UC Berkeley (Boalt Hall) Law Class of 2018 Forum

[LoganCouture]

Lucky you -- this x-country coordination requires a LOOOONG plane ride and limited options. I think I'll stay and look at apartments because I certainly don't have time to fly out again.

I know that feel though. I have 2 schools on this coast and 11 that are hella far away. I feel like it'd be easier if I was living on the east coast bc I could just knock out S and B in one trip and visit the other ones much more cheaply.

I would hope that S&B are within a week of each other for that reason -- assuming S takes me. But no one has been accepted to pass on the news of asw dates. So.......

Yea I can see how traveling to the east coast for a bunch of schools is painful.

Last year S was April 4-7 and Cal was April 10-12. So seems like Cal moved it quite a bit earlier this year.

[middlebear]

Lucky you -- this x-country coordination requires a LOOOONG plane ride and limited options. I think I'll stay and look at apartments because I certainly don't have time to fly out again.

Do people sign leases over ASW?

[p89sean16]

Lucky you -- this x-country coordination requires a LOOOONG plane ride and limited options. I think I'll stay and look at apartments because I certainly don't have time to fly out again.

Do people sign leases over ASW?

Seems kind of early in mid-march if you are looking for an August apartment (not sure your wished-for timeline). Anecdotally, I've heard the best time to look is May as the student leases expire with the school year end and there is a flood in the market. Not surprising in the slightest. That's for Berkeley itself, anyway, and not so much for Oakland and surrounding cities.

[middlebear]

Seems kind of early in mid-march if you are looking for an August apartment (not sure your wished-for timeline). Anecdotally, I've heard the best time to look is May as the student leases expire with the school year end and there is a flood in the market. Not surprising in the slightest. That's for Berkeley itself, anyway, and not so much for Oakland and surrounding cities.

Sounds reasonable. I think I'll just need to comb back through the Boalt students' thread.

[indo]

Lucky you -- this x-country coordination requires a LOOOONG plane ride and limited options. I think I'll stay and look at apartments because I certainly don't have time to fly out again.

Do people sign leases over ASW?

Seems kind of early in mid-march if you are looking for an August apartment (not sure your wished-for timeline). Anecdotally, I've heard the best time to look is May as the student leases expire with the school year end and there is a flood in the market. Not surprising in the slightest. That's for Berkeley itself, anyway, and not so much for Oakland and surrounding cities.

+1

[indo]

Welcome Boalt Class of 2018!



Berkeley has their own flickr that seems to be regularly updated. Peep the pics below:
2014 Admit Day: https://www.flickr.com/photos/29370912@ ... 553344402/
Berkeley Law Life: https://www.flickr.com/photos/29370912@ ... 936345102/
2014 Scholarship Luncheon: https://www.flickr.com/photos/29370912@ ... 272756312/
Faculty Responses to Brown and Garner Cases: https://www.flickr.com/photos/29370912@ ... 706106102/

Thank you to jemthey17 for help gathering information!

Key Dates
Need-based Financial Aid: Apply by March 2, 2015
Admitted Students Weekend: March 12-14, 2015
First Admissions Response Form: April 15, 2015
Final Admissions Response Form: June 1, 2015
Statement of Legal Resident: June 1, 2015
1L Orientation: August 21, 2015
Classes Begin: August 24, 2015

Links
Admitted Students Website: https://www.law.berkeley.edu/admitted.htm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Berkeley ... 9436858124
Twitter: https://twitter.com/berkeleylawnews
Housing: http://www.law.berkeley.edu/433.htm
Financial Aid: http://www.law.berkeley.edu/finaid.htm
FinAid Blog: http://finaid.berkeleylawblogs.org/

Accepted Students Weekend: March 12-14 (Thu-Sat)
Travel Stipend (air only):

• In-state: $150

• Out-of-State: $300

Airports: Oakland International Airport (OAK) ((recommended)) & San Francisco International (SFO)
Where to Stay (ask for Berkeley discount): http://www.law.berkeley.edu/142.htm

If you are unable to attend, Boalt offers Admitted Student Information Sessions and will happily connect you with current students and arrange for you to observe a class in session and have lunch at Cafe Zeb.

