Berkeley vs. Columbia Forum

[fortissimo]

getting A's is not easy regardless of major, in my opinion.

No. The majority of the liberal arts are jokes...my LA GPA was much higher than my non-LA GPA, even though I did 1/10 of the work.

Disagreed.

I studied for LA finals/midterms the night before and pulled As. It's harder to get As in math/science not only because of the subject material but because they are curved. To my knowledge the vast majority of schools do not strictly curve liberal arts majors.

[Kronk]

getting A's is not easy regardless of major, in my opinion.

No. The majority of the liberal arts are jokes...my LA GPA was much higher than my non-LA GPA, even though I did 1/10 of the work.

Disagreed.

I studied for LA finals/midterms the night before and pulled As. It's harder to get As in math/science not only because of the subject material but because they are curved. To my knowledge the vast majority of schools do not strictly curve liberal arts majors.

Eh, the only B's I got during undergrad were in my liberal arts major. The sciences are much more cut and dry--you either know it or you don't. Liberal arts are much more subjective.

[stratocophic]

GPA, in my opinion, is all hard work. Some majors are easier than others, but getting A's is not easy regardless of major, in my opinion. Might be easier to get a B in a liberal arts class than an engineering class, but I generally think A's are equally hard across all areas. As a double major in a serious science and a serious liberal arts major, I feel qualified to make that assertion (at least for my University). Not many cases go to court, and those moments that require improvisational logical thinking that need to be done in a short amount of time are pretty rare. I would take the bright person who understands the logic, but might take a bit more time, assuming that the second person works harder consistently.

I agree. If I was an adcomm, I would totally take 3.9/168 over 3.5/172 every single time (ceteris paribus).

That's the path to a full class of English/Poli-sci majors at every top school while the future IP lawyers languish in TTT hell. I like the way it is right now better, personally

I don't know, what's more impressive to you--2 to three questions on the LSAT (difference between 168-172) or hundreds of studying hours, knowledge gained, etc (difference between a 3.5 - 3.9).

Being an engineer or a science major doesn't excuse bad GPAs. I have two majors, Ethnic Studies and MCDB (Mollecular Cellular Developmental Bio). The average GPA for ES is a 2.83, the average GPA for MCDB is a 3.10. The average engineer GPA is a 2.92. Just sayin.

I disagree that the difference between a 3.9 and 3.5 invariably = hundreds of hours of studying and massive increases in knowledge gained. Random variables can play just as much of a role as they do in the difference between a 165 and a 170, just over a longer period. Additionally, differing natural abilities play a large role once you enter the STEM disciplines. I suck at calculus and chem, therefore my GPA sucks. I'll still wager that my overall knowledge and abilities to perform both in law school and as a patent lawyer put me closer to my LSAT score's percentile than that of my GPA.

[Legacy316]

I, a Boalt student, wish my school had a higher LSAT IQ.

Seriously? Do you feel like the student body isn't as qualified? Honest question as I'm considering Boalttt.

Hahaha, no, not seriously at all. It's a play on a couple of the memes floating around TLS (and the ridiculous concept of "LSAT IQ.")

The student body is incredibly qualified. As qualified as any other law school out there. Come visit.

flame

in absolute terms i can agree that boalt is great, but relative to columbia and chicago, i'd bet that their students arent as intellectually capable.

cls median - 172
chi - 171
boalt - 167

the numbers dont lie, and these are pretty significant differences.

Not that it matters but Boalt's median is a 168.

[APimpNamedSlickback]

Not that it matters but Boalt's median is a 168.

http://officialguide.lsac.org/SearchRes ... BA4833.pdf

[bilbobaggins]

Not that it matters but Boalt's median is a 168.

I, a Boalt student, rejoice that my LSAT IQ just went up AND I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN MY HIGH PAYING CONSULTING JOB OR MY 72 VIRGINS.

[Legacy316]

Not that it matters but Boalt's median is a 168.

http://officialguide.lsac.org/SearchRes ... BA4833.pdf

http://www.law.berkeley.edu/37.htm

[Kronk]

40% minority? That's crazyawesome.

[APimpNamedSlickback]

Not that it matters but Boalt's median is a 168.

I, a Boalt student, rejoice that my LSAT IQ just went up AND I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN MY HIGH PAYING CONSULTING JOB OR MY 72 VIRGINS.

lol

[Tangerine Gleam]

If I was an adcomm, I would totally take 3.9/168 over 3.5/172 every single time (ceteris paribus).

