Cornell by Jennifer Kim

S I WALKED ACROSS THE students is a 3.55, while the average ing preferences: "You usually get what campus during my six-week LSAT score placed the entering class of you are looking for. There is on campus stay, I couldn't help noticing 1992 in the 94th percentile, or a score of housing, but most students choose to live the fresh air, the sprawling 165. Other statistics include the follow- off campus, because renting is very inex- Alawns and the clear skies that surround- ing : 50 percent had full-time job experi- pensive and reasonably comfortable. ed me. As one third-year law student ence other than summer jobs, 25 percent There is always sufficient housing for said, "there isn't that typical cutthroat had been actively involved in student students." atmosphere that you would usually find government or politics, 15 percent were With regards to the social scene, at an institution." Yet the editors and reporters on college publica- Hobson replied,"There isn't much of a competition exists, and how can it not? tions or had journalism experience after night life as there is, I presume, in New Intelligent students from all across the graduation, and 10 percent had done York City, but as a first year student, you graduate work. don't have the time for one." According Admission to Cornell Law to the Cornell Law School catalogue, As one third-year law School is highly selective; the acceptance "The study of law, especially in the first rate is 22 percent. About 4200 applica- year, demands so much time and energy student said, "there isn't tions for admission were received for the that it not advisable for a student to try 180 places for the fall of 1993. According to earn a large proportion of the expens- that typical cutthroat to the Admissions Committee, evidence es incurred during the academic year." atmosphere that you of intellectual ability, motivation and The social life for a first-year law student character come into consideration. is on the average very limited. However, would usually find at an Faculty recommendations, undergradu- there is more time to spare after all of the ate transcript, the LSAT score, and the first-year required courses such as Civil Ivy League institution." personal statement all play important Procedure, Constitutional Law, roles in the application process. The Contracts, Practice Training I and II, nation and world, students who are used Committee also gives considerable Torts, Criminal Law, Legal Process, and to being at the top of their class, all come weight to work experience, extracurricu- Property are completed. "The social together in one place to become what lar and community activities, graduate scene is definitely better in the second they have always wanted to be: lawyers. study, and other special circumstances and third year," Hobson concluded. Cornell Law School, ranked fourteen that are brought to its attention. In the Tuition for 1993-1994 came to a in the U.S. News and World Report's catalogue and the application, minority- America's Best Graduate Schools, is group status is regarded as a positive fac- "There isn't much of a located in Ithaca, New York. The Law tor. School, in the midst of Cornell Cornell Law School also offers special- night life as there is, 1 pre- University, combines the opportunities ized and combined degrees. J.D./M.B.A. and resources that a campus of 18,000 (Masters of Business Administration) in students has to offer. four years rather than five. J.D./M.I.L.R. sume, in New York City, Ithaca is located in the Finger (Master of Industrial and Labor but as a first year student, Lakes region of New York, and has Relations) can be acquired within two gorges and waterfalls on either end of semesters after Law School. J.D./M.R.P. you don't have the time the campus. The community has (Master of Regional Planning) or the approximately 100,000 permanent resi- J.D./M.A. in philosophy also takes four dents and has open countryside, state years instead of the traditional five. The for one." parks, vineyards, and year-round recre- J.D./Ph.D takes seven years instead of ational facilities in the area. the traditional eight. sum of $19,200. About 50 percent of the With an enrollment of 560 J.D. (Doctor When asked about why she chose students receive scholarship awards, of Law) students and a full-time faculty Cornell Law School over others, Carol while 70 percent receive loan assistance. of thirty-five, Cornell Law School is Hobson, a third year law student and The estimated expenses for a student, medium-sized among American law current employee of the Admissions including tuition, room, board, books, schools. About 22 percent of the stu- Office said: "I was most impressed with and incidentals are about $30,270 for an dents are minorities. Women constitute their International Legal Program (Berger academicyear. 38 percent of the students, and the stu- International Legal Studies Program; J.D. Cornell Law School's average with Specialization in International Legal starting salary was $69,276 and was dent body has representatives from most ranked by U.S. News and World Report states and approximately 250 colleges. Affairs), but didn't want to attend a at twelve for job placement success. In The average G.P.A. of accepted school that I hadn't visited. After I visit- the past few years, 70 percent of the ed and talked to students, I believe my graduating class were hired directly after choice to attend Cornell was a wise one." graduation and 80 percent of the class Jennifer Kim is a sopliomore in Barnard after the bar exam, according to Hobson. College. Hobson also talked about hous- 52 HELVIDIUS Fall 1993 Cornell Law School also has New York Race vices you receive will be better. They their own law journal which gets pub- Continued from page 45 know firsthand about your relationship lished regularly throughout the school In the disturbance, Yankel Rosenbaum, a with the and thus they know how year. This gives students and faculty a Jewish scholar was killed by a crowd you expect this critical body of public chance to express opinions and ideas allegedly screaming "kill the Jew". The servants to tend to your needs. The per- disturbance lasted for three days. In the son who is like you will protect you. Due to the difficulties aftermath of the crisis, mayor Dinkins was accused by the Jewish residents of For the first time in 74 that Helvidius had in Crown Heights of not sending in the years, the nation's two cops soon enough and allowing a trying to request and "pogrom" (state sanctioned violence) to largest cities, New York occur. He gained a reputation in some and Los Angeles have receive information from circles as a man who was inherently out of touch and who was more concerned Republican mayors. And the Admissions Office, it with protecting the Black community than any other group. While this reputa- the question that lingers is advised that you tion was based on rumor, falsehood and in New York City is why. half truths, no matter how much it was request an application dispelled, its gut theme, that Dinkins This is the theme that Crown cared for blacks more than anyone else, Heights echoed and the voters took it to hung around his neck like an albatross. the polls with them. They wanted their about the law and its various interpreta- quality of life to improve and in their In New York City, there are tions. minds, the mythological lesson of Crown over 7.5 million people competing for Heights was that the person who will Hobson was courteous enough scarce government resources such health improve your quality of life the most is to give Helvidius an interview while the care, housing, education, placement of the man who looks like you. He knows Dean of Admissions went off on spo- facilities, police protection and jobs, to inherently the problems you have radic road trips and couldn't be reached. name a few. Voters understand that city because due to his race, they are his too. Due to the difficulties that Hchndius had government cannot meet all of their Is the myth true? Probably not. Anyone in trying to request and receive informa- needs, so they will vote for the person who runs for citywide office does not tion from the Admissions Office, it is who they believe will meet more of their run as a power trip; they run because advised that you request an application needs. There is an underlying belief that they want to tackle the big problems for early. It is also recommended that when if the person you elect to governmental all of the people. It is too thankless of a you apply, you give yourself enough office is like you— i.e. of the same race, job to run for any other reason. • time to be able to check and see if they religion or ethnic background— the ser- received your application. The Cornell community is very relaxed compared to the high impact stress that one feels in NYC. Not only does the community have a more relaxed tone, but there is also a sense of serenity when one is surrounded by such scenic areas. The campus' natural element, such as the waterfalls and gorges, allow the student to be able to work at a slower pace than the hurry one usually feels in NYC. There isn't less work, in fact some might say there's more, but since there aren't as many dis- tractions as there are in NYC, you can focus more on your priorities. Hobson agreed by saying, "The campus compli- mented the facilities. If you are consid- ering getting away from the city, give Cornell very strong consideration." •

HELVIDIUS HELVIDIUS has graduated six Associate Justices and three Chief HELVIDIUS Justices of the United States Supreme Court. HELVIDIUS Courtesy of the Collection of the Supreme Court Historical Society Law and Public Policy School Reviews 53