YourCousinVincent '22–'23 app cycle Class of 2026 class year

Always do the optional essays!! Especially the “Why X” for the schools that really like to see them (UMich, UVA, Duke, Berkeley (mandatory if applying for PI scholarship), UCLA (programmatic contribution), Georgetown, any school that has a dedicated spot in the application to demonstrate interest). I didn’t write a Why Mich but submitted two optionals, and was WL’ed. For NYU, I requested to be considered for the RTK but didn’t write a separate essay, and I think that contributed to my hold/WL.

Writing the “Why X” essays was the hardest part - my biggest piece of advice here is speak to current students or alum of that school if you can, and mention that in your essay - schools really like to see you making an effort to learn about the school beyond looking at their website at a specific professor or clinic (but don’t be afraid to bring those aspects up as well)

Listing out all of the app materials I submitted for each school:

Yale: Yale 250, PS, DS, college and post-college activity list, 1 page resume
Stanford: 2 optional essays (books and interview with historical figure), PS, DS, 1 page resume
Harvard: just PS and DS, 1 page resume
Chicago: PS, DS, Doctoroff essay (admitted to Doctoroff as well), 2 page resume
Columbia: PS (with a specific “Why Columbia” paragraph at the end in response to their unique PS prompt), DS, hobbies/interests, 1 page resume
NYU: PS (indicated I want this to serve as my RTK PI essay as well), DS, 2 page resume
UVA: Why UVA, PS, DS, resilience essay (after 3 months of being UR, sent in a LOCI and got an II right away), 2 page resume
Berkeley: Why Berkeley, PS (submitted my OG 2-page one, not a longer one), DS (shortened to their max word limit), 2 page resume
UMich: PS, DS, supplemental essay (interview w historical figure), 2 page resume
Duke: Why Duke, PS, DS, 2 page resume
Georgetown: Why Georgetown, PS, DS, 2 pg resume, Top 10 list
UCLA: Programmatic Contribution (basically a Why UCLA but more focused on what I can bring based on my WE), Epstein Essay, PS, DS, 2 pg resume
UT Austin: just PS and DS, 2 pg resume