Does it actually matter who writes your LOR, or is it more about what they say? Like is a glowing letter from a direct boss better than a more generic one from someone with an impressive title?

How much does it actually hurt to apply to a school you're statistically a long shot at? Like if my numbers are below median, is there any real downside beside just not getting in, or do adcoms actually think less of you for swinging way above your range?

What's the most common mistake you see applicants make that they have absolutely no idea they're making?

I often attack these by looking at key phrases such as "Must", "Some", etc. and do POE to narrow it down.. is that a good strategy or is it flawed?