Cornell 1L taking questions Forum

[woeisme]

Where and how do people socialize? Is it easy to make friends? How is the party scene?

What is the age/racial/international distribution? Are most people going for big law or no? How political is it?

If you are not into sports, are you doomed to failure at everything?

And lastly, does freaking all of TLS go to Cornell? And if so, is a good thing? o.O

Q: "Where and how do people socialize?"
A: I don't think I understand what you're asking. People socialize here the way they do everywhere. There's a pretty decent bar scene.

Q: "Is it easy to make friends?"
A: Incredibly easy. People are very supportive and friendly.

Q: "How is the party scene?"
A: I guess it depends on what your scene is, ... and to what you're comparing the scene here. All in all, I've been pretty satisfied. What specifically are you looking for?

Q: "What is the age/racial/international distribution?"
A: I think at orientation they said the youngest in the class of 2011 was born in 1987 and the oldest in 1958 (though maybe it was 1957). There's definitely a strong population of both minorities and international students. I don't know any statistics, thugh.

Q: "Are most people going for big law or no? How political is it?"
A: I don't know what most people are doing. I've definitely met multiple people who plan on big law, as well as multiple people who don't. There are definitely a bunch of very political people and it's easy to get involved in the political scene. Still, I would be hard-pressed to label the whole student body as "political."

Q: "If you are not into sports, are you doomed to failure at everything?"
A: What? No! .... we're talking about Cornell here ...

Q: "And lastly, does freaking all of TLS go to Cornell? And if so, is a good thing?"
A: Again, we have a strong TLS representation, ... and it's a very good thing! XD

[kurla88]

Where and how do people socialize? Is it easy to make friends?

Frequently you see people you know between class and decide to eat lunch. Or if you live in the law dorm (I do), you walk into the kitchen or lounge and there will be people to chill with you. It is pretty easy to make friends, and everyone I've met has been very nice--even the really awkward kids.

Sounds awesome. My UG is really huge so seeing classmates outside of class raarely happens. I'm looking forward to going somewhere small where everyone knows everyone.

Q: "If you are not into sports, are you doomed to failure at everything?"
A: What? No! .... we're talking about Cornell here ...

Q: "And lastly, does freaking all of TLS go to Cornell? And if so, is a good thing?"
A: Again, we have a strong TLS representation, ... and it's a very good thing! XD

That sports one was a joke, I saw several of you mention bonding over football and baseball, idk.

Hahah, are you sure about TLS representation being a good thing?

Thanks for the quick responses, guys.

[yme16]

If you had to measure the difficulty of your classes from 1-5, what would it be?
What is the most popular undergrad degree there?
Which undergad major would more help for law school other than phil,poli sci,english and history?
Do the commercial outlines work?
In college, I would use my own notes than use the summarized outlines from various websites and add it into my notes, would that work at law school?

[18488]

If you had to measure the difficulty of your classes from 1-5, what would it be?
What is the most popular undergrad degree there?
Which undergad major would more help for law school other than phil,poli sci,english and history?
Do the commercial outlines work?
In college, I would use my own notes than use the summarized outlines from various websites and add it into my notes, would that work at law school?

I'd rate the difficulty a 3, but the quantity of work a 4.9.

The most common majors are pretty much the same as everywhere else--econ, philosophy, poli sci, literature, etc. I think you can do well with any background--law school really is designed to teach you as if you know nothing (though at first it seems like they assume you know everything about the law--you pick up relevant background by immersion in cases and your profs' explanations). I wish I had taken a couple of econ classes b/c several teachers have talked a lot about econ when explaining why the law favors certain solutions over others--but you can certainly understand what the law is without any prior knowledge.

Commercial outlines are just OK--sometimes they contradict the prof--when that happens go w/ prof. If you can find hornbooks written by author of your book, or better yet, by your professor, you're in better shape.

