TLS c/o 2021 Applicants Thread Forum

[rachelac]

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[Pozzo]

Sorry to post here with a school specific question but as there doesn't seem to be an active UCLA thread for this year-

UCLA requires 12 pt font (first one I've seen) and my PS is exactly 2 pages in 11 Times. Upping it to 12 makes it at least a paragraph too long in most accepted fonts (Calibri, Arial, even Garamond which is supposed to be smaller). I have no idea what I would cut- I worked on this for legitimately 6 months and went through 4 totally different iterations + 10 or more edits on the current version. They don't have a font specification, and in Arial Narrow, it fits in size 12. Is it ridiculous to submit a PS in Arial Narrow? (I know the answer is yes, but I guess I mean more: is it worse to submit a really good PS in a ridiculous font or to submit a less good PS in a normal font?)

No reason why a one paragraph shorter PS need to be a "less good PS." Submitting the PS in Arial Narrow would be too conspicuous. I would work at it to get down to two pages 12 pt Times.

[carmtastic]

Side note, does anyone know if Fordham offers fee waivers?

[twiix]

Sorry to post here with a school specific question but as there doesn't seem to be an active UCLA thread for this year-

UCLA requires 12 pt font (first one I've seen) and my PS is exactly 2 pages in 11 Times. Upping it to 12 makes it at least a paragraph too long in most accepted fonts (Calibri, Arial, even Garamond which is supposed to be smaller). I have no idea what I would cut- I worked on this for legitimately 6 months and went through 4 totally different iterations + 10 or more edits on the current version. They don't have a font specification, and in Arial Narrow, it fits in size 12. Is it ridiculous to submit a PS in Arial Narrow? (I know the answer is yes, but I guess I mean more: is it worse to submit a really good PS in a ridiculous font or to submit a less good PS in a normal font?)

Change the font size of all your punctuation to as small as possible. Sometimes this can shrink the paper by a few lines.

[KENYADIGG1T]

Got an unsolicited Notre Dame. Won't apply though.

[sharris2017]

UMichigan CRS Waiver.

[Platopus]

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[MercW07]

Got an unsolicited Notre Dame. Won't apply though.

Emailed ND the other day about a free waiver and they responded saying their app was free. What exactly did your email say?

[DorkothyParker]

Got an unsolicited Notre Dame. Won't apply though.

Emailed ND the other day about a free waiver and they responded saying their app was free. What exactly did your email say?

I got an email from Notre Dame as well. Along with the usual self promotion, the precise verbage was "We have waived your application fee through LSAC and look forward to reviewing your application soon!"

Which I guess isn't exactly untrue should all application fees be waived.

I'm likely applying.

[BronxToBoston]

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[sabraph]

Question re: diversity statements.

I'm a gay woman, so I could theoretically write a diversity statement about that. But in reality, I haven't faced much hardship because of it (accepting family, no job issues, etc). I also am white and come from a stable financial background. So is it worth it for me to write one just based on my gayness?

I'm bi but chose to write my DS on being first-generation. Even if I didn't have first-gen though I don't think I would've written a DS for similar reasons to you. I just indicate it when they ask if I identify as LGBT. Just my two cents.

[dm1683]

Question re: diversity statements.

I'm a gay woman, so I could theoretically write a diversity statement about that. But in reality, I haven't faced much hardship because of it (accepting family, no job issues, etc). I also am white and come from a stable financial background. So is it worth it for me to write one just based on my gayness?

I lean towards no TBH. think LGBT DSes really only make sense if you've faced hardship because of being gay, or if you're trans.

EDIT: I'm LGBT and writing about it as my PS, but that's because I've faced a lot of crap because of it and it's shaped who I am as a person. If I hadn't, I wouldn't write about it.

[principalagent]

I wrote my PS on adversity I faced from being gay, but wrote my DS about my racial identity. I actually didn't speak directly to adversity from my racial background (though I very well could have), but instead talked about an experience regarding race and class and how it shaped my perspective and my views on both identity markers. So I think you don't necessarily have to write a DS about adversity, but one that speaks to perspective can be similarly illuminating.

