Cornell ILR

Colleges & Universities Cornell University
1

<p>I’m extremely interested in Cornell’s ILR program and just wanted a few opinions.</p>

<p>I thought I wanted to be a film director. Growing up, I never took school seriously. I was smart, but not motivated, yadayadayada. Same story you have all heard many times before, I’m sure.</p>

<p>I went off to NYC and started performing in shows. After a while I decided it wasn’t for me. I wanted to actually utilize the brains I’d been given, for once. I enrolled at Portland State University and I’ve been attending for the past year and a half. I took a few econ classes hoping it would spark my interest, and it did. I’m now an econ major. I currently have a 3.8 GPA. Hopefully, it will raise some by the time I apply. I’ve taken some general courses (chemistry, calculus, english, pub sp, psychology) and a decent amount of Upper Levels (4 econs, some psychs, one in business ethics and history, and a few more) I served as a student government volunteer working 25 hours a week. I have also continued acting a bit in shows. This past quarter, I have been hard at work establishing a non-profit. The main purpose of the organization is to bring mental health awareness to schools and workplaces around the city of Portland. I just started a year long challenge to raise $1 million so that the charity can build a center and expand, hopefully becoming a permanent part of the community. As founder and manager, I organize the staff, keep them motivated and find creative ways to get things done. Simple as that. It has been an extremely difficult and gratifying project and it has left me with some pretty valuable organizational skills.</p>

<p>I’m very passionate about our economy. I’m not claiming to be an expert by any means, so please don’t criticize what I’m about to say. I’m only trying to gain some insight as to whether ILR would be a fit. Personally, I feel the US has reached a roadblock. Things that used to work for us aren’t working so well anymore. Instead of creatively reapproaching problems (i.e. problems with health care, unemployment, energy, corporate structure, financial markets…) we are just repackaging old policies. We’re essentially plugging leaky pipes with chewing gum. I hope to somehow gain a role in changing how things are run, especially when it comes to organizational structure.</p>

<p>My questions directed toward anyone willing to read; Would ILR be a good fit for me? Am I a realistic candidate, or just delusional?</p>

<p>I hear there are a ton of applicants that see ILR as a sort of back door entrance into Cornell, but I am honestly attracted to the program itself and have no intention whatsoever of transferring into another should I get in.</p>

<p>Thanks :]</p>

2

<p>I think your interests fit wonderfully with ILR, and they are actually what ILR is all about… how we organize ourselves as a society and as an economy. So everything from health care policy to immigration experience, the challenges of a retiring workforce to corporate structure and governance are covered under the ILR mantra. And at the core of everything is the exploration of the work relationship – employee and employer.</p>

3

<p>I was hoping so. ILR seems like the perfect fit, and trust me, I have been vigorously researching programs hoping to find one that suited my passions. It’s a bummer (for me), that it happens to be in an Ivy. My high school record is horrid. But here’s to hoping they’ll see past that! Would a major gpa of 4.0 in econ help a bit? I just need to know what my application needs to really convey my want to go there.</p>

4

<p>Also, I’m thinking of sharing the moment I realized I wanted to go into this field in my essay, but fear I’ll come across cliche. Regardless, my passion in economics and public policy began when my grandmother asked me, her 18 year old grandson with no disposable income other than some piggy bank savings, to borrow money for a hernia surgery. I had never realized how poor our healthcare system was, afterall, I grew up with insurance. My grandma had never had insurance and has never been eligible. I didn’t take the time to acknowledge the fact that a good chunk of citizens live without medical insurance. I started doing a ton of research, not only on healthcare, but on everything from economic policy to labor unions, and I realized that I had the skills and the passion to actually apply myself in the field and creatively solve some problems.</p>

<p>Is this little tidbit at least worth mentioning or should I focus more on what I’ve done academically and professionally that makes me a prime candidate?</p>

5

<p>I think it would add a lot of color to your essay, especially if you could draw connections between the story and your academic interests.</p>

<p>You sound like just the type of student that Cornell should be educating. I wish you all the best. Good luck.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for the encouragement.</p>

7

<p>I have very similar interests asbrahim. I am in the ILR program beginning in the fall of '08. Your experiences and academic interests should be included in your essay and if it is as meaningful as your post here i have no qualms about your acceptance. I see your point, however, about CU being an IVY and it is very tough for the university to see past HS academics. However, it seems as though your other credentials and your true passion for the ILR curriculum should be enough. Although Cornell is the only university in the world to have such an amazing program, I believe Indiana University of Pennsylvania has an ILR program as well just in case CU admissions are too hard-headed.</p>

