Berkeley 2010 Forum

[tintin]

do they do acceptances by phone? email? some combination? anyone know?

[Kronk]

Phone if you're sexy.

[Kronk]

If you're not, then by phone.

[MeasuredOptimism]

went complete 10/14, just got the "under review" email.

According to LSP, I'm an admit, so hoping to hear back soonish.

[Kronk]

went complete 10/14, just got the "under review" email.

According to LSP, I'm an admit, so hoping to hear back soonish.

No one is an admit at Berkeley.





Kidding--sort of.

[MeasuredOptimism]

went complete 10/14, just got the "under review" email.

According to LSP, I'm an admit, so hoping to hear back soonish.

No one is an admit at Berkeley.





Kidding--sort of.

Point taken. They can be more of a wild card. *Hoping* for a phone call.

[ozarkhack]

Fresh off the news that I bombed the LSAT and lost any shred of hope in getting in, I polished off another beer and submitted anyway at 1 a.m. 10/17. (I mean, really, I got no chance. Not even waitlist hopes.)

Sigh. App received 10/20. E-mail today (10/22) saying it's under review.

What's the speed record for out-and-out rejection? Think I'll get the "Thanks for the app fee, sucker!" e-mail by Monday?

[worldtraveler]

If you have low #s, NOT hearing anything for a while could be a good thing, since you might be getting sent to faculty review.

[Legacy316]

I chose not to change my PS for Berkeley because I felt like I had said what I wanted to succinctly in 2pgs, and adding to make it four would just make it wordy. But I did tailor a few sentences to Boalt (as well as the overall theme of my PS, which is very Boalt-like and likely to get me waitlisted at schools that aren't Boalt-like, such as Columbia).

Could you elaborate on what is "Boalt" like?

[GeePee]

Thought about Boalt for a while, but decided to steer clear of the black box of tuition hikes (which seem like they're going to be even more baffling than Berkeley admissions). Love the look/feel of the school though. Good luck to all that apply!

[Kronk]

I chose not to change my PS for Berkeley because I felt like I had said what I wanted to succinctly in 2pgs, and adding to make it four would just make it wordy. But I did tailor a few sentences to Boalt (as well as the overall theme of my PS, which is very Boalt-like and likely to get me waitlisted at schools that aren't Boalt-like, such as Columbia).

Could you elaborate on what is "Boalt" like?

Chiefly, that they have a huge emphasis on social policy and public interest. They want to create socially-savvy leaders first and foremost, then lawyers. Columbia is biglaw central.

[Legacy316]

I chose not to change my PS for Berkeley because I felt like I had said what I wanted to succinctly in 2pgs, and adding to make it four would just make it wordy. But I did tailor a few sentences to Boalt (as well as the overall theme of my PS, which is very Boalt-like and likely to get me waitlisted at schools that aren't Boalt-like, such as Columbia).

Could you elaborate on what is "Boalt" like?

Chiefly, that they have a huge emphasis on social policy and public interest. They want to create socially-savvy leaders first and foremost, then lawyers. Columbia is biglaw central.

Awesome, I guess my PS is Berkeley-like too!

[worldtraveler]

I chose not to change my PS for Berkeley because I felt like I had said what I wanted to succinctly in 2pgs, and adding to make it four would just make it wordy. But I did tailor a few sentences to Boalt (as well as the overall theme of my PS, which is very Boalt-like and likely to get me waitlisted at schools that aren't Boalt-like, such as Columbia).

Could you elaborate on what is "Boalt" like?

Chiefly, that they have a huge emphasis on social policy and public interest. They want to create socially-savvy leaders first and foremost, then lawyers. Columbia is biglaw central.

Awesome, I guess my PS is Berkeley-like too!

Guys, don't tailor your apps based on school stereotypes. They want to know about YOU. Schools don't have a specific mission to admit public interest or big law types. These are stereotypes of schools, and even if there is some truth to the student bodies being different, that doesn't mean they actually take that into consideration in admissions.
Be genuine, and be honest, and stop worrying about stuff like "Columbia is for big law."