I'm glad you weren't reviewing my app this year.

[los blancos]

If I was an adcomm, I would totally take 3.9/168 over 3.5/172 every single time (ceteris paribus).

I'm glad you weren't reviewing my app this year.

lol I'm glad I'm not reviewing my app

[democrattotheend]

I think choosing Berkeley over Columbia at sticker would be a reasonable choice, especially if you want to end up out west. But choosing Berkeley over Columbia with money seems crazy, unless you visit Columbia and decide you hate it and really don't want to spend 3 years there.

Can you get Berkeley to match your Butler? If so, then I think you could justify it. Is the issue that you'd rather be at Berkeley but feel like you can't rationally turn down Columbia with money?

If so, I'm in a similar quandry with NYU, UVA and Georgetown, although I don't have a scholarship from Columbia.

Selfishly, I say go to Berkeley because maybe you'll free up some merit aid for me at Columbia

[kittenmittons]

Flame?

[Hattori Hanzo]

I came back this morning expecting to have a few replies but 6 pages? Whoaaah! Although most of it wasn't directly related, I still enjoyed reading your replies. Thanks guys

And this is exactly the case:

Is the issue that you'd rather be at Berkeley but feel like you can't rationally turn down Columbia with money?

I love the California weather, the convenience of having a car and driving it every day (I am nuts about cars) and living in relatively large apartments. I have never been to NYC before but I've lived in London and I'd take LA anyday over London, despite London's great culture and superior public transportation system. From what I have heard, NYC is rather similar to London and I don't think I will be a happy camper living in a shoe box and riding the metro for 3 years. I am also not aiming for Biglaw after graduation, mostly because I care too much about "living my life" and don't like the idea of 2,200 charge hours a year.

All that said I still can't justify giving up Columbia+ money and pick the lower ranked Boalt, which many people say is not even worthy of its current ranking.

Are prospects of tranferring out of Boalt to HYS really better than Columbia or is it that less people @ Columbia even want to transfer?

[Tangerine Gleam]

How much is the Butler worth? I only know of the Hamilton.

[BenJ]

40% minority? That's crazyawesome.

Columbia claims to be 35% minority. Then you look at the fine print, and that's something like 28% Asian and 7% everything else. I'm sure Berk is the same.

How much is the Butler worth? I only know of the Hamilton.

Half-tuition. About 76k over three years.

[Hattori Hanzo]

How much is the Butler worth? I only know of the Hamilton.

Half ride so $76K.

[holydonkey]

I might have said Berkeley half an hour ago, but since it's 4:59, Columbia.

[$1.99]

Boalt is a joke, no one respects a degree from Boalt when they can go with HYS or CCN. Boalt is the third stringer of law schools. When is the last time a NFL third string QB got to play and basked in glory? There are a lot of second string QBs that have won the big game though.

[crackberry]

Boalt is a joke, no one respects a degree from Boalt when they can go with HYS or CCN. Boalt is the third stringer of law schools. When is the last time a NFL third string QB got to play and basked in glory? There are a lot of second string QBs that have won the big game though.

Subtle anti-HYS and pro-CCN trolling.

[$1.99]

lol that wasn't my intention at all, HYS ruled all since the 1990s. HYS = peyton manning, CCN = kurt warner, Boalt = mike vick

[Dignan]

Boalt is a joke, no one respects a degree from Boalt when they can go with HYS or CCN. Boalt is the third stringer of law schools. When is the last time a NFL third string QB got to play and basked in glory? There are a lot of second string QBs that have won the big game though.

anti-Kurt Warner trolling (circa 1998)

[crackberry]

lol that wasn't my intention at all, HYS ruled all since the 1990s. HYS = peyton manning, CCN = kurt warner, Boalt = mike vick

Interesting. What are MVP and DNCG?

[Dignan]

lol that wasn't my intention at all, HYS ruled all since the 1990s. HYS = peyton manning, CCN = kurt warner, Boalt = mike vick

Dude, Kurt Warner did not come from the equivalent of CCN. He was a journeyman quarterback from the arena football league. Brooklyn Law School = Kurt Warner.

[APimpNamedSlickback]

lol that wasn't my intention at all, HYS ruled all since the 1990s. HYS = peyton manning, CCN = kurt warner, Boalt = [strike]mike vick[/strike] ryan leaf

overrated fail that hails from out west. i think this is a better fit.