Berkeley c/o 2015 Applicants (2011-2012 cycle) Forum

[Nammertat]

Honestly, why is Berkeley just so random with their admissions? Do they really think the quality of a 2-4 page essay and a story or two about one's background is a better measure of merit than LSAT/GPA?

I'm not against their idea of having people be more than their numbers, but I totally agree this is a VERY small window to look through.... They should go to interviews.

[EMZE]

Honestly, why is Berkeley just so random with their admissions? Do they really think the quality of a 2-4 page essay and a story or two about one's background is a better measure of merit than LSAT/GPA?

I'm not against their idea of having people be more than their numbers, but I totally agree this is a VERY small window to look through.... They should go to interviews.

My opinion is obviously subjective since I am one of those that made it in despite what medians vs my numbers might suggest, but I do think it is respectable that they consider other factors. My GPA is low, but my undergrad is known for deflating GPA's. My LSAT is on the lower side for T14, but I am five years out of undergrad and work a crazy schedule that makes truly concentrating on LSAT prep difficult. I appreciate that Berkeley valued my choice in undergrad despite its effect on my GPA, and profession despite its effect on my ability to prepare for a learnable standardized test.

[cylon_clone]

Honestly, why is Berkeley just so random with their admissions? Do they really think the quality of a 2-4 page essay and a story or two about one's background is a better measure of merit than LSAT/GPA?

I'm not against their idea of having people be more than their numbers, but I totally agree this is a VERY small window to look through.... They should go to interviews.

My opinion is obviously subjective since I am one of those that made it in despite what medians vs my numbers might suggest, but I do think it is respectable that they consider other factors. My GPA is low, but my undergrad is known for deflating GPA's. My LSAT is on the lower side for T14, but I am five years out of undergrad and work a crazy schedule that makes truly concentrating on LSAT prep difficult. I appreciate that Berkeley valued my choice in undergrad despite its effect on my GPA, and profession despite its effect on my ability to prepare for a learnable standardized test.

I agree with you, EMZE. The LSAT is pretty learnable. Heck, if I hadn't been working 12 hour days, 6 to 7 days per week in the months leading up to the LSAT - while also trying to move across counties - I could have found the time (maybe not the money) to learn the LSAT and boost my score a few more points. And while my GPA isn't bad, I had friends in undergrad who averaged lower GPAs because the professors in the science majors gave harsher curves.

[thelawschoolproject]

Honestly, why is Berkeley just so random with their admissions? Do they really think the quality of a 2-4 page essay and a story or two about one's background is a better measure of merit than LSAT/GPA?

....notsureifsrs....

[PR-0927]

Rejected on the 17th. Was upset. 171 on the LSAT, 3.76 LSDAS GPA.

Sad times.



But they've been rejecting a lot of people with better LSAT scores and GPAs than me.

LSN is depressing for U.C. Berkeley.

[thecactus]

Honestly, why is Berkeley just so random with their admissions? Do they really think the quality of a 2-4 page essay and a story or two about one's background is a better measure of merit than LSAT/GPA?

What are you talking about? Berkeley's median GPA is pretty high. Berkeley does admit people with lower LSAT scores compared to other T14's, but Berkeley's LSN graph this cycle is a lot less random-looking than other schools' like UVa's or Michigan's. And they don't base their decision on a 2-4 page "story" (although a personal statement can reveal a lot about your writing ability and your priorities)...they also look at your resume and letters of rec to make sure you're not full of shit.

Also, like others have said before me, the LSAT is very learnable and coachable (I think Dean Tom sad as much in his TLS interview), so its ability to predict this nebulous "merit" is limited insofar as you have enough free time and resources to throw at it.

[Golden Bear 11]

16 days

[thecactus]

I have still not received my login info for the admitted students' website, and it's been a week since I was admitted. Is this normal? I want to start applying for Berkeley's matching scholarship program ASAP.

[Real Madrid]

I have still not received my login info for the admitted students' website, and it's been a week since I was admitted. Is this normal? I want to start applying for Berkeley's matching scholarship program ASAP.

Yes, normal.


And wow, I just looked at the LSN graph, and it is the Red Sea.

[Nammertat]

I have still not received my login info for the admitted students' website, and it's been a week since I was admitted. Is this normal? I want to start applying for Berkeley's matching scholarship program ASAP.

Yes, normal.


And wow, I just looked at the LSN graph, and it is the Red Sea.

Yeeeeah pretty much.... Berkeley is hard to predict this late in the cycle though, not sure if that's a good or bad thing!

[Ghghghhhg2000]

Does anyone know how many committee reviews there are?

[Nammertat]

Does anyone know how many committee reviews there are?

This is the final (second) one.

