The least competitive Ivy League school is Cornell University, which is an Ivy League institution. The acceptance rates at Cornell University have decreased over the past eight years and are almost certainly going to continue to do so in the future, following the trends at all elite universities.
One of the most difficult classes to get into Cornell University was the Class of 2023. Cornell University received 49,118 applications for the Class of 2023, of which 5,183 were accepted, resulting in an overall acceptance rate of 10. 6%. Overall applications decreased by 4. 3% over last year (2022 to 2023) from 51,328 to 49,118
1,395 students were accepted through the early admissions process for the Class of 2023. Total early applications received were 6,159, resulting in a 22 percent early acceptance rate. 6%. Early applications decreased by 2. 5% over last year (2022 to 2023) from 6,319 to 6,159
What’s Covered:
Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations has introduced me to a wide range of fields pertaining to the complex and fascinating world of work. I’m a senior and can’t believe I’ll be graduating in just 7 weeks. I’ll be working for a sizable consulting firm in New York City the following year, providing clients with workforce advice. After several years of employment, I intend to go to graduate school. You will discover more about my background, the ILR School’s mission, academic programs, and career opportunities in this article.
Ithaca, New York’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations, or ILR School, is one of the few universities in the country that focuses on workplace issues. Leaders in business and labor relations saw a need for a program at universities that taught labor-management relations, so they founded the school itself in 1944. The institution is a “land grant” university and technically a part of the SUNY system, which means that residents of New York State pay in-state tuition and that New York State funds the institution.
Law, government, and business students at Cornell who are interested in a variety of subjects major in ILR. The Labor Economics, Human Resource Studies, International and Comparative Labor, Labor Relations, and Law academic departments make up the ILR School.
Admissions is competitive; in 2020, the undergraduate acceptance rate for the ILR School was 16.5%.
My Background and Academic Interests
I was interested in business, law, and political science in high school. I found government, policy, and international relations to be fascinating. At my high school, I participated in debate and Model UN. I was also a statewide 4H leader who encouraged kids to get involved in local politics.
With political science, government, or international relations as my intended majors, I applied to many colleges, but I knew deep down that it wasn’t the right fit. I was not particularly interested in political theories, which are a major focus of many of these major programs. I had absolutely no desire to pursue a career in politics or public service. I also discovered that many students with those majors enrolled in graduate programs right away after graduation.
I was sure I wanted to start working right after undergrad while I was still in high school, so I looked for programs with excellent on-campus recruiting services. I also applied to some colleges with the intention of majoring in business, but I discovered that I was more interested in the “people issues” within business than in finance, accounting, or marketing. Until I learned about the ILR School at Cornell, I thought I had not yet discovered a major that suited me.
Declaring the ILR Major at Cornell University
Students must apply to a specific college when using the Cornell Common App. The admissions officers at that particular college receive the applications and make the decisions.
You must respond to a supplement when applying to Cornell ILR about how your interests align with the school. Since the ILR School only offers the ILR major, this application is how you “declare” your major. The Common App supplement is a fantastic way to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the school’s various academic fields and demonstrate why you would fit in at the institution.
Additionally, many Cornell students switch their majors during their time there. The process for transferring is mandated by each individual college. Additionally, a sizable number of transfer students from universities other than Cornell attend ILR. These students have until October 15 (spring transfer) or March 15 (fall transfer) to turn in the necessary materials.
Requirements for the ILR Major at Cornell University
There are a few “core” course requirements you must satisfy during your first two years as an ILR School student. These courses are:
- Microeconomics
- Macroeconomics
- Introductory statistics
- Human resource management
- Organizational behavior
- Labor relations
- Labor economics
- Labor and employment law
- Advanced writing
- First-year colloquium
The required courses were all really enjoyable to me, and none of them were particularly challenging. The size of the other classes ranges from about 20 to 50 students per section, while the economics lectures typically have around 500 students.
When those courses are finished, students’ curriculum options are more varied. There are distribution and elective requirements to satisfy, but a variety of classes can be chosen to do so.
Due to the fact that classes from across the university can be used to fulfill these requirements, distribution requirements are less specific to ILR. At least one class must be taken in each of the following categories: science, cultural perspectives.
The categories of electives for economic policy, international and comparative labor, or labor history are required. Students must complete 40 additional credits in the ILR School in addition to 1 class in each of those categories. This implies that any ILR course could be taken by a student and count toward these requirements. At least 24 of these credits must be taken in the ILR School, but up to 16 of those credits may be taken in other authorized classes outside the ILR School.
Although there may seem to be a lot of requirements, students actually have plenty of time to choose the classes they want to. In fact, ILR students frequently finish two or even three minors. Many distribution and elective requirements overlap with various minors. Many students choose to pursue the Business minor and the Law and Society minor because they require few classes to complete beyond the fundamental ILR requirements (in fact, one of my friends “accidentally” completed a minor through the distribution and elective requirements and did not even find out until senior year!). However, keep in mind that students cannot double major in fields other than ILR.
I had the opportunity to take classes that I never would have otherwise because of the distribution and elective requirements. One of my distribution requirements was satisfied when I enrolled in a music department class that covered the Indonesian gamelan. It was memorable and a great learning opportunity that students performed in a concert at the end of the semester while learning about the history of the gamelan.
