UC Berkeley School of Law C/O 2020 Applicants (2016-2017) Forum

[Leliana]

I was one of the people that called Berkeley Law and was told I was receiving $0 in merit aid. I then emailed them genuinely expressing that Berkeley Law is where I want to be (listing all of the reasons) and they came back with $90k... so it's possible and I encourage you to continue interacting with them even though it feels like layers of bureaucracy.

Wow, nicely done! Congrats.

[catalina559]

I was one of the people that called Berkeley Law and was told I was receiving $0 in merit aid. I then emailed them genuinely expressing that Berkeley Law is where I want to be (listing all of the reasons) and they came back with $90k... so it's possible and I encourage you to continue interacting with them even though it feels like layers of bureaucracy.

That's amazing! How quick was the turnaround from when you emailed?

[Rigo]

I was one of the people that called Berkeley Law and was told I was receiving $0 in merit aid. I then emailed them genuinely expressing that Berkeley Law is where I want to be (listing all of the reasons) and they came back with $90k... so it's possible and I encourage you to continue interacting with them even though it feels like layers of bureaucracy.

This is making Trump White House seem like a well oiled machine.

[emlaw03]

I was one of the people that called Berkeley Law and was told I was receiving $0 in merit aid. I then emailed them genuinely expressing that Berkeley Law is where I want to be (listing all of the reasons) and they came back with $90k... so it's possible and I encourage you to continue interacting with them even though it feels like layers of bureaucracy.

That's amazing! How quick was the turnaround from when you emailed?

They responded within two business days with my new offer. To be honest, I created a bit of a polite hurricane for them (i.e. emailed admissions and financial aid as well as called each one and left a voicemail) as Berkeley is my top choice.

[nerdylsat]

Fourth Quartile. K then lol.

[charles117]

does anyone know if the waitlist rankings/quartiles are simply autoranked by some weighted score of gpa and lsat or is it actually arranged and organized manually by admissions officers?

[bigyellowjoint]

I was one of the people that called Berkeley Law and was told I was receiving $0 in merit aid. I then emailed them genuinely expressing that Berkeley Law is where I want to be (listing all of the reasons) and they came back with $90k... so it's possible and I encourage you to continue interacting with them even though it feels like layers of bureaucracy.

That's amazing! How quick was the turnaround from when you emailed?

They responded within two business days with my new offer. To be honest, I created a bit of a polite hurricane for them (i.e. emailed admissions and financial aid as well as called each one and left a voicemail) as Berkeley is my top choice.

How much of your email was "pretty please i really really love you" vs. "here's why I deserve more"?

Essentially- they ask for the "reason for your request", and I'm just trying to get a beat on what they're looking for.

[Assasindowntheavenue]

I was one of the people that called Berkeley Law and was told I was receiving $0 in merit aid. I then emailed them genuinely expressing that Berkeley Law is where I want to be (listing all of the reasons) and they came back with $90k... so it's possible and I encourage you to continue interacting with them even though it feels like layers of bureaucracy.

This is making Trump White House seem like a well oiled machine.

Congrats to emlaw03 first off.

But yeah, idk to me it's mind boggling. For us to have to reach out to them (after they miss both dates they themselves said they'd let us know), with the possibility of being told "you get nothing", then with a little more convincing they give you as much as $90k. Like is the staff purposely trying to sink the ship? I don't get it.

[emlaw03]

How much of your email was "pretty please i really really love you" vs. "here's why I deserve more"?

Essentially- they ask for the "reason for your request", and I'm just trying to get a beat on what they're looking for.[/quote]

The majority of my email was pathos (pretty please I really really love you). I mentioned that my family lives in the area and I want to build a life/career in the Bay Area. I did not use a higher ranked school as leverage in the fear it would come off combative, and just hoped they would see that this was a genuine plea.

[Litt1tUp]

How much of your email was "pretty please i really really love you" vs. "here's why I deserve more"?

Essentially- they ask for the "reason for your request", and I'm just trying to get a beat on what they're looking for.

The majority of my email was pathos (pretty please I really really love you). I mentioned that my family lives in the area and I want to build a life/career in the Bay Area. I did not use a higher ranked school as leverage in the fear it would come off combative, and just hoped they would see that this was a genuine plea.

