Berkeley Class of 2012 Forum

[CredoUtIntellegam]

I went out to Berkeley this weekend and found a great place in the Albany area for $900 a month including utilities. A current student advised me to look north of Ashby, south of Vine, and east of Shattuck, and to pay nothing more than $1,000 a month. I think this a good rule of thumb unless you find a great deal you can't pass up. Also, as others have said, not everything is advertised on Craigslist, so you should drive around looking for "For Rent" signs.

[CredoUtIntellegam]

I don't remember seeing anyone mention this so here it goes. I know some law schools provide a one time loan for laptops, does Berkeley? I don't currently have a laptop and would like to know how to get a loan for one without it cutting into my loans for living expenses. Should I just ask for more loan money from the financial aid office?

I don't think Berkeley provides loans for laptops. What I believe you need to do is to get them to increase your budget so you can get more stafford and/or grad plus loans, depending on how much you're already borrowing.

However, the budget appeal form for 2009-2010 is not available yet. Here's the link to the 2008 form so you can get an idea of what they ask for: http://students.berkeley.edu/finaid/und ... ad0809.pdf

The new form should be posted on this website later on this summer:
http://students.berkeley.edu/finaid/graduates/forms.htm

Hope this is helpful.

I spoke to someone in the financial aid office and she told me that there are two ways to go about increasing my student budget for a laptop: 1) submit a quote to the financial aid office before you buy your laptop, or 2) submit your receipt after buying your laptop. I'm going to do it the first way because I don't have the money to buy it now and what for a reimbursement. Also, we can submit our quotes or reimbursement requests as early as August 1. I suggest that if anyone else is doing this, that you do it as early as possible because it could take a few weeks to process.

[worldtraveler]

my landlady doesn't allow any cooking, which is fine b/c the room is within breathing distance of the school, and I was thinking about buying into the schools meal plan. Anyone has any experience with this and is it worth it. It is 2200 for the year and it covers ~10 meals a week.

ihouse also has meal plans you can get. I don't know the rates, but it's right across from the law school.

[unionorganizer02]

hey did you all hear that a former boalt professor is now the dean of Yale Law?

http://www.law.berkeley.edu/5416.htm

[TopCat]

unionorganizer02, yeah I got the news from the Wall Street Journal Law Blog (http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2009/06/22/rob ... -new-dean/). I highly recommend all ATL readers to switch to WSJ blog instead.

Incidentally, and this is the umpteenth time I am raising this question in this thread, isn't anyone here interested in Berkeley OCI stuff? I have been trying to get hold of the data for the past years (let alone for the class of 2010 or the upcoming 2L OCI or stuff on what 1Ls are doing this summer) but to no avail. All the other schools that I got into and cared for enough to look up such data had stuff on their website. Some of them provided the latest stuff via email. However, I can't seem to find anything for Berkeley. It's possible that they keep it locked up inside their b-Line database thingie but I can't seem to access b-Line (although I could access other CDO stuff, thanks to TNP; pm me or TheNerdProject if you want the user and pass for the stuff in the CDO webpages http://www.law.berkeley.edu/4815.htm)

I am really interested in this year's OCIP. I am not a regular xoxo reader (I swear I don't have an account there ) but a poster just posted this (about the upcoming OCIP): --LinkRemoved-- I don't know whether this is flame or not. I have a feeling it isn't. But I really hope it is.

Am I the only one neurotic about how to pay back my loans since I am not into PI/LRAP?

[heyyitskatie]

my landlady doesn't allow any cooking, which is fine b/c the room is within breathing distance of the school, and I was thinking about buying into the schools meal plan. Anyone has any experience with this and is it worth it. It is 2200 for the year and it covers ~10 meals a week.

ihouse also has meal plans you can get. I don't know the rates, but it's right across from the law school.

Just a word of caution: the food at I House for the actual residents (not the cafe food) is notoriously awful. Also, they are apparently very bad at accommodating dietary restrictions, so if that's a part of your life, look closely into the plan before buying.

[iamlife1001]

thanks, katie.

Also for outofstaters, are there any takers for a group dmv trip to get our cali licenses?

