Cornell Class of 2016 Forum

[hephaestus]

Thanks!

That's really good to know. Not in Hughes so I didn't see the point of trudging to a dining hall.

Dining halls are also in the opposite direction from Collegetown, so it very well may take longer to go than just going home and cooking or getting food in Collegetown.

[toothbrush]

Hi all!

Would you all recommend a meal plan? I was planning to just prepare my own meals to cut costs but I don't know how feasible that is given the workload. Any thoughts?

I wouldn't get one unless you're in Hughes. If you don't want to cook there's a lot available in Collegetown. I cooked almost every day though and didn't find it to really interfere that much.

What was your 1L schedle like after classes ? Like what did you do from 3-11pm ?

[Lavitz]

Hi all!

Would you all recommend a meal plan? I was planning to just prepare my own meals to cut costs but I don't know how feasible that is given the workload. Any thoughts?

I'm not getting one even though I'm living in Hughes. I just plan to get groceries at Wegman's once a week, prepare some meals in the Hughes kitchen and eat out when I have to. I think you can still eat in some of the dining halls anyway and pay with cash or credit, although I don't know what the "all you can eat" places would charge for a meal.

And I think I did some calculations before and most of the meal plans ended up costing at least $13 per meal, and that's if you make sure you use all of them. So I think it would only be worth it if you eat a few large meals each day.

[hephaestus]

Hi all!

Would you all recommend a meal plan? I was planning to just prepare my own meals to cut costs but I don't know how feasible that is given the workload. Any thoughts?

I wouldn't get one unless you're in Hughes. If you don't want to cook there's a lot available in Collegetown. I cooked almost every day though and didn't find it to really interfere that much.

What was your 1L schedle like after classes ? Like what did you do from 3-11pm ?

Your schedule changes a lot depending on the time of year. Earlier in the semester, I would read until 6-7 and be done for the day. Then I'd go home, make dinner and relax. In November/December, I'd typically read from when classes ended to around 6-7, go home for an hour to have dinner and relax, and then go back to the library until 12ish. I also lived really close to the law school so going back and forth was easy.
Something I'd emphasize is don't be afraid to have fun early in the semester. Things will get hectic, but don't stay in the library until 11 in September just because other people are or you feel like you should.

[toothbrush]

Hi all!

Would you all recommend a meal plan? I was planning to just prepare my own meals to cut costs but I don't know how feasible that is given the workload. Any thoughts?

I wouldn't get one unless you're in Hughes. If you don't want to cook there's a lot available in Collegetown. I cooked almost every day though and didn't find it to really interfere that much.

What was your 1L schedle like after classes ? Like what did you do from 3-11pm ?

Your schedule changes a lot depending on the time of year. Earlier in the semester, I would read until 6-7 and be done for the day. Then I'd go home, make dinner and relax. In November/December, I'd typically read from when classes ended to around 6-7, go home for an hour to have dinner and relax, and then go back to the library until 12ish. I also lived really close to the law school so going back and forth was easy.
Something I'd emphasize is don't be afraid to have fun early in the semester. Things will get hectic, but don't stay in the library until 11 in September just because other people are or you feel like you should.

Thanks for the response Any reason you chose to study in the library ? Also, what's the preference for the "main" library (the one that looks like a nice library with leather doors) vs the area with stacks of books ?

[hephaestus]

The reading room (the one with the leather doors that's in the brochures) doesn't have assigned seating. Most of the study carrells are assigned to 2Ls and 3Ls, so it can be hard to get a spot as a 1L. However, the second floor does have open carrells, and I would like to go there when possible.

I preferred the library, but many people preferred home. It's all about what helps you be productive. For me, reading at the library made it harder to procrastinate. Plus, I felt like it was psychologically healthy that when I left the library I was leaving my work behind me. Also, case books are heavy and you won't want to be carrying them up hills in Collegetown.

[toothbrush]

The reading room (the one with the leather doors that's in the brochures) doesn't have assigned seating. Most of the study carrells are assigned to 2Ls and 3Ls, so it can be hard to get a spot as a 1L. However, the second floor does have open carrells, and I would like to go there when possible.

I preferred the library, but many people preferred home. It's all about what helps you be productive. For me, reading at the library made it harder to procrastinate. Plus, I felt like it was psychologically healthy that when I left the library I was leaving my work behind me. Also, case books are heavy and you won't want to be carrying them up hills in Collegetown.

Thank you! Do you mean that they have copies in the library or that you used lockers (are there lockers?) ? Do you need the casebooks for class ?