+1 I took the same approach, worked out for me! Got a little less than emlaw03. I thought of my email as more of a why Berkeley than a negotiation.

[chandhi]

waitlist rankings are out

Berkeley Law Wait List Quartile Ranking

Question: why did they put out a waitlist quartile ranking with people still UR? Is this premature? Will they update quartiles later? Are all UR people getting acceptances or dings?

[bigyellowjoint]

How much of your email was "pretty please i really really love you" vs. "here's why I deserve more"?

Essentially- they ask for the "reason for your request", and I'm just trying to get a beat on what they're looking for.

The majority of my email was pathos (pretty please I really really love you). I mentioned that my family lives in the area and I want to build a life/career in the Bay Area. I did not use a higher ranked school as leverage in the fear it would come off combative, and just hoped they would see that this was a genuine plea.

+1 I took the same approach, worked out for me! Got a little less than emlaw03. I thought of my email as more of a why Berkeley than a negotiation.

Thank you both for your answers. Hopefully I'll be seeing you both in the East Bay (and hopefully I'll be in a little bit less debt)

[annazork]

this was really helpful. I send my reconsideration request on monday and an email to theis-alvarez yesterday. hopefully i hear back soon! berkeley is my top choice and i will go if they just offer me a lil something! good luck to all going through this process!

How much of your email was "pretty please i really really love you" vs. "here's why I deserve more"?

Essentially- they ask for the "reason for your request", and I'm just trying to get a beat on what they're looking for.

The majority of my email was pathos (pretty please I really really love you). I mentioned that my family lives in the area and I want to build a life/career in the Bay Area. I did not use a higher ranked school as leverage in the fear it would come off combative, and just hoped they would see that this was a genuine plea.

+1 I took the same approach, worked out for me! Got a little less than emlaw03. I thought of my email as more of a why Berkeley than a negotiation.

Thank you both for your answers. Hopefully I'll be seeing you both in the East Bay (and hopefully I'll be in a little bit less debt)

[Leliana]

Withdrew. Good luck to everyone on the waitlist!

[goldenbear2020]

Withdrew. Good luck to everyone on the waitlist!

+1. Offered $0 more in response to a ~50k higher offer from a higher ranked school.

[annazork]

got my offer today! and im pretty happy with it

[lawbatman]

does anyone know if the waitlist rankings/quartiles are simply autoranked by some weighted score of gpa and lsat or is it actually arranged and organized manually by admissions officers?

I suspect it's the latter. My GPA is definitely well below the quartile I got.

[heyya0909]

Got my scholarship offer today!

[Keilz]

Got my scholarship offer today!

Congrats! Did you submit a reconsideration request?

[heyya0909]

Got my scholarship offer today!

Congrats! Did you submit a reconsideration request?

Thanks! I didn't submit any reconsideration requests, and I just heard via email on Saturday.

[bigyellowjoint]

Got my scholarship offer today!

Congrats! Did you submit a reconsideration request?

Thanks! I didn't submit any reconsideration requests, and I just heard via email on Saturday.

When were you admitted?

[SilverSurfer2020]

Still strongly considering Berkeley because I think practicing in California would be great. With BL goals though I'm a little bit concerned with their firm placement numbers being lower than peer schools. Anyone else in the same boat/have any insight on this?

[rhino180]

Still strongly considering Berkeley because I think practicing in California would be great. With BL goals though I'm a little bit concerned with their firm placement numbers being lower than peer schools. Anyone else in the same boat/have any insight on this?

On the exact same boat as you...
My other considerations have much better BL firm placement, but I really like Berkeley

[goldenbear2020]

There are several factors that may explain the BL placement gap between Berkeley and peer T13 schools:
- the CA market is relatively worse
- the HH/H/P grading system hurts those below "median"
- self-selection away from biglaw (into PI, etc.)
- self-selection away from non-CA biglaw (preferring to stay in CA even for mid/small law)

[rhino180]

I just read somewhere that a few years ago Berkeley required students to withdraw from all waitlists once they finalized their decision by the June 1 "deposit deadline". Does anyone know if this still applies?