Various Questions About Cornell/ILR

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>I recently received a PM asking me various questions about Cornell and ILR. Seeing as how a lot of students may have similar questions, I've decided to post the questions, and my answers, for all to become better informed.</p>

<p>The questions (with information redacted to protect the identity of the author):</p>

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Question 1: Will I have the same opportunities as the AEM students with regards to on campus recruiting at top ibanks? How often do they come on campus to hold information sessions and to recruit?</p>

<p>How difficult is ILR as whole? I had a 4.0 at XXX for a semester, , and need to maintain around a ~3.9 for grad school. Let's be honest: the engineers have it really bad. I've heard the AEM students have a nice grade inflation. I know ILR is very linguistic-based in the sense that we have like two math classes for the whole four years (good thing imo).</p>

<p>What about getting around campus? Isn't it frustrating that you have to travel from building to building while battling snow storms on such a huge campus?</p>

<p>(Are there) Honor societies? They helped a lot because, generally speaking, the people who are apart of them are real focused go-getters and it's an excellent networking opportunity.

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<p>I can't speak much about investment banking recruiting at Cornell because I never paid much attention to it. I do know that the banks don't particularly care if you are an AEM major, English major, or materials science major. What matters most is your intellect, work ethic, and personality.</p>

<p>All of my friends from Cornell who went into investment banking from various corners of the University were highly involved leaders in their own respective academic circles, and then decided to give banking a chance their senior year. I don't think many of them had quite the designs on their future as you do. And a lot of them are currently trying to get out.</p>

<p>Please also keep in mind that there probably won't be a lot of investment banking jobs for the next 3-5 years, if not longer, and that this country's love affair with high finance is crumbling to an end. Don't believe me? Ask any recent Bear Stearns employee today. Or any Citigroup employee a year from now.</p>

<p>Is Cornell ILR good preparation for graduate school? Very much so. It provides a unique and needed perspective on the way in which organizations and economies organize themselves, and I believe most ILR alums offer a well-rounded social sciences skill set that a lot of programs are envious of. With the numbers and the right experiences (which Cornell offers a lot of resources to obtain, moreso than most other schools), the Cornell degree can take you far.</p>

<p>Does Cornell have honor societies? Yes. Some of the senior societies have active connections to the very highest levels of U.S. government and industry. Do some searching and see what you can find out.</p>

<p>I will not address the petty questions about grade point averages or the weather. They are absurd. But I will note that employers in the financial industry generally want to see students take more quantitative courses, not less.</p>

<p>Do not attend Cornell or ILR if your sole reason for doing so is that you think it will put you one rung farther up in life than your current situation. Your presence in Ithaca will be a waste of your, your classmate's, and your professor's resources and time.</p>

<p>This is important: Only attend the University if you want to learn more about you and the world around you and take advantage of the myriad resources Cornell offers to grow intellectually, emotionally, and socially. That is the true value of any degree, but I feel Cornell does a particularly good job at providing this opportunity to students. But it is your responsibility to take advantage of those opportunities.</p>

2

<p>Actually, I liked the question about getting across campus. I'm no stranger to snow, so that wouldn't bother me. But I won't have a car, so how easy is getting across campus and around Ithaca without one?</p>

3

<p>It's not bad at all... I do have to say though, the university does a horrible job cleaning up after storms. Uggs will become your friend (sadly)</p>

4

<p>Bah. The post-storm cleaning is a lot better than most major cities. Try living in Boston or D.C. after a major ice storm. </p>

<p>Getting around campus is no problem as long as you are decently in shape. Some people complain about fifteen minute walks, but I thought they were lovely. (I'm the type of person who goes on walks for fun.) And speaking as somebody who can't really walk these days due to health issues, have fun while it lasts, kids.</p>

<p>And getting around Ithaca is pretty easy too, with TCAT. During the day there are shuttles that run every ten minutes down to the Commons, and half hourly busses to the two major shopping centers .</p>

5

<p>I have lived in boston and DC...it does a decent job cleaning up (imo)</p>

<p>Let me reiterate. Cornell does a decent job on central campus. But around suspension bridge and stewart bridge...its not so good anyone. like the main locations are fine...it just takes them a while to get to the side of the campus. I had to walk to the vet school for an exam during a snow day, I tell ya, it was not pretty.</p>

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<p>Well the Stewart bridges are the City of Ithaca's responsibility, which is a whole other story. And I'm not certain if the Suspension Bridge is guaranteed to be open during the winter. </p>

<p>Why did you have an exam on a snow day?</p>

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<p>I think the Suspension Bridge is cross at your own risk during the winter</p>

