Save your energy (and money!!) – don’t apply blanket T14 if you know most of those schools don’t have what you’re looking for! It was more worthwhile for me to spend time working on unique written materials for each school rather than sending more generic Why X/Background statements to a ton of different places. I applied based on available pathways back to TX, location, and quality of certain programs. I wrote Why X + every optional essay that was relevant to my experience for every school I applied to.
Let other people read your written materials! or read your personal statement out loud to them. It’s better to get harsh feedback on a PS draft than a rejection letter.
Good LORs are EVERYTHING. Choose people who know you on both a professional and personal level. I only had one LOR from a professor (the rest were employers/mentors), but I also lost almost two years of college to covid and didn’t have enough time to form long-term relationships with many profs.
Interviews:
Texas: asynchronous/recorded interview
Vandy: opted in to alumni interview, did not get an interview invite before acceptance
Berkeley: did not do Kira video interview
Duke: signed up for scholarship interview as soon I got my admissions offer
Don’t lose yourself in the admissions process – once you’ve sent the applications, don’t dwell on status checkers and Reddit updates. I lost so many hours lurking on the subreddit that could’ve been spent enjoying my senior year. Your admissions offers will come when it’s time :) good luck!

School

Result

Scholarship

Sent

Received

Complete

Interview

Decision

University of California—Berkeley

Accepted, Withdrawn

Oct 04, 2023

Oct 05, 2023

Oct 12, 2023

Oct 16, 2023

Mar 07, 2024

Duke University

Accepted, Attending

$126,000

Oct 15, 2023

Oct 16, 2023

Jan 30, 2024

University of California—Los Angeles

Accepted, Withdrawn

Oct 04, 2023

Oct 05, 2023

Oct 06, 2023

Dec 06, 2023

University of Texas at Austin

Accepted, Withdrawn

$84,000

Oct 04, 2023

Oct 06, 2023

Nov 01, 2023

Nov 07, 2023

Dec 12, 2023

Vanderbilt University

Accepted, Withdrawn

$163,500

Oct 04, 2023

Oct 06, 2023

Oct 07, 2023

Dec 15, 2023

University of Southern California

Accepted, Withdrawn

$180,000

Oct 29, 2023

Oct 30, 2023

Jan 18, 2024

Feb 08, 2024

Total Applications: 6

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

Application Profile

realkimwexler's wisdom

School	Result	Scholarship	Sent	Received	Complete	UR	Interview	Decision
2023–2024 cycle Oct 01 May 01 155d tracked on LSD.Law
University of California—Berkeley	Accepted, Withdrawn	-	Oct 04, 2023	Oct 05, 2023	Oct 12, 2023	Oct 16, 2023	-	Mar 07, 2024
Duke University	Accepted, Attending	$126,000	Oct 15, 2023	Oct 16, 2023	Oct 16, 2023	Oct 16, 2023	-	Jan 30, 2024
University of California—Los Angeles	Accepted, Withdrawn	-	Oct 04, 2023	Oct 05, 2023	Oct 06, 2023	-	-	Dec 06, 2023
University of Texas at Austin	Accepted, Withdrawn	$84,000	Oct 04, 2023	Oct 04, 2023	Oct 06, 2023	Nov 01, 2023	Nov 07, 2023	Dec 12, 2023
Vanderbilt University	Accepted, Withdrawn	$163,500	Oct 04, 2023	Oct 06, 2023	Oct 07, 2023	-	-	Dec 15, 2023
University of Southern California	Accepted, Withdrawn	$180,000	Oct 29, 2023	Oct 30, 2023	Oct 30, 2023	Jan 18, 2024	-	Feb 08, 2024
Total Applications: 6