Berkeley Law c/o 2021 Applicants (2017-2018) Forum

[MonicaYoung_LOL]

Did anyone get a voicemail telling them to call the admissions office back?

Did you receive that today?

[cwasser3]

Congrats everyone!!! Are you all September applicants?

No I went complete 10/2. My caller ID did not say anything. I googled the number and it said it was Berkeley Law.

[LSATuration]

Anyone else taken 2+ weeks to go from complete/received to UR? I'm still waiting

[Churner_throwaway-]

Thoughts on if more decisions are coming today?

[missakari]

Thoughts on if more decisions are coming today?

Seems like it may be RD’s released all the way, then ED’s on Dec 2...

[plzkillme1224]

Thoughts on if more decisions are coming today?

Seems like it may be RD’s released all the way, then ED’s on Dec 2...

Dec 2 is a Saturday?

[MonicaYoung_LOL]

Thoughts on if more decisions are coming today?

Seems like it may be RD’s released all the way, then ED’s on Dec 2...

Dec 2 is a Saturday?

Their twitter said ED would be released on 12/2:

https://twitter.com/BoaltAdmissions/sta ... 7854729216

[plzkillme1224]

Thoughts on if more decisions are coming today?

Seems like it may be RD’s released all the way, then ED’s on Dec 2...

Dec 2 is a Saturday?

Their twitter said ED would be released on 12/2:

https://twitter.com/BoaltAdmissions/sta ... 7854729216

Isn't that so weird though? Also their website originally said 12/4. Confusing!

[MonicaYoung_LOL]

Thoughts on if more decisions are coming today?

Seems like it may be RD’s released all the way, then ED’s on Dec 2...

Dec 2 is a Saturday?

Their twitter said ED would be released on 12/2:

https://twitter.com/BoaltAdmissions/sta ... 7854729216

Isn't that so weird though? Also their website originally said 12/4. Confusing!

I definitely agree it's weird! Maybe it was a typo and they actually meant 12/4 on Twitter and then had to commit lol?

[Churner_throwaway-]

Thoughts on if more decisions are coming today?

Seems like it may be RD’s released all the way, then ED’s on Dec 2...

Dec 2 is a Saturday?

Their twitter said ED would be released on 12/2:

https://twitter.com/BoaltAdmissions/sta ... 7854729216

Isn't that so weird though? Also their website originally said 12/4. Confusing!

I definitely agree it's weird! Maybe it was a typo and they actually meant 12/4 on Twitter and then had to commit lol?

I was just speculating since they released RD it is more than likely they have already made decisions about ED, so confused why they wouldn't release ED earlier than their deadline. For what it's worth, their website language states it would be by Dec 4th, but I am just being insanely optimistic

[missakari]

Ooooh boy, are you guys ready for another day of desperation, anxiety, and staring at the phone longingly? That's what I've been doing...even if I put my phone out of sight, my mind's still focused on a mental image of my phone lol. Best of luck everyone!!

[missakari]

Thoughts on if more decisions are coming today?

Seems like it may be RD’s released all the way, then ED’s on Dec 2...

Dec 2 is a Saturday?

Their twitter said ED would be released on 12/2:

https://twitter.com/BoaltAdmissions/sta ... 7854729216

Isn't that so weird though? Also their website originally said 12/4. Confusing!

I definitely agree it's weird! Maybe it was a typo and they actually meant 12/4 on Twitter and then had to commit lol?

I was just speculating since they released RD it is more than likely they have already made decisions about ED, so confused why they wouldn't release ED earlier than their deadline. For what it's worth, their website language states it would be by Dec 4th, but I am just being insanely optimistic

Exactly...by Dec 4 lol. But then in their tweet they say it'll be out Dec 2...sigh.

[Churner_throwaway-]

Ooooh boy, are you guys ready for another day of desperation, anxiety, and staring at the phone longingly? That's what I've been doing...even if I put my phone out of sight, my mind's still focused on a mental image of my phone lol. Best of luck everyone!!

welcome to my Wednesday!

