Is Berkeley Law worth $200k in Debt? Forum

[urmlaw17]

Hello,

I am thinking about EDing to Berkeley Law. Berkeley Law offers a 60k scholarships to those who are accepted. According to LST, Total COA will be 200K.

I am from CA and would like to stay in CA. I want to do big law or a clerkship.

Is Berkeley Law worth 200k in debt?

[Rigo]

.

[Rigo]

No. I'd RD and negotiate for more than $60k.
People with median Berkeley numbers usually get near full rides at USC and more than half ride from UCLA.
Above median gets more T13 money elsewhere, which you could use to negotiate with Berkeley.

Numbers?

eta: 168/2.9 accurate? On second thought not sure you'll have better options/would get accepted at Berkeley. My knowledge of URM splitters is super limited though, so I'll defer to the wisdom of others.
My answer is still no, but I'm unsure if you'll have better more cost effective options for CA biglaw.

[urmlaw17]

No. I'd RD and negotiate for more than $60k.
People with median Berkeley numbers usually get near full rides at USC and more than half ride from UCLA.
Above median gets more T13 money elsewhere, which you could use to negotiate with Berkeley.

Numbers?

eta: 168/2.9 accurate? On second thought not sure you'll have better options/would get accepted at Berkeley. My knowledge of URM splitters is super limited though, so I'll defer to the wisdom of others.
My answer is still no, but I'm unsure if you'll have better more cost effective options for CA biglaw.

Yes, my numbers are accurate. I am at Berkeley's 75th Percentile but probably doesn't matter since they probably they a hit on LSAT to get higher GPAs. You don't think I would get accepted through RD or ED?

[Rigo]

Yes, my numbers are accurate. I am at Berkeley's 75th Percentile but probably doesn't matter since they probably they a hit on LSAT to get higher GPAs. You don't think I would get accepted through RD or ED?

The California schools are GPA whores so unfortunately splitters fare really poorly at Berk, UCLA, and USC (the only schools a biglaw person should even entertain going to).
If you weren't a URM, you're a straight reject. Not sure how URM plays into being a splitter though. Berkeley is really into reverse splitters (high GPA, low LSAT) but I don't know how they are with the opposite.

[urmlaw17]

Yes, my numbers are accurate. I am at Berkeley's 75th Percentile but probably doesn't matter since they probably they a hit on LSAT to get higher GPAs. You don't think I would get accepted through RD or ED?

The California schools are GPA whores so unfortunately splitters fare really poorly at Berk, UCLA, and USC (the only schools a biglaw person should even entertain going to).
If you weren't a URM, you're a straight reject. Not sure how URM plays into being a splitter though. Berkeley is really into reverse splitters (high GPA, low LSAT) but I don't know how they are with the reverse.

I also blanketing the T14 to see if I have any other options and all the major CA schools.

Hopefully I'll get offers from UC Irvine/ Davis.

I am retaking LSAT in December and hopefully score higher.

[urmlaw17]

Yes, my numbers are accurate. I am at Berkeley's 75th Percentile but probably doesn't matter since they probably they a hit on LSAT to get higher GPAs. You don't think I would get accepted through RD or ED?

The California schools are GPA whores so unfortunately splitters fare really poorly at Berk, UCLA, and USC (the only schools a biglaw person should even entertain going to).
If you weren't a URM, you're a straight reject. Not sure how URM plays into being a splitter though. Berkeley is really into reverse splitters (high GPA, low LSAT) but I don't know how they are with the opposite.

I am so glad you don't think I am a straight reject.

[Rigo]

I am so glad you don't think I am a straight reject.

You still might be. I just don't know. I weighed in before knowing your whole situation, just because I don't believe any school is worth $200k+ unless you're truly committed to PI and will be on a LRAP program.

What kind of URM, if I may ask?

[urmlaw17]

I am so glad you don't think I am a straight reject.

You still might be. I just don't know. I weighed in before knowing your whole situation, just because I don't believe any school is worth $200k+ unless you're truly committed to PI and will be on a LRAP program.

What kind of URM, if I may ask?

A Mexican American URM.

That's true. Even if I got in to Berkeley Law, I can't imagine being 200k in debt. It's kind of scary.

[wmbuff]

Yes, my numbers are accurate. I am at Berkeley's 75th Percentile but probably doesn't matter since they probably they a hit on LSAT to get higher GPAs. You don't think I would get accepted through RD or ED?

The California schools are GPA whores so unfortunately splitters fare really poorly at Berk, UCLA, and USC (the only schools a biglaw person should even entertain going to).
If you weren't a URM, you're a straight reject. Not sure how URM plays into being a splitter though. Berkeley is really into reverse splitters (high GPA, low LSAT) but I don't know how they are with the reverse.

I also blanketing the T14 to see if I have any other options and all the major CA schools.

Hopefully I'll get offers from UC Irvine/ Davis.

I am retaking LSAT in December and hopefully score higher.

With those targets and numbers, I'd hit up Vanderbilt and WUSTL as well -- their employment stats are pretty similar to Berkeley and UCLA, respectively, though you'd have to hustle more to get a CA job.

[urmlaw17]

Yes, my numbers are accurate. I am at Berkeley's 75th Percentile but probably doesn't matter since they probably they a hit on LSAT to get higher GPAs. You don't think I would get accepted through RD or ED?

The California schools are GPA whores so unfortunately splitters fare really poorly at Berk, UCLA, and USC (the only schools a biglaw person should even entertain going to).
If you weren't a URM, you're a straight reject. Not sure how URM plays into being a splitter though. Berkeley is really into reverse splitters (high GPA, low LSAT) but I don't know how they are with the reverse.

I also blanketing the T14 to see if I have any other options and all the major CA schools.

Hopefully I'll get offers from UC Irvine/ Davis.

I am retaking LSAT in December and hopefully score higher.

With those targets and numbers, I'd hit up Vanderbilt and WUSTL as well -- their employment stats are pretty similar to Berkeley and UCLA, respectively, though you'd have to hustle more to get a CA job.

Thank you for the advice.

I applied to WUSTL 2 days ago. I am excited to hear back from them soon.

I will apply to Vanderbilt soon!

[Rigo]

WUSTL will shell out for you probably. Make it rain.

[Wakhancorridor]

I attend Berkeley and love it here but the honest answer is that no law school is worth that much debt unless (arguably) you're going to HYS but I have my doubts about that much debt for even those schools....

In my opinion you'd be better off applying to a wide variety of schools and choosing rather than EDing Berkeley. Usc at 90-100k in debt is definitely more palatable to me than Berkeley at 200

[urmlaw17]

I attend Berkeley and love it here but the honest answer is that no law school is worth that much debt unless (arguably) you're going to HYS but I have my doubts about that much debt for even those schools....

In my opinion you'd be better off applying to a wide variety of schools and choosing rather than EDing Berkeley. Usc at 90-100k in debt is definitely more palatable to me than Berkeley at 200

Thank you for this. I appreciate it.

Sounds fair. That is my plan. I am applying to 25 schools and see how it ends up.