Berkeley Class of 2012 Forum

[worldtraveler]

I got like $4600 in grants, which is hardly a dent in the Berkeley COA. I don't think there is any correlation between grants and matching. I also think I had good enough numbers for them to give me something. They obviously don't feel it necessary to give me money; so I don't find it necessary to attend.

Grants are pretty rare it seems. Berkeley is fairly generous with them. Try not to let this whole process make you angry.

[mijahe]

The grant money is just for 1L year.

2L and beyond the numbers will change dramatically for 3 reasons:

1. They expect you to get instate tuition after 1L so the grant automatically drops by 6.5K (so you gotta live there for a year and get a driver's license or register to vote)

2. Summer employment. They give you a 7K living allowance for summer employment. Then expect that 60% of what you make after that 7K cushion will be applied to tuition. E.g., if you make 10K over the summer, they expect 60% of 3K or 1800 to go towards tuition. Now if you make the typical 30K that 2L firm jobs give, you'll be paying 13,800 of that towards tuition.

3. Probably won't have an effect, but the state of California's economy might influence grants. The financial aid officer told me they're pretty insulated but that it could be a unlikely possibility.

As for point 1, why does the grant drop by only 6.5K, instead of the entire discount for in-state tuition?

[mllerustad]

Depends on a) her personality and b) why she is anti-UVA - sometimes NOTHING can help this kind of situation. I would imagine it has something to with C-ville, but can I ask why she is anti-UVA?

She's pro California. She's from Cali, her family is over there, and this nightmarish Boston winter made us agree to leave the Northeast forever.

But UVA isn't in the Northeast....and I can't speak with authority, but I am pretty sure that a Virginia winter is FAR from a Boston winter.

Edit: not trying to be sarcastic...just trying to help your cause

I agree but a Virginia winter is still worse than a California winter. We'll see if she minds.

Eh... Northern California is colder than everybody thinks--and I found the rainy season in SoCal more depressing than winter in Minnesota. (Possibly because nobody's wardrobe/lifestyle is prepared for cold.) Meanwhile, when I visited UVA in mid-February it was sunny and 70 degrees. It's not like that ALL the time, of course, but it's a nice little microclimate out there...

[prelaw]

I got like $4600 in grants, which is hardly a dent in the Berkeley COA. I don't think there is any correlation between grants and matching. I also think I had good enough numbers for them to give me something. They obviously don't feel it necessary to give me money; so I don't find it necessary to attend.

Grants are pretty rare it seems. Berkeley is fairly generous with them. Try not to let this whole process make you angry.

Yes, I'm trying not to. I'm mostly upset that I didn't effectively convey my desire to go there.

[feeblemiles]

I got like $4600 in grants, which is hardly a dent in the Berkeley COA. I don't think there is any correlation between grants and matching. I also think I had good enough numbers for them to give me something. They obviously don't feel it necessary to give me money; so I don't find it necessary to attend.

Grants are pretty rare it seems. Berkeley is fairly generous with them. Try not to let this whole process make you angry.

Yes, I'm trying not to. I'm mostly upset that I didn't effectively convey my desire to go there.

On the plus side... its not too late to convey your desire to go there by actually going there. Lots of people don't even have that option and would happily be saddled with the debt (that you will almost certainly be able to pay off or get LRAP help for)

[mallen210]

But UVA isn't in the Northeast....and I can't speak with authority, but I am pretty sure that a Virginia winter is FAR from a Boston winter.

Edit: not trying to be sarcastic...just trying to help your cause

I agree but a Virginia winter is still worse than a California winter. We'll see if she minds.

Eh... Northern California is colder than everybody thinks--and I found the rainy season in SoCal more depressing than winter in Minnesota. (Possibly because nobody's wardrobe/lifestyle is prepared for cold.) Meanwhile, when I visited UVA in mid-February it was sunny and 70 degrees. It's not like that ALL the time, of course, but it's a nice little microclimate out there...

