UC Berkeley c/o 2017 Applicants (2013-2014) Forum

[Vexed]

Looking at all of my status checkers today after hyping up Wednesday in my head:

[capt_slow]

+1

[furrrman]

Hmmm so I'm >75th both GPA and LSAT, UR 1/21. Should I be happy or sad if I go to FR?

A previous poster in this thread (or from last years, can't remember) who apparently knows the process says once you got FR numbers no longer matter, its about your softs and what kind of fit you'd be for the school.

[waferthinmint]

Looking at all of my status checkers today after hyping up Wednesday in my head:

+1+1+1

[capt_slow]

Looking at all of my status checkers today after hyping up Wednesday in my head:

+1+1+1

+2

[Cocoblues]

^^^^
That

[Slytherpuff]

Maybe we'll still get some late emails today?

[pcthenls]

Better they take their time. We have only a one in seven, or one in eight chance after getting to faculty review right, divide that be two if there are two full FR stages...

I'd prefer they take the full amount of time they promised us and do as much holistic review as possible. But maybe that's just me.

[capt_slow]

Better they take their time. We have only a one in seven, or one in eight chance after getting to faculty review right, divide that be two if there are two full FR stages...

I'd prefer they take the full amount of time they promised us and do as much holistic review as possible. But maybe that's just me.

Stop bringing your reason to this thread.

[musharraf]

So should I keep hitting refresh on the status checker for another couple of hours, or is the consensus that today's a bust and it's okay to go get dinner??

[BenjarvusGreenEllis]

So should I keep hitting refresh on the status checker for another couple of hours, or is the consensus that today's a bust and it's okay to go get dinner??

I'd eat

[PrizeFighter]

Hmmm so I'm >75th both GPA and LSAT, UR 1/21. Should I be happy or sad if I go to FR?

A previous poster in this thread (or from last years, can't remember) who apparently knows the process says once you got FR numbers no longer matter, its about your softs and what kind of fit you'd be for the school.

I just went to an admissions event thing at Boalt, and someone who's been on FR in the past (without explicitly saying that numbers no longer mattered at that point) gave me this impression.

[Arrow4Christ]

What gives, Berkeley? My hope for straight admission is fading fast...

[bloomingtea]

Excerpt from http://www.epinions.com/review/educ-Law ... 32292?sb=1

What Happens to Your Application Once It's Received

Once the preliminary details of setting up a file and confirming that your application is indeed complete, the real process begins. I can't claim to know precisely how this works, but this is the gist of it.

Step One: Administrative Review

This initial step is what everyone traditionally thinks of when the phrase "Admissions Process" is mentioned. Known as "administrative review," this phase entails weeding out the candidates who will be immediately accepted or rejected. Surprisingly, the Director of Admissions, Edward Tom, personally reads many of the applications, as he remembered my application when I met him at a reception for admitted students.

I do not know what the range is for the immediate acceptances and rejections. However, I can say that it doesn't appear to be a strict "numbers game." I know of friends and classmates who were rejected despite a 170 LSAT score, or were accepted despite a 156 LSAT score. This leads me to believe that other factors are also considered before making the first cut.

What I find more important is the claim that the majority of the class is admitted through the second phase.

Step Two: Referral to the Admissions Committee

The Director of Admissions refers a large number of files to the Admissions Committee. These are the files that have made the first cut and require a more detailed consideration before a final decision is made.

First, some background on the Admissions Committee itself. Six faculty members are appointed to the committee and each are paired with 2 students, making a total of 18 committee members. These are the individuals who will pore over your file, or perhaps briefly glance over it. And this is where one should be focusing their time and energy if one is not an unbelievably extraordinary candidate.

Before we began our interviews, we talked to previous student government officers as well as others familiar with the admissions committee. And since then, I have also followed up with some of the candidates we appointed to gauge their experiences. The basic message is that all of the power is concentrated in the hands of professors.

Yet, for a variety of reasons, many professors have empowered their "student partners" and highly value their judgments. For instance, some professors have been known to negotiate with students to come to a consensus on which students will be admitted. Others are said to have ignored the student input. It's a toss-up dependent on the whims of the current crop of faculty members.

