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

[honeybadger12]

This post is kinda cool:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 22&t=94015

But the thing is, I'm wondering if Berkeley is going to read it and whether or not having family in the area is worth mentioning. Hmmmm.... decisions, decisions. What does my heart say? How about my stomach? I'll get back to you guys.

Cool link. Thanks for posting it. The author mentions cases in which you should not submit a "Why X" statement, including when a school is so legit that it goes without saying why you'd want to study law there. I kind of feel like Berkeley fits in that category.

Idk; Berkeley is tied with Penn in the USNR and it's definitely a good idea to write a Why Penn...

[06102016]

..

[outlookingin]

This post is kinda cool:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 22&t=94015

But the thing is, I'm wondering if Berkeley is going to read it and whether or not having family in the area is worth mentioning. Hmmmm.... decisions, decisions. What does my heart say? How about my stomach? I'll get back to you guys.

Cool link. Thanks for posting it. The author mentions cases in which you should not submit a "Why X" statement, including when a school is so legit that it goes without saying why you'd want to study law there. I kind of feel like Berkeley fits in that category.

Idk; Berkeley is tied with Penn in the USNR and it's definitely a good idea to write a Why Penn...

True. I guess it really can't hurt, especially for a school making such a big deal of how holistic their review process is.
Watched a couple lectures from Berkeley law on the YouTubes today. I'd recommend it as a nice way for anyone writing a "Why Berkeley" addendum to gain some added inspiration.

Yeah I've watched some of those too!

Also, the videos where John Yoo gets dressed-down by some angry congressmen is pretty great. They call him "professor" but really they mean "evasive and slimy." They must have been Dems. I don't know about you guys, but if I go to Berkeley, I'm gonna be pretty interested in meeting Dr. Yoo... funny thought: what if someone wrote a "Why Berkeley" essay about how they really loved John Yoo... but there probably somebody who is actually doing that right now, and it's not funny to that guy. Just like Ayn Rand isn't funny.

OK, back to applications.

[honeybadger12]

This post is kinda cool:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 22&t=94015

But the thing is, I'm wondering if Berkeley is going to read it and whether or not having family in the area is worth mentioning. Hmmmm.... decisions, decisions. What does my heart say? How about my stomach? I'll get back to you guys.

Cool link. Thanks for posting it. The author mentions cases in which you should not submit a "Why X" statement, including when a school is so legit that it goes without saying why you'd want to study law there. I kind of feel like Berkeley fits in that category.

Idk; Berkeley is tied with Penn in the USNR and it's definitely a good idea to write a Why Penn...

True. I guess it really can't hurt, especially for a school making such a big deal of how holistic their review process is.
Watched a couple lectures from Berkeley law on the YouTubes today. I'd recommend it as a nice way for anyone writing a "Why Berkeley" addendum to gain some added inspiration.

Good idea

[bobr]

I am currently doing a Fellowship under the AmeriCorps banner and would like to apply for Boalt's fee waiver. On the one page application I accessed it requested a "Program Verification Documentation." Is a screenshot of my acceptance email sufficient or is something else needed? Thank you for your future help.

[june3buggy]

Checking In!! Good Luck everyone!!

[MayBJack426]

What are people answering for this question in the app: Do you grant permission to have your file reviewed by student members of the Admissions Committee?

Do you think it matters? I have a feeling that students will be more judgmental than regular adcoms, but it also might look poorly to answer "no."

[06102016]

..

[outlookingin]

What are people answering for this question in the app: Do you grant permission to have your file reviewed by student members of the Admissions Committee?

Do you think it matters? I have a feeling that students will be more judgmental than regular adcoms, but it also might look poorly to answer "no."

Yeah I think we had better answer yes. While I agree that our peers might be harder on us than others would be, this might be mitigated by the fact that these students on the committee are seeing tons of applications. Viewing a bunch of crappy apps may make them less critical of ours? Obviously we are not psychologists, haha

But as for what to check on this box, for sure we need to let them look at it. The only reason I would think that would be valid in NOT wanting them to look at our app is if we are revealing some highly personal business in the essays. If it's just a normal app, they will wonder why our peers couldn't help them look at it--they may assume we are thin-skinned and overly sensitive.

[Psib337]

What are people answering for this question in the app: Do you grant permission to have your file reviewed by student members of the Admissions Committee?

Do you think it matters? I have a feeling that students will be more judgmental than regular adcoms, but it also might look poorly to answer "no."