[BronxToBoston]

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[sharris2017]

UMichigan CRS Waiver.

Email or when filling out the app?

Stealth/auto waiver in app.

[heyduchess]

Sorry to post here with a school specific question but as there doesn't seem to be an active UCLA thread for this year-

UCLA requires 12 pt font (first one I've seen) and my PS is exactly 2 pages in 11 Times. Upping it to 12 makes it at least a paragraph too long in most accepted fonts (Calibri, Arial, even Garamond which is supposed to be smaller). I have no idea what I would cut- I worked on this for legitimately 6 months and went through 4 totally different iterations + 10 or more edits on the current version. They don't have a font specification, and in Arial Narrow, it fits in size 12. Is it ridiculous to submit a PS in Arial Narrow? (I know the answer is yes, but I guess I mean more: is it worse to submit a really good PS in a ridiculous font or to submit a less good PS in a normal font?)

I'm going through this right now. I wrote my PS with UCLA in mind and it was still 2.5-3 pages. (In comparison, my PS for other schools is about 3.25)
My friend told me she fudged it with an 11 and didn't get caught, but to each their own.

[Slippin' Jimmy]

Anyone get a waiver to Columbia/NYU/Texas? These are the only schools I'm applying to besides Harvard that haven't given me one.

[rachelac]

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[rachelac]

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[heyduchess]

Sorry to post here with a school specific question but as there doesn't seem to be an active UCLA thread for this year-

UCLA requires 12 pt font (first one I've seen) and my PS is exactly 2 pages in 11 Times. Upping it to 12 makes it at least a paragraph too long in most accepted fonts (Calibri, Arial, even Garamond which is supposed to be smaller). I have no idea what I would cut- I worked on this for legitimately 6 months and went through 4 totally different iterations + 10 or more edits on the current version. They don't have a font specification, and in Arial Narrow, it fits in size 12. Is it ridiculous to submit a PS in Arial Narrow? (I know the answer is yes, but I guess I mean more: is it worse to submit a really good PS in a ridiculous font or to submit a less good PS in a normal font?)

I'm going through this right now. I wrote my PS with UCLA in mind and it was still 2.5-3 pages. (In comparison, my PS for other schools is about 3.25)
My friend told me she fudged it with an 11 and didn't get caught, but to each their own.

I eventually just changed the margins to .5 because they didn't stipulate margins haha...that's an option hopefully!

...mine are like .7 .... hahahha

[principalagent]

Anyone get a waiver to Columbia/NYU/Texas? These are the only schools I'm applying to besides Harvard that haven't given me one.

NYU and Columbia both gave them out for a first CRS wave later on in September / October last year. Can't speak to Texas (resident waiver), but it seems they'll do a CRS wave in the next week or two as well.

[Aricole]

Finally checking in (though a long-time lurker already)!

Also just asking if anyone knows about Berkeley waivers - it is said on the website that Berkeley does not offer merit-based waivers. Has anyone got waivers not because of PeaceCorps/active duty/etc.? I also saw that its program/honor-related waiver application includes Phi Kappa Phi, would PBK work instead?

[chargers21]

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[maybeman]

Submitted Columbia, Uchi, and Stanford! 2 to go! No unsolicited fee waivers:(

I would suggest applying broader

I plan on taking a year to work if things don't work out, but that is definitely good advice:) I'm in a lucky financial situation as well

[#gobroncos]

Finally checking in (though a long-time lurker already)!

Also just asking if anyone knows about Berkeley waivers - it is said on the website that Berkeley does not offer merit-based waivers. Has anyone got waivers not because of PeaceCorps/active duty/etc.? I also saw that its program/honor-related waiver application includes Phi Kappa Phi, would PBK work instead?

I solicited a service-based waiver for a faith based service program two years ago and received one. I just sent in the application to try to get the same waiver this time. As to PBK, I *think* that the waiver is for active research projects/programs, so I'm not sure that just being a member of an honors society would be sufficient unless they are funding you to do a year-long research project of some sort.