Students find out if they are qualified for Graduation with Honors at the conclusion of their junior year. Instead of giving Latin honors, the ILR School rewards students with a 3 To finish a two-semester thesis project with the advisor of their choice, students must have a GPA of at least 7. Around 20% of graduating ILR seniors are eligible for the thesis, and around 20-30 students complete the thesis each year I would highly recommend completing the thesis project. I’ve enjoyed having the freedom to design my own project and collaborate with my advisor in the labor economics department as I write my thesis, which is currently about the disconnect between the labor market and stock market.
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ILR School Professors and Advising at Cornell University
Most classes at ILR are set up so that students will take two “prelims” (what Cornell refers to as midterms) and a final exam, though some classes may also require papers in place of or in addition to prelims.
Building relationships is essential for students’ success at the ILR School. The professors’ accessibility and willingness to assist outside of class or serve as a sounding board for career advice is one of the best features of the ILR major.
Every ILR course I’ve taken had open office hours, and it was simple to arrange a meeting with a professor. There are TAs who lead discussion sections in some ILR courses as well, and these are almost always master’s or PhD students. I’ve also enjoyed getting to know my TAs because they frequently have fascinating and varied backgrounds and can offer helpful career advice.
Studying Abroad as an ILR Major at Cornell University
The flexibility of the ILR major at Cornell makes studying abroad much simpler for ILR students than it is for other majors. Students must have met the fundamental ILR requirements and have a GPA of 3 in order to study abroad. 0 or higher. ILR students have the option of participating in one of the many ILR exchange programs around the world or another exchange program that is open to all Cornell students. As long as they continue to pay ILR tuition for the program, residents of New York state may find it to be a wise choice to enroll in an ILR-sponsored program. Non-residents pay their normal tuition rate. There are numerous opportunities that are not sponsored by Cornell as well, some of which may be less expensive than Cornell programs.
During the 2020 spring semester, I participated in a study abroad program in Milan, Italy. I studied politics, fashion, and economics while I was in Milan, and I also worked as an intern at one of the city’s most renowned labor and employment law firms. Despite the fact that COVID forced me to end my experience early, I was still able to work remotely on both my schoolwork and internship. I loved learning Italian and gaining a new cultural perspective. For the internship to be successful, my coursework in labor relations and employment law was essential because it allowed me to compare U S. and Italian laws. Through the British consulate in Italy, I even had the opportunity to publish a few articles on labor and employment issues pertaining to expats.
For one semester of study abroad, students receive 9 ILR advanced elective credits, and for a full year, they receive 15 credits. It’s crucial to keep in mind, though, that these courses do not count toward your Cornell GPA on your transcript. Additionally, if you want, you can absolutely spend an entire year studying abroad. One of my ILR friends spent an entire year studying abroad in Munich, and she was still able to finish the rest of her distribution requirements for senior year and graduate on time.
Career Advising as and ILR Major
The ILR School has an excellent career services team that assists students in locating employment across a range of industries. Many graduates go on to work in fields like consulting, labor relations, investment banking, and more. Less students enter the non-profit, educational, or government sectors for employment.
ILR is special in the fact that it has its own recruiting only for students within the college. On-campus recruiting services (OCR) brings employers to campus to interview students directly for jobs, and hosts hundreds of employers at the annual ILR Career Fair. Additionally, students have access to Cornell’s general career services office. 80% of students go directly into the workforce after graduation, 11% into law school, and 3% into other graduate programs. In 2019, the average starting salary for undergraduates was $65,000.
What Are Your Chances of Acceptance at Cornell University?
The ILR School tends to place a lot of emphasis on a student’s resume, extracurricular activities, academics, and standardized test scores when admitting students. Do you think you would fit in well at the ILR School? Admissions officers take the concept of “a good fit” very seriously, so take your time when writing your “Why ILR” essay. The acceptance rate for ILR in 2020 was 16, and each Cornell college has its own acceptance rate. 5%.
If you want to check out your personal chances of acceptance, check out our free chancing calculator! You can input your GPA, test scores, and extracurricular activities to find out your chances at being accepted to Cornell University. Even better, the calculator will give you tips on what you can improve before applying.
Additionally, you can look up other colleges using criteria like size, location, majors, and more. You can use this tool to develop a compelling admissions strategy.
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Ask Cornell: ILR School
FAQ
How selective is Cornell ILR?
The ILR School has an excellent career services team that assists students in locating employment across a range of industries. Many graduates go on to work in fields like consulting, labor relations, investment banking, and more. Less students enter the non-profit, educational, or government sectors for employment.
Is Cornell ILR good?
Some of Cornell University’s most specialized resources are found at the ILR School. It has 13 renowned research institutes, its own building with a library, a building just for ILR events and research, an office for student services and an office just for career services for ILR students, among other things.
Is Cornell ILR different from Cornell?
Is Cornell University School of Hotel Administration hard to get into? Cornell University School of Hotel Administration is the least competitive school out of the entire Cornell University, with their acceptance rate being around 30%