Berkeley Law (Boalt Hall) Class of 2015 Forum

[Redamon1]

Has anyone sent in their official transcript? I haven't. I really hope that isn't required to assess merit based aid!

Not required. I got my offer before sending in transcripts. They have your transcripts through LSAC already... The official transcripts are just a formality to register you at the school.

[FryBreadPower]

Do we need to submit needs-based forms to be considered for merit-based aid?

No. I received my Dean's Fellowship award without sending anything financial aid related to them. After receiving the award, I started filling out the FAFSA/Sup. Application.

[Neatrends]

Haven't submitted need-based aid forms. Is it too late? I'm quite confused as to how Berkeley decides who demonstrates financial need. if i don't have a scholarship for berkeley to match and my numbers are around median, does that mean i'm probs out for merit aid? so far, $0 from berkeley

I got merit aid with not-so-stellar numbers. WE and public-interest credentials were probably an important factor in my case.

You got your merit aid offer already? I thought only need based grants had been released and merit was due out later in the month?

[mushybrain]

I ended up having to cancel my trip to ASW so you guys have to fill me in! Please.

[Rotor]

Has anyone sent in their official transcript? I haven't. I really hope that isn't required to assess merit based aid!

Also. It seems that people posting about past years were able to submit multiple schools for matching scholarships? Did the rule that you can only submit one just come out this year?

If you are referring to my post earlier in the thread that suggested you might be able to update a matching application if you got new information from another school--which was quickly corrected by another as explicitly not allowed--it is likely my memory was faulty on that score, so I wouldn't chalk it up to a recent change in procedure.

[FryBreadPower]

What are everyone's housing options? Anyone considering Manville/Ida? As afraid as I am to slip back into freshman-style dorm housing, there is something intriguing about living in I-House. It would obviously be super convenient and I know their food is great relative to usual dorm food. Has anyone heard any thoughts on it?

[SkeeterV]

What are everyone's housing options? Anyone considering Manville/Ida? As afraid as I am to slip back into freshman-style dorm housing, there is something intriguing about living in I-House. It would obviously be super convenient and I know their food is great relative to usual dorm food. Has anyone heard any thoughts on it?

I'm thinking about Manville/I-House. Hoping to check them out this weekend and talk to as many current students as possible about their housing situations. I've heard very unspecific bad things about Manville, mostly about being surrounded by super stressed people during finals.

[Virgil777]

deleted

[EvelynS]

What are everyone's housing options? Anyone considering Manville/Ida? As afraid as I am to slip back into freshman-style dorm housing, there is something intriguing about living in I-House. It would obviously be super convenient and I know their food is great relative to usual dorm food. Has anyone heard any thoughts on it?

I am considering it because living close to school is very important for me, at least for the 1st year. It is pretty pricey though. However, I am pretty sure that everything that close to Berk will be pricey. I will definitely try to talk to as many students as possible re housing options.

[EvelynS]

Completely off the topic.

I just saw a weather forecast for ASW. Supposedly, it will be raining. Does anyone know how heavy rains are at this time of the season in Berkeley?

[Redamon1]

Haven't submitted need-based aid forms. Is it too late? I'm quite confused as to how Berkeley decides who demonstrates financial need. if i don't have a scholarship for berkeley to match and my numbers are around median, does that mean i'm probs out for merit aid? so far, $0 from berkeley

I got merit aid with not-so-stellar numbers. WE and public-interest credentials were probably an important factor in my case.

You got your merit aid offer already? I thought only need based grants had been released and merit was due out later in the month?

I was referring to the offer I received last year. Not sure about the timing of things this year.

[FryBreadPower]

Haven't submitted need-based aid forms. Is it too late? I'm quite confused as to how Berkeley decides who demonstrates financial need. if i don't have a scholarship for berkeley to match and my numbers are around median, does that mean i'm probs out for merit aid? so far, $0 from berkeley

I got merit aid with not-so-stellar numbers. WE and public-interest credentials were probably an important factor in my case.

You got your merit aid offer already? I thought only need based grants had been released and merit was due out later in the month?

I was referring to the offer I received last year. Not sure about the timing of things this year.

To answer the earlier question - I HAVE received my award. And it had to have been a merit aid offer (I hadn't filled out the FAFSA before receiving it).

[FryBreadPower]

Completely off the topic.

I just saw a weather forecast for ASW. Supposedly, it will be raining. Does anyone know how heavy rains are at this time of the season in Berkeley?

