Serving Time in Ithaca (Cornell 2013) Forum

[como]

I'm here to take questions, specific and general about Cornell. I will be candid as hell about my experience so far.

Thanks for taking questions. A little general, but how would you rate your overall experience so far?

What are students saying about OCI and career placement given the economy? How grim is the situation up there?

What is your opinion of living in Hughes during the first year?

1) On a ten point scale, I would give my overall experience about a 9.5 in September, 8 in October, 6 in November, and 3 in December. I am excited to get back to work (as lame as that sounds), and to friends, but I'm sincerely hoping that people lighten up a bit more around crunch-time. Everyone was pretty stressed and that gets me anxious being around that. You just need good outlets and stuff. I have a feeling that was a first semester thing. Some 2/3Ls said that people chill out a bit. The 2/3Ls I have met have been by and large very chill.

2) OCI hasn't happened for us yet. It is mid-August, right around the time you guys will be starting. Some 1Ls I know already have jobs lined up. Some friends haven't heard anything yet. It's still really early though. We weren't even allowed to inquire about jobs until 12/1. Judges should be picking interns in the coming month.

3) I wouldn't live in Hughes, but almost all the people I know who live there liked their experience. It tends to be a bit younger (fresh out), and I couldn't deal with the set-up. My hughes friends are really tight with other hughes people. In fact, it almost seems as though there is a hughes crowd. I don't see them out as much, because a lot of them drink at hughes, then do who knows what. If you live in hughes you'll probably have a tight crew, but try to branch out a bit too. It's a small class, and I miss my hughes friends (CLMoose, I'm looking at you).

[KMaine]

We have a dog and a cat and found a place for under $1,000 a month (3 bedrooms). It is a little far away from campus, but only a 10 minute bus ride.

Just to give add to what Como said above, I would rate my overall experience about an 8.5 overall. My wife kind of hates Ithaca, but I really like it mostly because the law school is so great. . . good people, amazing professors.

I kind of liked the stress of finals time, strangely enough. But then again, Como is much more of a fun guy then I am. People said that they did not like being in the library during finals time, but I kind of did. I don't really get too stressed myself, so the others didn't bother me too much, plus is is good to be at a place where people care about doing well (I was a high school teacher for a while, so it is refreshing).

As far as jobs and OCI goes. . . I think most 1Ls are just keeping our heads down and trying to do as well as we can. My friends don't talk about the economy that much. A 2L would probably know more. From reading their posts, it seems like kind of a mixed bag. I think if anybody is entering law school looking for 160K guarenteed, maybe they will be disappointed. The chance is there. I am keeping my fingers crossed, hoping to do as well or better in the second semester as I did in the first, and trusting that I can impress on interviews.

[sjsteece]

Thanks for the answers 1Ls (although you continue to befuddle me with you avatar changes, como).

I was wondering what your advice would be on how soon to get to Ithaca before school actually starts. The lease I signed starts August 1st but we have to spend time with various family members across 3 states before making the big move to NY. Any suggestions on how much time to allow yourself to settle in before everything gets going?

[como]

Thanks for the answers 1Ls (although you continue to befuddle me with you avatar changes, como).

I was wondering what your advice would be on how soon to get to Ithaca before school actually starts. The lease I signed starts August 1st but we have to spend time with various family members across 3 states before making the big move to NY. Any suggestions on how much time to allow yourself to settle in before everything gets going?

Sorry for the befuddling; I'm a very befuddling person. You honestly don't need much time to settle into the town, although of course that depends on how much stuff you're bringing, how big you are on decorating, etc. You can figure out the town in about 3 days (that is a conservative estimate).

If you have any financial or logistical issues to resolve (changing mailing, switching phones, license stuff, etc.), I would give yourself a week to get everything straightened out. I had some stupid things to deal with halfway through the semester, and it was unnecessary stress on top of everything else I had to do. Get everything square before orientation. I'm a pretty disorganized person, so this may not be as big a deal for you.

[sjsteece]

Thanks for the speedy response, sounds like solid advice. Though I'm not super organized it tends to irritate me when things aren't unpacked so a week sounds like a reasonable amount of time to arrive in advance. Do you know if there are any student get together things (very technical, I know) you can go to before orientation starts?

Now if you will excuse me I'm off to learn how to do something outdoorsy so I can beat you in the avatar game.

[como]

Thanks for the speedy response, sounds like solid advice. Though I'm not super organized it tends to irritate me when things aren't unpacked so a week sounds like a reasonable amount of time to arrive in advance. Do you know if there are any student get together things (very technical, I know) you can go to before orientation starts?