8

<p>yes cornell isnt the only undergraduate program where you could get a feel for labor relations and the world of work…</p>

<p>there are lots of other programs that package this with business/management majors…</p>

<p>but cornell is the best of the best :)</p>

9

<p>I realize there are other similar programs, but Cornell’s is superior and I might as well give it my best shot, right?</p>

<p>Anthother quick question.</p>

<p>Is the interview a major deciding component in admissions decisions? I ask because I feel I’m a good communicator and would be able to orally articulate my reasons for receiving such sub par grades in high school more so than I would be able to in my application.</p>

10

<p>ILR seems like a perfect fit for you. Genuine passion, which you definitely have, makes a HUGE difference in ILR admissions. I am also interested in the institutional function and organization of the US government, which I think helped me get in (tough high school program, but lackluster GPA and SATs.) ILR has always been about applying the social sciences to real-world problems, even if they aren’t strictly labor and management. I imagine that your application will stand out amongst everyone who just talks about their Prestigious Law School or MBA plans. </p>

<p>Explaining where your passions start from is a great idea and in the prompt itself, so I agree with everybody that you should tell them about your grandmother. Mine was basically all about my dad’s strong identity as an American worker and a Democrat though he didn’t come here until adulthood, so an essay about a serious policy issue that moves you is going to be way better.</p>

<p>As long as you can link your experience to what you can study in ILR/how you can’t study that anywhere else, it’s going to be a killer essay. Seriously, good luck! You seem like exactly the kind of person that ILR wants to enroll.</p>

11

<p>Interviews definitely help.</p>

12

<p>Thanks everyone for the help.</p>

13

<p>Though I have a passion for labor issues and politics, I recently got interested in the structural reform of global financial system. I think what distinguishes ILR is its members’ diversity and passion for participation and change for the better. And if you show your passion and its relevance to ILR’s mission, you will definitely have a good chance.</p>

14

<p>Depending on how long you’ve been in college…the less your HS numbers will matter.</p>

15

<p>Thinking ahead (to grad school), you might be interested in NYU’s joint (Stern & Tisch) MBA/MFA program for producers! [NYU</a> Stern](<a href=“http://w4.stern.nyu.edu/news/news.cfm?doc_id=7221]NYU”>http://w4.stern.nyu.edu/news/news.cfm?doc_id=7221)</p>

16

<p>I really am passionate about the content of the program so hopefully they’ll be able to see it.</p>

<p>In the meantime, is there anything I can do now that will improve my chances of acceptance? Any books I should be reading? Certain extracurricular activities that may look especially impressive? I’m starting a student publication this fall, the content being mostly economic and political. I’ve also put together a research team focusing on health care economics.</p>

<p>And addressing the high school grades, I will have completed my sixth quarter by the time I apply and will be a rising junior.</p>

17

<p>@nagromis</p>

<p>I have actually researched that program! Maybe I can go about pushing change by creating documentaries. Who knows.</p>

18

<p>I am interested in transfering from my current university to ILR for the Spring. Current my 1 year college GPA is 3.4 A few questions I have an interview with the admissions transfer counselor, does anyone know if two interviews are necessary; both formal and informal? When will peole begin to send in their materials the Oct/Nov deadlines are vague.
Also did anyone out their get rejected to transfer to ILR in the Spring (or even the Fall) what were theri stats?
Do they look at HS, SAT even if you are a transfer?</p>

<p>Thanks Much!!</p>

19

<p>hey im really interested in ILR, its been my top choice school since i applied to college. i applied ED in '06-'07 for fall '07, got deferred then finally rejected. im really interested in government and economics and am VERY active in student government and government issues in general.
Currently im an engineering student @ Rutgers and dont like it and want to apply back to ILR. I firmly believe ILR fits everything i want to study and i wrote my essay about how im interested in government. is that a good topic to write about for ILR, i know its not a poli sci program but they talk about on their website about government and students in student government and such.
I have research in engineering economics that i plan to send with my application if that will help
if anyone has any help for me, please let me know!
thanks!</p>

20

<p>Writing about your interest in government is okay as long as you give a cogent explanation of how it fits with your interest in ILR. Be specific; clearly describe why you are interested in the study of Industrial and Labor Relations and maybe even add how its study will help you further potential goals. </p>

<p>If you plan everything out early, write great essays, and maintain at least a 3.7, you’ll have a solid shot.</p>