc.? I heard there are basement rooms (i.e. no windows)? Is this true??

Thanks

[lawblahblah]

I only made it through about 20 pages of this thread, so sorry if some of this has already been answered.

What is the general consensus about the Hasbrouck graduate family housing? It seems a little expensive for what you get, but I like the idea of being so close to campus.

How well does Cornell place in California relative to other top 14 schools? Does the career services office place much of a focus on California placements? Are there many students interested in working in California, or is it predominantly just NYC?

Other than the actual scholarship award is there any real benefit to the Dean's Scholar award? Does it help at all with the 1L job search?

Thanks.

[etlien]

Not sure if anyone has asked this yet, but how competitive is admissions to the JD/LLM in international law program? I didn't apply for it when i initially applied for admissions. Was going to apply during first year. Is it competitive like the dual degrees with french and german universities, where there are only 2 slots a year max? or is it more they will pretty much let anyone do it?

[fsohn]

I only made it through about 20 pages of this thread, so sorry if some of this has already been answered.

What is the general consensus about the Hasbrouck graduate family housing? It seems a little expensive for what you get, but I like the idea of being so close to campus.

How well does Cornell place in California relative to other top 14 schools? Does the career services office place much of a focus on California placements? Are there many students interested in working in California, or is it predominantly just NYC?

Other than the actual scholarship award is there any real benefit to the Dean's Scholar award? Does it help at all with the 1L job search?

Thanks.

I've known both law and non-law people in Hasbrouck. No one has had complaints about it. It is close to campus, but it's a bit of a walk during the winter.

Not sure about how many people go to CA, but I know that there are enough this year that BARBRI is running a CA bar exam course. If I remember correctly, that's about 15 people out of the current graduating class taking the CA bar.

As for the Dean's Scholarship, it's something to put on your resume, and not much more.

[woeisme]

Other than the actual scholarship award is there any real benefit to the Dean's Scholar award? Does it help at all with the 1L job search?

Thanks.

I'm sure, yes.

[vexion]

Any upperclassmen have numbers on how 2009 OCI went?

[Big Tuna]

Semi-double posting from the 2013 class thread but, is the June 1 deadline for the Dean's Certification form a hard deadline or more of a target?

[kn6542]

Semi-double posting from the 2013 class thread but, is the June 1 deadline for the Dean's Certification form a hard deadline or more of a target?

I would assume it's a "hard deadline", but if you think it won't reach them in time, shoot them an email and tell them why. I doubt they will give you grief if you have a reason.

[Mr. Matlock]

Any 1L's have Chantal Thomas as their K's prof this semester? I'd be interested in how this is being perceived:

http://abovethelaw.com/2010/05/cornell- ... vagueness/

[Ronaldo]

Semi-double posting from the 2013 class thread but, is the June 1 deadline for the Dean's Certification form a hard deadline or more of a target?

I thought we did not have to send the Dean's Certification form, am I mistaken?

[vexion]

I just noticed there is a link on the Admitted Students website for a Dean's Certification. Is this form required and if so by when?

If you were admitted, I don't think they required it.

From the instructions to the online application (http://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/admiss ... inal-2.pdf):

A Dean’s Certification Form is not required as part of your application for admission unless you answered “yes” to Question 22 on your application. If you answered “yes” to this question, please give this form to the dean of students (or a comparable official with access to the school’s official records) at the institution from which you received your baccalaureate degree. Prior to matriculation at the Cornell Law School, all admitted students must submit a completed Dean’s Certification Form. More Information about this form will be provided upon admission.

So the flowchart is:

Did you answer "Yes" to Question 22 on your application?

Y - Include a Dean's Certification in your application packet
N - You are not required to include a Dean's Certification in your application packet

Were you admitted to Cornell Law School?

Y - See next question
N - STOP. Put your pencils down and do not go on to the next section.

Did you include a Dean's Certification in your application packet?

Y - Congratulations! You are done.
N - You're gonna need one before you matriculate.

What does "matriculate" mean?

ma·tric·u·late (v. muh-trik-yuh-leyt; n. muh-trik-yuh-lit)

- verb

1. to enroll in a college or university as a candidate for degree.
2. to register (a coat of arms), used esp. in Scottish heraldry.

The instructions specifically state, "Prior to matriculating at Cornell Law School." Thus, they're probably referring to needing a Dean's Certification before you enroll in classes. But just to be sure, you might want to check your genealogy. If you are Scottish, and your coat of arms has not yet been registered, you may wish to do this during your time at Cornell Law School (extra credit in Trusts & Estates.) This matter warrants further investigation.

If you need it, the Dean's Certification is available online at --LinkRemoved--.

Cheers!