Now if you will excuse me I'm off to learn how to do something outdoorsy so I can beat you in the avatar game.

Haha...

There are tons of student events before classes start. Most of them center around drinking, but more specialized groups (particularly identity-based campus groups) often do other things. Look out for emails and such.

[KMaine]

I had a family to move here, and moving in on Aug. 1 gave us plenty of time. Like como said, the town is very easy to figure out. If you want to get together with people informally before school, you can also meet a number of them through TLS.

[js87]

Thank you for the really informative replies, KMaine and Como.

[panda]

Sorry for the befuddling; I'm a very befuddling person.

This is true. but the surfing looks awesome..


Also, just because I read this on TLS last year and it really was the best advice I got because I moved in mid-August, call Time Warner and reserve a time to install your internet/tv/phone ahead of time.. at least get appointments with them at a time right after you get into ithaca. If your lease requires you to set up electricity and what not, make the calls before you even get to ithaca. I would call about a month in advance..

I know people who went a good few weeks w/out internet, lights, etc.. because they didn't get appointments before the fall rush where all the people in Ithaca are trying to get the time of one company.

[Other25BeforeYou]

For the person who asked earlier with the 171, 3.75, I think you stand a pretty decent chance of 1/3 to 1/2 scholarship based on some people I know from this year's 1L class. The people I know seem to study alot. If you think about the 5 hour thing, think maybe 2 hours between classes and 3 afterwards. I would say this is about the same at other schools. I have heard of people who do not study very much, but I don't really know any.

Lots of people study significantly less than five hours a day. Lots of people study significatnly more than five hours a day. I am in the former category, but have friends in both. Some of it seems related to what you want to get out of law school, but a lot of it also just seems to be based on different learning styles and different people needing different things.

If you study less than five hours a day, you'll probably spend at least part of your first semester feeling like you're not doing everything you should be doing, but you also won't have any idea of what you should be doing. It's an uncomfortable feeling, but it'll pass.

[CyLaw]

Received the Admitted Students Handbook today. Looks like I have some more study material to help my procrastinate school work.

[dakatz]

Received the Admitted Students Handbook today. Looks like I have some more study material to help my procrastinate school work.

Got that nice viewbook as well. I'm so hoping to get a good scholarship offer, because I'm liking Cornell more and more. But right now, without any scholarship, I could never justify going 200K in debt. Fingers crossed that they are generous with schollys

[groundkontrol]

Do you guys think I have a shot?
Black Male
3.4 GPA from Cornell
Master's at Columbia
159 LSAT
Applied in November but asked them to hold until my December LSAT score arrived.

I'd love to go back to Ithaca! Cornell please accept me!

[como]

Do you guys think I have a shot?
Black Male
3.4 GPA from Cornell
Master's at Columbia
159 LSAT
Applied in November but asked them to hold until my December LSAT score arrived.

I'd love to go back to Ithaca! Cornell please accept me!

I think you have a decent shot.

[niclaw]

Helloooo future Cornell people,

I'm a current 2L and I'm hoping to find someone to sublet my apartment from June-August, and then I'm moving out because I'll be studying abroad next semester so the same person could also just take over the lease for next year. If any of you are planning on coming to Ithaca early and are looking for an apartment, let me know. The apartment is a little older (like most here) but I really like it. It has one bedroom plus a separate office (it could be a separate bedroom if someone doesn't mind a pretty small room). It has a decent sized living room and kitchen and has a little porch on the back. It's 100 steps to a small park (with falls and a gorge path up to the school) with a bus stop that will take you straight to school (the bus is free your first year) and if you want to walk up the hill it's about a 10-15 minute walk to the law school. The apartment is also about 1.5 blocks from the commons. Pets are allowed. Rent is $800/month for one, $820/month for two. Send me a message if you are interested, want pictures or if you have any questions about Cornell. (I will also answer questions on here if you have them)

[niclaw]

Does anyone know the likelihood of getting merit scholarship money with a 171/3.75 but high family income? I was told by the admissions office that merit based aid is calculated with financial aid; it sounded like your financial situation may influence their merit aid decisions.

