<p>Hi, I'll be a senior in high school this fall and I am looking forward to applying to Cornell. I have been interested in the ILR major for a long time, and I was planning on appyling to that particular college. However, some people have told me that it is geared more toward human services, and that PAM would be a better fit. I was hoping that someone would be able to explain the differences between ILR and PAM...I visited both websites and I have the ILR catalouge, but I'm still unclear on which would be better if I plan on going to law school...</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>ILR probably sends more people to law school than PAM does…</p>
<p>PAM i hear is easier than ILR b/c it’s not as intensive in reading and the courses are easier…</p>
<p>I’ll probably apply to PAM as my Alternate choice. It seems like it’s the same kind of thing, but less of a specified area to study. I feel that ILR is probably a bit more practical as a result but if you aren’t so interested in labor issues or feel like you want to study through a broader perspective, PAM might be more appealing. It just seems a bit easier to study stuff like policy, psych, econ, etc. through a specific prism like ILR that allows you to look as opposed to just a generalized curriculum that goes through a little of everything. Has anybody here taken classes in both schools/depts? One worry I did have about PAM is too much science. They mention health care policy (I’m interested in the public policy side of it, don’t get me wrong) a lot on the PAM website and it is in Human Ecology, which seems to be a big science place. A PAMer isn’t going to get stuck in some ridiculous bio classes are they? I knew I should have gone to the HumEc session when I went to visit ILR. But my PARENTS wanted to do the dorms tour. I wish they would let me control the campus visits. LOL.</p>
<p>health care is all the rave these days…in every department on campus…it’s just where the limelight is…b/c of obama pushing his plan…</p>
<p>in ILR you have flexibility although i’m not sure you dont have it in PAM…just compare the courses you will be taking and what electives you have room for…</p>
<p>what issues are you interested in? i have an interest in international relations/issues and ILR, while it is basic in studying the relations between labor/workers and management/employer…is also starting to look more into how the multinational corporation affects the people of the world…and whether the goal of globalization (to increase the std of living of everyone) is actually occuring…</p>
<p>i’m an ILR major with a global focus with minors in international relations and law & society…</p>
<p>i’m pretty well rounded :)</p>
<p>Who is this “Obama” and to what plan could you possibly be referring to?
LOL. </p>
<p>But I’m interested in international affairs (you covered that) and big time into politics. There’s no question that labor and industry are the two biggest influences on the American political climate, so I think ILR will cover that pretty well. But, you’re right, course lists seem to be the most telling resource. All I’ve figured out is that while I like ILR more and feel it fits my interests a little better, I know that no matter where I go (on the off chance that I get into either one) I’ll probably be taking more than a few electives in the other.</p>
<p>This may draw some fire from HumEC/PAM folk but I think ILR, overall, is more well known and more of a name brand. ILR has an extensive alumni network, powerhouse career services department, etc… Catch my drift?</p>
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<p>cool me too…i’ll try and post a list of courses i took so you might see how i’ve emphasized this interest through ILR…</p>