How you performed during your undergraduate years is an important factor in the admission process at Berkeley Law. The median grade point average for accepted applicants ranges between 3.7 and 3.8. The median GPA for the Class of 2012 was 3.83. If your GPA is low, Berkeley officials advise applicants to give reasons why. Reasons could include an illness or logging extra hours in the office to pay for school.
Like your GPA, LSAT scores are heavily weighted at Berkeley. The test is composed of five sections of multiple-choice questions that cover reading comprehension, logic and analytical reasoning. You are also required to provide a 35-minute writing sample. The test is administered four times each year at designated locations. To meet the application deadline, Berkeley requires applicants to take the test by December. The median LSAT Score at Berkeley Law is 170. (The top score you can get is 180.) If you decide to test more than once, school officials will take the average of your scores. Law school candidates must submit their LSAT transcripts to the Law School Data Assembly Service.
Besides how well you score on tests, you will also be evaluated on both your personal statement and recommendations from those who can attest to your academic potential. The school recommends that you create a strategy when applying. This means writing about your personal and professional accomplishments within two to four double-spaced pages. Explain what you would bring to Berkeley as a law student and highlight your strengths such as leadership, curiosity and creativity. Don't write about your academic successes; admission counselors can easily look up your test scores or scan your resume. When writing your personal statement, keep in mind that Berkeley is trying to find out more about who you are as a person. Do not exaggerate or try to create drama in your personal statement to grab the admission counselor's attention. School officials regard this type of writing as manipulative and trite. In addition, the school requires applicants to provide letters of recommendation from at least two academic sources including professors, teaching assistants and thesis advisers.