Berkeley c/o 2016 Applicants (2012-2013 cycle) Forum

[TripTrip]

175/4.0 reporting here from the second quartile of the waitlist. Maybe have someone standing by with a blanket if you're going to go into shock.

YP?

Berk doesn't YP with the waitlist.

[WalkingPlato]

How much would an auto admit get if LSAT and GPA are both at or above medians?

Berkeley is a black box. Being above both medians is often no guarantee that you'll be admitted let alone get scholarship money. They may match, but as others have mentioned above, so far it seems that matching scholarships have gone to URM applicants.

But they will give something, right? I'd love to go to Berkeley (my top choice) but I'd go into shock if they don't offer anything...

.........

175/4.0 reporting here from the second quartile of the waitlist. Maybe have someone standing by with a blanket if you're going to go into shock.

Yea but didn't u apply late? And it's hard to believe that the majority of people goin to Berk pay full sticker, not that Berk isn't great but just considering the job market these days. And Berk dropped from 7th to 9th in the rankings, which might be part of why they have been offering such nice matching schollies. Maybe it goes over to their reg schollies offers.

[RSterling]

How much would an auto admit get if LSAT and GPA are both at or above medians?

Berkeley is a black box. Being above both medians is often no guarantee that you'll be admitted let alone get scholarship money. They may match, but as others have mentioned above, so far it seems that matching scholarships have gone to URM applicants.

But they will give something, right? I'd love to go to Berkeley (my top choice) but I'd go into shock if they don't offer anything...

Previous cycles indicate that you're likely to get nothing. The matching scholarship /=/ a guarantee in any sense.

[WalkingPlato]

How much would an auto admit get if LSAT and GPA are both at or above medians?

Berkeley is a black box. Being above both medians is often no guarantee that you'll be admitted let alone get scholarship money. They may match, but as others have mentioned above, so far it seems that matching scholarships have gone to URM applicants.

But they will give something, right? I'd love to go to Berkeley (my top choice) but I'd go into shock if they don't offer anything...

Previous cycles indicate that you're likely to get nothing. The matching scholarship /=/ a guarantee in any sense.

So the majority of students at Berk are full sticker?

[TripTrip]

Yea but didn't u apply late? And it's hard to believe that the majority of people goin to Berk pay full sticker, not that Berk isn't great but just considering the job market these days. And Berk dropped from 7th to 9th in the rankings, which might be part of why they have been offering such nice matching schollies. Maybe it goes over to their reg schollies offers.

The majority aren't paying full sticker because of grants, but the majority are definitely not getting merit scholarships.

Of the incoming class, 9 or 10 students will be on a full ride.

[framboozer]

Withdrew from the waitlist finally. Dat 3rd quartile.

[twinkletoes16]

Yea but didn't u apply late? And it's hard to believe that the majority of people goin to Berk pay full sticker, not that Berk isn't great but just considering the job market these days. And Berk dropped from 7th to 9th in the rankings, which might be part of why they have been offering such nice matching schollies. Maybe it goes over to their reg schollies offers.

The majority aren't paying full sticker because of grants, but the majority are definitely not getting merit scholarships.

Of the incoming class, 9 or 10 students will be on a full ride.

Grants as in need-based grants?


It seems like everyone and their mom is willing to pay sticker at Berkeley so I'm nervous that few matching schollies will go out.

[MacB]

So what's with this excerpt from the admissions newsletter:

DEADLINES
April 15 - Respond to your admission offer!

I thought Berk had no response deadline...

[TripTrip]

Yea but didn't u apply late? And it's hard to believe that the majority of people goin to Berk pay full sticker, not that Berk isn't great but just considering the job market these days. And Berk dropped from 7th to 9th in the rankings, which might be part of why they have been offering such nice matching schollies. Maybe it goes over to their reg schollies offers.

The majority aren't paying full sticker because of grants, but the majority are definitely not getting merit scholarships.

Of the incoming class, 9 or 10 students will be on a full ride.

Grants as in need-based grants?


It seems like everyone and their mom is willing to pay sticker at Berkeley so I'm nervous that few matching schollies will go out.

Yeah, need-based. I couldn't tell you exactly what percentage because the ABA data sadly doesn't differentiate. I am making the assumption that some of those are need-based, and I don't think it's unwarranted. 65% are receiving some sort of grant or scholarship, and the median amount is just $14,259.

I think you're justified in being nervous about matching schollies. Pretty sure that's more rhetoric than anything. Send your scholarships to NU instead. They've been much more open about the process than Berk.

So what's with this excerpt from the admissions newsletter:

DEADLINES
April 15 - Respond to your admission offer!

I thought Berk had no response deadline...

No deposit, but you should still withdraw if you don't plan on attending to open up your spot to the waitlist!

[MacB]

So what they want by April 15th is basically a statement of my intention to enroll, which they will expect me to honor just based on the fact that I've given my word? Am I interpreting that correctly?

This presents an issue. I would very happily attend Berk if they made me a competitive scholarship offer, but I don't expect that to be sorted out by the 15th. How should I proceed?

[twinkletoes16]

.

[djwjddl]

Pretty positive I received a matching scholarship offer. Not sure when because I didn't find out through email. Instead, I logged into myfinaid.berkeley.edu and found the info there. You might able to see your other financial aid info as well.

You're welcome . Pm for more details.

false alarm

[TripTrip]

DONT QUOTE BECAUSE I WILL BE DELETING: BERKELEY SUCKS MONKEY BUTT

Don't tell me what to do.

