Calling all Cornell (Johnson) Fall 2009 applicants!

Can you expand on this a little? What types of things would be appropriate to talk about in the optional essay?

Dude, they wouldn't let us in the trading floor, but it looked sweeeeeeeeeet.

That's a sign that you know it's AWESOME.

I got a guy to take me around the trading floor, and to to the area for the PMs. He also showed me the quant screens they use. Pretty cool stuff. Espcially, since I want to get into equity research.

Very nice. We'll have to talk some more about the equity research stuff at the gmat meet 'n greet coming up in a couple of weeks.

A bit worried now. Cornell was my #1 choice but if they're being more selective for 700+ that puts some extreme pressure to perform well on GMAT. Probably taking in Sept.

Did adcom explicitly say 700+?? normally they just say, its all about the overall applicant to 50pts w/in average. blah!!!!

Perhaps I missed it, but has Cornell confirmed the essays for 08-09 yet? If so, can you please point me to them?

The only info we have (from Solaris) is that they are keeping the 2 questions they had last year plus they are adding a 3rd required essay. We don't know what the topic of the third essay is. Cornell says the app will be out by 9/1.

I suggest you guys get started even with the old application b/c when the new ones get posted, the information automatically gets transferred to the new application. In the case that it doesn't, copy paste your information to a word doc., then paste it back to the new app.

They only give you about a month to complete the app + essays, so it's tough.

So, a question for anyone who visited already or knows Ithaca well - is it possible to survive 2 years at Cornell without a car?

I don't drive.

They have a good bus system

ryguy,

If they are in fact adding a 3rd required essay, then taking advantage of the optional essay would be less important. I remember one of the first things I was told by the admissions officer I talked with was to take advantage of the optional essay because two 400-word essays make for a relatively short time to sell yourself. The 3rd essay is just an additional chance to share more about yourself.

I believe I talked more about my work experience, mentioning things that I did not have room for in the two required essays. However, if they are going to add a 3rd essay, it should provide a good amount of room. Almost all applicants were writing the optional essay as a 3rd anyway, so that would make sense.

solaris,

I moved to Ithaca about a month and a half ago, and a good portion of the time my car stays parked at home. The TCAT bus system is very efficient and serves the area very well. Bikes are another popular option, but if you are not looking to go the self-propelled route, the bus system is great.

I survived 4 years without a car
Its a collegetown and bars/restuarants/dorms/school buildings are all within walking distance.
For the mall/movie theatres you'll have to take the bus - but as mentioned above, the TCAT bus system is nice.

For NYC trips - you can take the bus from collegeown to port authority - easy to do.

So Johnson has a student-run venture fund (Big Red Ventures), a
student-run hedge fund (the Cayuga fund), and immersions (essentially
a focus) in everything from management consulting to private equity.

From what I have learned about the programs they seem like a great way to get into the industry -- yet I never hear Cornell mentioned as a leader for PE/VC placements.
Does anyone have placement stats for those participating in the BR Ventures/Cayuga Fund?

Did you see Clint Stone's blog: https://forum.johnson.cornell.edu/blog/clintstone/
He was the Portfolio Manager for the Cayuga Fund and yet he'll be staying to work with the Cornell endowment after graduation.

The employment report, as you probably already know, does not break out its finance placements into HF/VC/PE etc.