But I will add this--students on the committee are less likely to look at numbers and more willing to look at the whole application. After all, the Director of Admissions would have immediately rejected the candidates if he deemed the numbers too low. Thus, when interviewing, I looked for student members who would consider everything BUT the numbers.

[angelshare]

Excerpt from http://www.epinions.com/review/educ-Law ... 32292?sb=1

What Happens to Your Application Once It's Received

Once the preliminary details of setting up a file and confirming that your application is indeed complete, the real process begins. I can't claim to know precisely how this works, but this is the gist of it.

Step One: Administrative Review

This initial step is what everyone traditionally thinks of when the phrase "Admissions Process" is mentioned. Known as "administrative review," this phase entails weeding out the candidates who will be immediately accepted or rejected. Surprisingly, the Director of Admissions, Edward Tom, personally reads many of the applications, as he remembered my application when I met him at a reception for admitted students.

I do not know what the range is for the immediate acceptances and rejections. However, I can say that it doesn't appear to be a strict "numbers game." I know of friends and classmates who were rejected despite a 170 LSAT score, or were accepted despite a 156 LSAT score. This leads me to believe that other factors are also considered before making the first cut.

What I find more important is the claim that the majority of the class is admitted through the second phase.

Step Two: Referral to the Admissions Committee

The Director of Admissions refers a large number of files to the Admissions Committee. These are the files that have made the first cut and require a more detailed consideration before a final decision is made.

First, some background on the Admissions Committee itself. Six faculty members are appointed to the committee and each are paired with 2 students, making a total of 18 committee members. These are the individuals who will pore over your file, or perhaps briefly glance over it. And this is where one should be focusing their time and energy if one is not an unbelievably extraordinary candidate.

Before we began our interviews, we talked to previous student government officers as well as others familiar with the admissions committee. And since then, I have also followed up with some of the candidates we appointed to gauge their experiences. The basic message is that all of the power is concentrated in the hands of professors.

Yet, for a variety of reasons, many professors have empowered their "student partners" and highly value their judgments. For instance, some professors have been known to negotiate with students to come to a consensus on which students will be admitted. Others are said to have ignored the student input. It's a toss-up dependent on the whims of the current crop of faculty members.

But I will add this--students on the committee are less likely to look at numbers and more willing to look at the whole application. After all, the Director of Admissions would have immediately rejected the candidates if he deemed the numbers too low. Thus, when interviewing, I looked for student members who would consider everything BUT the numbers.

Thanks for the info.

Does anyone have any info on whether a specific FR applicant is reviewed by the entire 18 member committee or only the 3 member committee to which your FR file was assigned to? (NOT INCLUDING THOSE FR applicants WHO REQUESTED THIER FILES NOT BE READ BY STUDENTS)

[rion91]

163 / 3.4 GPA / URM / Strong softs checking in. Submitted 2/3

[Dekal2009]

I dont know what to think...I submitted August...went complete 10/2....but haven't received a status update since.
(3.6, 155)...Perhaps the underdog will get a wait list

[bonerland]

Did anyone go UR before the deadline with less than two letters of recommendation?

I submitted early January while waiting on my second LoR, then went complete and under review 2/3.

Someone mentioned earlier that they submitted in November with one letter and were an auto-admit.

[Marshmallow]

Did anyone go UR before the deadline with less than two letters of recommendation?

I submitted early January while waiting on my second LoR, then went complete and under review 2/3.

Someone mentioned earlier that they submitted in November with one letter and were an auto-admit.

just going off memory so someone correct me if i'm wrong, but i think since berkeley only required 1 (or 0?) they'll mark your file as complete even if you're waiting on LoRs.

[bonerland]

Did anyone go UR before the deadline with less than two letters of recommendation?

I submitted early January while waiting on my second LoR, then went complete and under review 2/3.

Someone mentioned earlier that they submitted in November with one letter and were an auto-admit.

just going off memory so someone correct me if i'm wrong, but i think since berkeley only required 1 (or 0?) they'll mark your file as complete even if you're waiting on LoRs.

Yes, Berkeley had no LoR requirement, but they waited for my second LoR to mark me as complete. I thought my chances would be better submitting earlier with only one.