[Wakhancorridor]

I think Berkeley is a unique case.

I think going to Berkeley *is* worth sticker, but *only* because it remains a T14 *and* we have our own public interest loan forgiveness program *and* because folks who don't go the public interest route go clerkship or big law.

not trying to be rude but I don't think this is really the best way to look at law school pricing. I love berkeley law and its definitely the best fit for me, but (a) its not unique in that there are at least twelve other schools in the T14 that provide excellent job prospects and have incredible alumni networks--UVA as one example AND (b) Big Law prospects don't really justify full-price expenses.

If you got into Berkeley Law, there is a decent shot you got into at least a handful of other T14s, and if not, then maybe UCLA or USC. If you got into the other T14s, there will definitely be personal preferences and priorities that help guide decisions and are worth some small amount of money. That being said, its (for most people) not worth it to go to Berkeley for full price over something like Northwestern or Michigan with a good-sized scholarship. Same thing applies at UCLA/USC, both excellent schools that have slightly lower and more limited job prospects than Cal, just with a hopefully higher scholarship than the T14s.

On the second point: big law pays a lot of money but that doesn't stop sticker price law school from being prohibitively expensive. The after-interest sticker cost of attending Berkeley law hovers near 250k. If your after-tax monthly income in Big Law is 9-10k, you're spending 2k on rent to live in SF or NY where you'd probably end up from Berkeley, then another couple thousand dollars in additional expenses, insurance, car payments, etc., and then finally 2-3k in student loans: you can maintain a good lifestyle but it'll be tough to start saving early on. If you start a family, your loans can be even more burdensome.

Moreover, there's no guarantee that you'll continue to be making big law money 3-5 years out of law school. Maybe you go in house where your salary drops to 145k. Maybe you decide you want to become a DA and suddenly your salary is 55k. Maybe you're asked to become the Special Assistant to the Secretary of State or something but can't because your loans hover over your head. The loans can shackle golden handcuffs on you that keep you in a job you might hate.

My take is that unless you know for a fact that you're going to become a partner at Gibson Dunn or something (which you don't), try to limit the expense of law school as much as possible.

Though my perspective is only mine, and others can be totally free to differ

[DowsingForAJD]

In! Just got the call. RD, went under review in mid-October. Did not get the committee review email.

[cooleyclassof2021]

I mean.
Seems like it isn't ideal. Some people have been accepted just based on their applications already.
Others likely dinged. Sounds like we got put in the maybe pile

There have been RD acceptances?

Don't think so.

According to the law school admissions subreddit, a couple people above the 75th percentile for GPA and/or LSAT have been accepted as of yesterday

[NavyNuke]

I mean.
Seems like it isn't ideal. Some people have been accepted just based on their applications already.
Others likely dinged. Sounds like we got put in the maybe pile

There have been RD acceptances?

Don't think so.

According to the law school admissions subreddit, a couple people above the 75th percentile for GPA and/or LSAT have been accepted as of yesterday

Yup. There are now. There weren't any when I posted that.

[thepsychedelic]

In!!! Got the call about an hour ago! Submitted beginning of November!

[cooleyclassof2021]

Loved the idea of Berkeley for the longest time, but was super upset by the closed-mindedness of several students. I know I shouldn't base a decision off of a couple outliers but dang

Elaborate more and I can provide some insight into whether your concerns are legitimate or not

I work for a prosecutor. I've heard that that is considered essentially working for the devil

Not a real concern. I came in working from a DA's office and a good amount of others did as well. I know a lot of people aiming for the USAO for 1L summer and a decent number of people that spent 1L with SF city's attorney, local DA offices, or USAO offices.

Sure there is a small contingency of the class that's very assertive in its social justice orientation and part of that might bleed into a bias against DAs offices but by and large, I don't think there's that bias in the overall student body and it's definitely not treated as "the devil."