[madison12991]

Also for outofstaters, are there any takers for a group dmv trip to get our cali licenses?

Seems like a pretty solid idea. I will be without car out there and planned to ride my bike to the DMV. You know, since I'll be riding my bike everywhere I go for the next few years

I'm interested.

[iamlife1001]

Also for outofstaters, are there any takers for a group dmv trip to get our cali licenses?

Seems like a pretty solid idea. I will be without car out there and planned to ride my bike to the DMV. You know, since I'll be riding my bike everywhere I go for the next few years

I'm interested.

I am planning on going Aug 6th, and walking there, since it is only a "mere" 2.8 miles away. Truth be told I am quite scared of the damn test. Roll call on a date most agree to and we can set it up

[madison12991]

Truth be told I am quite scared of the damn test. Roll call on a date most agree to and we can set it up

Test? You had me scared for a second - I was thinking driving test.

As you may know, if you have a driver's license from another state you only need to take a vision test, no road test. Which is great because it took me three tries to pass it in Minnesota

It looks like everyone has to pass the traffic laws and sign test, which judging from the samples tests on the DMV site may include questions like,
"You just sold your vehicle. You must notify the DMV within ___ days."

Not exactly common knowledge

I hate to think that we may tarnish Boalt's reputation within one week of arriving in town by going to the DMV as a group and all failing the written test

And I'm in for any date/time after August 3rd.

Edited because I forgot the last part.

[river85]

Also for outofstaters, are there any takers for a group dmv trip to get our cali licenses?

Seems like a pretty solid idea. I will be without car out there and planned to ride my bike to the DMV. You know, since I'll be riding my bike everywhere I go for the next few years

I'm interested.

I am planning on going Aug 6th, and walking there, since it is only a "mere" 2.8 miles away. Truth be told I am quite scared of the damn test. Roll call on a date most agree to and we can set it up

Ugh yeah we'll have to retake the test, won't we... I'm seriously dreading it, I'm going to have to remember how to parallel park.

[madison12991]

Ugh yeah we'll have to retake the test, won't we... I'm seriously dreading it, I'm going to have to remember how to parallel park.

You may have already read what I just wrote, but you won't have to take the driving test if you have a driver's license from another state. Just the written and vision tests.

[TopCat]

How long until we have to get the Cali license? Texas (the last state where I had to switch) had I think 60 days or something. I was thinking I will take my sweet time since I was thinking of joining City CarShare and they're OK with out of state licenses.

Also, for the last time folks, anyone with any idea about where and how to find Berkeley OCIP stuff? Let me repost what I posted earlier. If any of you can access b-Line, do let me know (although CDO will probably only let us access it after November 1st - what do you think?).

Incidentally, and this is the umpteenth time I am raising this question in this thread, isn't anyone here interested in Berkeley OCI stuff? I have been trying to get hold of the data for the past years (let alone for the class of 2010 or the upcoming 2L OCI or stuff on what 1Ls are doing this summer) but to no avail. All the other schools that I got into and cared for enough to look up such data had stuff on their website. Some of them provided the latest stuff via email. However, I can't seem to find anything for Berkeley. It's possible that they keep it locked up inside their b-Line database thingie but I can't seem to access b-Line (although I could access other CDO stuff, thanks to TNP; pm me or TheNerdProject if you want the user and pass for the stuff in the CDO webpages http://www.law.berkeley.edu/4815.htm)

I am really interested in this year's OCIP. I am not a regular xoxo reader (I swear I don't have an account there ) but a poster just posted this (about the upcoming OCIP): --LinkRemoved-- I don't know whether this is flame or not. I have a feeling it isn't. But I really hope it is.

Am I the only one neurotic about how to pay back my [>$120K private] loans since I am not into PI/LRAP?

[river85]

Ugh yeah we'll have to retake the test, won't we... I'm seriously dreading it, I'm going to have to remember how to parallel park.

You may have already read what I just wrote, but you won't have to take the driving test if you have a driver's license from another state. Just the written and vision tests.

Yeah, saw that right after I posted, thanks. Now I'm stressing over the written test, should be fun!

