Cornell 1L taking questions Forum

[vexion]

What's the music scene like? I know I won't have time to perform much at all, but do any good live acts come through?

Cornell has about two big acts a year, as part of events like Slope Day. This year we have Nelly, last year I think they had Drake, recently they've had Phoenix and The Flaming Lips. But the city of Ithaca doesn't have any big stadium acts. They don't even have a big stadium. Most artists would come to Syracuse or Rochester.

As far as local music, a few bars (like Castaways) have live music every day, but Castaways is too far to walk from campus, so I've never been.

[japes]

I mean, come on, small town has its perks. But no way it will be able to compare with a larger town's sheer mass of music options.

True. I'm fairly certain there isn't a city in the US (outside of NY and Chicago) that could compete with Austin's music scene. I know wherever I go I'll end up missing the breadth of options Austin has re:live music. Just curious as to who comes through Ithaca - I thought long and hard about flying up for a non-ASW visit 'cause my favorite band is playing in Ithaca 5 days before my visit.

Looks like a few groups I'm interested in come through Castaways every now and then - J Mascis!

I guess the nearest big city concert destination would be NYC, then? Ithaca looks pretty remote.

[TR Fan]

Sorry that nobody got back to you sooner on this. I am not sure what the on campus options are like. My family and I live in a house about 5 miles from campus. It is cozy and in a nice neighborhood, and the rent is really reasonable. My wife was able to find a job as a Montessori school teacher pretty easily. The University is obviously a big employer, but I am not sure how easy it is to get a job there. Sorry I can't be more helpful. Best of luck.

No worries, I also had some very helpful PMs. Thank you very much for the input! My fiancee and I are definitely wary about what the job situation will be like for her, but nevertheless haven't discounted Cornell yet by a longshot. We're very eager to visit in April and see what life in Ithaca may hold in store. Admittedly after being cooped up in an apartment in DC for a couple years having a house would be a welcome change of pace.

[danidancer]

Sorry that nobody got back to you sooner on this. I am not sure what the on campus options are like. My family and I live in a house about 5 miles from campus. It is cozy and in a nice neighborhood, and the rent is really reasonable. My wife was able to find a job as a Montessori school teacher pretty easily. The University is obviously a big employer, but I am not sure how easy it is to get a job there. Sorry I can't be more helpful. Best of luck.

No worries, I also had some very helpful PMs. Thank you very much for the input! My fiancee and I are definitely wary about what the job situation will be like for her, but nevertheless haven't discounted Cornell yet by a longshot. We're very eager to visit in April and see what life in Ithaca may hold in store. Admittedly after being cooped up in an apartment in DC for a couple years having a house would be a welcome change of pace.

Also keep in mind that Ithaca is about an hour from both Syracuse and Binghamton. If your financee is willing to commute and depending on her field, those cities would most likely open up a lot more job opportunities.

[damage-inc]

For those of you who drive to campus/class everyday: where do you park???

the question may seem simple but its got huge implications on the housing situation. I come from a big state school where you have 8 commuter lots on campus, and I only see 3 major ones on Cornell's. Im having a hard time understanding the idea of living out of walking distance to the school (20-30 minutes) only to park on campus and walk 15-20 minutes anyway

[danidancer]

For those of you who drive to campus/class everyday: where do you park???

the question may seem simple but its got huge implications on the housing situation. I come from a big state school where you have 8 commuter lots on campus, and I only see 3 major ones on Cornell's. Im having a hard time understanding the idea of living out of walking distance to the school (20-30 minutes) only to park on campus and walk 15-20 minutes anyway

Most people not walking distance don't park on campus, they take the bus. Cornell parking is awful.

[PinkCow]

Quick question, not sure if y'all can answer it or not.

My wife and I are here in Ithaca for ASW and, long story short, United Airways royally cheesed us, and we just now got into Ithaca after what would have been a 13 hour trip turned into 28 hours, so obviously we've missed all of Friday.

Anyway, I'm seeing that the Saturday events start with "brunch" and then on to a campus tour. Does anybody know about this brunch? Like is it a formal, Cornell-sponsored brunch or what? I'd like to make it if it's something, but I have no idea...

[vexion]

Quick question, not sure if y'all can answer it or not.

My wife and I are here in Ithaca for ASW and, long story short, United Airways royally cheesed us, and we just now got into Ithaca after what would have been a 13 hour trip turned into 28 hours, so obviously we've missed all of Friday.