But really, I would email Berk and explain your situation. I just sent an email earlier today to Cornell basically saying "NU wants a decision on this scholarship by April 12, it'd be great if you could make an offer by then!" They seemed totally accepting of the request and understanding of the deadlines at other schools.

[MacB]

Does Berk make matching scholarship offers exclusively, or do they make merit-based offers as well?

[twinkletoes16]

DONT QUOTE BECAUSE I WILL BE DELETING: BERKELEY SUCKS MONKEY BUTT

Don't tell me what to do.

But really, I would email Berk and explain your situation. I just sent an email earlier today to Cornell basically saying "NU wants a decision on this scholarship by April 12, it'd be great if you could make an offer by then!" They seemed totally accepting of the request and understanding of the deadlines at other schools.

you're sassy, i like it. okay, will do. thanks.

[jbagelboy]

DONT QUOTE BECAUSE I WILL BE DELETING: BERKELEY SUCKS MONKEY BUTT

Don't tell me what to do.

But really, I would email Berk and explain your situation. I just sent an email earlier today to Cornell basically saying "NU wants a decision on this scholarship by April 12, it'd be great if you could make an offer by then!" They seemed totally accepting of the request and understanding of the deadlines at other schools.

you're sassy, i like it. okay, will do. thanks.

I'll be emailing them this week re NU's offer to give them time as well. Friend from last year said she was held down to the wire with an offer but Berkeley ended up giving her the matching the night before the other offer expired after she called & emailed

[matrim]

....

[20130804]

Pretty positive I received a matching scholarship offer. Not sure when because I didn't find out through email. Instead, I logged into myfinaid.berkeley.edu and found the info there. You might able to see your other financial aid info as well.

You're welcome . Pm for more details.

Is this confirmed? I logged in and saw an amount, but it's different from the scholarship amount that Berkeley offered. Mine is labeled grant, so it's possible the amount may be a need-based grant. Perhaps they haven't entered the scholarship info yet? Mine definitely isn't showing on there.

[WalkingPlato]

I see the gift aid on my fin aid package, but no loan information other than one that does not come near to covering the net cost. I hope this doesn't mean I have to come up with the rest, since that's impossible.

[risa]

Whoa. Just logged into myfinaid.berkeley.edu and found money too. Mine shows ~$20K Gift Aid ("Grant - Law"), which says "Confirmed" to the right, then lists the $20,500 Stafford and a GradPlus below to reach the total COA. It's weird that this was basically hiding - I never got an email or anything from Boalt telling me to check this page or that my award was ready. It doesn't state whether it is need or merit-based, but I've gotten $0 need based from every other school so I don't imagine Berkeley would give me any. Also wonder if this is renewable for 3 years?

[djwjddl]

Apologies for the vague, quick post. Here are a few clarification points regarding my post earlier:

1. If you log into myfinaid and do not see tabs to the left, such as "net cost," "award details," or can't find any financial aid info elsewhere, it could very well be that your financial aid package has yet to be determined. I'd just sit tight.

2. As Naboma and Risa rightfully point out, the amount offer that I have appearing on myfinaid is indeed categorized as "Grant Law." However, I said that i am pretty sure i received a matching offer (and continue to remain confident that I have) for two reasons: a. "Grant Law" is defined as being comprised of both grants" (need-based) and "scholarships" (merit-based). b. given my financial status, I should not be eligible for any need-based grant aid (perhaps an extremely small amount). Obviously, I can't be completely sure whether I ended up receiving some need-based grant aid, but I am certain that need-based grants alone could in no way account for the total amount of award money I have thus far received.

3. Regardless of how much of your "Grant Law" aid is comprised of need-based grants vs scholarship aid, free money is free money .

I plan on reaching out to the financial aid office to see if they can clarify the exact breakdown of my "Grant Law" aid. Ill let you know what I find.

False alarm

[RSterling]

I'm seeing a net cost and award details tab, but it's just loans there. Boo.

[wert3813]

Tier 1'ers I withdrew late last night. Good luck.

[risa]

Whoa. Just logged into myfinaid.berkeley.edu and found money too. Mine shows ~$20K Gift Aid ("Grant - Law"), which says "Confirmed" to the right, then lists the $20,500 Stafford and a GradPlus below to reach the total COA. It's weird that this was basically hiding - I never got an email or anything from Boalt telling me to check this page or that my award was ready. It doesn't state whether it is need or merit-based, but I've gotten $0 need based from every other school so I don't imagine Berkeley would give me any. Also wonder if this is renewable for 3 years?

FWIW, my page lists "Estimated Graduation: May, 2014." I actually corrected that to 2016 last night and it reverted by this morning. I wonder if this means it's just a first year grant or something? Guess I should just call financial aid and ask. If anyone else gets some clarification on these awards first, please post!

[djwjddl]

Whoa. Just logged into myfinaid.berkeley.edu and found money too. Mine shows ~$20K Gift Aid ("Grant - Law"), which says "Confirmed" to the right, then lists the $20,500 Stafford and a GradPlus below to reach the total COA. It's weird that this was basically hiding - I never got an email or anything from Boalt telling me to check this page or that my award was ready. It doesn't state whether it is need or merit-based, but I've gotten $0 need based from every other school so I don't imagine Berkeley would give me any. Also wonder if this is renewable for 3 years?

FWIW, my page lists "Estimated Graduation: May, 2014." I actually corrected that to 2016 last night and it reverted by this morning. I wonder if this means it's just a first year grant or something? Guess I should just call financial aid and ask. If anyone else gets some clarification on these awards first, please post!

matching is for 3, grants need to be reapplied for yearly.