Cornell 1L taking questions Forum

[fsohn]

I'm sure this has been asked before, but what's the ranking situation at Cornell? Are students ranked individually, put into percentage groups, or what?

they publish the median and top 10% cutoff, and put a deans list mark on your transcript if you're top 30%.

I believe in second and third year, they also publish the top 5% cutoff.

[goosey]

Im currently working on my Why Cornell essay. Any tips on what to write about

[sheltron5000]

Im currently working on my Why Cornell essay. Any tips on what to write about

Write about the things you value that cornell does well, some common examples are the death penalty project, international opportunities, the LII, etc. You could also include things that are attractive to you but not really law related, like the small school/community environment, Ithaca is gorges, and so on.

I just wrote a long list of all the things I liked about Cornell.

[paraducks]

shameless bump so that these get answered:

a few q's:

1) what's the most convenient way to get to the gym? from what i can gather, noyes is the closest to the law school. is there are a parking lot that i can use?

2) any suggestions on taking the bus from downtown (aurora st, specifically?). from what i can tell, line 10 seems to be best. any other useful info would be appreciated.

3) i purchased 10 24-hour parking passes. how and where can i use them?

[mbw]

Does anyone who had Heise for Torts still have their syllabus from last semester? I was just wondering about the first week's reading (my spouse has to go to Europe the first week of September, so I was hoping to read a little ahead, as, with four kids, I'm sure it will be more challenging than usual.) Pretty please ?

[neskerdoo]

Does anyone who had Heise for Torts still have their syllabus from last semester? I was just wondering about the first week's reading (my spouse has to go to Europe the first week of September, so I was hoping to read a little ahead, as, with four kids, I'm sure it will be more challenging than usual.) Pretty please ?

1. Introduction & Background: xxxv-xlii

A. Intentional Torts

2. Battery: 3-10

3. Offensive Battery & Assault: 83-85; 79-83

4. False Imprisonment: 85-93

5. Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress: 93-100

[mbw]

Awesome. Thanks, Nesk.

[danielfgator]

I'm sure this has been asked before, but what's the ranking situation at Cornell? Are students ranked individually, put into percentage groups, or what?

they publish the median and top 10% cutoff, and put a deans list mark on your transcript if you're top 30%.

I believe in second and third year, they also publish the top 5% cutoff.

According to what I have read, they don't publish median, only 5% and 10% cutoffs and mark your transcript Deans list (if 30% +)

From the grading policy:
"Class Rank
As a matter of faculty policy, we do not release the academic rankings of our students. Interested
individuals, including employers, have access to the 5% and 10% approximate cumulative grade
point cut off for the most recent semester of completion for second and third year students and
the 10% approximate cumulative grade point cut off for first year students."

[danielfgator]

Im currently working on my Why Cornell essay. Any tips on what to write about

I literally just answered the "Why Cornell" question on the actual application. 2 or 3 sentences saying Cornell had some good clinics for Human rights law and the fact that I wanted to be close to my wife who was going to be living in NYC and apparently they liked it...

[spanktheduck]

I'm sure this has been asked before, but what's the ranking situation at Cornell? Are students ranked individually, put into percentage groups, or what?

they publish the median and top 10% cutoff, and put a deans list mark on your transcript if you're top 30%.

I believe in second and third year, they also publish the top 5% cutoff.

According to what I have read, they don't publish median, only 5% and 10% cutoffs and mark your transcript Deans list (if 30% +)

From the grading policy:
"Class Rank
As a matter of faculty policy, we do not release the academic rankings of our students. Interested
individuals, including employers, have access to the 5% and 10% approximate cumulative grade
point cut off for the most recent semester of completion for second and third year students and
the 10% approximate cumulative grade point cut off for first year students."

While they don't publish the exact median, it can't be any higher that a 3.35

[jtaylor]

Getting my list together for the application cycle and seriously considering Cornell. I love Ithaca and the campus but was wondering if there was a technology law/ Intellectual Property Law focus available. Schools like UVA and GTown have sections on IP law in their prospective student materials but Cornell does not so I sort of figured it wasn't really taught (plus the Cornell website is a bit sparse in general).

Thanks

[sheltron5000]

Getting my list together for the application cycle and seriously considering Cornell. I love Ithaca and the campus but was wondering if there was a technology law/ Intellectual Property Law focus available. Schools like UVA and GTown have sections on IP law in their prospective student materials but Cornell does not so I sort of figured it wasn't really taught (plus the Cornell website is a bit sparse in general).

Thanks

I can't speak to this directly, but have you heard about the LII, the Legal Information Institute? It's a first of it's kind internet resource for legal information, they take on students who want to work on it, sort of like a journal.

[mbw]

I just realized that we're now the 1Ls who will be answering questions in this thread... Twilight Zone moment...

[woeisme]

Getting my list together for the application cycle and seriously considering Cornell. I love Ithaca and the campus but was wondering if there was a technology law/ Intellectual Property Law focus available. Schools like UVA and GTown have sections on IP law in their prospective student materials but Cornell does not so I sort of figured it wasn't really taught (plus the Cornell website is a bit sparse in general).

Thanks

I can't speak to this directly, but have you heard about the LII, the Legal Information Institute? It's a first of it's kind internet resource for legal information, they take on students who want to work on it, sort of like a journal.

LII operates like a journal, yeah. It has its own separate writing competition. It isn't exactly about IP law, though. It really just showcases upcoming Supreme Court cases.

OP, there isn't an IP journal, but there are a number of class offerings (and maybe clinics) that have to do with IP law. It's definitely taught. Good luck.

