PlusItsABummer (2018-2019)

Average softs in undergrad, fairly involved, studied abroad in less popular places, did a few internships. Went to a northeast, regionally well-known university ranked between 50-100. I did nothing related to legal work, but all related to public interest work.

Post undergrad, I did an international service program - this ended in an unfortunate, but unique experience, about which I wrote my PS. After that, I began working at an immigration legal aid organization.

I deferred my acceptance to Harvard, which was the easiest request in this whole process.

Harvard, invited to interview on 1/14. Had interview 1/23.

NYU UR1 1/07, UR2 1/23, Accepted 2/06.
Received Vanderbilt scholarship 03/18 (I assume after being rejected from RTK, though didn't actually get an email rejecting me)

UPenn UR1 1/29, UR2 02/15, Accepted 03/15

Georgetown, invited to interview 02/14, interviewed over Skype 03/06 (delay on interviewer's end). Acceptance letter dated 03/11, received 03/23.

I didn't pursue merit scholarship aid at any school other than NYU and Penn. I applied to Georgetown and Columbia late and for dumb reasons, so I wasn't very pro-active with them after applying. I loved Penn and love Philly, so I tried to negotiate with them using my NYU scholarship. They wouldn't give me an answer by my NYU deadline, and I think ultimately they wouldn't have come up very far (I think they are very rank-conscious and offer large scholarships only to people well over both medians or splitters to pull them away from other schools - just my theory.) I didn't apply for the Toll Scholarship, which I regretted, and I think I got in too late to be invited to apply for any of the other scholarships.

It was hard to turn down the Vanderbilt, but I ultimately decided that I'd be happier and find more opportunities at Harvard. This is a very personal decision. If I could do the cycle over again, I'd apply earlier and I'd apply more broadly. I'd also get a second academic rec for Yale.