[hephaestus]

The reading room (the one with the leather doors that's in the brochures) doesn't have assigned seating. Most of the study carrells are assigned to 2Ls and 3Ls, so it can be hard to get a spot as a 1L. However, the second floor does have open carrells, and I would like to go there when possible.

I preferred the library, but many people preferred home. It's all about what helps you be productive. For me, reading at the library made it harder to procrastinate. Plus, I felt like it was psychologically healthy that when I left the library I was leaving my work behind me. Also, case books are heavy and you won't want to be carrying them up hills in Collegetown.

Thank you! Do you mean that they have copies in the library or that you used lockers (are there lockers?) ? Do you need the casebooks for class ?

Unless you live in Hughes, you get a locker big enough for all your books. And yeah, you generally need them for class. I kept all mine at school and rarely brought them home (except during finals).

[RetakeFrenzy]

Your schedule changes a lot depending on the time of year. Earlier in the semester, I would read until 6-7 and be done for the day. Then I'd go home, make dinner and relax. In November/December, I'd typically read from when classes ended to around 6-7, go home for an hour to have dinner and relax, and then go back to the library until 12ish. I also lived really close to the law school so going back and forth was easy.
Something I'd emphasize is don't be afraid to have fun early in the semester. Things will get hectic, but don't stay in the library until 11 in September just because other people are or you feel like you should.

Thank you for this!

[Lacepiece23]

Your schedule changes a lot depending on the time of year. Earlier in the semester, I would read until 6-7 and be done for the day. Then I'd go home, make dinner and relax. In November/December, I'd typically read from when classes ended to around 6-7, go home for an hour to have dinner and relax, and then go back to the library until 12ish. I also lived really close to the law school so going back and forth was easy.
Something I'd emphasize is don't be afraid to have fun early in the semester. Things will get hectic, but don't stay in the library until 11 in September just because other people are or you feel like you should.

Thank you for this!

You could literally get away with not doing a single thing until fall break. In hindisght I wish I hadn't.

[Arbiter213]

Your schedule changes a lot depending on the time of year. Earlier in the semester, I would read until 6-7 and be done for the day. Then I'd go home, make dinner and relax. In November/December, I'd typically read from when classes ended to around 6-7, go home for an hour to have dinner and relax, and then go back to the library until 12ish. I also lived really close to the law school so going back and forth was easy.
Something I'd emphasize is don't be afraid to have fun early in the semester. Things will get hectic, but don't stay in the library until 11 in September just because other people are or you feel like you should.

Thank you for this!

You could literally get away with not doing a single thing until fall break. In hindisght I wish I hadn't.

I just wish I hadn't worked so hard 1L fall - too proud to use supplements or upperclassman outlines. Stupid shit.

[MischiefMayhemSoap]

I did the worst in classes I worked the hardest for and the best in classes I didn't give a fuck about during the semester and scrambled in the last few days for.

The less fucks I gave, the better I did. Same for spring.

[guinness1547]

I did the worst in classes I worked the hardest for and the best in classes I didn't give a fuck about during the semester and scrambled in the last few days for.

The less fucks I gave, the better I did. Same for spring.

That's incredibly tempting "advice"....

[MischiefMayhemSoap]

I did the worst in classes I worked the hardest for and the best in classes I didn't give a fuck about during the semester and scrambled in the last few days for.

The less fucks I gave, the better I did. Same for spring.

That's incredibly tempting "advice"....

Honestly it doesn't matter what we tell you. You're going to work really hard and try and be as prepared as you can, etc. I took so many practice exams in fall. In spring I barely took any.

Come to think of it now, my two best classes from spring are for those I didn't take a single practice exam for. Hmm.

[RetakeFrenzy]

Honestly it doesn't matter what we tell you. You're going to work really hard and try and be as prepared as you can, etc. I took so many practice exams in fall. In spring I barely took any.

Come to think of it now, my two best classes from spring are for those I didn't take a single practice exam for. Hmm.

Was it because you were more confident about those classes?

[MischiefMayhemSoap]

Honestly it doesn't matter what we tell you. You're going to work really hard and try and be as prepared as you can, etc. I took so many practice exams in fall. In spring I barely took any.

Come to think of it now, my two best classes from spring are for those I didn't take a single practice exam for. Hmm.

Was it because you were more confident about those classes?

No, those were classes for which I didn't pay attention during the year and reviewed by myself toward the end. The night before one of them I was like oh shit, I haven't taken any PT's. Had a mini mental breakdown.