Estimated 2014-2015 School Year Expenses

• Tuition (CA): 48,066

• Tuition (Nonres – 1st year only): 52, 024

• Housing & Food: 18,560

• Books & Supplies: 1,544

• Personal: 1,480

• Transportation: 3,002

Scholarship Info
Offers are typically extended beginning in early March and until the final response deadline in June or until the available funds are exhausted.

Scholarship Matching Program (participating schools):

• Columbia University
  Cornell University
  Duke University
  Harvard University
  New York University
  Stanford University
  University of Chicago
  University of Michigan
  University of Pennsylvania
  Yale University

More Info: http://www.law.berkeley.edu/6957.htm

Other Scholarships:
In general, the awards range from $15,000 - $75,000 ($5,000 - $25,000 per year). Full tuition scholarships are exceedingly rare. Apply with your Scholarship Interest Form on the Accepted Students website

Previous Examples:

• Berkeley Law Dean's Fellowship: Typically $30,000-$75,000 (awarded as $10,000-$25,000 per year
  Philip S. Ehrlich Public Service Loan-Grant: Typically $60,000 (awarded as $20,000 per year)
  S.K. Yee Fellowship: Typically $15,000 (awarded as $5,000 per year)
  Larry L. Hillblom Fellowship: Typically $30,000 (awarded as $10,000 per year)
  Billie & Adrian Kragen Scholarship: Typically $15,000 (awarded as $5,000 per year)
  Ralph Eltse Memorial Scholarship: Typically $30,000 (awarded as $10,000 per year)
  Graduate Opportunity Program Scholarship: Award typically provides full fees plus a $10,000 living expense stipend for the first year only.

Housing Options
Graduate Housing Website with pictures and details: http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/livinga ... dents.html

Single Students: Manville Apartments (12 month lease)
Manville Apartments is located three blocks from the southwestern corner of campus at Shattuck Avenue and Channing Way, Manville apartments is reserved for law and graduate students. The secured complex includes 132 small, unfurnished, single-occupancy studio apartments.

2014-2015 Rates:

• Standard Apartment= 1,082

• Apartment with Bay view= 1,118

• Apartment with deck= 1,118

• Apartment with courtyard access= 1,118

Single Students: Ida Louise Jackson Apartments (12 month lease + includes utilities)
Jackson Graduate House is located one block from the campus. The newly constructed complex offers space for 120 students in 2,3,4,5 and 6 bedroom shared apartments. Jackson House is considered "off campus" for budgetary purposes with the Financial Aid office.

2014-2015 Rates:

• 2 BR= 1,167

• 3 BR= 1, 123

• 4 BR= 1,110

• 5 BR= 1,049

• 6 BR= 992

UC Family Housing (For married students or students with a domestic partner, with or without children, and single parents)
University Village Apartments (UVA) is a 58-acre complex with 974 1/2/3 BR apartments, and 2BR townhouses, located 4 miles west of the campus. UVA has its own recreational & community center, a café, laundry rooms, and child care center.

2014-2015 rental rates for Family Student Housing are $1337, $1597 and $1818 respectively for 1, 2 and 3 BR apartments in the new West Village, and $1733 to $2059 for 2 and 3 BR flats and townhouses in the recent East Village. Includes all utilities (except telephone service), and a parking space.

Other Options
International House
Berkeley Student Cooperative

Off-Campus
The following are typical monthly rent ranges for apartments and houses in Berkeley and the surrounding areas:
$812 average cost 2013 - Room in shared apartment or house
$1,250 average cost 2013 - Studio apartment
$1,600 average cost 2013 - 1BR apartment
$2,400 average cost 2013 - 2BR apartment or house
$3,500 average cost 2013 - 3BR or larger house (rare)

Summer Housing
Located in a residence hall near campus. Until mid-August, you can rent a single room for one or two people for approximately $65 per room per night, with a discounted weekly rate.

Transportation
UC Berkeley runs a campus shuttle service, with routes that connect with city bus stops and the downtown Berkeley subway (BART) station. And, remember, with the appropriate sticker, your Cal student ID Card entitles you to free rides on local buses so you need to confine your housing search to the immediate campus vicinity.

