cornell notes

When Mrs. Feldkamp introduced the Cornell notes assignment this week, my mind immediately drifted to Cornell University: sub-10% acceptance rate, good computer science program, Ivy League, etc. (evidently, college apps is all that's on my mind right now). Then, I began to wonder, who actually invented Cornell notes? Was it a group of Cornell students? Cornell's education department?

It turns out that Cornell notes were invented by a Cornell professor named Walter Pauk in the 1950s, who shared his note-taking method in one of his books. So, why were the notes ultimately named after Cornell University, not Professor Pauk himself?

 

Professor Pauk!!

The answer is simple: marketability. In this world, having a degree from a "name-brand" college is like a free ticket to a job at a top company, especially if you're pursuing a traditional major like law (maybe not so much for STEM majors). Even though Cornell wasn't actually involved in the development of Pauk's note-taking method, attaching Cornell's name makes it so much more marketable than just calling it "Pauk notes," since hearing the word "Cornell" immediately catches peoples' attention.

Knowing the value of getting into "name-brand" colleges is really pressuring, but it's important to note that it's blown out of proportion by the media. In the Netflix show Suits, the law firm Mike Ross tries to infiltrate as a college dropout only hires from Harvard Law School; in reality, no law firm hires exclusively from Harvard. 

When choosing a college, fit is more important for a good college experience. Finding a college that suits your niche academic interests or offers a compatible community is so much better in the long run. :)