Its actually been unseasonably dry/warm this season. Usually the rains are bad in Feb/Mar and start to let up in April. But, due to the fact that the rains have been few and far between, who knows?

[FryBreadPower]

What are everyone's housing options? Anyone considering Manville/Ida? As afraid as I am to slip back into freshman-style dorm housing, there is something intriguing about living in I-House. It would obviously be super convenient and I know their food is great relative to usual dorm food. Has anyone heard any thoughts on it?

I am considering it because living close to school is very important for me, at least for the 1st year. It is pretty pricey though. However, I am pretty sure that everything that close to Berk will be pricey. I will definitely try to talk to as many students as possible re housing options.

After crunching the numbers, it doesn't seem like its that far off. You are looking at roughly $1500 per month over a 9 month semester to live in I-House (which includes Rent, Food, and Utilities). You are probably going to be spending $800-1000 in rent whichever way you cut it in an apartment (unless you can find a sweet situation with 3 or 4 other people). Plus, you have to worry about PG&E and Comcast (roughly $30-50 depending). And, you have food on top of that (thats also depending on whether you are a Safeway person or a Trader Joes/Berkeley Bowl kind of person). Overall, the apartment route is going to be cheaper, but it may not be significantly so.

[bigtexmex]

For anyone looking for a roommate to get a 2 BR apartment, I'm always looking. Hit me up.


Also, for this Friday, a few of us will be going to Henry's around 8:30 p.m. for a couple of drinks. If interested, PM me to get a rough head count. It would be awesome to meet some of y'all personally and start getting acquainted with future Boalt classmates.

[EvelynS]

Completely off the topic.

I just saw a weather forecast for ASW. Supposedly, it will be raining. Does anyone know how heavy rains are at this time of the season in Berkeley?

Its actually been unseasonably dry/warm this season. Usually the rains are bad in Feb/Mar and start to let up in April. But, due to the fact that the rains have been few and far between, who knows?

Sounds very promising

[Aspen]

Completely off the topic.

I just saw a weather forecast for ASW. Supposedly, it will be raining. Does anyone know how heavy rains are at this time of the season in Berkeley?

Its actually been unseasonably dry/warm this season. Usually the rains are bad in Feb/Mar and start to let up in April. But, due to the fact that the rains have been few and far between, who knows?

Sounds very promising

It's not that dramatic. Just bring warm clothes/umbrellas! The bright side to the Bay Area weather is it's either foggy, sunny or rainy. No super long stretches of it just being super cloudy like you sometimes get in the midwest or parts of the East Coast. Besides, the rain is good. It makes the hills SUPER green and beautiful and then for those of us that are definitely going to be in California this fall we don't have to hear out of control broadcasts about there being a drought like in some years!

[bigtexmex]

Completely off the topic.

I just saw a weather forecast for ASW. Supposedly, it will be raining. Does anyone know how heavy rains are at this time of the season in Berkeley?

Its actually been unseasonably dry/warm this season. Usually the rains are bad in Feb/Mar and start to let up in April. But, due to the fact that the rains have been few and far between, who knows?

Sounds very promising

It's not that dramatic. Just bring warm clothes/umbrellas! The bright side to the Bay Area weather is it's either foggy, sunny or rainy. No super long stretches of it just being super cloudy like you sometimes get in the midwest or parts of the East Coast. Besides, the rain is good. It makes the hills SUPER green and beautiful and then for those of us that are definitely going to be in California this fall we don't have to hear out of control broadcasts about there being a drought like in some years!

I look forward to the rain. I'm tired of 110+ degree heat in the summer and 8 inches of rain a year out here in West Texas.

[EvelynS]

Completely off the topic.

I just saw a weather forecast for ASW. Supposedly, it will be raining. Does anyone know how heavy rains are at this time of the season in Berkeley?

Its actually been unseasonably dry/warm this season. Usually the rains are bad in Feb/Mar and start to let up in April. But, due to the fact that the rains have been few and far between, who knows?

Sounds very promising

It's not that dramatic. Just bring warm clothes/umbrellas! The bright side to the Bay Area weather is it's either foggy, sunny or rainy. No super long stretches of it just being super cloudy like you sometimes get in the midwest or parts of the East Coast. Besides, the rain is good. It makes the hills SUPER green and beautiful and then for those of us that are definitely going to be in California this fall we don't have to hear out of control broadcasts about there being a drought like in some years!