Academics
Grading

• High Honors (HH): 10% 1L, 10-15% 2/3L
  Honors (H): 30% 1L, 25-30% 2/3L
  Pass (P)
  Substandard Pass (PC)
  Fail/No Credit (NC)

1Ls who take classes with 2/3Ls have a separate curve.
Seminars have special rules.

Graduation Requirements

• 1L Curriculum
  Professional Responsibility course
  Constitutional Law 220.6
  Writing requirement
  Professional Skills course (options)

Certificate Programs

• Clean Technology Law
  Environmental Law
  Law and Technology

Clinics

• Death Penalty
  East Bay Community Law Center
  International Human Rights Law
  Samuelson Law, Technology & Public Policy

Link to "Boalt 1Ls taking questions": http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... start=1000

This will be updated with more information. This was just to get a thread going. Please let me know if there's info to add or any errors. Thanks!

Thank you. Great information

[DiniMae]

Thank you. Great information

You're welcome.
Edit: Updated OP with Journals and ASW event list

[paragonloop]

Checking in! I'm looking forward to the ASW.

[DiniMae]

Checking in! I'm looking forward to the ASW.

Welcome!

[middlebear]

Can I post a sort of general "how likely are you to choose Berkeley" next year question? I mean clearly most of us probably aren't 100% anywhere, just curious if Boalt's is a top contender for most.

[LoganCouture]

Can I post a sort of general "how likely are you to choose Berkeley" next year question? I mean clearly most of us probably aren't 100% anywhere, just curious if Boalt's is a top contender for most.

0 chance I go here if price remains at sticker. Sorry Cal :/ I want to stay in the Bay but not that badly. Given that the financial aid is terrible compared to its peers it's probably not all that likely that I'll go? But I haven't heard from financial aid most everywhere yet so it's completely up in the air.

[Mack.Hambleton]

Can I post a sort of general "how likely are you to choose Berkeley" next year question? I mean clearly most of us probably aren't 100% anywhere, just curious if Boalt's is a top contender for most.

0 chance I go here if price remains at sticker. Sorry Cal :/ I want to stay in the Bay but not that badly. Given that the financial aid is terrible compared to its peers it's probably not all that likely that I'll go? But I haven't heard from financial aid most everywhere yet so it's completely up in the air.

same with this, last year they offered me zero (0) merit aid when I got full rides from higher ranked schools. I'd love to go here, but not at that price

[compass]

Can I post a sort of general "how likely are you to choose Berkeley" next year question? I mean clearly most of us probably aren't 100% anywhere, just curious if Boalt's is a top contender for most.

0 chance I go here if price remains at sticker. Sorry Cal :/ I want to stay in the Bay but not that badly. Given that the financial aid is terrible compared to its peers it's probably not all that likely that I'll go? But I haven't heard from financial aid most everywhere yet so it's completely up in the air.

same with this, last year they offered me zero (0) merit aid when I got full rides from higher ranked schools. I'd love to go here, but not at that price

So is Berkeley's matching scholarship not actually a thing? I've been wondering why they have such a bad reputation for aid when they will supposedly match a bunch of offers.

[DiniMae]

Can I post a sort of general "how likely are you to choose Berkeley" next year question? I mean clearly most of us probably aren't 100% anywhere, just curious if Boalt's is a top contender for most.

Would you like this as a poll?

My answer: It is my top contender because I am 100% committed to IP law (not patent--cyber and privacy focus). There are very few schools that actually have their resources in this area that's as well established. The only way I would be swayed is if SLS, HLS, or NYU with their ASPIRE scholarship comes calling. And I haven't heard from any of those three at all, so Berkeley it is.

I also have GI Bill YRP $$$, so my situation isn't normal. HOWEVER: they don't do full compensation like most other law schools, unfortunately, so I'd still have debt to take on unless there is additional scholly money. But no sticker for me anywhere.

[middlebear]

Can I post a sort of general "how likely are you to choose Berkeley" next year question? I mean clearly most of us probably aren't 100% anywhere, just curious if Boalt's is a top contender for most.

