Berkeley Faculty Review Support Group 2010 Forum

[MahaloMontana]

Are you supposed to send a LOCI if you've been sent to FR? I was sent today. I thought the dean said more letters won't affect your position?

he was referring to the waitlist in that interview, not the faculty review. He said that in FR the faculty place the waitlist in order, and once that is done there is nothing that changes that order. At least that's how I interpreted it.

[johndhi]

Are you supposed to send a LOCI if you've been sent to FR? I was sent today. I thought the dean said more letters won't affect your position?

he was referring to the waitlist in that interview, not the faculty review. He said that in FR the faculty place the waitlist in order, and once that is done there is nothing that changes that order. At least that's how I interpreted it.

So are there students on the FR? That was my impression, but apparently it's other faculty..?

[CrimsonCal]

Congrats to the new FR group - I'm living proof you have hope, stay positive!

Someone asked about sending in a LOCI or LOR a page or two back... just FYI I sent in another LOR but not a LOCI. I wrote a "Why Boalt" essay and didn't think I could improve on that.

Good luck everyone!!!

Congrats GYMBOREE on the acceptance... you must have some amazing softs.. I saw that you were also on hold at Harvard (I am too...)

Weird thing about UCLA though... do you think it's yield protection? I guess VOICE OF REASON encountered the same thing...

they were the first school I heard from way back when in November, it was my only solace until now

[CrimsonCal]

Was part of the first FR group - just got my first rejection by status checker.

180/3.97. Start panicking, everyone

damn, are you for real?

[johndhi]

Was part of the first FR group - just got my first rejection by status checker.

180/3.97. Start panicking, everyone

damn, are you for real?

No, of course he isn't.

[Fevsi]

Count me in. Complete since Feb 1, FR email today. Not that I was hoping for much else, given that Boalt is one of the least predictable schools in T14.

[pearl_earrings]

Rejected via e-mail this afternoon.
I'll admit that I'm disappointed. Why do cold weather schools seem to like me more than warm weather schools?? Still, I am so honored that Berkeley even considered me. I guess FR just got my hopes up a little!
Good luck to everyone in round 2!

[voice of reason]

....
Weird thing about UCLA though... do you think it's yield protection? I guess VOICE OF REASON encountered the same thing...

they were the first school I heard from way back when in November, it was my only solace until now

Nope, I'm not YP at UCLA. I'm below median GPA and LSAT for both Boalt and UCLA. The only explanation for my Berkeley offer is strong softs.

[ranovr32]

Out at Berkeley...

[exdubliner]

For some stupid reason, I declined having student members review my app. Do you guys think that will be a negative?

According to Berkeley's website:

You may indicate on the application form whether or not you consent to have your file read by a student member of the Committee. In the evaluation of your application, no weight is given to whether or not you have consented to student review.

[gochrisgo]

.

[katalatriste]

rejecteddd ... but i still love you berkeley! maybe i WILL apply as a transfer

congrats to those who have gotten in/are waitlisted!

[ppa840]

Accepted, got the email this afternoon. I am really shocked- first t14 school to accept me. I thought Berkeley delivered the news via phone call?

[gymboree]

Congrats to the new FR group - I'm living proof you have hope, stay positive!

Someone asked about sending in a LOCI or LOR a page or two back... just FYI I sent in another LOR but not a LOCI. I wrote a "Why Boalt" essay and didn't think I could improve on that.

Good luck everyone!!!

Congrats GYMBOREE on the acceptance... you must have some amazing softs.. I saw that you were also on hold at Harvard (I am too...)

Weird thing about UCLA though... do you think it's yield protection? I guess VOICE OF REASON encountered the same thing...

they were the first school I heard from way back when in November, it was my only solace until now

Thanks Crimson! Like Voice of Reason I think my softs played a primary role in my outcomes this cycle. Everyone thinks they have good softs, I know. But I've outperformed my numbers obviously, so I have to think my softs were key. LORs probably made adcomms feel comfortable taking a chance - they came from excellent sources who knew me well, had lots to say, and had big titles.

Soft admit, numbers admit - I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. I'll take any ol' admit!

[los blancos]

Yeah, I think you're pretty much screwed if you end up on FR and you have unexceptional softs. Anyone care to prove me wrong?

[zarathustra]

joining the group...and hoping the faculty likes me. Any ideas on what matters most at this stage of the game? Numbers or softs?

[galahad85]

Yeah, I think you're pretty much screwed if you end up on FR and you have unexceptional softs. Anyone care to prove me wrong?

Yeah, that might explain my rejection. I had decent numbers, but pretty much no softs to speak of.

[los blancos]

Yeah, I think you're pretty much screwed if you end up on FR and you have unexceptional softs. Anyone care to prove me wrong?

Yeah, that might explain my rejection. I had decent numbers, but pretty much no softs to speak of.

I think my softs could be amazing or non-existent, depending on the person's perspective.

[los blancos]

joining the group...and hoping the faculty likes me. Any ideas on what matters most at this stage of the game? Numbers or softs?

[speculation]

FR is good or bad depending on the strengths of your application. If you were relying on numbers to get in, the 11% overall acceptance rate is deceiving because you can typically toss out almost half of the applicant pool even at a holistic place like Berkeley. So in reality if you had 172/3.85 your chances were a lot better than 11% (given you didn't apply late)

The way I look at it now is that FR has an approximately 13% acceptance rate. This is pure speculation, but I bet the students and faculty members care even less about numbers than the adcomms do. Meaning unless you've got really good softs, you're probably screwed.

Again, all speculation. And I'm not an intelligent person to begin with so it's dumb speculation.

[hellogoodbye1]

In via phone call in morning and email right after... Sooooooo grateful for Berkeley's hollistic review. Below 25th LSAT and about median gpa. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh going for sure and sooo freaking excited!!!!!! Boalts my dream school!!!!!

[los blancos]

In via phone call in morning and email right after... Sooooooo grateful for Berkeley's hollistic review. Below 25th LSAT and about median gpa. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh going for sure and sooo freaking excited!!!!!! Boalts my dream school!!!!!

Congrats. I can't properly express my jealousy. Also my dream school.

[hellokitty]

.

[ivorynightfall]

Also referred for faculty review today...have half a mind to just withdraw. As much as I love the Bay Area, I really want to go East for law school.

3.86 (T4), 173

[yeff]

Applied late Jan., UR 2/3, joined FR today. 3.65~3.71, 174~178.

Good to have the March 12 date to look forward to at least...

[opus127]

Rejected. The e-mail was sent 7 pm CST, but I only just now had a chance to check it. Good luck to the rest of you.