UC-Berkeley Class of 2017 Forum

[hellomellow]

you guys are making me jelly that i can't make it to asw. take a shot for me!

[ashley82929]

This may be a stupid question but do you think they'll give us any free stuff during asw? I have to pick a school this weekend so If they give me a free t-shirt that might be the deciding factor

[ironicbunny]

If I have no new messages on my MyFinAid homepage I'm assuming that means I don't have any merit/need-based scholarships yet, correct?

Same here. I checked MyFinAid page last night and it says My Gift Aid is $0.00

I got an email on March 27 saying I was ineligible for need-based aid, but that I still might be eligible for merit-based aid. (I am at their 75th percentile LSAT and >75 GPA).

"Gift Aid," according to the website is both merit AND need based. I called financial aid and they didn't answer (probably preparing for ASW).

Do you think this means my merit-aid has been applied and I just didn't get anything?
Who do I ask there? I am going to ASW and meeting with a Fin Aid officer, but they aren't in charge of merit-based scholarships, are they?

I just emailed the admits@berkeley email about it because I'm coming up to some deposit deadlines and still haven't heard anything in regard to merit $$

I called them today and they said that they will be handing out merit aid "through the end of April" ...that's not great, since my deadlines are before that...
She said that you can "Tentatively Accept" Berkeley before Tues, Apr. 15th via their Admitted Students Website and that will save your seat until June 2nd by which you have to respond with a conclusive Accept or Decline to Berkeley. They give this option because they know schools (including themselves, apparently) do not always meet the earliest deadlines we have.

If they don't get back to me by Tuesday, I will "Tentatively Accept" their offer of admission in addition to accepting and putting a seat deposit down at the other school to which I have the best offer currently. Then I'll get back to whichever one, once I have all my my information, and decline that one (potentially losing my seat deposit but whatever).

[hellomellow]

Does anyone know if you can tentatively accept if you receive a scholarship offer? I'm still waiting to hear back about whether they will match my offer elsewhere so I don't want to withdraw my apps everywhere until I hear back.

[agglomeration]

To you guys who are going to the ASW. If you could take pictures of the campus and anything else you see around there that would be awesome!

[teenybean]

If anyone going to ASW wants to meet up there, PM me! I'd love to meet some of ya

[SlothManProphecy]

Anything set for drinks tonight?

[ironicbunny]

I just got a scholarship offer from Cornell today and submitted my Matching Scholarship Application to Berkeley...anyone want to take bets on when they will respond?

I wonder what my odds are of Berkeley giving me the same amount...

[thestatusguo]

It's been awesome meeting y'all! Who else is here?

Also...why is there no Facebook page for Class of '17ers? Not the one through the Berkeley portal

[aldiddy]

Just landed! Drinks!

[teenybean]

Just landed! Drinks!

Yes please.

[goldenflash19]

What'd everyone think of the ASW?

[aldiddy]

What'd everyone think of the ASW?

It confirmed that it was my first choice. It was great! Now as long as they give me a matching scholarship..

[Marshmallow]

What'd everyone think of the ASW?

It confirmed that it was my first choice. It was great! Now as long as they give me a matching scholarship..

Was there a schedule of events for today? Are people doing anything today on campus. I think I must have missed something lol

[nicolebk]

What did everyone think of ASW? It would be really helpful for those of us who couldn't go to hear your opinions, in terms of campus culture - academically and socially. Basically anything! Thanks!

[Cocoblues]

What did everyone think of ASW? It would be really helpful for those of us who couldn't go to hear your opinions, in terms of campus culture - academically and socially. Basically anything! Thanks!

Yes, please. This would be super-helpful.

Berkeley's matriculating class is usually smallish, right?
Did you guys attend a mock class or audit a real class?

[NYC2012]

.

[Cocoblues]

What did everyone think of ASW? It would be really helpful for those of us who couldn't go to hear your opinions, in terms of campus culture - academically and socially. Basically anything! Thanks!

Yes, please. This would be super-helpful.

Berkeley's matriculating class is usually smallish, right?
Did you guys attend a mock class or audit a real class?

ASW was great! A bunch of people I talked to throughout the day had decided to attend by the end of the day (I still haven't decided). The students seemed very down to earth and fun but also super smart. I talked to some really cool people. Everyone seems to like the grading system, that was discussed a bunch. Everyone also talked about how non-competitive Berkeley is (in part due to the grading system).

I believe they said there are 270 seats for the matriculating class. We attended a mock criminal law class that was really interesting.

Thanks, NYC2012! Much appreciated!

[hellomellow]

Could some of you that attended ASW share a little about the school, campus culture, faculty etc. For those of us that couldn't make it?

Any thoughts really..even if the thoughts seem unimportant since it's better than nothing!

[Wiggly]

...

[NYC2012]

.

[admiringatticus]

So where do Berkeley law students live? I would love any insight that current or prospective students have on this. I went to a few apartments on the south side (two on Parker and one on Hillegass) after ASW and they were kind of disgusting - small, incredibly dirty, and so pricey. Do grad students live on the south side or is it mostly undergrads?

Also, anyone have any experience with University Village? It looked nice but I'm moving with my SO who will be working in San Francisco so I feel like it's probably a bit far...

[notactuallyposting]

So where do Berkeley law students live? I would love any insight that current or prospective students have on this. I went to a few apartments on the south side (two on Parker and one on Hillegass) after ASW and they were kind of disgusting - small, incredibly dirty, and so pricey. Do grad students live on the south side or is it mostly undergrads?

Also, anyone have any experience with University Village? It looked nice but I'm moving with my SO who will be working in San Francisco so I feel like it's probably a bit far...