Would you like this as a poll?

If others would, I think it'd be interesting to see where we're all at.

If money were equal, Boalt's probably just about my default #1 now. I'm also one of those weirdos that is sort of hoping to just LRAP out of debt, so maybe fin aid won't be as crushing a factor? BUT COME ON BERKELEY PLEASE MAKE IT RAIN.

So is Berkeley's matching scholarship not actually a thing? I've been wondering why they have such a bad reputation for aid when they will supposedly match a bunch of offers.

I get the impression matching only works out for a small number of students--you have to apply for it, so Berkeley can accept or reject it as they please.

[LoganCouture]

Can I post a sort of general "how likely are you to choose Berkeley" next year question? I mean clearly most of us probably aren't 100% anywhere, just curious if Boalt's is a top contender for most.

0 chance I go here if price remains at sticker. Sorry Cal :/ I want to stay in the Bay but not that badly. Given that the financial aid is terrible compared to its peers it's probably not all that likely that I'll go? But I haven't heard from financial aid most everywhere yet so it's completely up in the air.

same with this, last year they offered me zero (0) merit aid when I got full rides from higher ranked schools. I'd love to go here, but not at that price

So is Berkeley's matching scholarship not actually a thing? I've been wondering why they have such a bad reputation for aid when they will supposedly match a bunch of offers.

They actually don't match all that many offers compared to the number of requests they get. Disappointing.

[DiniMae]

I read on their website that they only match for specific reasons. Not a quote, but something akin to numbers and diversity candidates (however that's measured).

[BlueLaw11]

Just got my email--checking in! Congrats to us all. Great thread info here

[Oskosh]

Was admitted yesterday... Beyond ecstatic, especially since I approached my cycle pessimistically... Berkeley has the #2 IP program, is apparently a very calm and not-as-cutthroat atmosphere (allegedly), has the grading system that other schools have implemented... At the very least, it is a great start to my admissions cycle. Berkeley also has some external factors, such as the fact that one of my best friends studies engineering there, and one of my good friends is a grad student there.

[DiniMae]

Just got my email--checking in! Congrats to us all. Great thread info here

Welcome! Are you a CA resident?

[DiniMae]

Was admitted yesterday... Beyond ecstatic, especially since I approached my cycle pessimistically... Berkeley has the #2 IP program, is apparently a very calm and not-as-cutthroat atmosphere (allegedly), has the grading system that other schools have implemented... At the very least, it is a great start to my admissions cycle. Berkeley also has some external factors, such as the fact that one of my best friends studies engineering there, and one of my good friends is a grad student there.

Congrats. What kind of IP are you looking into pursuing? Will you be at ASW?

[Oskosh]

Was admitted yesterday... Beyond ecstatic, especially since I approached my cycle pessimistically... Berkeley has the #2 IP program, is apparently a very calm and not-as-cutthroat atmosphere (allegedly), has the grading system that other schools have implemented... At the very least, it is a great start to my admissions cycle. Berkeley also has some external factors, such as the fact that one of my best friends studies engineering there, and one of my good friends is a grad student there.

Congrats. What kind of IP are you looking into pursuing? Will you be at ASW?

Patent haha. Sorry!

I am not sure. I am a teacher and have 5 days off remaining. I would have to wait to see if any other schools that would be viable candidates accept me/reject me, and then make my decision on which ASW I'll be attending (and using up my days off on).

[BlueLaw11]

Just got my email--checking in! Congrats to us all. Great thread info here

Welcome! Are you a CA resident?

Thanks DiniMae! Yeah I'm from San Diego, did undergrad at a UC as well. Boalt was one of my top choices so I'm beyond ecstatic. How bout you?

[churrochi]

How long did it take you guys to get the email for access to the admitted students website? I was accepted via email on Friday (cross-checked my acceptance with the status checker because I just couldn't believe my eyes), still waiting for that email. Nothing in spam. Should I just call the office on Monday? I want to reserve my spot in the class asap and book a flight for ASW.

[fra]

It took five days for me to get the email for the admitted students website.