[fsohn]

Agree with sbrown on the difficulty, but not so much on the quantity. The amount of reading given is very manageable; what is annoying is that it is hard to get ahead in it, since understanding is often dependent on the previous day's class. The more free-floating conceptual stuff (conlaw) is OK for getting ahead, but reading ahead in property is well-nigh useless for me. I rate the amount of work as a 4, and the ease (or lack thereof) of time management of thereof as a 5.

As for outlines and hornbooks, I'll be selling some very lightly used ones next year. They are, as sbrown says, OK, and sometimes quite helpful when something just isn't making sense. They are not a substitute for doing the readings, trying hard to understand it, and going to class. I hear the E&E series is good from a lot of people, but I've not tried it yet, though I probably will around exam time.

[neskerdoo]

I will reserve comment on difficulty/ usefulness of study aids issues until Christmastime, I think...

[Darth Topher]

What are the girls like at this school?

I'm not all about the supermodel thing, but I really just want a smart and attractive girl

I am all about the Natalie Portman type rather than the Jessica Simpson type

[neskerdoo]

oddly enough, both Natalie and Jessica are 2Ls here at Cornell!

[kn6542]

What are the girls like at this school?

I'm not all about the supermodel thing, but I really just want a smart and attractive girl

I am all about the Natalie Portman type rather than the Jessica Simpson type

Are you seriously considering dating as a 1L?

[Fjord Jumper]

What are the girls like at this school?

I'm not all about the supermodel thing, but I really just want a smart and attractive girl

I am all about the Natalie Portman type rather than the Jessica Simpson type

Are you seriously considering dating as a 1L?

bad decision

[kn6542]

What are the girls like at this school?

I'm not all about the supermodel thing, but I really just want a smart and attractive girl

I am all about the Natalie Portman type rather than the Jessica Simpson type

Are you seriously considering dating as a 1L?

bad decision

Ya. Just find a fwb and focus on your studies.

[Fjord Jumper]

Finding a "FWB" is easier said then done

[kn6542]

Finding a "FWB" is easier said then done

Easier than finding and keeping a girlfriend during 1L.

[Fourttier]

1L girls I have run into recently don't seem to be too happy right now. i would not rate them as good girlfriend material.

[LeahNic]

I'm a happy 1L. But, I'm married and therefore am not good girlfriend material.

[Darth Topher]

Hearing the advice of "not to date during 1L"

I realize that this is important

(Sigh) Another lonely year for DT

[lsat_fear]

how do the sections work at cornell? i heard you have a bunch of small sections but classes are still huge. how's that make sense, and how effective do you think it is?

[lsat_fear]

also what's the word on the street about career prospects for bottom of the class?

[woeisme]

I'm a happy 1L. But, I'm married and therefore am not good girlfriend material.

how about fwb material?

[woeisme]

Hearing the advice of "not to date during 1L"

I realize that this is important

(Sigh) Another lonely year for DT

Nah, do your own thing. If you want to date, then date. Who cares?

[woeisme]

also what's the word on the street about career prospects for bottom of the class?

You can still get market in NYC. Other markets will require more work, but still doable. This is just what I've been told, I haven't seen the data.

[neskerdoo]

how do the sections work at cornell? i heard you have a bunch of small sections but classes are still huge. how's that make sense, and how effective do you think it is?

we are each in a section of a little over 30 people... lawyering and one other class is with just this group... then we have one class which is made up of two sections and two classes made up of three sections each... none of the above are exactly "huge" I don't think... I like the dynamics well enough, but I admit that 30 in every class would be more my style....

[woeisme]

how do the sections work at cornell? i heard you have a bunch of small sections but classes are still huge. how's that make sense, and how effective do you think it is?

I'm not sure what you've heard, but there are six sections (A - F), each with ~ 30 students. Classes range from 1 (~ 30 students) to 4 (~120 students) sections.

[neskerdoo]

woeisme, what class has 4 sections? I am looking at the registrar schedule and I see only groups of 3...

[Darth Topher]

also what's the word on the street about career prospects for bottom of the class?

great question