Cornell ILR transfers

Transfer Students
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<p>I’ll have three semesters under my belt, but will be just under junior status. What kind of ECs do you recommend? I’ll be starting work on a major political campaign soon, which will tie in to my essays (even though it is not exclusively related to ILR, I’ll show I had valid reasons). Other than that I don’t really have anything too impressive. I’m finishing my first year in college now, so I haven’t really had the chance to do a hundred internships.</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice, too. Anyone else?</p>

<p>edit: Just saw your post chasethecarrot. I am not at NYU, but rather another 4 year. It is a bit difficult since I do go to a large school, professors do not really get much interaction with individual students. Whats even worse is that it is like this for the first couple of years (even at Cornell from what I hear) which is when one would need bonds with professors for transfer recs.</p>

22

<p>@Eyethink
I sent in my deposit, so I get my netid all set up. Have you decide if your going to Cornell?</p>

<p>Does anyone have any suggestions for
the summer, in terms of preparation? Also, anyone doing anything interesting over the summer break, I wanted to go backpacking thru South America.</p>

23

<p>@Gallatinguy- as far as EC’s, I don’t know your particular situation, interests, and so on, but I do know that any sort of activities that demonstrate leadership are in your best interest. Also, helping others, of course.</p>

<p>As for the rec’s, do you have teaching assistants in your classes? They say (at least, I hope I’m remembering this correctly) that you can have rec’s written by T.A.'s, as they might know you better, but then you also have to have actual instructors add their input, but it’s in addition to the potentially more valuable T.A. rec’s. I’ll have to double check, but I think you may also be able to get other recommendations, like ones from employers, but again, that has to be in addition to the instructor eval and rec’s.</p>

<p>I’ll try to double check that stuff when I get a chance, but if you have time you should go to the Cornell site and just download the ILR transfer app instructional .pdf. That’s where all of this information can be found.
Hope that helps! :)</p>

24

<p>@mattmiglio2008: I haven’t decided yet. This week UCLA, Dartmouth, and Cal will be releasing admissions decisions so that’ll clarify the picture somewhat. By May 4th I’ll be paying my SIR somewhere. </p>

<p>For the summer I’m going to try to teach myself how to play the guitar and spend as much time with my family and friends as humanly possible. Who knows if I’ll be moving to the other side of the country.</p>

<p>Backpacking through South America sounds fun.</p>

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<p>Thanks carrot. I’ll be in a leadership position in the campaign, so that should look good. I am also hoping I will be able to get a recommendation from the coordinator (though this will depend on how well I perform). I’ve been mulling over the entire ILR site for a while now, I was just looking for some advice that I wouldn’t find in the school’s literature. </p>

<p>You guys are so great, if I get in to ILR I’ll be in great company :).</p>

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<p>I’ll be attending ILR starting Fall 2011. I put West housing as my top choice today.</p>

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<p>@gallatinguy- no problem, I hope that helped! If there’s anything else we can help you with, I’m sure we’re all on board to offer any suggestions/advice we can, and if you like, feel free to PM me. </p>

<p>@eyethink- that’s awesome!! Are you going to play acoustic or electric? I recommend starting with acoustic- once you have that down you can EASILY transition into electric; it just becomes little technique differences you have to learn from there, like sweep-picking, and that all depends on the style of music you want to play, as well. But learning on an electric and transitioning to an acoustic can be more difficult for most, so that’s my suggestion. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to assist you…maybe I could give you lessons through Skype or something!! …or maybe you already have a plan (from what I know about you, that sounds more likely, lol), so just know that I’m here to help if you so choose. :)</p>

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<p>@chasethecarrot what kind of campaign you working on: mayoral, congressional, etc?</p>

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<p>@mattmiglio2008: Don’t forget about the New Student Reading Project book coming out.</p>

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<p>@mattmiglio2008- I think you meant for that question to be directed to GallatinGuy. :)</p>

31

<p>@chasethecarrot: I’m in a similar situation as yours regarding CU GS v. Cornell. The only difference is that I’m applying to CU GS RD so I’ll have to wait for a decision in July. My decision to attend any of these schools is based solely (aside from being accepted) on finaid packages and an awesome outside scholarship I was nominated for. My main worry about CU GS is the dearth of finaid assistance. I’m hoping Cornell will come through with a full package or else I’m heading to my state uni!</p>

