Cornell Law School 2011 Forum

[LawSchoolWannaBe]

Why would someone at the median receive merit money?

Are you guys talking about merit or need based aid?

Need based.

I'm only upset because they claim 50% of their kids get some form of need based grants. I find this hard to believe considering I'd be eligible for full tuition at a lot of private undergrads based on what my parents will make this coming year...

[LeahNic]

Why would someone at the median receive merit money?

Are you guys talking about merit or need based aid?

Need based.

I'm only upset because they claim 50% of their kids get some form of need based grants. I find this hard to believe considering I'd be eligible for full tuition at a lot of private undergrads based on what my parents will make this coming year...

I think they base some of the need based on assets. Maybe your parents dont make much but they have very little left on their mortgage? Or two nice/new cars? I, of course dont know your situation, but I know that with my numbers (lsat above 75%, GPA at 25%) I got more than several people with the exact same numbers and my parents make about $60K a year total. But they have 2 really old cars, no assets, no retirement, and their house mortgage is almost completely still debt.

I'm not sure how they do it, it does seem sporadic.

[kn6542]

I think they base some of the need based on assets.

Oh, they absolutely do. Some of it is probably exempt, like the first 20k or something. But if your parents have two nice cars and equity in the house, you don't have as much "need". This should be pretty plain.

[spanktheduck]

I'm gonna be mailing in my deposit as soon as I get my letter in the mail (just got the email) so you can put me down as attending. Unless Michigan or UVA decide to offer me a surprise admission between now and then but there is no way in hell that is happening. It's gonna be hello to another waitlist for those two, but who cares IN AT CORNELL!

[retasu]

Congrats, spanktheduck. Your post almost perfectly echoes the thoughts that ran through my head after I got the e-mail.

[reverie]

congrats spanktheduck!

Is it weird that I really want to see a long list of fellow TLS people at Cornell on the Class of 2011 thread? We should have at least enough to form a study group.

the tls cornell list is still short, but it's growing!


edit: just realized that the first post on this thread is listing too

[Rosstafarian]

Glad to see other Cornell prospectives getting excited. If you haven't been to Cornell yet, you'll find that it seems to be a very tight-knit community.

I'd love to hear what questions, concerns, or comments others have about the school. I recently posted on the admitted students site about the alleged greater average number of study hours at Cornell as compared to peer institutions, and a 1L is going to have some students respond there.

Is everyone in this thread 100% committed to Cornell?

[LeahNic]

Not 100% but getting there. I'm headed to Cornell today and Wash U next weekend. Then I'll be making my decision.

[Rosstafarian]

Not 100% but getting there. I'm headed to Cornell today and Wash U next weekend. Then I'll be making my decision.

Cool. I visited both as well and did pretty long summaries of my visits with photos on a couple threads here, if you're interested.

[LawSchoolWannaBe]

I really want to go, but have trouble swallowing the idea of nearly $200k in debt.

WUSTL offered full ride, so that's my other main option at the moment, but the job prospects out of Cornell are definitely better. Looking to use my EE background for patent law, and semi-prefer the midwest for employment after school is done. Not really sure if Cornell is 120k+ better than WUSTL for me. This decision blows.

[Rosstafarian]

Yes, that is a very tough decision, LSWB -- especially if you want to stay in the midwest. Wash U is good in IP.

It depends on how quickly you want to be rid of that debt. You will probably have better long-term earning potential at Cornell which may outweigh the additional cost, but having the monkey off your back straight out of Wash U is very attractive.

Maybe one major criterion could be whether or not you're set on Biglaw. If you'd rather end up at a mid-size firm, Wash U may be the way to go. If you're gunning for Biglaw, your prospects are definitely stronger out of Cornell.

HTH.

[RATRATRAT]

True dat.

[LeahNic]

Not 100% but getting there. I'm headed to Cornell today and Wash U next weekend. Then I'll be making my decision.

Cool. I visited both as well and did pretty long summaries of my visits with photos on a couple threads here, if you're interested.

I know and I read them both! They were great and very helpful. So helpful that when I read them aloud to my husband he goes "that guy sounds like he is on the recruiting committee." I assured him you were a prospective student too

[Rosstafarian]

Not 100% but getting there. I'm headed to Cornell today and Wash U next weekend. Then I'll be making my decision.

Cool. I visited both as well and did pretty long summaries of my visits with photos on a couple threads here, if you're interested.

I know and I read them both! They were great and very helpful. So helpful that when I read them aloud to my husband he goes "that guy sounds like he is on the recruiting committee." I assured him you were a prospective student too

HA! Well, glad you found them helpful. I meant for them to be even-handed, but coming back from ASDs, it is hard for one not to be enthusiastic. In each, though, I did point out some things about the schools that were not perfect.

[LeahNic]

Yes I thought you did a good job of pros and cons. Oh question-- the reading assignments...each one correlates to the respective ASD right?

[spanktheduck]

The snow has scared me off of tomorrow (I would be driving in it). It looks like I will be going next week.

[reverie]

Oh question-- the reading assignments...each one correlates to the respective ASD right?

yes, and if you signed up for tomorrow's asd from the admitted student's message board, then they send you an e-mail with a link to it (the 2nd reading that's posted is the one for tomorrow)

[LeahNic]

Hmmm. I never got that email. I'm stuck in detroit right now and am hoping to actually make it to Ithaca. Hope they know I'm coming!

[RATRATRAT]

Have fun next year, guys. I'm out!

[LeahNic]

Have fun next year, guys. I'm out!

Sad!! good luck at UT though if thats where you end up!

[gravity]

good luck at UT, RAT!

[RATRATRAT]

good luck at UT, RAT!

Thanks, I appreciate it. Enjoy the Big Red!

[OggXI]

Well, the deposit is in and I'm actually pretty excited to be Cornell-bound this fall.

[wuhoo]

Just received a small scholarship from Cornell. It's nice enough to sway me over the edge. Snow-covered landscape on top of a giant hill, here I come! Unless one of the school's I'm WLed at takes me off, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing you guys in the fall!

[KidA23]

Hey guys,

It looks like I'll be joining the CU party come this fall. Am down to VULS vs. Cornell and the Big Red is looking - and feeling - more and more the right choice. Still waiting on Ms. Vargas to say 'no soup for you' as far as additional grant $$$, but it's looking pretty much like Cornell for me.