Berkeley Law School c/o 2018 Applicants (2014-2015 cycle) Forum

[arose928]

Holy crap I'm in (off of FR1). Got the email about 9:30am PST. Was such a reach and a dream. I'm already in Berk and my SO was starting to freak out about having to move somewhere else for law school so this is amazing. GPA around 25% and LSAT around 50%. Who knew. To all the super dismissive people who said I would never get in with those numbers...

[1mill]

When did you all hear about FR today? Just now or much earlier today?

Mine was a half hour ago

Same. 3:03 ET. I saw it a few minutes before that on status checker when I saw this thread blowing up.

Thank you for response. I will keep refreshing but won't hold my breathe.

When did you all hear about FR today? Just now or much earlier today?

Mine was a half hour ago

Same. Do we have any non FR1 admits/denials today?

I thought i saw two people who posted that they did. leslieknope and someone else.

[ticklemesilly]

When did you all hear about FR today? Just now or much earlier today?

Mine was a half hour ago

Same. 3:03 ET. I saw it a few minutes before that on status checker when I saw this thread blowing up.

Don't know if anyone has done the math yet (probably considering it's TLS) but the FR pool has slightly better chances than the total applicant pool UNTIL you consider that the FR pool is probably much better qualified overall than the total applicant pool.

But here are the numbers from a 2009 interview with the Dean (all numbers approximate):

Total applicants: 7100 (split between Dean and FR)
Dean review: 5600 --> Admits from Dean's Review: 550 (9.8% acceptance)
FR: 1500 --> Admits from FR: 200 (13.3% acceptance from a probably overall more competitive group of people)

[Ris19]

Congratulations to everyone that got in today! Still sitting at UR 11/24, LSAT 50 between and 75, GPA >75

[miamiri]

my status still says UR - since 1-12. Maybe all those accepted/rejected today are either FR1 or UR from prior to Jan1?

are you registered for February's lsat?

No

[hopeboaltberkeley]

When did you all hear about FR today? Just now or much earlier today?

Mine was a half hour ago

Same. 3:03 ET. I saw it a few minutes before that on status checker when I saw this thread blowing up.

Don't know if anyone has done the math yet (probably considering it's TLS) but the FR pool has slightly better chances than the total applicant pool UNTIL you consider that the FR pool is probably much better qualified overall than the total applicant pool.

But here are the numbers from a 2009 interview with the Dean (all numbers approximate):

Total applicants: 7100 (split between Dean and FR)
Dean review: 5600 --> Admits from Dean's Review: 550 (9.8% acceptance)
FR: 1500 --> Admits from FR: 200 (13.3% acceptance from a probably overall more competitive group of people)

I actually did do this math hahhaha

[kraith]

In!! Got the faculty review email on 1/13/15. LSAT & GPA >75th.

[Iwanttolawschool]

I am upset by the FR2 deadline.. as Feb LSAT results are scheduled to be released the next week. Wait for me!!!

[Dipper]

300 people on WL in total. Only 270 seats for admission. I'd say that if you're not in the top 50 on the WL, then it's pretty much a rejection. I'm not expecting anything here

More like top 20 of the WL. Last year TLS reported 2 getting in off the WL. If you're not in the first quartile, it's a soft reject.

[ZamboniTheGreat]

In via FR. My gpa was 25th and LSAT was way low. Personal statement must have done it for me. Congrats to everyone. Good luck to those waiting.

[miamiri]

In via FR. My gpa was 25th and LSAT was way low. Personal statement must have done it for me. Congrats to everyone. Good luck to those waiting.

Congrats! I am feeling a bit hopeful...

[literarylawyer]

What is FR?

I know I'm totally out of the loop.

I got an email from Berkeley saying that I had passed an administrative review of my file and would hear a final decision on February 27.

Anyone know what that means? Should I be taking it as a compliment, or is that a disguised wait list letter?

Thanks.

[whatshisname]

CONGRATS TO EVERYONE THAT's IN.

Just got my faculty review notification. Before, I woulda been so happy by just dodging that ding, but I almost feel like there's no hope anymore looking at the ratio of FR admitted students.