[sjsteece]

They changed it from last year- it used to be part of the application but a lot of people were prevented from going complete because their school took so long. This year, you didn't have to send it with your application, but they do still require you to send it before classes begin. You basically just need your Dean to sign off saying you don't have any instances of academic misconduct on your record at the school.

[MadHatress]

Hi,
Im not sure if this has already been asked, but whats the social scene like on campus? What are the students like in general? Ive visited some campuses where the vibe was so douchey it completely put me off the school.

How hard would it be to socialize if you dont drink?

Whats the attitude towards people of faith on campus? As in, can you be obviously religious without being dismissed, derided or just generally judged?

Overall, how personable and laid back is the attitude?

Everything I know about Cornell I love and its my dream school, but Ive never been to the campus and just need some social context to aid my Cornell fantasies for the time-being

Thanks!!

[fsohn]

Hi,
Im not sure if this has already been asked, but whats the social scene like on campus? What are the students like in general? Ive visited some campuses where the vibe was so douchey it completely put me off the school.

How hard would it be to socialize if you dont drink?

Whats the attitude towards people of faith on campus? As in, can you be obviously religious without being dismissed, derided or just generally judged?

Overall, how personable and laid back is the attitude?

Everything I know about Cornell I love and its my dream school, but Ive never been to the campus and just need some social context to aid my Cornell fantasies for the time-being

Thanks!!

There's going to be the douche contingent at every school. Cornell is no exception. Most people are perfectly personal, and I've made some very good friends here, too.

Ithaca is a college town, and we are training to be members of one of the most drunken professions in America, but I can't imagine its too difficult to socialize without drinking. Harder, but not impossible.

It's not hard to be a person of faith here. The Christian Legal Society is sometimes fairly well attended, and I know from seeing professors at church that plenty of them go. People know that I go to church, and I don't get any grief about it, and the LDS folks in the J Reuben Clark Society, who are probably the most forwardly religious folks outside of CLS, get along fine. People like their ice cream socials, which they host instead of bar tabs. You are more likely to catch flak for your political positions, or what people assume them to be. But that's nothing new.

I think your last question is answered by the stuff above. There are not too many gunners (I should know, I was/am on), and even the gunners are normally personable folks. I've never had a problem getting or giving out notes, finding study groups, etc. Basically, if you are colorably within the range of normal, you'll get along fine.

[MadHatress]

Thanks for the reply, really good to know I was expecting the assumed political views, but I think on a different scale. How do Muslim students that dont drink fare socially?
Also, while on the subject of political views, whats the tolerance level regarding unfavorable views of Israel?
I know thats a touchy subject, but some campuses are on board with the BDS campaign etc whilst others (ex: BU) order public floggings for negative comment re Israeli policy. Some straight up info on that would seriously be appreciated.

*This isn't a flame, I worded the question as unprovocatively (sp?) as possible. Still, sorry for any outrage it might cause.

Thanks again This thread is being very helpful.

[KMaine]

Any 1L's have Chantal Thomas as their K's prof this semester? I'd be interested in how this is being perceived:

http://abovethelaw.com/2010/05/cornell- ... vagueness/

Can't really speak for anybody else, but I really didn't think it was a very big deal, and I think that Dean Garvey's decision pretty much made things right.

Don't really know what motivated the "tipster" other than the fact that Prof was not a favorite among students. IMO not a smart move to make your school look bad 2 months before OCI.

[Other25BeforeYou]

Thanks for the reply, really good to know I was expecting the assumed political views, but I think on a different scale. How do Muslim students that dont drink fare socially?
Also, while on the subject of political views, whats the tolerance level regarding unfavorable views of Israel?
I know thats a touchy subject, but some campuses are on board with the BDS campaign etc whilst others (ex: BU) order public floggings for negative comment re Israeli policy. Some straight up info on that would seriously be appreciated.

*This isn't a flame, I worded the question as unprovocatively (sp?) as possible. Still, sorry for any outrage it might cause.

Thanks again This thread is being very helpful.

The most outspoken first year (well, now second year, I suppose) I know about such issues is pretty critical of Israeli policy, and he definitely hasn't been publicly flogged yet and is well respected amongst his peers (as far as I can tell).

I've talked to some people who lean the other direction. There definitely doesn't seem to be a consensus, and I'm sure there are some kick ass debates one could have.

I do not know how Muslim students who don't drink fair socially, but I know how a bunch of people who don't drink for no particular religious or cultural reason fair, and they fair absolutely fine. I don't tend to go out to bar tabs etc. for personal reasons, and no one seems to care. I still have friends, including people who do go out drinking regularly.

In general I've found that even the gunners and assholes at Cornell are pretty nice and good for a conversation or debate.

KMaine, are you who I think you are? Did you sit between me and another Mainer (Mainian? Mainite?) in Crim and Civ Pro this semester?

[Other25BeforeYou]

Also, do any Cornellians know when spring semester grades generally come out?