overlookhotelfoxtrot '21–'22 app cycle Class of 2025 class year

Shoot your shot!

Application cycles can be unpredictable. Even if you end up at one of your top choices, it can still be a bumpy ride (looking at you, 5 waitlists).

At the end of the day, I was lucky enough to get into my top two choices: Chicago and Virginia. Even with the gulf in cost of attendance, it was a tricky decision. Getting into Chicago was a dream outcome. But I knew Virginia would be a great fit for me and my goals, and I am so excited to attend in the fall!

Scholarship negotiation was a total bust. I didn’t have much leverage with such gaps in either cost or ranking. Still, if you told me at the beginning of the cycle that I would pay less than half tuition at UVA, I would have been over the moon.

It’s easy to feel a little down if/when thinks don’t go entirely your way. But remember, it’s better for it to be done than for it to be perfect. You will end up where you need to be. Just believe in yourself, and don’t be afraid to take the first step.

Good night, and good luck.