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<p>CayugaRed2005, I feel as though ILR sometimes gets unfairly trashed on this board, but what's the general feeling about ILR among current Cornell students?</p>

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<p>I'm not a current student. so perhaps I am not best suited to answer the question. But when I was a student, I think most non-ILRies knew that there's a lot of reading involved (I Love Reading) and that while a lot of students had interests in law, government, or business, a fair amount were genuinely interested in things like working-class history, collective bargaining, or human resources. </p>

<p>Some ILRies are more similar to government/econ majors in Arts, while others were more similar to AEM majors. ILR students also tended to be the most actively engaged in campus politics, etc. Not sure if this is still true.</p>

<p>Of the ILR friends/acquaintances I had:</p>

<p>1 is working as an arbitrator for the federal government
1 is working for Google
1 is working for a major consultant
1 is working in India
1 did Teach for America and is now a Rhodes Scholar
3 are getting their PhD in Economics
1 is an Ibanker at JPMorgan
2 are working as union organizers for the SEIU
1 is working for the Federal Reserve
- a bunch of others are at places like Harvard, UPenn, Georgetown, NYU or Cornell Law school, or are practicing human resources or human resources consulting</p>

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<p>I had a exam on a snowy night b.c. it was a 7 week course..meaning I had prelim around 7th of feb. And yes, the suspension bridge is opened...they are just slow at salting it...I mean its right next to all the fraternity and sorority houses, as well as plenty of apartments, so quite a few people take it every day.</p>

<p>Most people I know from ILR are in law school or doing HR related things. Because ILR is relatively good about electives, you can take plenty of electives if you want to do business too. It's like AEM...you kinda have to make your own schedule to become successful. If you take the minimum and bail, then you may not be that attractive to employers and law schools. </p>

<p>ILR is a good program though...banks are willing to hire ILR kids esp if they have good finance background too. Good luck</p>

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<p>
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If you take the minimum and bail, then you may not be that attractive to employers and law schools.

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<p>I think that's generally the case for everywhere.</p>

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<p>I believe that Cornell does an incredible job of clearing after snow and ice storms; I am from the DC area, where a dusting would shut down major highways, and awesomely enough, public schools. Lack of snow days aside, roads and sidewalks are almost uniformly clear after winter weather. I have a chronic pain condition that makes walking really challenging at times... and I'm clumsy... but I've had very, very few problems here.</p>

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<p>^ Exactly. While maybe the suspension bridge (which is really a quarter mile hike through the woods) and other trails might not be the first priority, Cornell does an excellent job of clearing and salting all major pedestrian and vehicular paths. It's kind of required, being in Upstate New York and all.</p>

<p>And as somebody who has recently developed a chronic pain condition and can hardly walk these days, I feel your pain!</p>

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<p>^^haha...I tend to avoid the suspension bridge in the winter....I've had one too many accidents :-)</p>

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<p>ok ok... I get it. I just cant really avoid the suspension bridge because I need to take it to get home (like i mentioned before, a fair number of people live that way...and the 30 stops running after 9)...I also study late at uris alot. They do a lot better of a job cleaning during the day than at night...Like everyone else have also mentioned after me..dont take the suspension bridge. Or don't live on north. Problem solved.</p>

<p>Wait, wasnt this thread about ILR...how did it get completely changed into the weather/snow condition in Ithaca?</p>

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<p>cayuga, how about business school? I know kids normally wait a couple of years to go to get an MBA and that the stats are not kept, but would you say that ILR students get into good business schools?</p>

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<p>^biz schools (MBA) don't pay much attention to your undergrad major. They don't even look at your grades that much. What matters is your work experience, leadership skills, rec from boss, GMAT, and other subjective variables.</p>

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<p>What patlees said.</p>

<p>But if you are at all interested in things like recruiting, outsourcing, global labor, human resources, compensation structures, organizational culture, worker motivation, or labor relations, ILR is the best place to be as an undergrad. It seems like every other HR executive of a Fortune 500 company is an ILR grad... Starbucks, Nike, Goldman Sachs, etc.</p>

<p>The same thing goes with if you are at all interested in labor market policy -- issues of minimum wage, health care benefits, free trade, labor and employment law, disability benefits, pensions, etc. ILR is the place to be. Princeton and Berkeley may have good programs as well, but there won't be nearly as many other students interested in the same issues.</p>

19

<p>Another Cornell question:</p>

<p>Why haven't I recieved a transfer credit evaluation from ILR yet? They have my transcript. When do they usually complete one?</p>

20

<p>^ Good question. Still waiting on mine.. </p>

<p>Kinda bummed though. They will only accept a combined 12 credits of accounting and foreign language. I have twice that. Is there anyway to circumvent this? Begging? Pleading? Whatever it takes.</p>