Berkeley 2010 Forum

[sfdreaming09]

To those of you that missed the original call and called back, did he have to look up your file first before congratulating you, or did he know you by name?

As soon as he heard my last name, he literally immediately said "Hi [my first name]." He also immediately (i.e. not enough time for him to look up my file) knew where I'm currently living and what type of law I intend to pursue. Very personalized attention...I was impressed.

[CardinalRules]

I noticed something concerning the tweets from their Twitter account. They say that "WE ARE reading furiously," rather than "I AM reading furiously," as one would expect if Dean Tom were the only person reading the files. I'm wondering if this wording means that the Committee is already reviewing some applications.

[lsnoob]

So, those admitted via phone already, which phone number from your status checker did Dean Tom call you on?

I have listed a daytime phone number and my cell phone number. Curious if I should be obsessing over one or the other. Thanks!

[JohnYuu]

I noticed something concerning the tweets from their Twitter account. They say that "WE ARE reading furiously," rather than "I AM reading furiously," as one would expect if Dean Tom were the only person reading the files. I'm wondering if this wording means that the Committee is already reviewing some applications.

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that Dean Tom has an assistant or two (not part of the committee) that reads the files with him initially. I'm pretty sure this is either on the Berk website or the TLS interview with Dean Tom.

[crackberry]

I noticed something concerning the tweets from their Twitter account. They say that "WE ARE reading furiously," rather than "I AM reading furiously," as one would expect if Dean Tom were the only person reading the files. I'm wondering if this wording means that the Committee is already reviewing some applications.

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that Dean Tom has an assistant or two (not part of the committee) that reads the files with him initially. I'm pretty sure this is either on the Berk website or the TLS interview with Dean Tom.

Yeah I'm pretty sure the committee doesn't convene until January. Current Boalt students, please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

[JohnYuu]

http://www.top-law-schools.com/tom-interview.html

He has four other staff, he reads 2/3 of the applications himself.

[CardinalRules]

http://www.top-law-schools.com/tom-interview.html

He has four other staff, he reads 2/3 of the applications himself.

Thanks for taking the time to answer the question so thoroughly!

[JohnYuu]

I'm sure you knew that posting a picture of yourself would get you special treatment.

[CardinalRules]

I'm sure you knew that posting a picture of yourself would get you special treatment.

I'm glad that my avatar triggers your viewing pleasure as much as it does mine. You're kinder than Ruleser the Bat, who called her pose "hunching."

[Rotor]

Ha! Seriously, any guesses as to why Berkeley excludes NU from the list? Is it because NU is especially generous with its scholarship money (especially for those applicants who are strong enough to get into Berkeley), and Berkeley doesn't have the $$$ to match the NU offers? I wonder what the story is.

This was our 0L hypothesis last year.

Also, pretty much everything Everyone else said has been accurate. Not many are matched-- until a couple of weeks ago, I didn't know anyone in the class who had been. As a public school, the focus is on need based aid.

[polydolly]

So, those admitted via phone already, which phone number from your status checker did Dean Tom call you on?

I have listed a daytime phone number and my cell phone number. Curious if I should be obsessing over one or the other. Thanks!

+1

[bilbobaggins]

I'm sure you knew that posting a picture of yourself would get you special treatment.

Hahahaha. Creeper!

[worldtraveler]

I think it's actually very far from a guarantee recently. As in, most of the time it doesn't get taken. I think people have had more success with smaller scholarships from Chicago or NYU than with larger ones from MVPDCG.

I don't know for sure on this, but at one event I heard some of the admissions staff talking about how they don't lose many cross-admits to Penn, Mich, or Virginia. They therefore aren't too inclined to match scholarships from those schools, especially if it's a large one and it would require a big financial sacrifice for Berkeley. I think they are more concerned with wooing admits from CCN. This might not be completely accurate, but it seems to be what happens with the matching program.

[Amelie]

I think it's actually very far from a guarantee recently. As in, most of the time it doesn't get taken. I think people have had more success with smaller scholarships from Chicago or NYU than with larger ones from MVPDCG.

I don't know for sure on this, but at one event I heard some of the admissions staff talking about how they don't lose many cross-admits to Penn, Mich, or Virginia. They therefore aren't too inclined to match scholarships from those schools, especially if it's a large one and it would require a big financial sacrifice for Berkeley. I think they are more concerned with wooing admits from CCN. This might not be completely accurate, but it seems to be what happens with the matching program.

This is what I figured. I wonder if they'll up their scholarships at all because of the tuition hikes? I could see their yield taking a hit.

[catharsis]

my friends, and bless their hearts, are trying to convince me that since Boalt offered to fly me out for the visit that they will give me some merit aid. is there any truth to that because i was under the impression that they offer to fly everyone out to visit?

[Tangerine Gleam]

my friends, and bless their hearts, are trying to convince me that since Boalt offered to fly me out for the visit that they will give me some merit aid. is there any truth to that because i was under the impression that they offer to fly everyone out to visit?

Haha. My family has been doing the same. I don't think there is any relation...however I also doubt that ALL admits are flown out...maybe just Dean Tom's special draft picks from early in the cycle?

[tintin]

do we think there will be more calls on monday?

[hiro86]

my friends, and bless their hearts, are trying to convince me that since Boalt offered to fly me out for the visit that they will give me some merit aid. is there any truth to that because i was under the impression that they offer to fly everyone out to visit?

I thought Berkeley only offered need-based aid? I could be wrong though.

[Cooley70121]

With regard to Berkeley's matching scholarship program, do they dole out offers for those admiited to HYS? I'm in at Harvard and am wondering if I need to apply to another school in search of a scholarship so that Berkeley will give me merit aid. I would like my Harvard admit to entice them to give me a scholarship on its own, but I am not sure of a politically correct way to broach the subject with the adcoms.

[amandap]

Have you already choosen Berkeley over Harvard?

[tintin]

go to harvard and donate your berkeley acceptance to me....

[ChildPlease]

Does anyone know how much tuition is expected to go up?

[bilbobaggins]

They fly out everyone who is within flying distance.

[Saya]

They fly out everyone who is within flying distance.

lolol. How exactly is this defined?

[aetennis17]

Just had a really discouraging meeting with our pre-law advisor.

I have a 164 & 3.99 gpa from a top univ with strong LOR's, (& what I believe to be a) great & unique PS, and above-average softs....

is there really no chance in hell that dean tom will accept me? even if I beg?