I am from the East Coast. When I see 4 days of rain in a row, I imagine our NY long heavy rains with disruptions in MTA Fortunately, I have plenty of warm clothes and umbrellas

[Rotor]

Completely off the topic.

I just saw a weather forecast for ASW. Supposedly, it will be raining. Does anyone know how heavy rains are at this time of the season in Berkeley?

According to weather.com, the average rainfall for the entire month of April is 1.66 inches-- but you can't judge your wardrobe by the averages. Even so, you can get that in a single day back east so that should put things into a little perspective for you.

The local TV meteorologist was expecting less than an inch in the East Bay over the next 2-3 days, and some models are starting to show that the bulk of the rain will clear out on Thursday.

One other note: The high temp for the day is forecast to be below the average high in Dec/Jan. So even though you may not get the typical "Dean Tom crystal-clear day" for ASW-- keep in mind that this is what it's like in the coldest months on average.

[EvelynS]

Completely off the topic.

I just saw a weather forecast for ASW. Supposedly, it will be raining. Does anyone know how heavy rains are at this time of the season in Berkeley?

According to weather.com, the average rainfall for the entire month of April is 1.66 inches-- but you can't judge your wardrobe by the averages. Even so, you can get that in a single day back east so that should put things into a little perspective for you.

The local TV meteorologist was expecting less than an inch in the East Bay over the next 2-3 days, and some models are starting to show that the bulk of the rain will clear out on Thursday.

One other note: The high temp for the day is forecast to be below the average high in Dec/Jan. So even though you may not get the typical "Dean Tom crystal-clear day" for ASW-- keep in mind that this is what it's like in the coldest months on average.

Thanks!

[nyankitty]

Hey guys! I'm coming to ASW from the east coast, and I'm by myself so that'll be a bit boring after Friday. It'd be great to hear from some current students or any of you who are bay area locals on what some good ways to spend my Saturday and Sunday are, or if any of you are are in the same boat PM me and maybe we can get together to do some exploring on our own.

Can't wait to meet all of you!

(I'm going to x-post to the ask-a-berkeley-student thread to see if anyone's got some suggestions for must-see stuff in the SF/bay area over there as well)

[EvelynS]

Hey guys! I'm coming to ASW from the east coast, and I'm by myself so that'll be a bit boring after Friday. It'd be great to hear from some current students or any of you who are bay area locals on what some good ways to spend my Saturday and Sunday are, or if any of you are are in the same boat PM me and maybe we can get together to do some exploring on our own.

Can't wait to meet all of you!

(I'm going to x-post to the ask-a-berkeley-student thread to see if anyone's got some suggestions for must-see stuff in the SF/bay area over there as well)

I think that some students organizations have BBQs, hiking, and dinners on Saturday.

I am also from the East Coast. I was planning to walk around the area - to familiarize myself - on Saturday because my flight back is at 10 pm.

[mcenteno]

Hey guys! I'm coming to ASW from the east coast, and I'm by myself so that'll be a bit boring after Friday. It'd be great to hear from some current students or any of you who are bay area locals on what some good ways to spend my Saturday and Sunday are, or if any of you are are in the same boat PM me and maybe we can get together to do some exploring on our own.

Can't wait to meet all of you!

(I'm going to x-post to the ask-a-berkeley-student thread to see if anyone's got some suggestions for must-see stuff in the SF/bay area over there as well)

I think that some students organizations have BBQs, hiking, and dinners on Saturday.

I am also from the East Coast. I was planning to walk around the area - to familiarize myself - on Saturday because my flight back is at 10 pm.

We organized a night out at a local "must try" bar in berkeley for Friday on the Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/176573315788732/

[EvelynS]

Hey guys! I'm coming to ASW from the east coast, and I'm by myself so that'll be a bit boring after Friday. It'd be great to hear from some current students or any of you who are bay area locals on what some good ways to spend my Saturday and Sunday are, or if any of you are are in the same boat PM me and maybe we can get together to do some exploring on our own.

Can't wait to meet all of you!

(I'm going to x-post to the ask-a-berkeley-student thread to see if anyone's got some suggestions for must-see stuff in the SF/bay area over there as well)

I think that some students organizations have BBQs, hiking, and dinners on Saturday.

I am also from the East Coast. I was planning to walk around the area - to familiarize myself - on Saturday because my flight back is at 10 pm.

We organized a night out at a local "must try" bar in berkeley for Friday on the Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/176573315788732/

I don't have a FB account, but I am definitely up for "must try" bar on Friday. Could you please PM the details?