Anyway, I'm seeing that the Saturday events start with "brunch" and then on to a campus tour. Does anybody know about this brunch? Like is it a formal, Cornell-sponsored brunch or what? I'd like to make it if it's something, but I have no idea...

The brunch is unimportant. More like another opportunity to meet-and-greet with your fellow admitted students then anything else. As is the campus tour: You'll rarely ever go anywhere on campus besides the law school once you're here. Hate to say it, but 90% of the "substance" of ASW happens on Friday...

[Juff]

Quick question, not sure if y'all can answer it or not.

My wife and I are here in Ithaca for ASW and, long story short, United Airways royally cheesed us, and we just now got into Ithaca after what would have been a 13 hour trip turned into 28 hours, so obviously we've missed all of Friday.

Anyway, I'm seeing that the Saturday events start with "brunch" and then on to a campus tour. Does anybody know about this brunch? Like is it a formal, Cornell-sponsored brunch or what? I'd like to make it if it's something, but I have no idea...

The brunch is unimportant. More like another opportunity to meet-and-greet with your fellow admitted students then anything else. As is the campus tour: You'll rarely ever go anywhere on campus besides the law school once you're here. Hate to say it, but 90% of the "substance" of ASW happens on Friday...

Assuming you can call a Clermont class "substance."

[PinkCow]

Quick question, not sure if y'all can answer it or not.

My wife and I are here in Ithaca for ASW and, long story short, United Airways royally cheesed us, and we just now got into Ithaca after what would have been a 13 hour trip turned into 28 hours, so obviously we've missed all of Friday.

Anyway, I'm seeing that the Saturday events start with "brunch" and then on to a campus tour. Does anybody know about this brunch? Like is it a formal, Cornell-sponsored brunch or what? I'd like to make it if it's something, but I have no idea...

The brunch is unimportant. More like another opportunity to meet-and-greet with your fellow admitted students then anything else. As is the campus tour: You'll rarely ever go anywhere on campus besides the law school once you're here. Hate to say it, but 90% of the "substance" of ASW happens on Friday...

Assuming you can call a Clermont class "substance."

Zing? Ha ok thanks for the tips. I suppose we'll just head out downtown to the bars or something tonight then. Chapter House? Hopefully we'll get some "substance" there.

[vexion]

Quick question, not sure if y'all can answer it or not.

My wife and I are here in Ithaca for ASW and, long story short, United Airways royally cheesed us, and we just now got into Ithaca after what would have been a 13 hour trip turned into 28 hours, so obviously we've missed all of Friday.

Anyway, I'm seeing that the Saturday events start with "brunch" and then on to a campus tour. Does anybody know about this brunch? Like is it a formal, Cornell-sponsored brunch or what? I'd like to make it if it's something, but I have no idea...

The brunch is unimportant. More like another opportunity to meet-and-greet with your fellow admitted students then anything else. As is the campus tour: You'll rarely ever go anywhere on campus besides the law school once you're here. Hate to say it, but 90% of the "substance" of ASW happens on Friday...

Assuming you can call a Clermont class "substance."

Zing? Ha ok thanks for the tips. I suppose we'll just head out downtown to the bars or something tonight then. Chapter House? Hopefully we'll get some "substance" there.

If you all can stomach it, go to the Palms (the Royal Palm Tavern on Dryden) at midnight, and not a second before. Every weekend precisely at midnight (Palms o' Clock,) pretty much the entire law school + half of campus rolls from other parts of Collegetown to this one horrid, dingy, rotting bar to coup-de-grace their livers.

[mths]

Zing? Ha ok thanks for the tips. I suppose we'll just head out downtown to the bars or something tonight then. Chapter House? Hopefully we'll get some "substance" there.

If you all can stomach it, go to the Palms (the Royal Palm Tavern on Dryden) at midnight, and not a second before. Every weekend precisely at midnight (Palms o' Clock,) pretty much the entire law school + half of campus rolls from other parts of Collegetown to this one horrid, dingy, rotting bar to coup-de-grace their livers.

why would you give anyone this advice??

[vexion]

why would you give anyone this advice??

He'd better know what he's signing on for.

[mths]

why would you give anyone this advice??

He'd better know what he's signing on for.

