regarding point #2, if you don't have an alumni connection in your network, yet you know that this is part of the formula for writing a successful application,

regarding point #2, if you don't have an alumni connection in your network, yet you know that this is part of the formula for writing a successful application, then it's on you to figure out how to make those connections. that mentality of being "relentlessly resourceful" is straight from a pg essay [1]. [1] http://www.paulgraham.com/relres.html http://www.paulgraham.com/relres.html