UC Berkeley (Boalt Hall) Law Class of 2018 Forum

[JFO1833]

Boalt and Michigan are two of my top options at the moment, and since Boalt's need grant nearly matches what I got from Michigan, if they award me any merit aid it will be a much more attractive offer. Wondering if I can ask Michigan to consider me for need aid as a way to up their offer.

I am not an expert but if you like the total package from Berkeley, I'd go to Michigan and present the whole package and ask them to match it. It's not top-14 but GW does something similar to Michigan, they cap need aid at (I think) $16,000 per year eliminating anyone getting more than that in merit from need aid consideration.

Berkeley is different in that they add the merit and need together.

One catch with the Berkeley offer is that Michigan's offer (I assume) is guaranteed for 3 years while a need-aid offer from Berkeley depends on your financial circumstances in years 2 and 3, and presumably also on Berkeley's financials (they might have more or less money to distribute for need aid next year).

[morningstar]

I'm also wondering how the merit-based amount figures in with the "base loan" amount. I know that it's a factor in calculating your need-based eligibility, but I don't know if a merit award can reduce that base loan amount or not. I know they're different processes by different offices, but I'm still not sure at what point or in what order the base loan / merit award / need award calculations take place.

[JFO1833]

I'm also wondering how the merit-based amount figures in with the "base loan" amount. I know that it's a factor in calculating your need-based eligibility, but I don't know if a merit award can reduce that base loan amount or not. I know they're different processes by different offices, but I'm still not sure at what point or in what order the base loan / merit award / need award calculations take place.

I think there are two answers to this question:

1. Based on accepted students weekend, if you are awarded a merit scholarship (or matching scholarship) and need aid, the merit scholarship does not reduce the need based grant and instead reduces the amount you have to borrow.

2. There are some who have heard that need aid can weigh into decisions about how much other scholarship money is awarded (particularly matching scholarships -- see earlier posts).

[Comma.Split]

Add another 24000 need grant to the list! I thought for sure we'd see merit aid first.

It makes perfect sense to send out need-based first. You can't give less need-based money if the person gets a scholly (there is a strict formula), but you could give less scholly money if the person gets a nice need-based package (no formula, almost completely subjective). So sending out need-based before scholarships gives Berkeley more flexibility. I predict that we are going to start seeing some scholarship money starting today/tomorrow. I will try to build a distribution if enough people on the forum get $$$.

I'm also wondering how the merit-based amount figures in with the "base loan" amount. I know that it's a factor in calculating your need-based eligibility, but I don't know if a merit award can reduce that base loan amount or not. I know they're different processes by different offices, but I'm still not sure at what point or in what order the base loan / merit award / need award calculations take place.

I will give you an example.

Assume:
Tuition and Fees = $55,000
Base Loan = $25,000
Family + Student Contribution = $4000
Summer Earning Contribution = $2,000

Need Aid = Tuition - Base Loan - Family/Student Contribution - Summer Earnings
Need Aid = $24,000

Now assume you get a 30,000 scholarship. Generally, this money will go toward your base loan, so you won't have to take out anything + you will have $5,000 to use toward housing and food. I hope this answers your questions.

The numbers add up because even if you get a full tuition scholarship, your need-based aid will go toward housing and food. I don't know if there any any caveats, but the general process is just like I described above.

[fra]

Add another 24000 need grant to the list! I thought for sure we'd see merit aid first.

It makes perfect sense to send out need-based first. You can't give less need-based money if the person gets a scholly (there is a strict formula), but you could give less scholly money if the person gets a nice need-based package (no formula, almost completely subjective). So sending out need-based before scholarships gives Berkeley more flexibility. I predict that we are going to start seeing some scholarship money starting today/tomorrow. I will try to build a distribution if enough people on the forum get $$$.

I hope so. Especially since I can't get any need based grants because I don't have access to my parents financial information.

[Comma.Split]

Add another 24000 need grant to the list! I thought for sure we'd see merit aid first.

