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

This is my second cycle applying. I applied last year in conjunction with the Navy LEP program. My primary focus last year was to stay in the midwest. I had to withdraw my applications once I was informed I was not going to be allowed to get out of my current contract to pursue LEP. My results from last cycle are below:
UMich - Waitlisted and withdrawn before final answer- Northwestern - Waitlisted and withdrawn before final answer

• Georgetown - Rejected
• WashU - Heard nothing from them before withdrawing
• Vanderbilt - Accepted with $$$
• UMinnesota - Accepted with $$$
• UAlabama - Accepted with $$$$
• UIowa - Accepted with $$$$
• ASU - Accepted with $$
• UIUC - Accepted with $$$$+
• IndianaU - Accepted with $$$$
• UWisconsin - Accepted with $$$
• UMemphis - Accepted with $$$$

This year my focus was getting into the best school possible to open as many doors as possible. I originally applied ED to UVA and was put in the RD pool, so I applied ED to Duke to maximize the possibility of a yes from somewhere in the T14. I heard back from WashU very quickly this cycle and Duke accepted me in less than 3 weeks. I believe that the new ranking system helped me due to my work experience. My essays were also significantly better than last year.

Overall, don’t sell yourself short. The worst thing they can tell you is no.