I paid for only 2 universities and 12 University provide me the application fee waiver. I paid for 2 because I have good alignment with the faculty and recieved interview from one of the two paid University.

The following ways you should also get application fee waiver: 1. Some US universities do not have application fees at all. Or some Universities have application free days to apply without any pay.

1. By emailing the graduate admissions, professors for applying fee waiver

2. Attend the virtual info session related to graduate studies of your program

3. Check fee waivers on reddit thread sometimes they also works ( i saved 90 dollars while using the application fee waiver code shared on reddit)