It makes perfect sense to send out need-based first. You can't give less need-based money if the person gets a scholly (there is a strict formula), but you could give less scholly money if the person gets a nice need-based package (no formula, almost completely subjective). So sending out need-based before scholarships gives Berkeley more flexibility. I predict that we are going to start seeing some scholarship money starting today/tomorrow. I will try to build a distribution if enough people on the forum get $$$.

I hope so. Especially since I can't get any need based grants because I don't have access to my parents financial information.

Last year, the scholarships came out on March 27th (Thursday). I am not trying to bring down Berkeley's computer network, but it looks like people were able to see their awards through Bearfacts first. The e-mails came much later (please let go of the refresh button).

[Oskosh]

Next day--unable to view my financial aid. lol.

[antiworldly]

Next day--unable to view my financial aid. lol.

Oh the fun of being on the east coast. My guess is it'll probably open up when people are in the office to deal with the panicked calls/emails.

[Oskosh]

I figured. I'm not in the east coast, though. However, I am CST. :p

[mvp_13]

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.

I got a matching decision within a couple of days because I was running on a tight deadline against a fellowship offer from another school. Kristin was so helpful and answered all my questions ASAP even though they're obviously swamped. They matched and exceeded the other offer which was great!

[BlueLaw11]

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.

I got a matching decision within a couple of days because I was running on a tight deadline against a fellowship offer from another school. Kristin was so helpful and answered all my questions ASAP even though they're obviously swamped. They matched and exceeded the other offer which was great!

Woah congrats! Fingers crossed I have the same luck haha

[sheishkabob]

Anyone hear anything?

[gauthi75]

,...............,.//.,./,.,/.,/./,/

[wonka]

Just thought I'd provide what little insight I have to those still waiting for scholarship offers-

I was invited to interview a month or so ago for a newly created Berkeley Law Opportunity Scholarship (BLOS), a full ride scholarship for students who are the first in their family to attend college (thanks Mom and Dad for being slackers).

Got an email last week (March 20) informing me that I had not been chosen for the full ride scholarship
However, the email did notify me that I had received a fairly generous Deans Fellowship, and that I would be receiving "a separate letter next week with more information about this award."

As of today I still have not received the actual letter of award notice, but I'm expecting it at anytime (probably refreshed my inbox 50 times today already). I would assume that because the Dean's Fellowship is a general scholarship available to everyone, unlike the BLOS, that the timeline for sending out my scholarship would be the same for everyone else.

So long story short (not that it's much help) I would think that scholarship offers should be coming in for all of us literally any time now.



Also, like many of you, I received my need-based offer (~$21k) yesterday, but as of right now (2:30 PM Michigan time) I get a message saying "Your Financial Aid Package is not yet available for the 2015 - 2016 Aid Year" when I try to log on to myfinaid.

It's nice to have this info! Thanks.

[trynalaw123]

In the past few days I've checked bearfacts about 10x more often than I ever checked any of my status checkers

[Comma.Split]

In the past few days I've checked bearfacts about 10x more often than I ever checked any of my status checkers

Last year, people were able to access their awards on March 27th around 8-9PM EST. Let's try not to break the website until then.

[trynalaw123]

In the past few days I've checked bearfacts about 10x more often than I ever checked any of my status checkers

Last year, people were able to access their awards on March 27th around 8-9PM EST. Let's try not to break the website until then.

I basically have nothing else to do at work, but I shall try

[DiniMae]

OP here. What would you like for a new poll?

[Atmosphere]

Just received an email for the Dean's Fellowship, 15k/year

[gauthi75]

Just received my scholarship via email

[Comma.Split]

Congrats to scholarship recipients! Anybody else got anything? It looks like the scholarships are trickling down instead of coming out in a big wave.

[middlebear]

Can't access online, no email. DAMMIT I don't even

[franny90]

.

[morningstar]

F5

...*sigh*...

F5

...*sigh*...

F5

...*sigh*...

F5

...*sigh*...

[Comma.Split]

I just read the entire post from last year, and if this year is anything like the last, the torture will continue until the end of April for some of us. Basically, some people weren't able to access their Finaid info until April 20th or so, others have been denied matching but offered regular scholarships, and yet others denied everything. So, we probably shouldn't expect a big wave with all the information. It will come piece by piece. No need to panic if you haven't gotten anything today.