[BushyPotter]

How likely is it to go to Cornell for law school and then try and get hired at a law firm or get a clerkship in CA? I want to work in CA [or at least right now I do, idk how I'll feel later], but I want to get out of CA for law school to experience something different

[Horchata]

How likely is it to go to Cornell for law school and then try and get hired at a law firm or get a clerkship in CA? I want to work in CA [or at least right now I do, idk how I'll feel later], but I want to get out of CA for law school to experience something different

Same here, dude. Been out here my whole life. I'm actually still deciding between a good CA school and Cornell. This is the million dollar question^^^

[vexion]

How likely is it to go to Cornell for law school and then try and get hired at a law firm or get a clerkship in CA? I want to work in CA [or at least right now I do, idk how I'll feel later], but I want to get out of CA for law school to experience something different

Same here, dude. Been out here my whole life. I'm actually still deciding between a good CA school and Cornell. This is the million dollar question^^^

The key is showing a strong preexisting connection to CA (i.e., proving to firms that you're not a flight risk.) California firms don't do the New York job fair or recruit much, if at all, at Cornell, so you will have to go above and beyond the efforts of your classmates looking for New York jobs. But if you send out résumés early and you can show that you have a strong reason for wanting to work in California (having lived there your whole life helps,) there's no reason you shouldn't get the job.

[spacepenguin]

How likely is it to go to Cornell for law school and then try and get hired at a law firm or get a clerkship in CA? I want to work in CA [or at least right now I do, idk how I'll feel later], but I want to get out of CA for law school to experience something different

Same here, dude. Been out here my whole life. I'm actually still deciding between a good CA school and Cornell. This is the million dollar question^^^

The key is showing a strong preexisting connection to CA (i.e., proving to firms that you're not a flight risk.) California firms don't do the New York job fair or recruit much, if at all, at Cornell, so you will have to go above and beyond the efforts of your classmates looking for New York jobs. But if you send out résumés early and you can show that you have a strong reason for wanting to work in California (having lived there your whole life helps,) there's no reason you shouldn't get the job.

I'd imagine the same applies to Texas firms? Or do some firms travel to NY?

[KingRajesh]

I just got accepted into Cornell, and I admittedly haven't done my due diligence in reading through the entire thread, but I wanted to get my questions asked.

Is Hughes Hall really a good idea? My dad said it was a big on parties back when he went to engineering school there. I also live in WA state, so moving furniture would probably be hard.

TLS shows that there are grocery stores and restaurants in collegetown, but what about shopping for clothes/shoes/coats? Is there a local mall nearby?

What does everybody do in the winter when it's freezing cold?

[CyLaw]

Is Hughes Hall really a good idea? My dad said it was a big on parties back when he went to engineering school there. I also live in WA state, so moving furniture would probably be hard.

I like Hughes. Most parties are at people's apartments and not in hughes itself.

TLS shows that there are grocery stores and restaurants in collegetown, but what about shopping for clothes/shoes/coats? Is there a local mall nearby?

There is a mall nearby, but I think clothing shopping is lacking here. I would not plan on buying clothes while in school. Bring what you need, Amazon the rest.

What does everybody do in the winter when it's freezing cold?

It is 40 outside right now, I just went to the gym in shorts. The weather is over-hyped and you get use to it fast.

[mths]

Is Hughes Hall really a good idea? My dad said it was a big on parties back when he went to engineering school there. I also live in WA state, so moving furniture would probably be hard.

I like Hughes. Most parties are at people's apartments and not in hughes itself.

TLS shows that there are grocery stores and restaurants in collegetown, but what about shopping for clothes/shoes/coats? Is there a local mall nearby?

There is a mall nearby, but I think clothing shopping is lacking here. I would not plan on buying clothes while in school. Bring what you need, Amazon the rest.

What does everybody do in the winter when it's freezing cold?

It is 40 outside right now, I just went to the gym in shorts. The weather is over-hyped and you get use to it fast.

I agree with everything except for Cy's last point. It is cold as fuck as has been for about 5 months. Enjoy this frigid hell.

[CyLaw]

I agree with everything except for Cy's last point. It is cold as fuck as has been for about 5 months. Enjoy this frigid hell.

I probably show have mentioned that I came from Iowa, huh?

[vexion]

I probably show have mentioned that I came from Iowa, huh?

She's from British Columbia.

[Juff]

Tip to prospective students- when considering law schools, the weather should be an incredibly insignificant consideration. I've seen more posts about the weather in Ithaca than, say, the actual quality of the school, and it really baffles me.

Employment prospects > how cold you'll be walking back from the gym.

[mths]

Tip to prospective students- when considering law schools, the weather should be an incredibly insignificant consideration. I've seen more posts about the weather in Ithaca than, say, the actual quality of the school, and it really baffles me.

Employment prospects > how cold you'll be walking back from the gym.

egregious "I go to the gym" trolling