floridacoastalorbust (2022-2023)

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3 years policy & journalism W/E

Softs probably made a meaningful difference for me. And having a consistent message in my app, from my "Why X's," recommendations, transcripts and personal statement.

Good, but not great softs. Along the softs hierarchy:

Olympian>Rhodes Scholar>Fulbright>Me>TFA>President of law fraternity

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Snatched nearly $1 million in scholarships!

I negotiated very hard with every school I was accepted to (save UVA/Duke/Mich), generally with ideal results. The idea was to tell them I was committed to going to their school if they could provide me with a scholarship equal-or-greater to the offers I received from their peer schools. Once they matched I would then renegotiate. It was kind of like a snowball effect.

Scholarship Negotiations:

Georgetown: They told me they offered me the max amount and could not go higher. I pushed hard, they pushed back harder.

Duke: I did not submit the required scholarship form, and did not receive a scholarship as a result. I had no interest in Duke, but forfeited potential leverage by failing to submit the necessary form. Kinda like Elvis Dumervil going from the Broncos to the Ravens in 2013.

UVA: Dillard. Did not negotiate.

Harvard: Withdrew before JS1. Was originally waitlisted.

Penn: Originally offered 45k, bumped to 75k after discussions with their scholarship people. I pushed them very hard -- called up their financial dean more than once, plead my case to him personally, but it was to no avail.

NYU: Originally offered 25k, bumped to 45k after discussions with their scholarship people. I felt they were the least willing to negotiate, especially given my other offers.

Mich: Darrow. Did not negotiate.

NU: Originally offered 165k, bumped to 210k after discussions with their scholarship people. The award pays for tuition, and the remaining amount is given to me like a stipend. The total amount of the scholarship indicated to me that they are most willing to negotiate.

Chicago: Originally offered 15k, bumped to 75k after discussions with their scholarship people. They were very receptive to negotiations. But I tried to get them to give me 100k or more and they didn't take the bait.

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Applied in October for all schools. Don't have dates handy.