I'd love to go to Cornell, but I was not invited to apply for the Dean's Scholarship and my family's income is high enough so that I seriously doubt that I'll receive any financial aid. My parents, however, cannot and will not contribute anything to my law school education. It seems unfair that their income, even if it has no bearing on my ability to pay, determines whether or not I qualify for aid

Just to add in here, I was in the same situation and I got a decent scholarship. I suggest not necessarily waiting for them to give you your scholarship amount. I called and talked to them about it, and then also sent an e-mail indicating my personal need and that my parents were not going to be contributing to my legal education. This was after I had already committed so I didn't have much leverage. Just be proactive about it and you should get something decent.

[js87]

Does anyone know the likelihood of getting merit scholarship money with a 171/3.75 but high family income? I was told by the admissions office that merit based aid is calculated with financial aid; it sounded like your financial situation may influence their merit aid decisions.

I'd love to go to Cornell, but I was not invited to apply for the Dean's Scholarship and my family's income is high enough so that I seriously doubt that I'll receive any financial aid. My parents, however, cannot and will not contribute anything to my law school education. It seems unfair that their income, even if it has no bearing on my ability to pay, determines whether or not I qualify for aid

Just to add in here, I was in the same situation and I got a decent scholarship. I suggest not necessarily waiting for them to give you your scholarship amount. I called and talked to them about it, and then also sent an e-mail indicating my personal need and that my parents were not going to be contributing to my legal education. This was after I had already committed so I didn't have much leverage. Just be proactive about it and you should get something decent.

Thank you very much for the reply. I will PM you.

[KMaine]

Do you guys think I have a shot?
Black Male
3.4 GPA from Cornell
Master's at Columbia
159 LSAT
Applied in November but asked them to hold until my December LSAT score arrived.

I'd love to go back to Ithaca! Cornell please accept me!

I think you have a decent shot.

+ 1

[neimanmarxist]

For those of us that are in already, is Cornell your top choice?

I like Cornell overall. The only thing that concerns me is the reputation of its students studying 5+ hours a day (most out of t14). Is there any truth to this?

Can you speak to your workload ? I imagined Law School would require substantially more than 5+ hours a day, anywhere. I applied to Cornell and it's one of my top choices and I'd love to hear about what it takes to keep up with the coursework.

[como]

For those of us that are in already, is Cornell your top choice?

I like Cornell overall. The only thing that concerns me is the reputation of its students studying 5+ hours a day (most out of t14). Is there any truth to this?

Can you speak to your workload ? I imagined Law School would require substantially more than 5+ hours a day, anywhere. I applied to Cornell and it's one of my top choices and I'd love to hear about what it takes to keep up with the coursework.

It can be a ton one day, and practically nothing another. If you're smart, you get ahead on those lighter days. I never do for some reason.

[panda]

It can be a ton one day, and practically nothing another. If you're smart, you get ahead on those lighter days. I never do for some reason.

as for workload, i think it's true that we have more work than some of the other T14. some of them only have 3 classes first sem while we take 5. i don't necessarily think the workload is something to worry about though.. it's law school after all.. it couldn't possibly hurt getting used to a large workload. Also, keep in mind, what might take you 2 hours to finish, might take someone else 5 hours.

[dakatz]

It can be a ton one day, and practically nothing another. If you're smart, you get ahead on those lighter days. I never do for some reason.

as for workload, i think it's true that we have more work than some of the other T14. some of them only have 3 classes first sem while we take 5. i don't necessarily think the workload is something to worry about though.. it's law school after all.. it couldn't possibly hurt getting used to a large workload. Also, keep in mind, what might take you 2 hours to finish, might take someone else 5 hours.

Yeah, I heard that Cornell has 1L's start off with 5 classes first semester. Did you find that overwhelming at all? Or was it manageable?

[como]

It can be a ton one day, and practically nothing another. If you're smart, you get ahead on those lighter days. I never do for some reason.

as for workload, i think it's true that we have more work than some of the other T14. some of them only have 3 classes first sem while we take 5. i don't necessarily think the workload is something to worry about though.. it's law school after all.. it couldn't possibly hurt getting used to a large workload. Also, keep in mind, what might take you 2 hours to finish, might take someone else 5 hours.

Yeah, I heard that Cornell has 1L's start off with 5 classes first semester. Did you find that overwhelming at all? Or was it manageable?

Let's just say, overwhelming and manageable don't seem mutually exclusive anymore.

[panda]

if it wasn't manageable, we wouldn't have made it to second semester. so the real question, is it overwhelming? y.e.s. but that would be the case if you only had 3 classes as well..

[CyLaw]

Just RSVP for ASD March 12. Planning on getting there Thursday and then Leaving Saturday evening. PM me if you are interest in splitting costs of a hotel room. I swear I'm not a serial killer.