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<p>^LOL ok I have to just tell you that I had never seen or heard the word “dearth” before, and thought it might be a typo and you meant to say, maybe, “death.” So I Googled it (thank you, technology) in order to avoid looking like an idiot, just so I could turn around and tell you this story anyway, thereby informing you that I am, indeed, an idiot.
:D</p>

<p>Ahh, good times. Anyway, misery loves company, so welcome to my bubble of pain! Lol j/k, I’m definitely holding out hope for a couple of the other schools I applied to (ones that cover all demonstrated need), and other than that all I can do is wait on my FA award letter, with my fingers crossed at all times, of course. :wink: </p>

<p>An awesome outside scholarship, eh? That sounds pretty…awesome! Haha, I’ll cross a few more of my fingers for you as well, but just so you know, I don’t think I can drive like this, so you better appreciate this huge sacrifice on my part…</p>

<p>I really need more sleep in my life, lol. </p>

<p>Good luck with the scholarship, Cornell, and GS!! Are you sure you have to wait until July for GS? I thought they had rolling admissions, releasing decisions about 4 wks after an applicant’s materials are in…? I could absolutely be mistaken about that, though…</p>

<p>I’ll PM you and let you know when I hear from GS about my FA; give you a lil heads up as to what you might be offered (but then again, everyone’s situation is different, and the awards are given accordingly, so who knows).</p>

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<p>@chasethecarrot: I love my dictionary iphone app so I do the same thing as you! lol You’re not an idiot! :)</p>

<p>Thanks for crossing the extra finger for me! lol I can’t imagine how you do it (work, school, kids). I have a hard enough time just focusing on studying with all the darn distractions tempting me. There’s also a point when my brain shuts down and all I need is major zzzzzing!</p>

<p>As for the GS application, I have yet to turn in my essay. I guess I’m procrastinating because I know the FA will be depressing. I caught some youtube videos that some GS students created about the lack of FA and that made me realize that attending without a major scholarship wouldn’t be possible. It would be awesome if you PMed me when you get notice of your FA; I’ll do the same with my Cornell FA. I’m a non-trad like you (close in age); I’m low-income (not sure if you are); PTK member (GS has a scholarship).</p>

<p>Get sleep, crazy girl! :)</p>

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<p>I would rather not say, if thats ok? ILR is so small I feel like an adcom could easily tell me apart. I will have a leadership position that I had to apply/interview for though, thats the important part.</p>

35

<p>@Fox21- brilliant, why didn’t I think of that? There’s an app for everything…I will be downloading that one soon, lol! </p>

<p>Yes, I am a busy girl, but if you ever decide to have kids, you will be too- and you’ll love every minute of it! Sometimes I just stop, look around, and think, “my life is literally insane.” But you learn to handle whatever life throws at you, ya know (in this case, I actually threw it at myself, lol).</p>

<p>Turn in your essay!!! Just do it! Haha, like you said, they do have the PTK scholarships, and a few others; several that are specifically for students transferring from community colleges, so you never know, it might just work out. I’m still holding out hope for Cornell, of course, but if that doesn’t work out I’ll hopefully be pleasantly surprised by the FA at GS… Oh, so you know, I called their FA department today and they said not to expect an award letter for about another month (geez), but I will let you know as soon as I hear from them (and yes, I’m low income, boo, and a PTK member, yay!). :)</p>

<p>I haven’t seen that video, but I’m definitely intrigued now. I read on the website, however, that they received some hefty donations fairly recently, and were wholly dedicated to making vast improvements in FA. But again, we’ll see…</p>

<p>Btw I fell asleep somewhere around 10 o’clock last night, and it was GLORIOUS! LOL!! I haven’t gone to bed that early since I was…like, 9. I’m going to assume the gift of extra sleep came from your message to the universe that I needed it, so thank you ever so much. ;)</p>

