Denied Matching Aid at Berkeley Forum

[teachlearn]

Thanks for the help guys. Deleting the post to make myself feel better

[DavidMorales]

Sorry about the scholarship. I also got denied a reconsideration for financial aid from a school i would have attended. That being said, a dream school is a dream school and That was never at the top of my list.. my suggestion is go to boalt.

[teachlearn]

Thanks for your advice... i appreciate it

[Anjacks]

I'm kind of in the same situation. And I'm going to the school that offered money. I do agree that a dream school is a dream school and you gotta make yourself happy, but I started to get bitter at the administration at my "dream" school. It made me feel like they didn't care because they were matching others left and right. So I decided I'd be okay at the school that wanted me a little more. Sometimes I wish I had the courage to just take out the loans, but my schools are really comparable so it really made no sense. I just wanted to give you another opinion. I think either choice is justifiable! So you shouldn't feel silly for giving up the dough.

[DavidMorales]

I'm kind of in the same situation. And I'm going to the school that offered money. I do agree that a dream school is a dream school and you gotta make yourself happy, but I started to get bitter at the administration at my "dream" school. It made me feel like they didn't care because they were matching others left and right. So I decided I'd be okay at the school that wanted me a little more. Sometimes I wish I had the courage to just take out the loans, but my schools are really comparable so it really made no sense. I just wanted to give you another opinion. I think either choice is justifiable! So you shouldn't feel silly for giving up the dough.

That's true. I know, specifically, that the administration's attitude at my "dream school" has disappointed and turned away a great many admitted students this year, and almost got me to withdraw immediately. Each school's really different.

[kurama20]

Not trying to sound insensitive but I'd pack my bags for Philly get directions to Geno's and buy some Penn law tshirts. You have a full scholarship to a school that's equivalent to Boalt. I know they were your dream school but you have to realize that law schools are a business and that this is an investment for your future. You really shouldn't get attached to school outside of HYS if that's an option. When the schools are this comparable you just have to let it go. My take on it is that maybe they were your dream school but you weren't their dream student. At Penn it's the other way around. Not to be harsh but that's the way it is. Try to keep things in perspective. Also you probably built up Boalt in your head based off of brochures and location and all types of insignificant things like that. This is law school, the things that you should be worrying about are 1. Career prospects (equal at Penn) 2. Financial Aid (MUCH better at Penn) then 4. fit

[teachlearn]

Thanks for the advice everybody. It was such a disappointment, and I found their curt email response almost offensive. Did anyone else get a negative impression of their finaid office? I also was a bit offended by the long lines to talk to them at admitted students weekend. At the same time, I'm not sure this is reflective of the entire school. The students I talked to said that they had negative experience with that office and nonetheless loved the school. Is this reflective of the culture?

[Rock of Love]

I'm in the same boat. Trying to decide as well between a full ride at a lower-ranked school and Berkeley after also being disappointed by the lack of a matching (or any merit) scholly. Luckily, however, I qualified for grant money that equals the amount I asked for in the matching request. While it's the same monetary amount, I feel a kind of sting that I didn't get any kind of merit amount after receiving tempting scholly offers from equal or even higher ranked schools.

[legends159]

regardless of how much you love the school, it would be unwise to turn down a full ride at Penn for anything short of HYS. And even then there should be some considerations based on career goals.

[teachlearn]

I'm in the same boat. Trying to decide as well between a full ride at a lower-ranked school and Berkeley after also being disappointed by the lack of a matching (or any merit) scholly. Luckily, however, I qualified for grant money that equals the amount I asked for in the matching request. While it's the same monetary amount, I feel a kind of sting that I didn't get any kind of merit amount after receiving tempting scholly offers from equal or even higher ranked schools.

What grant money did you find and where do I find it?

[thedogship]

Take the scholarship at stipend and don't look back. A free law education from Penn is asinine to turn down just because you might prefer to go to Berkeley. Being able to graduate with a Penn degree and no debt is amazing. Def not worth taking on large loan amounts to be at UCB.

[legends159]

I'm in the same boat. Trying to decide as well between a full ride at a lower-ranked school and Berkeley after also being disappointed by the lack of a matching (or any merit) scholly. Luckily, however, I qualified for grant money that equals the amount I asked for in the matching request. While it's the same monetary amount, I feel a kind of sting that I didn't get any kind of merit amount after receiving tempting scholly offers from equal or even higher ranked schools.

What grant money did you find and where do I find it?

i'm sure that's need based and you would've already gotten an email about it if you qualified.

[kurla88]

That sucks about Berkeley. Definitely talk to them.

I'd go with Penn, in your case. Any other schools in the running?

