Berkeley Class of 2012 Forum

[dank4284]

did you successfully create a Calnet id?

you have to create a pass phrase with at least 3 of these characteristics:

1 6 characters,
2 one upper case
3 at least one number.
4 a symbol (!$@!#$@)

and then go to http://bearfacts.berkeley.edu/ and click on "for students" and it should be under award summary.

No it wouldn't let me create an ID, it said that the number they gave me is not in the directory. I e-mailed the support address this afternoon, but I also figured I could just be doing something stupid. Anyway, thanks for the help though Legends and MightyD!

[lil.litworm]

This may be a stupid question (which is why I want to ask you guys before I email admissions) but when I'm trying to change my passphrase and I put in my pin, is it just the four numbers at the bottom of the letter? Or is there something else I need to type with that?

::Fails at the internet::

[legends159]

the pin is your pin

they ask for your passphrase and that is your passphrase not pin.

They'll ask you to change your passphrase again before you can access your files

[PeanutButtah]

Hey guys!

I got in off of Faculty Committee (I'm still in shock), got all the info, went to the website, and nearly had a heart attack when I saw how much need-based aid they're giving. Holy. I love you Berk!!! I think with that and the LRAP, I can get out of law school with much less debt than I had originally thought, and oh my god, I can't count the ways I'm loving Boalt right now.

Alright, enough ranting, I just needed to share. See you all at ASD!!

[lsatbobby]

Oh no Amy, you're not special.

[roguebear]

no offer yet for me either. sigh

[Rotor]

Anyone else not have an aid offer at all? Or am I "special"?

None for me either. I hope I can add "yet" to that sentence in the next few days.

[mijahe]

Does anyone know if the grant formula remains roughly the same for 2L and 3L years? As you might pay more out of pocket if you have a summer job as legends pointed out, but your net debt level would be similar.

Also, someone confirmed there could be matching/merit money in the future, even if we got a grant, correct?

[Son of Cicero]

Does anyone know if the grant formula remains roughly the same for 2L and 3L years?

I wish I knew the answer to this question...

[iamlife1001]

Does anyone know if the grant formula remains roughly the same for 2L and 3L years?

I wish I knew the answer to this question...

I am assuming they expect you to take a constant amount of debt for 2L and 3L, so the need grants are lessened by work/study and lower tuition. Just my guess from looking at the Harvard calculator for need grants (can't find the link but the idea was constant debt)

[Son of Cicero]

Well, there is not supposed to be much of a tuition drop, and 1Ls no longer work for money. Hopefully I get my grant again, as I thought I would back in my naive days when I, like many other 0Ls, placed hope and, given the misleading language of the information form, what I would consider to be justified expectation in the matching scholarship system. I remember last year's letter saying I would be eligible for my grant again this year based on my income, but I can totally see the school counting huge loans as an increase in income...

[iamlife1001]

What I mean is that the total cost in state drops to say $60 from 70k out of state now for 2L, and say they figure 35k in loans + 10k summer/2L work study, and the 2L grant comes up to something along the lines of 10k-15k.

[Son of Cicero]

Yeah, I understand. But if they are raising the tuition because they want to make more money, it doesn't make sense for them to negate the ostensible benefit of more-funding-via-tuition-hikes by shouldering the burden they are creating by giving larger grants to make up the difference on students' behalf. The debt rate can't stay constant for students who already have instate tuition when the cost of attendance goes up for them, or the school is just raising this price tag for no reason at all. Grants were also given to instaters last year, as far as I know.

[iamlife1001]

true, but don't forget we are only speaking of need aid. They still receive the higher funding from those who unfortunately do not benefit from need-aid.

p.s. this after all is just wishful thinking

[iamlife1001]

good luck man, you have to close all accounts 1 year+ before you apply for instate?

[Son of Cicero]

The overseer of UC residency said, "If you have closed your accounts by, say, late September or October, you should be fine." This does not bode well for those of us who never thought to do this until March...

However, he later mentioned that few people do not get residency, despite his anal retentive attitude about everything.

[iamlife1001]

I hear you, thanks; I will make sure I track every bank/brokerage I have ever associated and close those 50c accounts that may be still lingering.

Also, is visiting home for 2+ weeks frowned upon?

[Son of Cicero]

I don't think so, but I've heard that if you intend to work elsewhere during the summer and still plan to apply for residency (something which is occasionally allowed), you ought to make sure you can show that you did not leave for extended periods at other times of the year. I was told that one guy who plans to work in another state this summer stayed here over winter break and charged items to his credit card every few days so he can later indicate to the school that he is not just in California for law school, but actually lives here most of the time.

[unionorganizer02]

Hey guys!

I got in off of Faculty Committee (I'm still in shock), got all the info, went to the website, and nearly had a heart attack when I saw how much need-based aid they're giving. Holy. I love you Berk!!! I think with that and the LRAP, I can get out of law school with much less debt than I had originally thought, and oh my god, I can't count the ways I'm loving Boalt right now.

Alright, enough ranting, I just needed to share. See you all at ASD!!

hey peanut, congrats on your acceptance and welcome!

[unionorganizer02]

I don't have anything on there yet (no offer), but I can log in. I am being counted as an independent student according to UCB (under track on the status tab). Is this because they agreed I was independent since I submitted the "Statement of Independence" or are all law students getting this?

And my budget amount is $57,872.00 in state - was the 70,117 out of state?

I submitted my statement of independence today. Kind of a hassle. They wAnted my parents' income tax forms from the last five years. They just finished 2008. I am married and had owned a home in texas. I also stated my independence on the. Need Access form. I hope I gt something for my efforts. I am driving back to so cal from sac right now. Will check my status later and report.

Yeah, I sent in copies of mine/my parents tax returns from the last five years too. It was kind of a hassle.

AmyLAchemist, I logged onto my CALnet yesterday and found that my status was "independent" despite the fact that they had not yet received my statement of independence. i spoke to a woman at the financial aid office named candi gester 2 weeks ago. she said that whatever my i am reported to get in aid on April 1 may change when they review my statement and parents' tax forms. My budget figure for in state was the same as yours. Hey, when do we have to turn in our proof of being a CA resident?

[mp2012]

Financial aid offer letters are viewable...at least mine is..

[Rotor]

Financial aid offer letters are viewable...at least mine is..

No letter for me. How long ago did you send your intent to enroll/tentatively intend to enroll form?

[mijahe]

Hmm. I do have a grant listed, but upon further review, I noticed my FAFSA was REJECTED. Did this happen to anyone else? I know I only have estimates in, but it didn't seem to be a problem anywhere else.

[Tally72]

Hmm. I do have a grant listed, but upon further review, I noticed my FAFSA was REJECTED. Did this happen to anyone else? I know I only have estimates in, but it didn't seem to be a problem anywhere else.

Mijahe - If you don't mind, is your grant merit-based or need-based? (I don't know about that FAFSA situation. Sorry, wish I had some information.)

Has anyone received word of merit-based aid from Berkeley?

[mp2012]

Financial aid offer letters are viewable...at least mine is..

No letter for me. How long ago did you send your intent to enroll/tentatively intend to enroll form?

I haven't yet.