[Rotor]

Edit: Overcome by events (OBE)

[TopCat]

Post redacted. Nothing to see here. Move along, folks

[purplemonkey]

Ugh yeah we'll have to retake the test, won't we... I'm seriously dreading it, I'm going to have to remember how to parallel park.

You may have already read what I just wrote, but you won't have to take the driving test if you have a driver's license from another state. Just the written and vision tests.

Yup, this is what I had to do 5 years ago when I changed my residence to CA. So I failed the written test the first time - how embarassing. I'd advise picking up a refresher from the DMV (maybe it's online?) to study a tad. Anyone else think this is a good idea, or is the test easy and I am a fool?

I noticed on the CA DMV website there are about 5 practice tests (they seem a little too easy to be like the real thing) and there is also a pdf version of their driver's manual.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/pubs.htm

[iamlife1001]

yes, written test guys, but it is a killer from what I have seen online. Definitely not common knowledge.
As it was pointed out the date of switching a license in important for 2L residency so it is the first thing I get out of the way after arriving aug 5th.

So madison and me, anyone else is in for this

[iamlife1001]

purplemonkey - that thing is not easy to me and I have probably driven close to 1 million miles (not that it has much to do with it, but you'd think they'd test common driving knowledge)

there's definitely studying involved. I remember NY was a joke. 5 questions were only about the stop sign

[purplemonkey]

hahaha, maybe I just lucked out with some easy practice test (i.e. which one of the following is not only dangerous but illegal - to wear headphones, in both ears, while driving).

i'm no driving expert, nor have i driven 1 million miles

[iamlife1001]

hahaha, maybe I just lucked out with some easy practice test (i.e. which one of the following is not only dangerous but illegal - to wear headphones, in both ears, while driving).

i'm no driving expert, nor have i driven 1 million miles

just took a practice test and got 15/16, not bad I can go back to worrying about other things

[Rotor]

Edit: OBE.

[emilybeth]

I'm in for a group DMV outing! I will be out in Berkeley after about Aug. 1, and I'm down to walk or I can drive a crew, provided my lovely car survives the thousand-mile trek out to Berkeley. I'm so excited! My darling mother, who is about to burst with pride over me going to Berkeley, looked into licensing and DMV stuff and said something about being able to make an appointment? something worth looking into

also, can I just share my excitement with all of you? I was out in Berkeley last week to find a place, sign a lease, get to know the city, all that. My roommate and I found a great place and I fell in love with the neighborhood, the campus, the area. so for those who won't be able to make it out to Berkeley til closer to August... it's wonderful

[worldtraveler]

Truth be told I am quite scared of the damn test. Roll call on a date most agree to and we can set it up

Test? You had me scared for a second - I was thinking driving test.

As you may know, if you have a driver's license from another state you only need to take a vision test, no road test. Which is great because it took me three tries to pass it in Minnesota

It looks like everyone has to pass the traffic laws and sign test, which judging from the samples tests on the DMV site may include questions like,
"You just sold your vehicle. You must notify the DMV within ___ days."

Not exactly common knowledge

I hate to think that we may tarnish Boalt's reputation within one week of arriving in town by going to the DMV as a group and all failing the written test

And I'm in for any date/time after August 3rd.

Edited because I forgot the last part.

If you fail it you can take it again that day. I'm not sure if there is a limit to how many times in one day, but I failed it the first time and they let me do it again. The first test I got had all these weird questions about jail sentences for doing stupid things. The second one was a lot more normal and easier. They also ask a lot of questions about CA specific laws (they have a ton of them) so don't feel bad if you fail it at first.
I will also be going on the 6th since I lost my license, but I'll be at the one in Concord.

Edit: You also get your license in hand that day.

[unionorganizer02]

Already got my ID, already using it for the gym. Go to the registration office (sproul hall) to find out what your 8 digit cal ID is, then go to lower sproul to Cal ID card office with your 8 digit number and they will make you your ID card.

trojans, thanks for the tip. i'm at berkeley now and looking for housing today and saturday. i will do this not only to work out at the gym, but also so i can get the cal student discount when i get my computer at the campus store.