[teachlearn]

I'm in the same boat. Trying to decide as well between a full ride at a lower-ranked school and Berkeley after also being disappointed by the lack of a matching (or any merit) scholly. Luckily, however, I qualified for grant money that equals the amount I asked for in the matching request. While it's the same monetary amount, I feel a kind of sting that I didn't get any kind of merit amount after receiving tempting scholly offers from equal or even higher ranked schools.

What grant money did you find and where do I find it?

i'm sure that's need based and you would've already gotten an email about it if you qualified.

Thanks...

[Rock of Love]

I'm in the same boat. Trying to decide as well between a full ride at a lower-ranked school and Berkeley after also being disappointed by the lack of a matching (or any merit) scholly. Luckily, however, I qualified for grant money that equals the amount I asked for in the matching request. While it's the same monetary amount, I feel a kind of sting that I didn't get any kind of merit amount after receiving tempting scholly offers from equal or even higher ranked schools.

What grant money did you find and where do I find it?

Yeah, completely need based, I am poor

[teachlearn]

I'm in the same boat. Trying to decide as well between a full ride at a lower-ranked school and Berkeley after also being disappointed by the lack of a matching (or any merit) scholly. Luckily, however, I qualified for grant money that equals the amount I asked for in the matching request. While it's the same monetary amount, I feel a kind of sting that I didn't get any kind of merit amount after receiving tempting scholly offers from equal or even higher ranked schools.

What grant money did you find and where do I find it?

Yeah, completely need based, I am poor

Haha. Well you won't be for long with a boalt degree ... Btw, the rock of love is probably the most entertaining show i've ever watched. How much botox and plastic surgery has bret michaels had?

[teachlearn]

And p.s. rock of love, how the f- did Boalt deny you aid with your incredible stats? 176 on the lsats... wowza!

[prelaw]

Very similar thing happened to me. I can't say I sobbed when I found out, but Berkeley was my first choice at some point. I sent in a Darrow to be matched, expecting at least a partial match. I got nothing. I'll let the dream die. It isn't worth the debt.

[elliej]

Same for me. I was so disappointed. I submitted a 75k scholarship to Chicago for matching. Does anyone know of someone who had a larger (1/2 to full ride) matched? I know a few people I went to undergrad with who submitted for matching scholarships and the ones who submitted smaller scholarships got them and the other who submitted a near-full ride didn't get anything. I wonder if it's a bit of a game to figure out which scholarship to send in to match.

[teachlearn]

Same for me. I was so disappointed. I submitted a 75k scholarship to Chicago for matching. Does anyone know of someone who had a larger (1/2 to full ride) matched? I know a few people I went to undergrad with who submitted for matching scholarships and the ones who submitted smaller scholarships got them and the other who submitted a near-full ride didn't get anything. I wonder if it's a bit of a game to figure out which scholarship to send in to match.

I actually heard that from two 1Ls. One had asked why they didn't get any money, and it was supposedly too big to match.

[teachlearn]

Very similar thing happened to me. I can't say I sobbed when I found out, but Berkeley was my first choice at some point. I sent in a Darrow to be matched, expecting at least a partial match. I got nothing. I'll let the dream die. It isn't worth the debt.

Yeah, I didnt sleep much last night, and this decision is stressing me out... so I've been pretty dramatic.

Also, it's probably more a reaction to the fact that my significant other hates philly and has made it clear that is not a great option... so we've been having a rough time

[hegemonhobbes23]

I got my offered match - 72k - I was suprised to say the least. I think you can't and shouldn't read into it - it's really just a luck thing. I think it helped that I had some legacy at Boalt.

[teachlearn]

I got my offered match - 72k - I was suprised to say the least. I think you can't and shouldn't read into it - it's really just a luck thing. I think it helped that I had some legacy at Boalt.

DId you submit an optional essay/supporting materials? thanks

[river85]

That's really rough... I have to say, as much as I love Berkeley (and imho it is a smidge better than Penn in many ways ), I would take the money from Penn and try not to look back. That is seriously way too much to turn down, if I had the option of graduating without debt I would be over the moon.

[Jay Obee]

You have to take the money at Penn. Just out of principle, you can't attend a school that won't even negotiate with you where there is a full scholarship to a peer school. It is a slap in the face. It is much better to love someone who loves you back. And you have an Ivy League school that is every bit as good as Berkeley waiting for you with bags full of cash in each hand.

And-by Robolettter? Really? Do you really want to attend a school that responds to your consideration-worthy situation with a roboletter? This is exactly why I can't go back to a UC. I'm very much looking forward to the luxuries of a private education, including an administration that sees you as more than just a number.