UC Berkeley (Boalt Hall) Law Class of 2018 Forum

[LoganCouture]

ahhh I keep getting emails from Berkeley about scholarships that are not actually my scholarship decision, then subsequently, a heart attack.

I got the 3 or so emails about the Phoenix scholarship last week, but I haven't gotten any of the past couple emails people are talking about. Are these targeted URM scholarships?

The past couple emails have been targeted to all minorities, not just URMs.

Do you guys think it's worth it to apply to these if you're not a URM but are a minority?

Yes. The SF Bar Association one is need-based though, so probably low income students of color are most likely to receive those awards.

[Oskosh]

Do you think financial aid awards will be only be trickling in, or will there be a wave? LSN only has a handful of admits w/ aid, and one of them was admitted a day after I was. Is Berkeley Aid only need based, or does it include merit as well?

[JFO1833]

Berkeley has separate need and merit aid processes. I don't think they have announced any need aid yet.

[arose928]

Do you think financial aid awards will be only be trickling in, or will there be a wave? LSN only has a handful of admits w/ aid, and one of them was admitted a day after I was. Is Berkeley Aid only need based, or does it include merit as well?

My understanding from meeting with a finaid officer during ASW - scholarships were going to start going out late last week (looks like they started trickling out on Friday), and those would continue coming out through March and April. Financial aid packages (need-based grants and loans) are expected to go out in early April.

Seems like not much time for folks who need to make a decision by other schools' April 15 deadline, but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[JFO1833]

Something may be happening. Previously BearFacts would simply point to a blank screen, now it says aid information is not available for admit type 1L.

[Bird Lawyer]

Something may be happening. Previously BearFacts would simply point to a blank screen, now it says aid information is not available for admit type 1L.

Alternatively, they saw that we were posting and asking questions about why it was blank, and decided to simply explain that no aid info is available.

[sheishkabob]

Edit: nevermind I'm retarded

[morningstar]

Something may be happening. Previously BearFacts would simply point to a blank screen, now it says aid information is not available for admit type 1L.

Alternatively, they saw that we were posting and asking questions about why it was blank, and decided to simply explain that no aid info is available.

Suppose the next one is going to say "Seriously. You can stop refreshing me now. I promise we'll email you."

[strugglebus]

Has anyone gotten (or know of someone who got) a matching decision yet? I can't remember whether they gave us an estimate of when these would start going out during ASW.

[motoman92]

Suppose the next one is going to say "Seriously. You can stop refreshing me now. I promise we'll email you."

Dean Tom made a joke about this at admitted students week and everyone LOLed.

[wonka]

Berkeley just emailed me asking for a specific piece of information regarding my need-based app. It will be soon!

[wonka]

And to update, FYI:

Thanks, wonka. Our office should have a decision regarding your grant application within the next two weeks.

[waterskier]

Has anyone received their travel reimbursement for ASW or visiting?

[JFO1833]

Has anyone received their travel reimbursement for ASW or visiting?

The reimbursement was in the form of a Visa card handed out at the ASW. If you didn't get one you should give them a call and see what can be worked out.

[waterskier]

Thanks!

[antiworldly]

Well, there was a lot of movement yesterday, so here's hoping today we get some movement on the financial aid front!

[trynalaw123]

Well, there was a lot of movement yesterday, so here's hoping today we get some movement on the financial aid front!

+1,000,000

[Comma.Split]

Need-based finaid e-mail just now.

[wonka]

Need-based aid award came via email. I imagine no merit aid with it means no merit aid at all? Still can't log in to MyFinAid. :/

[slurpy]

Need-based finaid e-mail just now.

Me too. Anyone know whether this has any relationship to matching scholarships, or is it a totally separate process? My instinct says the latter but just wanted to check.

[Comma.Split]

Need-based aid award came via email. I imagine no merit aid with it means no merit aid at all? Still can't log in to MyFinAid. :/

False. Those are separate. Sometimes the scholarship committee would take into account your need-based aid, but as a general rule the two are independent.

[ZamboniTheGreat]

Just received my need based grant... C.R.E.A.M.

[arose928]

Also just got need-based aid email. Grateful for what I got but still leaves a big chunk! Good timing though, I was just beginning to waver since I got a full ride from UC Davis and it was making me question my commitment to $200k+ in loans...

Also pretty sure from info at ASW and meeting with finaid counselors that need-based aid is different from merit aid. It wouldn't be included in this email, so no mention of it now != getting no merit aid.

[Comma.Split]

Need-based finaid e-mail just now.

Me too. Anyone know whether this has any relationship to matching scholarships, or is it a totally separate process? My instinct says the latter but just wanted to check.

Based on what I heard at ASW, need-based is separate from everything else. However, if let's say you got 100k from a peer school in scholarships and applied for the matching scholarship program. Also suppose you got 50k from Berkeley in need-based. The Matching people may give you 50k in scholarships to "match" the total package as opposed to a 100k scholly. That's what the director of matching program said at the ASW. I don't know how often they do it, but she certainly mentioned that when there is not enough money to go around, she would take into account your need-based package.

[slurpy]

Need-based finaid e-mail just now.

Me too. Anyone know whether this has any relationship to matching scholarships, or is it a totally separate process? My instinct says the latter but just wanted to check.

Based on what I heard at ASW, need-based is separate from everything else. However, if let's say you got 100k from a peer school in scholarships and applied for the matching scholarship program. Also suppose you got 50k from Berkeley in need-based. The Matching people may give you 50k in scholarships to "match" the total package as opposed to a 100k scholly. That's what the director of matching program said at the ASW. I don't know how often they do it, but she certainly mentioned that when there is not enough money to go around, she would take into account your need-based package.

That makes sense. Thank you for the info!