I'm saying yes but I think I feel the opposite way. Maybe I'm just really nice (and people have told me that I'm too nice sometimes) but I feel like having students review your application could help. Especially if you've done something really interesting or maybe you said something and a week before the students had been sitting around going, "We need more of ______ here." If it were me I'd only be judgmental of the applications that give off a, "I'm smart but have no idea so I decided to go to law school," or the, "I just want to me make money, this is (supposedly) easy money," types of applications.

[outlookingin]

What are people answering for this question in the app: Do you grant permission to have your file reviewed by student members of the Admissions Committee?

Do you think it matters? I have a feeling that students will be more judgmental than regular adcoms, but it also might look poorly to answer "no."

I'm saying yes but I think I feel the opposite way. Maybe I'm just really nice (and people have told me that I'm too nice sometimes) but I feel like having students review your application could help. Especially if you've done something really interesting or maybe you said something and a week before the students had been sitting around going, "We need more of ______ here." If it were me I'd only be judgmental of the applications that give off a, "I'm smart but have no idea so I decided to go to law school," or the, "I just want to me make money, this is (supposedly) easy money," types of applications.

Haha, glad to hear that we've got an optimist here. Yeah you're probably right. If the student body is anything like you, then most likely they're not going to poo poo our apps.

[MayBJack426]

What are people answering for this question in the app: Do you grant permission to have your file reviewed by student members of the Admissions Committee?

Do you think it matters? I have a feeling that students will be more judgmental than regular adcoms, but it also might look poorly to answer "no."

I'm saying yes but I think I feel the opposite way. Maybe I'm just really nice (and people have told me that I'm too nice sometimes) but I feel like having students review your application could help. Especially if you've done something really interesting or maybe you said something and a week before the students had been sitting around going, "We need more of ______ here." If it were me I'd only be judgmental of the applications that give off a, "I'm smart but have no idea so I decided to go to law school," or the, "I just want to me make money, this is (supposedly) easy money," types of applications.

Haha, glad to hear that we've got an optimist here. Yeah you're probably right. If the student body is anything like you, then most likely they're not going to poo poo our apps.

I think you both are right..we have to say yes. And good perspective on student reviews! We gotta stay positive

[KanyeShrug]

Checking in. Good luck to all.

[SaintsTheMetal]

tag

[iMisto]

I have been waiting for today! Mine has been sent.

I know I'm not the most competitive here, but they are seriously one of the few schools with some heart and compassion - or so it seems. It's my only West Coast option. Fingers Crossed

Good luck to everybody!

[yarsten]

Checking in. Quick question- I just found a couple posts on here about the importance of a longer PS at Berkeley. I just ignorantly sent the app with my standard PS- do you think it's worth it to write more and send it to them as my new PS (can I even do that?)?

[04102014]

.

[TheThriller]

Opinions on if a Why Berkeley essay in the addenda and supplemental materials section is appropriate? Not sure but don't want to be the only one not including one.

[SaintsTheMetal]

Opinions on if a Why Berkeley essay in the addenda and supplemental materials section is appropriate? Not sure but don't want to be the only one not including one.

They don't ask for it so I wouldn't include it. I didn't.

[TheThriller]

Opinions on if a Why Berkeley essay in the addenda and supplemental materials section is appropriate? Not sure but don't want to be the only one not including one.

They don't ask for it so I wouldn't include it. I didn't.

Thanks STM

[honeybadger12]

Opinions on if a Why Berkeley essay in the addenda and supplemental materials section is appropriate? Not sure but don't want to be the only one not including one.

They don't ask for it so I wouldn't include it. I didn't.

Thanks STM

I recently talked to the dean of admissions and he specifically said a Why Berkeley is unnecessary

[honeybadger12]

Checking in. Quick question- I just found a couple posts on here about the importance of a longer PS at Berkeley. I just ignorantly sent the app with my standard PS- do you think it's worth it to write more and send it to them as my new PS (can I even do that?)?

Idk if you can send a new one, but I'd say it's definitely better to write more than two pages for Berkeley...

[WhiteyCakes]

Only bad thing about Berkeley is that the law buildings are right on frat row

[geary86]

Checking in
Love BAY AREA & CAL!!

[mushybrain]

Only bad thing about Berkeley is that the law buildings are right on frat row

What difference would that make? I walk past frat guys on my way from the parking garage to the building but otherwise it doesn't affect my life at all whatsoever.