Being from Virginia and only about 2 hrs. away from UVA and deciding to attend Boalt over UVA partly because of winter temps.... 70 degrees in mid-February NEVER HAPPENS!!! That must have been a once-in-a-lifetime event. Average temp in mid-feb is around 30 degrees. And because C-ville is in the mountains, it's a dry, bone-chilling type of cold. UVA's an amazing school and where I'd be if Boalt wasn't in the picture, but if you're concerned about weather even Northern California is MUCH warmer than C-ville in the winter.

[hegemonhobbes23]

Anyone notice that it requires in option 1 to say you are not on any waitlists? How can Berkeley simultaniously offer a waitlist, which they do, but ask that none of their admits be on the waitlists of other schools. How is that fair? Do you think its binding? Do you think if you are on a waitlist you might get caught?

[TopCat]

Anyone notice that it requires in option 1 to say you are not on any waitlists? How can Berkeley simultaniously offer a waitlist, which they do, but ask that none of their admits be on the waitlists of other schools. How is that fair? Do you think its binding? Do you think if you are on a waitlist you might get caught?

I seconded srb's post on the other thread you started about this. Yes, this policy doesn't benefit those of us who'd like to stay on some waitlists all through the summer. However, I say that Berkeley's commitment options are one of the best (and, arguably, the fairest) around. I really appreciate that they don't require deposits and how they emphasize that making such commitment is a matter of one's honor. I think this is how it all should be (in an ideal world). But that's just me. Others may disagree. Virtue ethicist here. An easy target, I agree.

FWIW, I am only tentatively committed right now and won't be sending in the final commitment until the end of May or thereabouts. I am planning on staying on only one WL till the end of May. Hopefully that WL won't amount to anything and I will be fully committed by June 1st. I do want to go to Berkeley (extremely pleased about it) but just want to get the "woulda-coulda-shoulda" syndrome off my back (the WL is at HLS - historically, their biggest WL movement happens in May so why not wait and see?).

[TheNerdProject]

.

[TopCat]

Anyone notice that it requires in option 1 to say you are not on any waitlists? How can Berkeley simultaniously offer a waitlist, which they do, but ask that none of their admits be on the waitlists of other schools. How is that fair? Do you think its binding? Do you think if you are on a waitlist you might get caught?

I seconded srb's post on the other thread you started about this. Yes, this policy doesn't benefit those of us who'd like to stay on some waitlists all through the summer. However, I say that Berkeley's commitment options are one of the best (and, arguably, the fairest) around. I really appreciate that they don't require deposits and how they emphasize that making such commitment is a matter of one's honor. I think this's how it all should be (in an ideal world). But that's just me. Others may disagree. Virtue ethicist here. An easy target, I agree.

FWIW, I am only tentatively committed right now and won't be sending in the final commitment until the end of May or thereabouts.

I intend to "honor" my commitment but isn't it true that nothing serious can really happen to us if we "de-commit?" (besides losing our deposit... oh wait, Berkeley doesn't require a deposit!). Isn't it also pretty common for people to ride out waitlists after they've committed and paid a deposit somewhere?

I read in a book about a girl who got notified she had gotten into YLS during Columbia's orientation. What did she do? She packed her bags and went. She probably lost some money (probably 100% of her deposit) but besides that I'm sure she didn't suffer too much (I'm assuming she was paying sticker at CLS). In her position, some probably would honor their commitment for whatever reason, while others would've done exactly what she did. To each his own, I guess.

IMO you can't blame people for doing what's best for them. No law school will be affected or damaged by losing one commitment, but a person's life can certainly be affected by choosing the "wrong" law school (i.e. one less suited to meet one's preferences).

Damn you Bryce Brown! (Sorry, I couldn't help it!).

Fair enough. I ain't going to judge people who do this. All I am saying is that if one sends in the full commitment then, regardless of consequences, I would rather they would follow their commitment through (i.e. not sign their name to a document that says they have withdrawn from all schools when they've not or aren't going to ASAP). But you're right that probably the negative consequences are minimal, if any. To each their own

Also, let me repeat/rephrase that I indeed would like it better if there were no such commitments (i.e. it doesn't benefit me as an individual - bracketing off the social utility).