My SO is working in SF as well. South side ( the box of approximately bancroft to ashby and telegraph and piedmont) is largely undergrads. It is loud, includes all of the dorms, and up by piedmont is frat row. Would not recommend living there, though it is most convenient. The closer you get to college and ashby it wouldn't be as bad.

South of ashby on college you get closer to the rockridge area (and Bart) which is VERY nice. Living Around college and Claremont intersection would leave your SO about a 10 minute walk to rockridge Bart or a 2 minute drive from the 24 (which connects to the 580--> 80--> SF). For you it would be a 25 minute walk, 10 minute bike, or 10 minute bus ride to the law school. This is one of two ideal locations for your situation-- safe and convenient for both of you. (I wouldn't live too far west of telegraph, though theoretically you could live near the ashby Bart station and have a similar setup for cheaper... I just personally would not want to walk from campus to ashby Bart after dark, though it is not especially dangerous compared to other parts of town further west.)

My SO and I considered that rockridge area for a while, but it is tough to find a good place and it is a more family oriented area, more expensive restaurants, etc. We ended up going with what I consider to be the other perfect option for our situation, which is northside of campus-- mostly grad students (phd types) and some co-ops (hippy undergrads) there. It's certainly pricier than similar housing on south side, but can be worth it. A 1 bedroom will run around 17-1900 rather than 13-1500 on south side. I would try to snag a place as close to downtown berkeley Bart station as possible without going west of oxford (gets more city-like west of Oxford towards shattuck). Ideally you would live on a street like oxford, spruce, arch, leconte, etc etc etc , a within a few blocks north of campus. Your SO could walk to downtown berkeley Bart within 10 minutes, or drive down University to get into SF by car. Of note, if your SO can make it so he/she works from 7 to 3 rather than 9 to 5, life will be 1000000 times easier. The commute is intolerable at rush hour.

. I actually have no idea where law students live (didn't meet any when I lived there), but I imagine that first years will sometimes live on south side by the school and then realize how loud and dirty it is and move to north side, Claremont, or central berkeley.

I typed this out on my phone so sorry for typos. Good luck! PM with questions though I don't sign on here as much these days now that we committed to berkeley.

[admiringatticus]

So where do Berkeley law students live? I would love any insight that current or prospective students have on this. I went to a few apartments on the south side (two on Parker and one on Hillegass) after ASW and they were kind of disgusting - small, incredibly dirty, and so pricey. Do grad students live on the south side or is it mostly undergrads?

Also, anyone have any experience with University Village? It looked nice but I'm moving with my SO who will be working in San Francisco so I feel like it's probably a bit far...

My SO is working in SF as well. South side ( the box of approximately bancroft to ashby and telegraph and piedmont) is largely undergrads. It is loud, includes all of the dorms, and up by piedmont is frat row. Would not recommend living there, though it is most convenient. The closer you get to college and ashby it wouldn't be as bad.

South of ashby on college you get closer to the rockridge area (and Bart) which is VERY nice. Living Around college and Claremont intersection would leave your SO about a 10 minute walk to rockridge Bart or a 2 minute drive from the 24 (which connects to the 580--> 80--> SF). For you it would be a 25 minute walk, 10 minute bike, or 10 minute bus ride to the law school. This is one of two ideal locations for your situation-- safe and convenient for both of you. (I wouldn't live too far west of telegraph, though theoretically you could live near the ashby Bart station and have a similar setup for cheaper... I just personally would not want to walk from campus to ashby Bart after dark, though it is not especially dangerous compared to other parts of town further west.)

My SO and I considered that rockridge area for a while, but it is tough to find a good place and it is a more family oriented area, more expensive restaurants, etc. We ended up going with what I consider to be the other perfect option for our situation, which is northside of campus-- mostly grad students (phd types) and some co-ops (hippy undergrads) there. It's certainly pricier than similar housing on south side, but can be worth it. A 1 bedroom will run around 17-1900 rather than 13-1500 on south side. I would try to snag a place as close to downtown berkeley Bart station as possible without going west of oxford (gets more city-like west of Oxford towards shattuck). Ideally you would live on a street like oxford, spruce, arch, leconte, etc etc etc , a within a few blocks north of campus. Your SO could walk to downtown berkeley Bart within 10 minutes, or drive down University to get into SF by car. Of note, if your SO can make it so he/she works from 7 to 3 rather than 9 to 5, life will be 1000000 times easier. The commute is intolerable at rush hour.

. I actually have no idea where law students live (didn't meet any when I lived there), but I imagine that first years will sometimes live on south side by the school and then realize how loud and dirty it is and move to north side, Claremont, or central berkeley.

I typed this out on my phone so sorry for typos. Good luck! PM with questions though I don't sign on here as much these days now that we committed to berkeley.

Thank you! This was super helpful.

[barrelofmonkeys]

I had a great time at the ASW on Friday. Campus and students were both chill, as expected, but also incredibly bright and engaged. I think the thing I kept hearing the most (in addition to what's already been said here) is that the student body really takes ownership of its education and campus. If students want something to happen, true to progressive form, they go out and do it, and it seemed, from conversations with students, that that was really true.

We had a day of bad weather and it was still utterly lovely, and quality of life seems really high. Everyone I met was happy, and everyone I asked said that students were in general quite happy.

I still haven't made any decisions, and I'm still waiting on matching scholarship, but after my visit, I think I'd be quite content here, especially given the wealth of PI opportunities, if it were for the right price.

If you have any more specific questions regarding my impressions, I'd be happy to answer them.