[crackberry]

I chose not to change my PS for Berkeley because I felt like I had said what I wanted to succinctly in 2pgs, and adding to make it four would just make it wordy. But I did tailor a few sentences to Boalt (as well as the overall theme of my PS, which is very Boalt-like and likely to get me waitlisted at schools that aren't Boalt-like, such as Columbia).

Could you elaborate on what is "Boalt" like?

Chiefly, that they have a huge emphasis on social policy and public interest. They want to create socially-savvy leaders first and foremost, then lawyers. Columbia is biglaw central.

Correction: HLS is BigLaw Central, Sr. Columbia is BigLaw Central, Jr.

[Veritas]

K I sent mine in tonight! Hoping for the best, but remaining realistic. Ended up tailoring the purpose of my PS directly into some programs at Boalt.

[Kronk]

Correction: HLS is BigLaw Central, Sr. Columbia is BigLaw Central, Jr.

Yeah except HLS is too good to be BigLaw Central, so many of their graduates clerk. Columbia seems more concerned with dolla dolla bills. They place like 75% of their class into NLJ250 firms.

[tintin]

K I sent mine in tonight! Hoping for the best, but remaining realistic. Ended up tailoring the purpose of my PS directly into some programs at Boalt.

good luck veritas!! hopefully we'll both end up at berkeley....

[onwisconsin25]

Hopefully you guys will see me too! My mom went there for undergrad and i LOVEE it. I want Top Dog and I want it every day.

Does anyone know the time frame between going under review and getting the "decision reached" status?

[freeflowfox]

This Berkeley tuition hike business, are there any reliable sources confirming this? What are the specifics? What's the time frame for it? What are the numbers?

[Kronk]

This Berkeley tuition hike business, are there any reliable sources confirming this? What are the specifics? What's the time frame for it? What are the numbers?

It already happened. Two years ago in-state tuition was ~$25k. Now it is $35-ish. It is expected to go up to ~$40k, to make it roughly equivalent to out-of-state tuition.

[triplecats]

This Berkeley tuition hike business, are there any reliable sources confirming this? What are the specifics? What's the time frame for it? What are the numbers?

Extremely reliable sources; namely, Berkeley's own website somewhere. I'm at work and someone else will have to find the exact numbers, but I seem to remember that first year fees for out of state next year will be 45k, with a total CoA of $70,000/yr. In-state is around 40k.

By 2012, in-state tuition is supposed to hit around 45k/year. According to my spreadsheet (at home, this is from memory) total costs of attending this upcoming year will be around 198k for all 3 years (70k first year, plus the in-state rates for years 2-3). As you can imagine, I am a little worried about this. Berkeley's tuition rates will be at or slightly higher than its peers', but with California cost-of-living.

[tintin]

This Berkeley tuition hike business, are there any reliable sources confirming this? What are the specifics? What's the time frame for it? What are the numbers?

Extremely reliable sources; namely, Berkeley's own website somewhere. I'm at work and someone else will have to find the exact numbers, but I seem to remember that first year fees for out of state next year will be 45k, with a total CoA of $70,000/yr. In-state is around 40k.

By 2012, in-state tuition is supposed to hit around 45k/year. According to my spreadsheet (at home, this is from memory) total costs of attending this upcoming year will be around 198k for all 3 years (70k first year, plus the in-state rates for years 2-3). As you can imagine, I am a little worried about this. Berkeley's tuition rates will be at or slightly higher than its peers', but with California cost-of-living.

ugh, that SUCKS! I know the UCs are fucked right now (just graduated from one..) but really, part of their appeal is the lower tuition of course. Not that I think that would dissuade me from going to Berkeley or anything.

[Veritas]

already complete after sending it in last night they work fast

[violaboy]

already complete after sending it in last night they work fast

They were really quick with me as well.

[triplecats]

ugh, that SUCKS! I know the UCs are fucked right now (just graduated from one..) but really, part of their appeal is the lower tuition of course. Not that I think that would dissuade me from going to Berkeley or anything.

Berkeley isn't really known for being generous with merit aid, are they? Is their matching program their only source of merit aid, or do they occasionally throw a bone to people on their own initiative? I'm curious...