[sheltron5000]

Getting my list together for the application cycle and seriously considering Cornell. I love Ithaca and the campus but was wondering if there was a technology law/ Intellectual Property Law focus available. Schools like UVA and GTown have sections on IP law in their prospective student materials but Cornell does not so I sort of figured it wasn't really taught (plus the Cornell website is a bit sparse in general).

Thanks

I can't speak to this directly, but have you heard about the LII, the Legal Information Institute? It's a first of it's kind internet resource for legal information, they take on students who want to work on it, sort of like a journal.

LII operates like a journal, yeah. It has its own separate writing competition. It isn't exactly about IP law, though. It really just showcases upcoming Supreme Court cases.

OP, there isn't an IP journal, but there are a number of class offerings (and maybe clinics) that have to do with IP law. It's definitely taught. Good luck.

It's not about IP law, but it's very tech-forward; if your interest is being involved in techie stuff, it seems like a good place to look.

[TopLaw_Diva]

I just realized that we're now the 1Ls who will be answering questions in this thread... Twilight Zone moment...

Wow! I just realized that too...weird...

[azxount10]

Maybe if you actually spoke out of knowledge and did a little asking around (i.e. research)about her past encounters with the law school and many of its members whose views are not so naive, your responses might have some merit.

I have heard that one of the deans at Cornell Law, Anne Lukingbeal, should be generally avoided by the students who are men because she has a tendency to be unfair to them and generally unapproachable, and that Dean Siliciano is more reasonable for administrative matters such as studying abroad.

haha, is this what you've 'heard'?

He heard it rattle around in his own head a few times and thought that constituted a rumor.

Yeah, sorry aaxxczxj290, but Lukingbeal is great.

[woeisme]

Maybe if you actually spoke out of knowledge and did a little asking around (i.e. research)about her past encounters with the law school and many of its members whose views are not so naive, your responses might have some merit.

I have heard that one of the deans at Cornell Law, Anne Lukingbeal, should be generally avoided by the students who are men because she has a tendency to be unfair to them and generally unapproachable, and that Dean Siliciano is more reasonable for administrative matters such as studying abroad.

haha, is this what you've 'heard'?

He heard it rattle around in his own head a few times and thought that constituted a rumor.

Yeah, sorry aaxxczxj290, but Lukingbeal is great.

So you're a male (or know someone who is), who wanted to study abroad, and Lukingbeal said no, while Siliciano said yes? Doubtful. If true, point me in direction of so-called research. I'm happy to consider it.

[azxount10]

Geez, that's a lot of assumptions in one sentence! Would that happen to make you someone who is trying to stick up for a horrible dean because you think it may improve your career prospects and / or it might otherwise compromise your career prospects to do anything but? Unfortunately, another mistaken belief. You may want to do a little homework about Anne Lukingbeal's track record with those who are not "fans." People, believe it or not, of all genders. You can start with past law review members.

Dean Lukingbeal (and the influence she exerts over her own niche within the law school) is one of the factors holding back Cornell Law School from becoming a true top 10 law school, IMHO. Thank you for your time and consideration.

[02082010]

Bumping this bc I'm wondering what the consensus is on the Why Cornell. I was planning on just using the three lines or so they give but it seems everyone so far in other threads are writing a short addendums or advise doing so.

What are other applicants doing? Anyone from last cycle think they got a WL bc of a deficient Why Cornell where they just used the space provided instead of adding a longer addendum?

[kn6542]

Geez, that's a lot of assumptions in one sentence! Would that happen to make you someone who is trying to stick up for a horrible dean because you think it may improve your career prospects and / or it might otherwise compromise your career prospects to do anything but? Unfortunately, another mistaken belief. You may want to do a little homework about Anne Lukingbeal's track record with those who are not "fans." People, believe it or not, of all genders. You can start with past law review members.

Dean Lukingbeal (and the influence she exerts over her own niche within the law school) is one of the factors holding back Cornell Law School from becoming a true top 10 law school, IMHO. Thank you for your time and consideration.

How many times are you going to edit this? And who are you?

[kn6542]

Bumping this bc I'm wondering what the consensus is on the Why Cornell. I was planning on just using the three lines or so they give but it seems everyone so far in other threads are writing a short addendums or advise doing so.

What are other applicants doing? Anyone from last cycle think they got a WL bc of a deficient Why Cornell where they just used the space provided instead of adding a longer addendum?

As far as I can remember, the app doesn't say "use additional paper if you need more room." It just gives you three lines, so say the most important things you want to say and do it in the space provided. Maybe someone else has some insight into this, but that's all I did. But I also included a little more detail about why cornell in my PS.

[Borhas]

awesome thread, thanks for all the info

I probably won't get in but it's nice to have another school to think about

[panda]

Bumping this bc I'm wondering what the consensus is on the Why Cornell. I was planning on just using the three lines or so they give but it seems everyone so far in other threads are writing a short addendums or advise doing so.

What are other applicants doing? Anyone from last cycle think they got a WL bc of a deficient Why Cornell where they just used the space provided instead of adding a longer addendum?

As far as I can remember, the app doesn't say "use additional paper if you need more room." It just gives you three lines, so say the most important things you want to say and do it in the space provided. Maybe someone else has some insight into this, but that's all I did. But I also included a little more detail about why cornell in my PS.

this. but if you have numbers on the weaker end, it couldn't hurt to instead write an addendum with more detail..

[panda]

also, just wondering, 0Ls interested in Cornell.. do you want a new thread to ask questions, or is this one fine?

I can't imagine why you would want a new one, though..except that the filtering process might be a little rough..