Top Law Schools

I'm sorry to hear so much bad news!! Best of luck to those on the WL!

In.

still in shock--total, absolute, utter shock.

3.8/164/non-URM

What's with Berkeley and all these kids with sub-par credentials getting in? I mean I'm happy for them, but just kinda curious what goes on over there.

Oh wait, after going to their website, I found my answer. Apparently they admit only "real people" and not just those with great numbers. What a crappy way to end the night - finding out I'm not a real person after all.

Cpwilson wrote:What's with Berkeley and all these kids with sub-par credentials getting in? I mean I'm happy for them, but just kinda curious what goes on over there.

Cpwilson wrote:Oh wait, after going to their website, I found my answer. Apparently they admit only "real people" and not just those with great numbers. What a crappy way to end the night - finding out I'm not a real person after all.

--ImageRemoved--

Ha no I'm actually just messin. Can't win em all. Congrats on all the acceptances, and best of luck to everyone for the rest of the cycle!

Really though...Berk is the troll of law schools. 164 non-urm? I am mad, bro.

I assume the committees were looking more at profiles to ensure a diverse array of experiences/backgrounds in the incoming class. Therefore, although I might have very good softs (i.e. Peace Corps, Master's degree, WE), these might not be specific needs that they are looking to fulfill. I am sure it could also be that one personal statement was simply better written or one letter of recommendation was more compelling. It is interesting that they seem to throw out numbers once it goes into CR. To be honest, the fact that it is not just a numbers game with Berkeley makes me want to go there even more. But sadly, even if I end up with a bright quartile outlook, I think financial considerations will trump the desire to be part of a unique incoming class.

withdrew after being WL'd.. why would i wait on berkeley when i have columbia

Waitlisted via email last night - 167/3.6 non-URM. Honestly, I'm extremely flattered. My stats put me in the lowest quartile of admitted students.

mcweanis wrote:withdrew after being WL'd.. why would i wait on berkeley when i have columbia

Um... because it's not in New York?

haha jk. Congrats on columbia! Buy a coat!!

Justin.S wrote:Really though...Berk is the troll of law schools. 164 non-urm? I am mad, bro.

These low-stat admits are going to KILL Berkeley in the USNWR rankings. It will be interesting to see what happens Tuesday (with the new rankings)... our LSAT median went down 1 point this year, whereas it went up for almost every other school in the top 10. Sorry that you weren't admitted, but maybe there is some solace in the fact that this recruiting model isn't very sustainable... ?

I am all about the holistic application process, but Boalt needs to play the numbers game to some degree if they want to maintain their prestige/legal prowess (which, like it or not, is heavily tied to USNWR rankings). I hope Dean Tom knows what he's doing..!

fish52 wrote:

Justin.S wrote:Really though...Berk is the troll of law schools. 164 non-urm? I am mad, bro.

These low-stat admits are going to KILL Berkeley in the USNWR rankings. It will be interesting to see what happens Tuesday (with the new rankings)... our LSAT median went down 1 point this year, whereas it went up for almost every other school in the top 10. Sorry that you weren't admitted, but maybe there is some solace in the fact that this recruiting model isn't very sustainable... ?

I am all about the holistic application process, but Boalt needs to play the numbers game to some degree if they want to maintain their prestige/legal prowess (which, like it or not, is heavily tied to USNWR rankings). I hope Dean Tom knows what he's doing..!

I think the point of the CR process is to fill the slots they've reserved for "interesting" people. I assume they already have their numbers through administrative review.

d34dluk3 wrote:

fish52 wrote:

Justin.S wrote:Really though...Berk is the troll of law schools. 164 non-urm? I am mad, bro.

These low-stat admits are going to KILL Berkeley in the USNWR rankings. It will be interesting to see what happens Tuesday (with the new rankings)... our LSAT median went down 1 point this year, whereas it went up for almost every other school in the top 10. Sorry that you weren't admitted, but maybe there is some solace in the fact that this recruiting model isn't very sustainable... ?

I am all about the holistic application process, but Boalt needs to play the numbers game to some degree if they want to maintain their prestige/legal prowess (which, like it or not, is heavily tied to USNWR rankings). I hope Dean Tom knows what he's doing..!

I think the point of the CR process is to fill the slots they've reserved for "interesting" people. I assume they already have their numbers through administrative review.

