Berkeley 2010 Forum

[gymboree]

That's it, I need another thread to visit. I'm applying to Stanford.

[EijiMiyake]

In at Berkeley! just got the call from Dean Tom--ASW is on April 9th!

(stats are 177 lsat, 3.8 GPA)

Congrats! When did you go under review?

Thanks!

[pissantvache]

Congratulations if you're legitimate!

If you're not, we have ways to deal with you.

Haha, definitely legitimate (I swear! Even though I don't post much, I'm not a flame!). Good luck to everyone else as well!

Submitted 11/20, Received 11/23, UR 11/30, Admitted 12/1

[EijiMiyake]

Congratulations if you're legitimate!

If you're not, we have ways to deal with you.

Haha, definitely legitimate (I swear! Even though I don't post much, I'm not a flame!). Good luck to everyone else as well!

Submitted 11/20, Received 11/23, UR 11/30, Admitted 12/1

Wow, that was quick!

[CardinalRules]

Congratulations if you're legitimate!

If you're not, we have ways to deal with you.

Haha, definitely legitimate (I swear! Even though I don't post much, I'm not a flame!). Good luck to everyone else as well!

Submitted 11/20, Received 11/23, UR 11/30, Admitted 12/1

Wow, that happened at supersonic speed. You're very lucky.

[amidea]

Congratulations if you're legitimate!

If you're not, we have ways to deal with you.

Haha, definitely legitimate (I swear! Even though I don't post much, I'm not a flame!). Good luck to everyone else as well!

Submitted 11/20, Received 11/23, UR 11/30, Admitted 12/1

Wow, that happened at supersonic speed. You're very lucky.

Seriously? ONE day after going under review? That's just not fair...

[thorntll]

Submitted 11/20, Received 11/23, UR 11/30, Admitted 12/1

I die.

[EijiMiyake]

Submitted 11/20, Received 11/23, UR 11/30, Admitted 12/1

I die.

Yes, that's definitely a kick in the nuts.

[gymboree]

Congratulations if you're legitimate!

If you're not, we have ways to deal with you.

Haha, definitely legitimate (I swear! Even though I don't post much, I'm not a flame!). Good luck to everyone else as well!

Submitted 11/20, Received 11/23, UR 11/30, Admitted 12/1

Would you categorize your softs as:
1) "On the Border of Super Human Spectacular", 2) "Amazing", 3) "Merely Impressive", 4) "Above Average", 5) "Average", 6) "Good Enough", 7) "Meh" (1 being best, 7 being worst)?

I categorize me as "Super Curious".

[pissantvache]

Would you categorize your softs as:
1) "On the Border of Super Human Spectacular", 2) "Amazing", 3) "Merely Impressive", 4) "Above Average", 5) "Average", 6) "Good Enough", 7) "Meh" (1 being best, 7 being worst)?

I categorize me as "Super Curious".

So I had some good work experience at a v5 consultancy, a tough major, minor sport (div 3 school, but competed against div 1 schools as well), and was published in a textbook. I think my recs were pretty good, but I never actually saw them.

I also spent an inordinate amount of time on my PS and DS, which probably helped at Berkeley, at least.

Edit: just realized I didn't answer your question. Based on the above, I'd say 3 or 4, but TLS consensus generally seems to downgrade softs a lot, so it's tough to say.

[CardinalRules]

Would you categorize your softs as:
1) "On the Border of Super Human Spectacular", 2) "Amazing", 3) "Merely Impressive", 4) "Above Average", 5) "Average", 6) "Good Enough", 7) "Meh" (1 being best, 7 being worst)?

I categorize me as "Super Curious".

So I had some good work experience at a v5 consultancy, a tough major, minor sport (div 3 school, but competed against div 1 schools as well), and was published in a textbook. I think my recs were pretty good, but never actually saw them.

I also spent an inordinate amount of time on my PS and DS, which probably helped at Berkeley, at least.

I think that part was the clincher, although the textbook surely helped a lot. Great job!

Although I'm starting to feel progressively more gloomy about my own chances...

[EijiMiyake]

When did you go under review managamy?

[CardinalRules]

When did you go under review managamy?

11/9. No updates since then. Probably my decision to send the generic 2-page PS rather than a 4-page essay was my mistake.

[Legacy316]

When did you go under review managamy?

11/9. No updates since then. Probably my decision to send the generic 2-page PS rather than a 4-page essay was my mistake.

I am really, really starting to regret not sending in a four page PS.

[EijiMiyake]

When did you go under review managamy?

11/9. No updates since then. Probably my decision to send the generic 2-page PS rather than a 4-page essay was my mistake.