I always kinda lol at my grades. The classes I paid attention to and prep'd a lot for, I do poorly in. The grades almost seemed arbitrary to me.

It also has to do with the curve. Clermont for example has a laxer curve than BHS, etc.

[RetakeFrenzy]

Honestly it doesn't matter what we tell you. You're going to work really hard and try and be as prepared as you can, etc. I took so many practice exams in fall. In spring I barely took any.

Come to think of it now, my two best classes from spring are for those I didn't take a single practice exam for. Hmm.

Was it because you were more confident about those classes?

No, those were classes for which I didn't pay attention during the year and reviewed by myself toward the end. The night before one of them I was like oh shit, I haven't taken any PT's. Had a mini mental breakdown.

I always kinda lol at my grades. The classes I paid attention to and prep'd a lot for, I do poorly in. The grades almost seemed arbitrary to me.

It also has to do with the curve. Clermont for example has a laxer curve than BHS, etc.

so I guess we 0L's should just forget about the whole thing until the school starts.

[MischiefMayhemSoap]

Yeah. When classes start, do the readings. Don't worry about briefing the cases unless you get nervous about cold calls (which don't matter for your grades anyway). Keep up the readings and start prepping by looking at outlines& making your own (if you so wish) around fall break. Take some practice tests but there really isn't a point to them unless you can get someone who knows what to look for to look at them, since you could have written twenty-six really bad exams and not know it.

For now, chill and enjoy life and do other things.

[toothbrush]

Yeah. When classes start, do the readings. Don't worry about briefing the cases unless you get nervous about cold calls (which don't matter for your grades anyway). Keep up the readings and start prepping by looking at outlines& making your own (if you so wish) around fall break. Take some practice tests but there really isn't a point to them unless you can get someone who knows what to look for to look at them, since you could have written twenty-six really bad exams and not know it.

For now, chill and enjoy life and do other things.

How can I get all these upperclassman outlines? (and their used books?)

[gonewiththewind]

Yeah. When classes start, do the readings. Don't worry about briefing the cases unless you get nervous about cold calls (which don't matter for your grades anyway). Keep up the readings and start prepping by looking at outlines& making your own (if you so wish) around fall break. Take some practice tests but there really isn't a point to them unless you can get someone who knows what to look for to look at them, since you could have written twenty-six really bad exams and not know it.

For now, chill and enjoy life and do other things.

How can I get all these upperclassman outlines? (and their used books?)

There's a used book sale sometime near the beginning of the year. As far as 2L/3L outlines, join all the LSAs (especially LALSA and BLSA) and do whatever they want to confirm membership. All the LSAs have outline banks.

[Arbiter213]

Yeah. When classes start, do the readings. Don't worry about briefing the cases unless you get nervous about cold calls (which don't matter for your grades anyway). Keep up the readings and start prepping by looking at outlines& making your own (if you so wish) around fall break. Take some practice tests but there really isn't a point to them unless you can get someone who knows what to look for to look at them, since you could have written twenty-six really bad exams and not know it.

For now, chill and enjoy life and do other things.

How can I get all these upperclassman outlines? (and their used books?)

Talk to Lacepiece. He knows whats up.

[Lavitz]

How can I get all these upperclassman outlines? (and their used books?)

Talk to Lacepiece. He knows whats up.

For the record:

I hear Lacepiece has great secondhand books, with superb highlighting.

Dibs.

[toothbrush]

How can I get all these upperclassman outlines? (and their used books?)

Talk to Lacepiece. He knows whats up.

For the record:

I hear Lacepiece has great secondhand books, with superb highlighting.

Dibs.

I believe I'll be in Ithaca 8 days before you

Jokes.

[Arbiter213]

How can I get all these upperclassman outlines? (and their used books?)

Talk to Lacepiece. He knows whats up.

For the record:

I hear Lacepiece has great secondhand books, with superb highlighting.

Dibs.

I believe I'll be in Ithaca 8 days before you

Jokes.

The bidding on the Half Blood Prince's Tort's book begins at $90.

[BFrankBYangC]

I can't think of anyone I know who got a meal plan. I can see that it's good for financial planning, but Collegetown is so much more convenient than trekking over to trillium or whatever for dinner.[/quote]

I had a meal plan and lived in Hughes. No regrets. It's expensive, but convenient if you're in the dorms (~5 minute walk). The food was strictly mediocre, but you can at least get a decent salad every day. Going to the dining hall tended to be the social highlight of my weekdays (eating and chatting with friends for an hour at lunch and dinner is nice).