PotatoPesto '23–'24 app cycle Class of 2027 class year

Thoughts on the Bottom

Acceptances
Georgetown: Interview12/10. Did Top 10 and Why Georgetown

UChicago: Interview 12/20. Super excited. I didn’t think that I would get in, but I gave them specific reasons as to why I would like to go to Chicago (the city and the school). I can tell my interviewer was impressed when I listed a few neighborhoods in Chicago and told her what I liked about them.

UC Berkeley: did not do KIRA interview. I was starting to get worried because people who applied after me already got in, but in the end, it was all good.

USC: didn’t write why USC, but I am from the LA area and have ties to the school.

Duke: Wrote one short essay and why Duke. I heard back on a Sunday. Duke loves being unpredictable haha

Waitlists
UCLA: I was genuinely mad at this decision. I’m from LA and thought I had a great shot. Given that this was my third decision, I was worried that I wouldn’t get into anywhere else. I put my name on the waitlist but I quickly took it out of consideration when I got into Chicago.

UPenn: did core values and DS. Didn’t want to stay on. I would have chosen UChicago or Berkeley over UPenn anyways

Michigan: I think I would have liked to go, but I’m not heartbroken. Did Why Michigan and DS

UVA: Probably could have sent in a LOCI but I was already really happy by my results mid February and would have chosen the schools I got into above UVA.

Northwestern: messed up on KIRA but I guess it was good enough to give them pause for 4 MONTHS. I fell out of love after I applied so I wasn’t mad, I just wanted my decision.

Stanford: I did the optional disagree essay and the book short prompt. I’m going to ride the waitlist out but I don’t think I’d be able to afford it even if I got in. I’m happy I didn’t get rejected though!

Rejections
Harvard: Can’t say I’m upset. I was expecting it and really didn’t care if I got in or not. I was actually dreading a situation where I got in and would be pressured to go full pay.

Yale: I felt like I was rambling in my interview. I didn’t have time for my questions. But my interviewer told me that he really liked my energy and it was really infectious! At least my application didn’t immediately go into the reject pile, although that’s ultimately what happened.

Scholarships $$$$
Berkeley: I got an email on 2/15 telling me that I didn’t get the Berkeley PI scholarship. 3/19 I got the no aid offer. I was so mad, but I did reconsideration because it’s my first choice and I had good offers to give them. 3/30 submitted reconsideration. 4/17 heard from reconsideration. I’m really happy with my offer but I will hold my position that Berkeley has the worst financial aid process out of all the schools. 100% hated this process.

USC: offer on 2/20. I think this is the highest they offer outside of Rothman. Won’t negotiate.

Duke: Scholarship interview 3/4. Received email 3/8! They told me it would be three weeks, but I got the offer only a few days later. Looks like a good first offer. Sent reconsideration 4/14 heard back 4/18. It’s a lot of money, and one of their best offers but I still don’t know if I want to go

Chicago: Received 3/14. It’s really disappointing, but I’m hoping to negotiate to a higher number. Sent reconsideration form 4/10. Got my second offer 4/24.

Georgetown: Received 3/15. I had to email to get the merit aid form in the first place, so don’t think that just because they didn’t send you the form in the first place that you won’t get aid! At this point, I think schools like giving me 45k a year.

Overall Feelings

3/1 I don’t know where I’m going to go. I’m dreading the thought of sticker at a school. But scholarship offers haven’t gone out yet. By the end of this month, I should have a better picture.

3/17: the more I think about it, the more debt scares me. I don’t think I’m going to choose Chicago, but it’s still a dream and I can still negotiate. In my mind, Duke and Berkeley are dueling it out

4/22: I still don’t know where I’m going to go. Still waiting on Chicago reconsideration. I’m a bit stressed since my deadlines for my other schools is the 26th.

4/24: I’m going to Berkeley! It was a really hard choice to make, but ultimately it came down to money and how easy it would be for me to get back to LA. Duke gave me a bit more money, but I was scared about how strong their connections to LA were and the need for a car out there. I am PI focused even though I will probably do big law for a few years before making the transition. Overall, Berkeley made more sense to me with their good big law numbers and public interest focus.