Rhinoplasty ~ $3,500. 

Aligning, persisting, learning, observing and executing.

I credit hypergamytumblr and studyblr for helping me get into Michigan, Cornell, Georgetown, Berkeley, UCLA, USC, Tulane, UCSB, and UMiami. The help I got making lists of deadlines, refining my essays, finding fee waivers to apply to schools for free, going on tours, and maximizing my opportunities and productivity changed my application process for the better, and the tips and tricks I picked up were incredibly helpful and remain relevant to this day.

I think it’s incredibly important to use what resources are around you and pour what you have into the things you want. I had no idea where to start, and I love Tumblr, so I used the resources I’d found to formulate a plan and leapt in. I didn’t go to community college after high school, and I also didn’t want to go back to my high school and ask for resources, so TikTok, Reddit, and Tumblr played vital roles in crafting each application, and I spent hours absorbing information.

I really love the emphasis on discipline on this side of Tumblr. I’m a rather disciplined person in general, but I had to ramp up the discipline and dedication I had to a whole new level in order to keep myself on track and motivated. I had to create entirely new routines, constantly check myself, be consistent with all of my efforts, keep to my timeline and budget, and dance with 20 different apps at the same time while scheduling interviews and meetings with alumni. It’s very difficult to stay on track during the admissions process if you’re not Type A, and being able and willing to pick up new habits is a must.

What I’m saying is this: advice from Tumblr helped me to get stable, taught me how to settle down, and helped me start writing; TikTok videos from admitted and prospective students helped me clear my path and figure out where I wanted to tour and visit; and Reddit was great for interview tips and for getting my SAT score up. If you’re looking to apply to schools and want to get yourself on track fast, you have to be willing to use unorthodox methods and take advantage of what (free) resources you do have at your fingertips.

I got into 9 of the 11 schools I applied to and thought I wouldn’t get into, kept my application process completely free, and ended the journey with planning skills that I will be using until the end of my days. I learned how to follow through, how to chase an opportunity, how to dress and what to wear, and how to write a compelling essay, along with so many other important skills. I had to be willing to use what was at my disposal, take advantage of what was available to me, and not be afraid of the unknown to end up with the results that I have, and I’m happy I did.

What’s meant for you won’t require self-abandonment.

Let whoever think whatever

when anaïs nin said “i want to be able to trust, not live in perpetual self-defense.”

Staying consistent even when it’s not immediately rewarding is where the shift happens.

Chic and cringe are twin sisters and sometimes they switch places!!!

More ways you found your style?

I get my hair inspiration from HairbyFlisan. I wanted a really specific blonde color with a Scandinavian hairline, a seamless blend, and a custom row of extensions to make my hair look thicker. I didn’t want platinum or anything harsh; I wanted a gentle shift towards softness and an effortless blonde that would match my skin tone.

I usually do a matching French manicure and pedicure. I start with intensive nail preparation and make sure that my cuticles are removed and my natural nails have been prepped and prepared nicely. What I want is an elongated nail bed, a hidden natural nail free edge, gently rounded nails, a shorter smile line, a double layer of clear gel topcoat, and a soft pink base with a classic white smile line.

I tan, but I never, ever use tanning beds. I spray tan, and that’s enough for me. I like a neutral tan, not too dark or not too light; I like a full coverage and clean look, and the tan I use has to work for my style. I actually go to a bridal spray tan specialist for this; she’s not too expensive, and she’s very talented. She knows how to work with an olive undertone, and I love the way she’s able to blend the product into my skin.

My teeth were a major investment for me. I got a job at a dental office when I was 18, and over the past four years, I’ve been on a whole journey. I had braces for two years and had my wisdom teeth extracted; then I did professional Zoom whitening to get my teeth to the even white color I wanted, and I finished up with composite bonding and gum contouring. It was an ordeal to get where I am, and maintaining my smile is of the utmost importance to me now.

I apply my makeup with a lighter hand now. It’s easy for me to go overboard, and I’ve found that I look my best with cleaner looks. Learning how to do my face and blend my makeup, following bridal makeup artists and makeup artists in my favorite cities to find looks that I liked and could learn to do, practicing daily, and finding quality products in the right shades and with the right undertones were major parts of finally figuring out how to get my makeup to look the way I wanted it to.