UC Berkeley c/o 2017 Applicants (2013-2014) Forum

[sah]

FR today too. Submitted Mid-Nov.

>75% LSAT, >50% GPA.

Don't think this is a super great thing, guys, but better than WL/Reject.

[aldiddy]

FR is good for those of us who submitted way back because the alternative is WL/Ding. With FR, there is still a chance of being admitted

[04102014]

I am literally ecstatic.

Got fr too but am wondering why you think its a positive thing. Do we know what happened to fr applicants in previous cycles?

I can understand why this wouldn't be a good thing to some people--10% is also the number I've heard thrown around--but with a sub-25th LSAT and Berk as one of my top choices, I could not be happier that I made it this far.

[Kimikho]

I am literally ecstatic.

[Leo]

Don't think faculty review is a good thing. Only about 10% or less of those get accepted. But this is based on something I real awhile back, and I could be wrong

Definitely not a good thing. See previous threads:

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 7&t=106307
http://www.top-law-schools.com/archives ... =7&t=55691

Also, based on past cycles, it looks like we'll be waiting right up until the date mentioned in the email. Yay, more waiting!

[rigoding]

http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 7&t=176984

According to this, 200-250 people are admitted out of around 1500. That's like 13%.

From the quote, it seems like FR is the midway limbo b/w accept and WL.

[angels2fly]

I am literally ecstatic.

Got fr too but am wondering why you think its a positive thing. Do we know what happened to fr applicants in previous cycles?

I can understand why this wouldn't be a good thing to some people--10% is also the number I've heard thrown around--but with a sub-25th LSAT and Berk as one of my top choices, I could not be happier that I made it this far.

gotcha. this is definitely the right way to take it. good luck!

[omzster67]

Well, this is sending me on an emotional roller coaster.

[logical seasoning]

I too am under faculty review, but I never got an email from admissions telling me when to expect a decision date...

Also, more info on faculty review:

What is Faculty Review and what are my chances? - From Dean Tom's TLS interview (I think these numbers may be a few years old but not sure if they change much from year to year):

Dean Tom also offers some insight into the admissions process itself. “All the files are read, previewed initially by me or by one of my staff. I have four other people who help me with the application process initially. However, I read the bulk of them. I read about two-thirds of the applicant pool, while the other four read the other one-third. It’s structured this way because I know what I’m looking for. And, if my staff finds an applicant whom they want to admit, they have to bring the file to me for a final review. Concurrent to this review process we also identify about 1400 to 1600 other applications that are very competitive, and these we send to our faculty admissions committee, comprised of six faculty and twelve students. Students serve in an advising capacity on the committee. I admit roughly 550 people through what I call the administrative review process, and the admissions committee (the faculty committee) admits about another 200 or so. So, we end up admitting about 700 to 750 people. The admissions committee also structures a waiting list, and then everyone else is denied, either administratively or by the Committee.

[MnM22]

From what I understood, FR was a not bad/good thing. I thought Dean Tom does an initial "administrative" review. He admits based off of that while his admissions faculty also does some administrative reviews. They admit certain people. Then slot others for rejection. Then have a group they are unsure about and have the Faculty committee (with students) review those and admit people. So, I would assume they are doing a huge ding wave soon (I was rejected last year on 1/30) but we will be spared, right?

[gimmedanger]

FR review today as well.

Is a LOCI recommended at this stage?

[Pishee77]

FR review today as well.

Is a LOCI recommended at this stage?

Good question. Also, I didn't get an email but was updated for faculty review. Weird.

[waferthinmint]

Yes, I'm gathering that it's largely for splitters -- people with lower GPAs than their LSAT equivalent, who would need a more holistic review by faculty and students.

[angels2fly]

Yes, I'm gathering that it's largely for splitters -- people with lower GPAs than their LSAT equivalent, who would need a more holistic review by faculty and students.

Reverse splitters too then

[omzster67]

FR review today as well.

Is a LOCI recommended at this stage?

Wondering the same

[omzster67]

Yes, I'm gathering that it's largely for splitters -- people with lower GPAs than their LSAT equivalent, who would need a more holistic review by faculty and students.

Reverse splitters too then

Yep, reverse splitter here too. Too bad Berkeley stopped being a safe haven for us as of last cycle

[scoobysnax]

FR review today as well.

