Since FR2 looks like it is winding down, IT IS THE TIME OF THE WAITLIST. Anxiety galore! To help us get through this time, I'm posting all information I found on Berkeley waitlists after I received mine. Bottom line: don't give up hope if you really love Berkeley!
It appears that in past years, Berkeley has had a CA resident and non-CA resident waitlist that are separately ranked. They have drawn from the CA resident waitlist first. It may be because these applicants are more likely to attend. I'm not entirely sure. In any case, worth it to be aware.
From Berk's waitlist e-mail, each candidate will be given a ranking on the waitlist in May. You can call or e-mail the admissions office to get your ranking then. Candidates are split into quartiles. It is important to note that Berkeley does not require a seat deposit. Berkeley also says that sending in additional materials will not affect your ranking on the waitlist as it is done at the time you go through FR.
What are my chances at getting off the waitlist?
Dean Tom TLS Interview wrote: TLS: What is the size of Boalt’s waitlist?
Dean Tom: “Usually the waitlist is anywhere from 200-300 applicants who are ranked by the admissions committee.”
TLS: Roughly how deep into the waitlist does Boalt go?
Dean Tom: “This year [not sure of year of this interview], not very deep. I think the deepest we’ve ever gone was a number of years back, we took about 40 people.”
TLS: Wow, not many.
Dean Tom: “No. This year it was 12. But, it varies from year to year, and this year, because I knew how good the people were on the waiting list, I intentionally admitted fewer people up front, thinking that I could go deeper into the waiting list. But, I wasn’t able to, because the yield rate was very high. A large percentage of accepted applicants decided to attend. ”
TLS: Good for Boalt.
Dean Tom: “Yeah, well, so much for my big idea.”
Should I send in LOCI/additional materials given the ranking system?
Personally, I think so. Expressing continued interest is never a bad thing as long as you are not obnoxious about it. With that said, however.
2011 Berkeley Waitlist Thread: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 7&t=147933Dean Tom TLS Interview wrote: TLS: If one ends up on the waitlist, is there anything that you can do to increase the likelihood of admission?
Dean Tom: “No. There’s nothing you can do to improve your chances. And we tell people that when we inform them that they are on the waiting list. The waiting list is ranked by the faculty at the time the decision is made to waitlist them, because we believe the information is fresh in their mind and they’re best able to assign a waitlist ranking at that time.”
TLS: So saying that you’re still interested doesn’t matter?
Dean Tom: “Well, that helps us, but it’s not going to improve your chances or position.”
2010 Berkeley Waitlist Thread: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 7&t=108903
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FACULTY REVIEW STUFF FOR POSTERITY
I'm a splitter so I'm surprised that I'm even getting a faculty review!
Would be honored to get an acceptance from Berkeley. But for those who've received faculty reviews today (and in the future), I'm starting this thread to cope with the wait between now and February 17.
This. I want to hug it like a koala.
Additional Information 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.
Other Stuff on Faculty Review
The View Inside Boalt
2010 Faculty Review Support Group
2011 Faculty Review Support Group
