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UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 1:41 pm
by Kaleidoscope16
First time poster, long time lurker here. The goal is SoCal big-law and a clerkship. At UCLA, I would only be paying living expenses and I haven't received a financial aid offer from Berkeley yet, so I'm assuming sticker at the moment (I've reached out to them multiple times regarding my UCLA offer with no response yet). The decision seems semi-obvious to me, but any insight before I make a final decision would be appreciated!
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 1:47 pm
by nimbus cloud
UCLA and it's not even close.
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 1:50 pm
by ambrajdurbra131313
nimbus cloud wrote:UCLA and it's not even close.
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 1:51 pm
by guynourmin
ambrajdurbra131313 wrote:nimbus cloud wrote:UCLA and it's not even close.
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 1:54 pm
by ponderingmeerkat
guybourdin wrote:ambrajdurbra131313 wrote:nimbus cloud wrote:UCLA and it's not even close.
If you were to post a poll, I'd be shocked if it wasn't unanimous for UCLA.
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 2:02 pm
by Kaleidoscope16
Thanks for the fast responses everyone, you're all fantastic. Seemed obvious to me but just wanted to confirm I wasn't crazy for some reason!
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 2:05 pm
by Rigo
I have a chip on my shoulder for UCLA, but you should def pick it.
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 2:31 pm
by Itiswritten
Rigo wrote:I have a chip on my shoulder for UCLA, but you should def pick it.
UCLA unanimously
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 2:54 pm
by Kaleidoscope16
Following up on this, what would you guys consider the tipping point in terms of making this decision? How much aid would you need from Berkeley?
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 3:02 pm
by Rigo
Kaleidoscope16 wrote:Following up on this, what would you guys consider the tipping point in terms of making this decision? How much aid would you need from Berkeley?
Hard to say but I might take Berk if $50k more? Idk. Not might higher than that imho.
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Fri Apr 07, 2017 11:57 pm
by goldenbear2020
Kaleidoscope16 wrote:Following up on this, what would you guys consider the tipping point in terms of making this decision? How much aid would you need from Berkeley?
TBH, at this late stage in the game, Berkeley is unlikely to offer you an amount that will make that worth it. I'd plan on UCLA.
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2017 12:04 am
by OneHandedEconomist
.
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2017 12:39 am
by Nebby
guybourdin wrote:ambrajdurbra131313 wrote:nimbus cloud wrote:UCLA and it's not even close.
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2017 12:48 am
by presidentspivey
Nebby wrote:guybourdin wrote:ambrajdurbra131313 wrote:nimbus cloud wrote:UCLA and it's not even close.
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 12:27 pm
by Kaleidoscope16
goldenbear2020 wrote:Kaleidoscope16 wrote:Following up on this, what would you guys consider the tipping point in terms of making this decision? How much aid would you need from Berkeley?
TBH, at this late stage in the game, Berkeley is unlikely to offer you an amount that will make that worth it. I'd plan on UCLA.
They got back to me and, surprisingly, they offered me a solid amount so I think the decision is less obvious than before.
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 12:37 pm
by presidentspivey
Kaleidoscope16 wrote:goldenbear2020 wrote:Kaleidoscope16 wrote:Following up on this, what would you guys consider the tipping point in terms of making this decision? How much aid would you need from Berkeley?
TBH, at this late stage in the game, Berkeley is unlikely to offer you an amount that will make that worth it. I'd plan on UCLA.
They got back to me and, surprisingly, they offered me a solid amount so I think the decision is less obvious than before.
What's a solid amount? i might value Berk at a little more than rigo's 50k number but not that much more
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 12:46 pm
by Mikey
Definitely UCLA
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 12:55 pm
by gaddockteeg
Definitely UCLA.
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 12:56 pm
by Rigo
Can we get an update on your Berkeley offer in more objective terms than "solid"?
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 12:58 pm
by Kaleidoscope16
Rigo wrote:Can we get an update on your Berkeley offer in more objective terms than "solid"?
Around 100k
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 1:00 pm
by Rigo
Kaleidoscope16 wrote:Rigo wrote:Can we get an update on your Berkeley offer in more objective terms than "solid"?
Around 100k
What's the merit and need breakdown or is it all merit?
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 1:01 pm
by Kaleidoscope16
Rigo wrote:Kaleidoscope16 wrote:Rigo wrote:Can we get an update on your Berkeley offer in more objective terms than "solid"?
Around 100k
What's the merit and need breakdown or is it all merit?
Merit, non-conditional
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 1:05 pm
by Rigo
Well that puts you right around the $50k threshold I said earlier. That's the point where I would at least seriously consider Berkeley. Not positive what I would do if I were in your position honestly.
It's not an easy call like before.
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 1:06 pm
by Redfactor
Kaleidoscope16 wrote:Rigo wrote:Can we get an update on your Berkeley offer in more objective terms than "solid"?
Around 100k
I take it that "around 100k" is enough to cover two years of in-state tuition?
If that's the case, you're now at the break even point, in my opinion. It depends on what you want to do and where you want to practice. If you're looking to practice SoCal, then UCLA.
If you're looking to do biglaw anywhere other than SoCal, then Berkeley.
If you're looking to do something other than biglaw (+ non-unicorn), then UCLA.
If you state your goals, you'll get better advice.
Re: UCLA (full ride) v. Berkeley (sticker?)
Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2017 1:39 pm
by Kaleidoscope16
Redfactor wrote:Kaleidoscope16 wrote:Rigo wrote:Can we get an update on your Berkeley offer in more objective terms than "solid"?
Around 100k
I take it that "around 100k" is enough to cover two years of in-state tuition?
If that's the case, you're now at the break even point, in my opinion. It depends on what you want to do and where you want to practice. If you're looking to practice SoCal, then UCLA.
If you're looking to do biglaw anywhere other than SoCal, then Berkeley.
If you're looking to do something other than biglaw (+ non-unicorn), then UCLA.
If you state your goals, you'll get better advice.
Yeah, it'll be enough for two years of in-state tuition.
I ultimately want to practice in SoCal and want to do a clerkship and biglaw, but would like to eventually get out of biglaw to work at either a smaller firm with potentially more manageable hours or as in-house counsel somewhere. I also have an interest in taking entertainment law courses and that's one of UCLA's strengths, but obviously not a deciding factor.
Based on this, all signs point to UCLA (I assume). I guess my hesitation is my job prospects if I choose UCLA -- I know that, realistically, I have no idea how well I'll do in law school so I'm afraid maybe I won't perform well enough at UCLA to attain my goals. At Berkeley, I assume I'll have a bit more "room for error" if I don't do as well as I'd like (given prestige, higher employment numbers, even grading system) but I'm very aware that isn't a golden ticket either. Obviously going to try to do as well as possible no matter where I end up but I know law school is a whole different beast.