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<p>@chasethecarrot: I’m glad that you could pass out and get much needed sleep! I can’t operate with a sleep debt so I try to maintain a sleep surplus for the deadline pushing nights! :)</p>

<p>I can’t believe GS is making you wait another month for a FA package! Do you have to submit any deposits this month? I’m coming close to my deposit deadline for ILR and I have yet to receive a FA package; it better come soon or else I’ll be dishing out $400 on a whim.</p>

<p>I really need to get my essay in! Lol By the time I submit it, FA will be dried up!</p>

<p>If you could choose Cornell or Columbia regardless of cost/barriers, which would you pick? If you prefer Columbia, what would your major be?</p>

37

<p>Does anyone know when they will be sending out the FA packages?</p>

38

<p>@Fox21- Well, they both have their ups and downs. I’ve known I was going to apply to Cornell for over a year- I’m just kind of in love with the school. And the ILR program is perfect for me, as it is vastly interdisciplinary and all-encompassing of nearly every subject that I am most passionate about; I can’t imagine a better major all rolled up into one, know what I mean? Columbia is a little higher on the status symbol list, just by pure numbers (as far as I’m concerned- I don’t think one is “better” than the other or anything, I’m just going by the national rankings that everyone goes by), so the fact that my #1 goal is to give my kiddos the BEST life possible, making sure they NEVER have to face the many, many trials I’ve seen in my days…well that makes me wonder if Columbia would be a better option in helping me to achieve my goals- but really, Ivy is Ivy…surely there wouldn’t really be a difference, right? My assumption (not to make an “ass” out of you or me, lol) is that graduating from a stellar school like either of those really increases your odds at a better career- but I don’t think one school helps more than the other; I think from that point it’s more about what YOU’VE done with your education, and what your plans for the future are, etc. Anyway, I’m droning on, but basically both schools seem fabulous, I’ve been more interested in Cornell for longer, but to be 100% brutally honest, if I got into both it would just come down to the aid packages, plain and simple. I have kids to take care of- whichever place is going to best assist me in caring for them while obtaining my education, I’m down. I only applied to schools I wanted to go to VERY badly. So out of any of them, if I receive more than one acceptance, the school I go to will most likely be determined by the aid I’m offered. That’s just how it has to be. If a school offers me a scholarship amount that requires taking out huge loans just to finish paying tuition, how am I going to keep a roof over our heads, food in their bellies, and for heaven’s sake, they JUST KEEP GROWING!! It’s never, “hey mom, can you afford to buy me a whole new wardrobe right now, even though you just did that about a month ago? No? Oh, okay, then I’ll just not grow right now…” Nope, they just do it, doesn’t matter how I feel about it…oops, there went another tirade…well, you get the idea. ;)</p>

<p>To answer your question about my major, again with the very interdisciplinary thing- that’s really important to me. So the major I’ve been accepted to at Columbia is a dual Social/Film Studies program with added emphasis on biological sciences and mathematics. That may not make sense, but I have weird plans for the impact I want to make on the world, and for those plans, it’s the best route… :)</p>

<p>I just realized you said “regardless of cost/barriers.” Man…I really don’t know. They’re both fantastic schools. But I don’t have to be hypothetical- it’s gonna come down to the cost/barriers, lol.</p>

<p>Oh, and the deposit/response thing- yeah, I’m kinda screwed lmao. I’m supposed to reply to Columbia, with a $500 deposit, within the week. Here’s a secret- I do NOT have $500, especially not $500 to throw at a school I may not end up attending… I’ll be asking for an extension, so hopefully that will work out okay. Still no sign from Cornell yet… :frowning: I must hold out!! Haha</p>

<p>(Turn in your essay, fool)
:D</p>

39

<p>^ILR peeps, I’m about to face one of the toughest decisions of my life. Now you all know that I love ILR and I specifically applied to Cornell because of ILR, but I got a potentially life changing financial aid offer from UCLA so I’m not sure what to do anymore. What would y’all do?</p>

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<p>@eyethink: Those are both great schools, I don’t think you can make a wrong decision. I would personally go with Cornell (although I do hate warm weather, so I could be biased).</p>

<p>Either way you’ll end up at an amazing school!</p>