[Marshmallow]

Did anyone go UR before the deadline with less than two letters of recommendation?

I submitted early January while waiting on my second LoR, then went complete and under review 2/3.

Someone mentioned earlier that they submitted in November with one letter and were an auto-admit.

just going off memory so someone correct me if i'm wrong, but i think since berkeley only required 1 (or 0?) they'll mark your file as complete even if you're waiting on LoRs.

Yes, Berkeley had no LoR requirement, but they waited for my second LoR to mark me as complete. I thought my chances would be better submitting earlier with only one.

sorry, i think i misread your question/comment. i'm surprised then that they didn't mark you as complete after the one

[gobears!!]

Post removed.

[lemons]

Excerpt from http://www.epinions.com/review/educ-Law ... 32292?sb=1

What Happens to Your Application Once It's Received

Once the preliminary details of setting up a file and confirming that your application is indeed complete, the real process begins. I can't claim to know precisely how this works, but this is the gist of it.

Step One: Administrative Review

This initial step is what everyone traditionally thinks of when the phrase "Admissions Process" is mentioned. Known as "administrative review," this phase entails weeding out the candidates who will be immediately accepted or rejected. Surprisingly, the Director of Admissions, Edward Tom, personally reads many of the applications, as he remembered my application when I met him at a reception for admitted students.

I do not know what the range is for the immediate acceptances and rejections. However, I can say that it doesn't appear to be a strict "numbers game." I know of friends and classmates who were rejected despite a 170 LSAT score, or were accepted despite a 156 LSAT score. This leads me to believe that other factors are also considered before making the first cut.

What I find more important is the claim that the majority of the class is admitted through the second phase.

Step Two: Referral to the Admissions Committee

The Director of Admissions refers a large number of files to the Admissions Committee. These are the files that have made the first cut and require a more detailed consideration before a final decision is made.

First, some background on the Admissions Committee itself. Six faculty members are appointed to the committee and each are paired with 2 students, making a total of 18 committee members. These are the individuals who will pore over your file, or perhaps briefly glance over it. And this is where one should be focusing their time and energy if one is not an unbelievably extraordinary candidate.

Before we began our interviews, we talked to previous student government officers as well as others familiar with the admissions committee. And since then, I have also followed up with some of the candidates we appointed to gauge their experiences. The basic message is that all of the power is concentrated in the hands of professors.

Yet, for a variety of reasons, many professors have empowered their "student partners" and highly value their judgments. For instance, some professors have been known to negotiate with students to come to a consensus on which students will be admitted. Others are said to have ignored the student input. It's a toss-up dependent on the whims of the current crop of faculty members.

But I will add this--students on the committee are less likely to look at numbers and more willing to look at the whole application. After all, the Director of Admissions would have immediately rejected the candidates if he deemed the numbers too low. Thus, when interviewing, I looked for student members who would consider everything BUT the numbers.

So what does that look like on the status checker?

Something like:
Complete
UR
FR

I'm currently under review so that's one of the reasons I am asking... also because it is good to know

ETA: I submitted my application and went to under review on the next day (skipped complete). Is this good? Or fairly par for the course?

[bloomingtea]

You'll receive an email saying that you've passed the administrative review and your application will proceed with faculty review. On the status checker it will also say Under Review, but on top of the page it will say Faculty Review or something like that.

Faculty Review One (FR1) applicants received notice back in January; a second batch of FR applicants (FR2) will usually receive notice this month around the time FR1 applicants hear back. It is possible to be deferred from FR1 to FR2. This is all info I parsed from previous threads, so don't hold it against me if anything's wrong :X.

[lemons]

You'll receive an email saying that you've passed the administrative review and your application will proceed with faculty review. On the status checker it will also say Under Review, but on top of the page it will say Faculty Review or something like that.

Faculty Review One (FR1) applicants received notice back in January; a second batch of FR applicants (FR2) will usually receive notice this month around the time FR1 applicants hear back. It is possible to be deferred from FR1 to FR2. This is all info I parsed from previous threads, so don't hold it against me if anything's wrong :X.

thanks bloomingtea! that's exactly the info i was looking for i also just found the "what to expect when you're expecting" thread which basically confirms what you wrote.