[whatshisname]

What is FR?

I know I'm totally out of the loop.

I got an email from Berkeley saying that I had passed an administrative review of my file and would hear a final decision on February 27.

Anyone know what that means? Should I be taking it as a compliment, or is that a disguised wait list letter?

Thanks.

Basically, it means that the Dean or his staff looked at your application, and didn't reach a conclusive decision. Thus, he deferred your application to the faculty in order for them to decide whether to admit you or not. It means you were good enough to not be rejected/waitlisted right away, but not great enough where you were admitted without hesitation. It's definitely better than being wait-listed because you have a chance of being admitted by the final decision. I'm in the same boat as you.

[nefedova]

I have been under review since 1/5... Im beginning to lose hope

[wonka]

I have been under review since 1/5... Im beginning to lose hope

UR since 1/5? That's nothing! Don't lose hope. Just give it time

[hopeboaltberkeley]

300 people on WL in total. Only 270 seats for admission. I'd say that if you're not in the top 50 on the WL, then it's pretty much a rejection. I'm not expecting anything here

More like top 20 of the WL. Last year TLS reported 2 getting in off the WL. If you're not in the first quartile, it's a soft reject.

Last year was pretty brutal. Seems like only some first quartile folks made it according to posts on this site. However there have been years during which other quartiles have made it in. There are even some older TLS posts suggesting that people were pulled from quartiles out of numerical order. Like a lower quartile getting in before a higher quartile. Residence may b a factor? Pure speculation.

Point is the system is pretty opaque, but obviously the first quartile is where you want I be if you're wait listed.

[ithrowds]

300 people on WL in total. Only 270 seats for admission. I'd say that if you're not in the top 50 on the WL, then it's pretty much a rejection. I'm not expecting anything here

More like top 20 of the WL. Last year TLS reported 2 getting in off the WL. If you're not in the first quartile, it's a soft reject.

Last year was pretty brutal. Seems like only some first quartile folks made it according to posts on this site. However there have been years during which other quartiles have made it in. There are even some older TLS posts suggesting that people were pulled from quartiles out of numerical order. Like a lower quartile getting in before a higher quartile. Residence may b a factor? Pure speculation.

Point is the system is pretty opaque, but obviously the first quartile is where you want I be if you're wait listed.

After doing some research looks like last year was indeed a bad year for the WL. In other years it seems like they pulled all the way of the 3rd quartile. Seems as if the in state waitlist moves quicker than out of state waitlist also? Not sure if anyone else has insight that's just based off of my crappy research. Seems like prior to last year 1st quartile would've been a solid bet and 2nd would still have a bit of a chance.

[jhk31491]

does anyone know if FR 2 emails are sent out all in one day or is it a wave of emails?

[everything_bagel]

congrats to all the new admits! really sorry for the rejections, though, especially people with really solid numbers like jawsjawsjaws...dat Berk black box. I'm sure you'll all have really great options elsewhere though!

[Immanueldoesntpun]

Also got the "we'll make a decision by the 27th" email. First movement since UR 1/20

Now I am really freaking out. After a morning of hitting F5, so no movement after UR 1/20, not even FR. What does this mean?

this. I was hoping for FR2, or some answer, but nothing. I'm wondering if all the the FR2 emails came out today? Perhaps there is some hope for us!

[Bjack]

Been UR since 11/17. No movement since. Even after all of the decisions today my status is still the same. Not quite sure what to make of it. I'm going with the "no news is good news" stance for now.

[PipKing]

Been UR since 11/17. No movement since. Even after all of the decisions today my status is still the same. Not quite sure what to make of it. I'm going with the "no news is good news" stance for now.

+1 I'm in the same boat as you date wise bjack. It's interesting that according to lawschoolnumbers there were people UR before us and after us which both got rejected and accepted today. There has to be some sort of method to their madness but Maybe we're just deeper down in some massive pile.

[Tigerlily74]

In today via email! Completely in shock with my GPA!

LSAT>75
GPA<25

UR - early November
FR - 1/13

Congrats to all the recent admits and best of luck to those still waiting - don't lose hope!

[dasani13]

faculty review. checking in