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ADMISSIONS > J.D. Degree >
How many people apply each year?
Boalt Hall receives between 6,000 and 7,000 applications in a typical year.
What is the size of the first-year class?
Between 270 and 280 students enter Boalt Hall each August. They are assigned to one of nine first-year modules. Most of the first-year courses are taught in classes of 90-100 students; two are taught in small sections of approximately 30 students. First-year students may take two elective courses during their second semester.
Do in-state applicants have higher preference than those from out of state?
You have a roughly equal chance of being admitted regardless of your residency. We strive to enroll a class that has a majority of residents, but we offer admissions to an equal number of residents and nonresidents in order to obtain the ration we seek.
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What are the median LSAT score and GPA of admitted applicants?
For the past several years the average GPA and LSAT score of admitted applicants have ranged from 3.7-3.8 and 167-169, respectively. The ranges are broad.
How much does it cost per year to attend Boalt Hall?
The 2007-08 tuition and fees are $26,897 for California residents and $39,142 for nonresidents. Health insurance is included. Nonresidents may become residents after the first year and save the $12,245 nonresident tuition during their second and third years. There are additional expenses for books, room, board and personal needs. All tuition and fees are subject to change without notice.
How important is the LSAT?
The LSAT score is a very important admission factor. When combined with the undergraduate GPA, it provides the best indication of academic achievement and potential. You should retake the test only if you feel confident that your first score was atypical and that you can improve your score sufficiently to make a net gain. Most candidates take the test only once. If you take the test more than once, we will use the average of the scores in most cases; if your score substantially improves however (9+ points), we will use that score rather than the average score.
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When is the latest I can take the LSAT?
December is the last acceptable test date to meet the February 1 application deadline. Test scores are valid for five years.
Must I register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS)?
Yes. All applicants are required to submit their transcripts to the LSDAS, preferably by the end of December. Exceptions are made for certain international applicants.
When is the application deadline?
The deadline to apply for admission as a first-year student is February 1. The deadline to apply as a transfer student from another law school is June 15. The application review fee for 2007 is $75.00.
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Does it matter when I apply?
Our application deadline is February 1, but we actually begin to read completed files much earlier. We recommend that you submit your application as early as possible (i.e., by December 1).
What about recommendations? Whom should I ask to write them?
We suggest you provide two recommendation letters from individuals who can comment on your talents and achievements in academic or professional environments. We give no weight to whether or not you have waived your right to access them.
Do you grant interviews?
The large number of applicants to Boalt Hall prohibits us from granting personal interviews to all, and therefore we do not grant interviews to any. The Admissions Office is staffed to answer your questions Monday through Friday, from 9:00-4:00.
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Does it help my admission chances if I take time off after college before applying to law school?
Applicants often take time prior to law school to obtain work experience, pay down educational debt or to take a break from academia. We do not penalize such applicants. Many Boalt students have worked in other careers prior to attending law school.
Is consideration given to diversity?
Boalt Hall strives to admit a diverse group of people to study law at Berkeley. The school's admission policy gives consideration to a variety of factors in addition to numerical indicators. These include graduate work, special academic distinctions, life experiences, difficulty of the academic program, work experience, history of overcoming educational or socioeconomic disadvantage, and significant achievement in nonacademic activities or public service.
Does your undergraduate school make a big difference in getting accepted?
The rigor of individual undergraduate schools and majors are taken into consideration during the review process, but it is rare that a decision is affected solely by the school from which an applicant graduated. Boalt Hall is interested in considering human beings, not their schools. The GPA and LSAT alone are not dispositive.
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Do you have any type of in-class or online program that would enable a working adult to earn a J.D. through your program?
No. Boalt Hall offers only a full-time, three-year program which leads to the J.D. degree.
What are the most important things for the Admission Committee when reviewing applications?
Boalt’s review process is holistic and seeks to identify applicants who are bright, centered, and who can make a contribution to the caliber of classroom dialogue. If hypothetical weights were assigned to the three factors considered (academic record, LSAT score, and personal statement/recommendations), each would be about one-third.
Is Boalt on rolling admissions? Is there an early admission program?
Boalt operates a modified rolling admissions process. It is slow and methodical because each file is read and no numeric cutoff points are employed. There is no early admission program or deadline.
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What about combined/concurrent degree programs?
Boalt Hall offers several concurrent degree programs with other graduate schools and departments at Berkeley and also provides its students with the flexibility to create their own programs. We also offer combined degrees with other institutions (i.e., the Kennedy School of Government, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy). Applicants must submit independent applications and be admitted to each respective department. You can access information about other Berkeley graduate departments at www.berkeley.edu.
Will I be given preference if I already am a lawyer from another country?,
You will not necessarily be given preference in the J.D. admissions process if you are already a foreign-educated lawyer, nor should you assume that advanced standing credit will be awarded to you if you are admitted.
Does Boalt Hall grant fee waivers?
Boalt Hall grants application fee waivers, but the number of waivers is limited. Interested applicants should click here to download the application fee waiver form and instructions. The deadline to apply for a fee waiver is February 1. Applicants who desire an LSAT/LSDAS fee waiver should act early and contact Law Services directly to obtain one.
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Are all applications read? Is there a cutoff?
Each application is reviewed by the Director of Admissions or one of his assistants. No applicant is automatically admitted or denied solely on the basis of scores and grades. Some applicants are admitted immediately, while other competitive files are sent to the Admissions Committee for additional individual evaluation. The Committee is composed of faculty members and students, who serve in an advisory capacity.
When will I know the decision on my application?
The notification period is usually late November through mid-April.
May I defer my admission?
Deferment requests are considered on an individual basis. It is best to apply in the year you intend to enter law school. With sufficient reason, however, deferments may be granted to a limited number of admitted applicants.
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If I am denied admission, may I appeal or be reconsidered?
All decisions are final. Applications are reviewed carefully on a comparative basis, so reconsideration after the conclusion of the process might create an unfair situation more favorable to the individual applicant because reconsideration would lack the perspective provided by comparison with other files.
If I am denied admission, may I reapply?
Applicants who wish to reapply to Boalt Hall should read the application instructions carefully. Re-applicants must register again with the LSDAS. No transcripts should be sent directly to the law school. Previous application records are retained for one year.
How do I apply for financial aid?
Boalt Hall's Financial Aid Application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are required to be considered for financial aid. In addition, the Need Access Application is required if you wish to be considered for need-based grants. The FAFSA is available at www.fafsa.ed.gov (FAFSA school code: 001312) and the Need Access Application is available at www.needaccess.org. Although some merit awards are available, the majority of financial aid is need-based as determined by the information you supply on the FAFSA and Need Access. Applicants should be particularly alert to the financial aid deadlines and procedures as described on the Boalt Hall Financial Aid website (www.law.berkeley.edu/students/financial_aid).
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How can I get an application?
The majority of applicants apply electronically through Law Services. Applications may be submitted beginning October 1. Alternatively, the application and instructions are available in early September on our website in PDF format for you to complete and print out. Boalt Hall does not have an online application. You must print the PDF application and mail the hard copy to us. Go to the J.D. application page to obtain details and to access the application form.
Is there any other literature available about the school?
We will be happy to mail you a Boalt Hall Viewbook. They are available to order through our website or for pick-up in the Admissions Office, 2000 Center Street, Suite 400, Berkeley, CA 94704-7220.
I would like to meet with an Admission Counselor.
You are welcome to come to the Admissions Office at 2000 Center Street, Suite 400, Berkeley, CA 94704-7220, at any time during business hours to obtain information about the process or about visiting classes. Boalt does not conduct formal interviews for admission purposes.
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