+1

fish52 wrote:

mcweanis wrote:withdrew after being WL'd.. why would i wait on berkeley when i have columbia

Um... because it's not in New York?

haha jk. Congrats on columbia! Buy a coat!!

i'm from maine so i think i'll be okay! i like seasons anyway

d34dluk3 wrote: I think the point of the CR process is to fill the slots they've reserved for "interesting" people. I assume they already have their numbers through administrative review.

Very proud to be "interesting" in this case (yes, I am a unique and beautiful snowflake).

fish52 wrote:

Justin.S wrote:Really though...Berk is the troll of law schools. 164 non-urm? I am mad, bro.

These low-stat admits are going to KILL Berkeley in the USNWR rankings. [edited for length] I hope Dean Tom knows what he's doing..!

First: it's medians not means so even if you admit a 120 it only counts as one below median. Second: I have supreme confidence in Dean Tom. The rankings are more than the LSAT. I think his/the school's focus on a unique class helps in other areas like reputation and job prospects. (though I agree with the poster a couple up that the numbers are probably already well set-- at least those offered admission)

My bigger worry is about the impact of the tuition increases. While we are still maginally lower than most peers, I'm afraid that the $ will dissuade some quality folks (with or without numbers) from coming.

Flat out rejected. Oh well.

Rotor wrote:

fish52 wrote:

Justin.S wrote:Really though...Berk is the troll of law schools. 164 non-urm? I am mad, bro.

These low-stat admits are going to KILL Berkeley in the USNWR rankings. [edited for length] I hope Dean Tom knows what he's doing..!

First: it's medians not means so even if you admit a 120 it only counts as one below median. Second: I have supreme confidence in Dean Tom. The rankings are more than the LSAT. I think his/the school's focus on a unique class helps in other areas like reputation and job prospects. (though I agree with the poster a couple up that the numbers are probably already well set-- at least those offered admission)

My bigger worry is about the impact of the tuition increases. While we are still maginally lower than most peers, I'm afraid that the $ will dissuade some quality folks (with or without numbers) from coming.

Regardless of whether they are medians or means, low numbers hurt Boalt in the rankings-- a number below the existing median that is not counter-balanced by a number above it will bring down the class median.

The rankings do include more than the LSAT score, but is is a significant component. LSAT median accounts for .125 of the overall ranking, which is significant when compared with other factors such as bar passage rate (.02), student faculty ratio (.03), etc. An increase or decrease in the median LSAT by even one point could remove a school from the top 10. I think this is ridiculous, of course, because the LSAT score of the guy who sits next to me is less of a factor in the quality of my education than, say, access to the professor, but that's the "only game in town."

I'm not trolling-- I am a huge fan of Boalt, and barring the tsunami actually taking out Cal (not to make light of the situation in Japan), I will probably be attending in the Fall. I just thought that the issue was salient, and might offer some solace to those who were rejected.

fish52 wrote:

Rotor wrote:

fish52 wrote:

Justin.S wrote:Really though...Berk is the troll of law schools. 164 non-urm? I am mad, bro.

These low-stat admits are going to KILL Berkeley in the USNWR rankings. [edited for length] I hope Dean Tom knows what he's doing..!

First: it's medians not means so even if you admit a 120 it only counts as one below median. Second: I have supreme confidence in Dean Tom. The rankings are more than the LSAT. I think his/the school's focus on a unique class helps in other areas like reputation and job prospects. (though I agree with the poster a couple up that the numbers are probably already well set-- at least those offered admission)

My bigger worry is about the impact of the tuition increases. While we are still maginally lower than most peers, I'm afraid that the $ will dissuade some quality folks (with or without numbers) from coming.

Regardless of whether they are medians or means, low numbers hurt Boalt in the rankings-- a number below the existing median that is not counter-balanced by a number above it will bring down the class median.

The rankings do include more than the LSAT score, but is is a significant component. LSAT median accounts for .125 of the overall ranking, which is significant when compared with other factors such as bar passage rate (.02), student faculty ratio (.03), etc. An increase or decrease in the median LSAT by even one point could remove a school from the top 10. I think this is ridiculous, of course, because the LSAT score of the guy who sits next to me is less of a factor in the quality of my education than, say, access to the professor, but that's the "only game in town."

I'm not trolling-- I am a huge fan of Boalt, and barring the tsunami actually taking out Cal (not to make light of the situation in Japan), I will probably be attending in the Fall. I just thought that the issue was salient, and might offer some solace to those who were rejected.

They admit like this every year. Numbers have been going up in general. The sky is not falling despite TLS's best efforts at claiming that constantly.