I am really, really starting to regret not sending in a four page PS.

Gah. It actually didn't seem to matter too much last cycle.

[Amelie]

Probably my decision to send the generic 2-page PS rather than a 4-page essay was my mistake.

Same for me. But I still think my 2 page PS is better than a 4 page, personalized one would be. Ughhhhh... guess we'll just have to wait it out and see what happens.

[galahad85]

When did you go under review managamy?

11/9. No updates since then. Probably my decision to send the generic 2-page PS rather than a 4-page essay was my mistake.

I am really, really starting to regret not sending in a four page PS.

+1

[amidea]

For what it's worth, my PS was originally about 4 pages and my pre law advisor (who seems like a perfectly knowledgeable lady but who knows) said I should try to cut it down because even though Berkeley allows for 4 pages, it doesn't mean they want you to write more just for the sake of it.

[JollyGreenGiant]

My PS was four pages. And I'm above their 75th. I've been UR for about two weeks. Nothing yet.

[crackberry]

For what it's worth, my PS was originally about 4 pages and my pre law advisor (who seems like a perfectly knowledgeable lady but who knows) said I should try to cut it down because even though Berkeley allows for 4 pages, it doesn't mean they want you to write more just for the sake of it.

This is exactly the opposite of what Dean Tom says in the Berkeley interview on this site.

EDIT: http://www.top-law-schools.com/tom-interview.html

Dean Tom: “The personal statement is the first thing I look at when I open a folder, even before viewing the GPA or LSAT score. I think applicants should be aware that our personal statement option is twice as long as most other law schools, it’s 4 pages, and students should take advantage of that. There’s no particular assignment for our personal statement; it’s very open-ended. The personal statements is the applicant’s opportunity to distinguish himself from hundreds of other applicants who have the same numbers, and the same major, and come from a similar school. The personal statement is an applicant’s opportunity to describe the distance they’ve come in their lives.

[pissantvache]

For what it's worth, my PS was originally about 4 pages and my pre law advisor (who seems like a perfectly knowledgeable lady but who knows) said I should try to cut it down because even though Berkeley allows for 4 pages, it doesn't mean they want you to write more just for the sake of it.

Yeah, mine was about 3 pages, and was generic except for the final paragraph.

[JollyGreenGiant]

If you're applying to Berkeley, I see no reason why you SHOULDN'T have 4 pages.

They know they are one of the only T14s that allows such a long essay. If you submit 2 pages it shows less interest, IMO. It seems like you just copied your usual PS and sent it off to them.

[pissantvache]

Dean Tom: “The personal statement is the first thing I look at when I open a folder, even before viewing the GPA or LSAT score. I think applicants should be aware that our personal statement option is twice as long as most other law schools, it’s 4 pages, and students should take advantage of that. There’s no particular assignment for our personal statement; it’s very open-ended. The personal statements is the applicant’s opportunity to distinguish himself from hundreds of other applicants who have the same numbers, and the same major, and come from a similar school. The personal statement is an applicant’s opportunity to describe the distance they’ve come in their lives.

But i don't know that that necessarily means that the writing shouldn't be tight. I think that it simply means that students should take advantage of the length to provide an adequately thoughtful, fleshed-out, compelling PS, no? If you can do that in 2 pages, great (though it's doubtful), but nothing says that you have to write 4 pages just because that's the limit.

[calicocat]

Screw all you people who actually have a chance at Berkeley *cries*

Oh but congrats pissantvache!

[crackberry]

Dean Tom: “The personal statement is the first thing I look at when I open a folder, even before viewing the GPA or LSAT score. I think applicants should be aware that our personal statement option is twice as long as most other law schools, it’s 4 pages, and students should take advantage of that. There’s no particular assignment for our personal statement; it’s very open-ended. The personal statements is the applicant’s opportunity to distinguish himself from hundreds of other applicants who have the same numbers, and the same major, and come from a similar school. The personal statement is an applicant’s opportunity to describe the distance they’ve come in their lives.

But i don't know that that necessarily means that the writing shouldn't be tight. I think that it simply means that students should take advantage of the length to provide an adequately thoughtful, fleshed-out, compelling PS, no? If you can do that in 2 pages, great (though it's doubtful), but nothing says that you have to write 4 pages just because that's the limit.

Well sure, 2 well-written pages are better than 4 poorly-written or rambling pages. But Dean Tom explicitly states that applicants should take advantage of the longer length, which leads me to believe he wants to see more than 2 pages.

But hell, what do I know, I've been under review for 6 weeks now and you were admitted after one day.