Is a LOCI recommended at this stage?

Good question. Also, I didn't get an email but was updated for faculty review. Weird.

I got my email after my status checker updated. You should be getting one soon!

[pcthenls]

got the email. Oh. My. God. This is torture.

So we can assume we are not auto rejects/dings? I was rejected previously on 2/5/11, so around that same time-frame as the person who said 1/30/13.

[04102014]

Interesting post from last year's thread from a Boalt alum supposedly "involved in the process."

I feel sorry for you guys who are freaking out about what faculty review could mean so I'll fill you in as a Boalt alum formerly involved with the process. The admissions people (mostly Dean Tom) initially put you in a yes, no, or maybe pile. Maybe is the FRs. The FRs go to a committee made up of a faculty member and a student (remember on your application you gave permission for a student to look at it?). This committee then chooses a pre-designated number of people for acceptance, waitlist, or rejection (and sometimes hold for people from FR1 who get passed onto FR2.) These student/faculty decisions have very little to do with your GPA/LSAT and everything to do with your overall strength as a candidate in terms of personal statement, rec letters, life experiences, your fit with Boalt, and what you would add to the law school. Basically, once you've made it to FR, your numbers don't really matter. So, you guys who were accepted from FR and are posting your numbers are not actually providing any relevant information. Hope this is helpful and that people relax a little bit and stop giving each other worthless advice.

[omzster67]

Interesting post from last year's thread from a Boalt alum supposedly "involved in the process."

I feel sorry for you guys who are freaking out about what faculty review could mean so I'll fill you in as a Boalt alum formerly involved with the process. The admissions people (mostly Dean Tom) initially put you in a yes, no, or maybe pile. Maybe is the FRs. The FRs go to a committee made up of a faculty member and a student (remember on your application you gave permission for a student to look at it?). This committee then chooses a pre-designated number of people for acceptance, waitlist, or rejection (and sometimes hold for people from FR1 who get passed onto FR2.) These student/faculty decisions have very little to do with your GPA/LSAT and everything to do with your overall strength as a candidate in terms of personal statement, rec letters, life experiences, your fit with Boalt, and what you would add to the law school. Basically, once you've made it to FR, your numbers don't really matter. So, you guys who were accepted from FR and are posting your numbers are not actually providing any relevant information. Hope this is helpful and that people relax a little bit and stop giving each other worthless advice.

Soooooo you're saying there's a chance!


Actually that helps a lot...thanks for your insight!

[MnM22]

Interesting post from last year's thread from a Boalt alum supposedly "involved in the process."

I feel sorry for you guys who are freaking out about what faculty review could mean so I'll fill you in as a Boalt alum formerly involved with the process. The admissions people (mostly Dean Tom) initially put you in a yes, no, or maybe pile. Maybe is the FRs. The FRs go to a committee made up of a faculty member and a student (remember on your application you gave permission for a student to look at it?). This committee then chooses a pre-designated number of people for acceptance, waitlist, or rejection (and sometimes hold for people from FR1 who get passed onto FR2.) These student/faculty decisions have very little to do with your GPA/LSAT and everything to do with your overall strength as a candidate in terms of personal statement, rec letters, life experiences, your fit with Boalt, and what you would add to the law school. Basically, once you've made it to FR, your numbers don't really matter. So, you guys who were accepted from FR and are posting your numbers are not actually providing any relevant information. Hope this is helpful and that people relax a little bit and stop giving each other worthless advice.

THANK YOU, OHP! That is so confidence boosting. I am also not a splitter (or reverse) so I don't agree with the splitter theory.

[zen]

FR today as a splitter as well. When I first saw the email, I thought it would be a waitlist or deny email and thought that I could finally stop holding out for an acceptance, but nope. Psych.

[Serett]

Read through last year's topic around this time. The coming Wednesdays don't look pretty for those of us still UR as opposed to FR

[hwannabe1234]

174 and 3.9 + from ivy and good PS IMO


FR

don't understand why I got FR..

[Jamesta25]

Does anyone have any idea what it means to have not gone into FR? Been in UR since November. Do early applicants ever enter into the FR2 and skip FR1? Any real insight based on past years would be much appreciated rather than speculation.