Entering First Year Students

Financial Aid Offers Now Available for Entering Students

This message was sent to entering first year JD students from whom we have received a FAFSA:

We anticipated the campus Financial Aid Office would be sending you an email telling you your financial aid package for 2011-2012 is now available. That message will not be sent until later this month. However, your financial aid package is located at MyFinAid. If you applied for a Boalt Hall Grant, we will send you an email message in the next day or so letting you know about your eligibility.

When should I expect my financial aid offer?

Entering first year students should be able to see their initial financial aid offer for the 2011-12 academic year in early April. All initial offers will contain eligibility for federal student loans. Students who have completed all requirements for Berkeley Law’s need-based grant will also see any grant eligibility. Please note: Scholarship information will, for the most part, not be available at the time of initial offers. If you are offered a scholarship, you will be notified by e-mail and your financial aid offer will subsequently be modified to reflect the new award.
Continuing students will have initial financial aid offers for 2011-12 available to them at the beginning of May. As with entering students, initial offers will contain loan eligibility and any need-based grant eligibility. Please note: If you haven’t already completed the Supplemental Application which includes your expected summer earnings, you must do so by April 15 to be considered for the need-based grant.

Students in either group who are unsure of whether they have met the requirements should:
a) check their FAFSA Student Aid Report to ensure that the FAFSA information has been sent to Berkeley and that the information was accurate and complete;
b) correct and resubmit the FAFSA info if any financial information has changed or more accurate information is now available; and
c) e-mail us to correct the information submitted on the Supplemental Application if necessary.

FAFSA Deadline Approaching

Just a quick reminder:

The deadline for the FAFSA is this Wednesday, March 2nd. Berkeley’s School Code is 001312.

The deadline for the Supplemental Application is also March 2nd. This form is required for those interested in applying for need-based grants.

Note: People who intend to submit the Statement of Independence and are fairly sure they will qualify based on our criteria may submit the Statement after the deadline. The Statement of Independence is NOT due March 2nd.

Scholarships For Entering First Year Students

Admitted students may be wondering how first year scholarships work. The application and review process is explained on our Entering Student Scholarships page. Below is a preview of what you will find:

How do I apply?
Admitted first year students are automatically considered for scholarships, but are encouraged to submit the Scholarship Interest Form and/or the Matching Scholarship Form. (Please note: these two links require a CalNet ID and passphrase and therefore are only accessible to admitted students.)

When are awards made?
The scholarship review process runs from January to June with most of the decisions announced in April. If you are offered a scholarship, the Scholarship Committee notifies you directly via email. The scholarship will not be reflected on your financial aid offer until you accept the award.

What is the Matching Scholarship?
The Matching Scholarship is a competitive merit based award which seeks to make Berkeley Law an affordable alternative. Admits offered a scholarship at one of our listed competitor schools may apply.

Rhode Island Bar Foundation Thomas F. Black, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

The Rhode Island Bar Foundation Thomas F. Black, Jr. Memorial Scholarship is a one year, non-renewable award for full-time students who are Rhode Island residents entering their first year of law school in September 2011. This year the Foundation intends to make two awards of $15,000 each.

Scholarship awards shall be exclusively for tuition and related expenses for persons who enroll as full-time students in programs leading to the award of the L.L.B. or J.D. degree offered by law schools located in one of the United States or District of Columbia and accredited by the American Bar Association. Each scholarship will be made on the basis of demonstrated financial need, superior academic performance, community and public service, and demonstrated contacts with and commitment to the State of Rhode Island.

Applications available at www.ribar.com and the deadline for receipt is March 18, 2011.
For more information, please contact the Rhode Island Bar Foundation office at (401) 421-6541 or e-mail: gcaldwell@ribar.com