[hanman]

rejected this morning - not unexpected at all.

i still don't think its sunk in yet because this essentially means i will be moving across the country and will be living apart from my husband for the next few years...still at the denial stage i think...

[KRog]

Checked my email a minute ago to see an email from Berkeley and was scared I had been dinged. Turned out to be a reminder regarding the upcoming priority deadline for submitted the FAFSA.

I find it strange that Berkeley sends these to people who haven't been admitted yet....

[gravityrides0]

Checked my email a minute ago to see an email from Berkeley and was scared I had been dinged. Turned out to be a reminder regarding the upcoming priority deadline for submitted the FAFSA.

I find it strange that Berkeley sends these to people who haven't been admitted yet....

got it too... teases.

[gravityrides0]

rejected this morning - not unexpected at all.

i still don't think its sunk in yet because this essentially means i will be moving across the country and will be living apart from my husband for the next few years...still at the denial stage i think...

ahhh... were you in faculty review?

[moneybagsphd]

Honestly, why is Berkeley just so random with their admissions? Do they really think the quality of a 2-4 page essay and a story or two about one's background is a better measure of merit than LSAT/GPA?

....notsureifsrs....

Totally serious. While a terrible personal statement might be something we can both agree on, a "good" or "great" personal statement is much more subjective. A personal statement should basically demonstrate a strong command of language, and show good judgment (or at least not poor judgment). Interviews, personal statements, etc do not capture an individual (unless they are incredibly simple). Quantifiable measures of merit are much more reliable for predicting success in law school.

I agree with you, EMZE. The LSAT is pretty learnable. Heck, if I hadn't been working 12 hour days, 6 to 7 days per week in the months leading up to the LSAT - while also trying to move across counties - I could have found the time (maybe not the money) to learn the LSAT and boost my score a few more points. And while my GPA isn't bad, I had friends in undergrad who averaged lower GPAs because the professors in the science majors gave harsher curves.

This is like saying "I could've done so much better on the LSAT with an extra 5 minutes per section." Sure, so can everyone.

[Virgil777]

Deleted.

[EMZE]

Honestly, why is Berkeley just so random with their admissions? Do they really think the quality of a 2-4 page essay and a story or two about one's background is a better measure of merit than LSAT/GPA?

....notsureifsrs....

Totally serious. While a terrible personal statement might be something we can both agree on, a "good" or "great" personal statement is much more subjective. A personal statement should basically demonstrate a strong command of language, and show good judgment (or at least not poor judgment). Interviews, personal statements, etc do not capture an individual (unless they are incredibly simple). Quantifiable measures of merit are much more reliable for predicting success in law school.

I agree with you, EMZE. The LSAT is pretty learnable. Heck, if I hadn't been working 12 hour days, 6 to 7 days per week in the months leading up to the LSAT - while also trying to move across counties - I could have found the time (maybe not the money) to learn the LSAT and boost my score a few more points. And while my GPA isn't bad, I had friends in undergrad who averaged lower GPAs because the professors in the science majors gave harsher curves.

This is like saying "I could've done so much better on the LSAT with an extra 5 minutes per section." Sure, so can everyone.

Except for the fact that the LSAT is offered 4x times a year, and sometimes people with irregular schedules aren't able to take the test without having to accomodate for unpredictable circumstances that are inherent to the profession they are a part of. If it were like the GMAT, offered pretty much every day of the year, that excuse would be much weaker. All told, I agree that the LSAT is more standard a measure than the GPA from undergrad, but when when the difference between scoring median for a t14 vs a lower tier 1 school can be the matter of a 5 questions, a bad testing day influenced by a crappy work week is absolutely a realistic factor. An LSAT addendum that says "I had a bad day" is obviously less compelling than someone saying "I work 60-80 hours a week, and cannot quit my job just to prepare for the LSAT", but Berkeley probably ends up with better entering class after considering applicants who have real external factors.

The idea that GPA + LSAT = merit is very narrow minded.

[Aqua]

people from faculty review 1:how far in advance of the stated decision day did people start getting acceptances/wls/dings?

[kennethellenparcell]

people from faculty review 1:how far in advance of the stated decision day did people start getting acceptances/wls/dings?

Two days I think.

Anyone else planning to ride it out on the WL?

[isaiah53]

.

[Euchromatic]

Well, if last year's LSN is any indication, today should be a bloodbath.

Good luck, everyone.

[Geneva]

Well, if last year's LSN is any indication, today should be a bloodbath.

Good luck, everyone.

Nooo, I want them to at least wait until March 9 to reject me...

[gravityrides0]

Well, if last year's LSN is any indication, today should be a bloodbath.

Good luck, everyone.

Are you in FR?