<p>If I don't win any scholarships, I'll graduate with $40,000 in debt, but I'm considering the Cornell Tradition which should hopefully lower that number somewhat -- when I visited, I saw some banner promising $4000/year for selected students (does this make any sense to you guys?)</p>
<p>Could anybody fill me in on the rewards and requirements of each Cornell Commitment? I'd really appreciate it.</p>
<p>Well I'm going to assume you didn't get in as a Freshman (tell me if I'm wrong), and if that's the case you won't be able to get into any of the Commitment programs until your sophomore year. The Cornell Tradition is a program where students who have integrated service and work in their lives to help the community are rewarded. The scholarship you are referring too covers potentially up to $4,000 of student need-based loans. This means that you must qualify for student need-based loans; if you do not, then you will receive a minimum $600 book reward. In order to earn the Tradition money each year a minimum of 250 hours of paid work service (200 hours if your a freshman) and at least 75 hours of community service need to be completed DURING the Cornell Fall and Spring Semester (work can be done during winter break, spring break, etc., but NOT summer). In order to stay in the program these standards must be met, and I'm assuming they would need to be met if you try applying to the program. Even if you only get $600 another benefit of being in the Tradition is another feather in the hat for grad school (very nice for medical) and they give money to certain employers to help cover half of your salary (even if you don't qualify for federal-work study), which will create many job openings for you.</p>
<p>Either. Most students in the Cornell Commitment program get picked before they even arrive on campus. However, there are opportunities to apply for the various programs after you've already enrolled. For example, one of my friends applied for the Cornell Tradition program last year at the end of her freshman year. I, myself, was nominated for the Cornell Presidential Research Scholars program by my research mentor during my sophomore year. Both programs are part of Cornell Commitment.</p>
<p>D is in Tradition Program. As we don't get any financial aid, she only receives the $600 book award. But due to her Tradition status she was easily able to get campus employment which allows her to earn a few thousand a year.<br>
In fact it was her on-campus office experience that helped her land a "winter internship" slot in a prestigious NYC law firm.<br>
Employers really do like kids who can work in an office environment with others and don't come across as "ivy league snobs".
Other than the book award and campus employment, she will list her Tradition status on her resume- but I don't think she has gotten much else in benefits.</p>
<p>Would I likely receive the full $4000 / year considering I'll have amassed $40,000 in debt by the time I graduate? And, if so, will that money count against my loans or my institutional aid? Is their logic "hey, you just made $4000; we can afford to give you $4000 less to come here" or something like "hey, you just made $4000, good work! Let's start paying off your debt?" I know any scholarship money I receive between now and the time I matriculate is directly used to pay off my loans.</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p><em>edit</em></p>
<p>Oh, and how hard is it to get into the Tradition program as a Sophomore/Junior/Senior? Will I just have to meet certain requirements, or is it a more thorough / selective application process?</p>