Now if you were a trump supporter, it'd be a little tougher of an environment to be open about that but I think that's the nature of all top law schools (besides maybe UVA or Georgetown) in 2017

Thank you - this was incredibly helpful. I probably met a couple members of that small contingency. Here's hoping I don't run up against them on campus (IF I AM EVER ACCEPTED). Def not a Trump supporter ahahaha

[KENYADIGG1T]

In at Boalt! Call from Dean Tom LITERALLY 10 mins ago. I'm shakinggggg

Omgomgomg CONGRATS!!!!!!!!! Now tell us everything about ur stats to completion date!!!!!!!!! Omg IM SO EXCITED FOR U!! R u ED?

Stats:
UGPA: 4.0
LSAT: 16x
Already a Berkeley PhD Student, other strong softs/recs

Submitted 9/23 UR:10/12. RD.

You're going from PhD to Law? Fascinating.

I'm looking to do legal philosophy/epistemology, so I'll be doing both degrees simultaneously

[cooleyclassof2021]

Loved the idea of Berkeley for the longest time, but was super upset by the closed-mindedness of several students. I know I shouldn't base a decision off of a couple outliers but dang

Elaborate more and I can provide some insight into whether your concerns are legitimate or not

I work for a prosecutor. I've heard that that is considered essentially working for the devil

Not a real concern. I came in working from a DA's office and a good amount of others did as well. I know a lot of people aiming for the USAO for 1L summer and a decent number of people that spent 1L with SF city's attorney, local DA offices, or USAO offices.

Sure there is a small contingency of the class that's very assertive in its social justice orientation and part of that might bleed into a bias against DAs offices but by and large, I don't think there's that bias in the overall student body and it's definitely not treated as "the devil."

Now if you were a trump supporter, it'd be a little tougher of an environment to be open about that but I think that's the nature of all top law schools (besides maybe UVA or Georgetown) in 2017

I would echo what was said above. I believe the whole idea that Berkeley is this shining beacon for social justice and liberalness is really hyperbolized. The vast majority of people are still trying to work for a firm--that's the same here as in other schools. As was said above, there is a small group of people who are very vocal about their political views, but from what I experience, they are usually willing to discuss things in a respectful manner if you so wish.

A large portion of people that are not interested in working for a firm are interested in prosecution/government work--these are our friends, nobody is going around saying their career prospects are evil. Personally, I'm interested in defense side type work and am closer to what a lot of people would view as super left, but that doesn't mean I have a narrow view of the world in which everyone who does something different than me is wrong or bad. But yeah, if you're pro-Trump definitely keep that under wraps.

The people I met were NOT willing to discuss things in a respectful matter - that's what was so disappointing and frustrating. Besides this one area of my resume, I am incredibly left-leaning. But I am also interested in discourse with people who disagree with me on all fronts (both with my leftist tendencies and with my work in prosecution). Does Berkeley overall promote diversity of thought? Or does it turn into an echo chamber?

Again - most certainly NOT a Trump supporter

[Doris95]

Just got the call from Berkeley at 8pm EST—175+, 4.0, non-URM

applied 11/8, went complete 11/13

good luck y'all!!!

[HopefulEnvirolawyer5]

Where is the admissions subreddit for berkeley? I cant find it

[Teacher]

Just got the call from Berkeley at 8pm EST—175+, 4.0, non-URM

applied 11/8, went complete 11/13

good luck y'all!!!

Did you do a Why Berkeley?

[Doris95]

Just got the call from Berkeley at 8pm EST—175+, 4.0, non-URM

applied 11/8, went complete 11/13

good luck y'all!!!

Did you do a Why Berkeley?

yes—it was only about a page long. i also happened to be out in the bay area, so i visited the campus/talked to an admissions officer the first week of november. i referenced the meeting in my why berkeley