On a lighter side of things, here's to the earlier crepe discussion:

--ImageRemoved--

[mallen210]

Possible law school rankings leaked...! http://i41.tinypic.com/rvalag.jpg

If it's true, GO BOALT!!! Looks like we held at #6 and our acceptance rate is now lower than Harvard's!!!!

[unionorganizer02]

Possible law school rankings leaked...! http://i41.tinypic.com/rvalag.jpg

If it's true, GO BOALT!!! Looks like we held at #6 and our acceptance rate is now lower than Harvard's!!!!

Where did this come from?

[mallen210]

Possible law school rankings leaked...! http://i41.tinypic.com/rvalag.jpg

If it's true, GO BOALT!!! Looks like we held at #6 and our acceptance rate is now lower than Harvard's!!!!

Where did this come from?

Not sure... check this page out (not to mention it's all over TLS).
http://legalgeekery.com/2009/04/19/leak ... w-schools/

[unionorganizer02]

I know I asked earlier about the phoenix fellowship and no one on this board said they applied. But tonight was the night they did interviews for finalists. Did anyone get a call?

[TopCat]

Not that it really makes much of a difference but I am happy that Berkeley is again #6. Congratulations to all Berkeley 0L's (and current students)

Good luck on the Phoenix, unionorganizer. I didn't apply. Did you get a call?

[Formerbruin]

::Looks at rankings::

::Smiles::

::Remembers how silly they are, but feels a pang of sadness for losing the top IP spot to Stanny::

::Goes back to studying::

[IzziesGal]

Still at number 6, baby!!

Anyone going to the admitted students reception tonight in NY?? I'm going after work, since it's only a few blocks away. Hope to see some of you there!!!

[IzziesGal]

Still at number 6, baby!!

Anyone going to the admitted students reception tonight in NY?? I'm going after work, since it's only a few blocks away. Hope to see some of you there!!!

Bueller?? Bueller???

[unionorganizer02]

Not that it really makes much of a difference but I am happy that Berkeley is again #6. Congratulations to all Berkeley 0L's (and current students)

Good luck on the Phoenix, unionorganizer. I didn't apply. Did you get a call?

just got an email. did not receive the phoenix. however, i did receive a letter this past weekend saying i have been awarded the S.K. Yee Fellowship, which is $5,000 for "strong record of achievement and professional promise"!

[IzziesGal]

Not that it really makes much of a difference but I am happy that Berkeley is again #6. Congratulations to all Berkeley 0L's (and current students)

Good luck on the Phoenix, unionorganizer. I didn't apply. Did you get a call?

just got an email. did not receive the phoenix. however, i did receive a letter this past weekend saying i have been awarded the S.K. Yee Fellowship, which is $5,000 for "strong record of achievement and professional promise"!

Congrats on the scholarship!!!

[mallen210]

::Remembers how silly they are, but feels a pang of sadness for losing the top IP spot to Stanny::

+1

[TheNerdProject]

It's 74 degrees right now in Berkeley, CA; 44 and it feels like 37 where I'm at (NYC).

FML.

[IzziesGal]

It's 74 degrees right now in Berkeley, CA; 44 and it feels like 37 where I'm at (NYC).

FML.

Ha! Finally!!!

You have no excuse, then, for ignoring my previous question. Are you going to the Simpson event tonight??

[TheNerdProject]

It's 74 degrees right now in Berkeley, CA; 44 and it feels like 37 where I'm at (NYC).

FML.

Ha! Finally!!!

You have no excuse, then, for ignoring my previous question. Are you going to the Simpson event tonight??

Fo shizzle.

[IzziesGal]

It's 74 degrees right now in Berkeley, CA; 44 and it feels like 37 where I'm at (NYC).

FML.

Ha! Finally!!!

You have no excuse, then, for ignoring my previous question. Are you going to the Simpson event tonight??

Fo shizzle.

Sweet. So far, there are a total of two TLSers partaking in the festivities. Anyone else on board??