Penn C/O 2016 Applicants (2012-2013 Cycle) Forum

[guinness1547]

To you ED applicants -- did you write/are you writing the Dean Fitts essay?

I did. It seemed like a sort of different approach toward a "why Penn."

Yup.

[yankihote]

Hello all,

I have been a long time visitor to this site, but now that I have submitted all the applications that I intend to, I feel I have the time to start posting as well.

My numbers are: GPA: 3.61, LSAT: 167, 177

I want my cycle to be both proof and hope that softs can tip the scales in your favor when you are a splitter like me. I also believe that schools put the emphasis on the higher score, and hope my cycle goes on to show that as well.

I am applying to: Harvard, NYU, UChi, UMich, and Upenn.

Went a little off-topic. Checking in.

[Ti Malice]

Hello all,

I have been a long time visitor to this site, but now that I have submitted all the applications that I intend to, I feel I have the time to start posting as well.

My numbers are: GPA: 3.61, LSAT: 167, 177

I want my cycle to be both proof and hope that softs can tip the scales in your favor when you are a reverse-splitter like me. I also believe that schools put the emphasis on the higher score, and hope my cycle goes on to show that as well.

I am applying to: Harvard, NYU, UChi, UMich, and Upenn.

Went a little off-topic. Checking in.

Wait, what? You're not a reverse splitter (which is high GPA, low LSAT). You're not even really a regular splitter (except for YHS). You're just someone with a killer LSAT score and a good but not great GPA.

Your softs will probably mean very little, and your 177 is the only score anyone will care about. Assuming you're non-URM, you are almost certainly out at HLS -- though this is definitely the best cycle for your chances in quite a while. You're an auto-admit at NYU, and you would essentially be one at Columbia as well. Chicago, with its smaller class, is harder to predict. Your numbers are high enough that you'll probably wind up on the WL for yield protection purposes at at least one of Penn and Michigan. Be sure to write persuasive "Why X?" essays. You should apply to Columbia even if you don't think you would want to attend, just for the possibility of having more leverage in scholarship negotiations.

[yankihote]

Thanks for the advice. I knew I would have tough luck at HYS, but I applied to Harvard as it is the school I would most like to attend.

Also, thank you for correcting me on my splitter, reverse-splitter mistake. I assumed that the "normal" splitter would be someone with a high GPA and lower LSAT because this is more common than the reverse.

[Percival Jenkins]

I did not see this yet so im going to post it. of course excluding the most important info (medians) here is some info on the class of 15

https://www.law.upenn.edu/admissions/jd ... rofile.php

[geary86]

checking in!

[senorhosh]

Anyone else think the optional essay page limit is really really short?? (1 pg double space)

A lot of the samples for "why penn?" essays are 2 pages long (I know they changed the topic this year). I had to shorten mine about three times. The samples seem to be written better because they can elaborate and have all that extra space whereas mine seems to be very condensed.

Anyone having the same problem? Was this rule implemented this year or something?

[Crowing]

Anyone else think the optional essay page limit is really really short?? (1 pg double space)

A lot of the samples for "why penn?" essays are 2 pages long (I know they changed the topic this year). I had to shorten mine about three times. The samples seem to be written better because they can elaborate and have all that extra space whereas mine seems to be very condensed.

Anyone having the same problem? Was this rule implemented this year or something?

I just went for quality over quantity. There wasn't enough space to really cover all of the characteristics mentioned, so I just picked a few that I thought were particularly applicable from a personal standpoint.

[RSterling]

So I wrote an entire optional essay that I really worked hard on and think is really polished. However, I wrote it before I realized that Penn had tweaked their traditional "why us?" question.

I'm sorry if this has already been asked, but I feel that my essay stills answers their question without explicitly mentioning the core-values listed in the prompt. Would it really hurt me to submit a more typical why x essay? Would it hurt me more than not submitting one at all?

[spicyyoda17]

So I wrote an entire optional essay that I really worked hard on and think is really polished. However, I wrote it before I realized that Penn had tweaked their traditional "why us?" question.

I'm sorry if this has already been asked, but I feel that my essay stills answers their question without explicitly mentioning the core-values listed in the prompt. Would it really hurt me to submit a more typical why x essay? Would it hurt me more than not submitting one at all?

Just tweak it so that it fits the prompt. This can be done by just editing your topic and closing sentences. The meat of your essay should remain relatively unchanged.

And this is a better option than writing no essay at all, IMO.

[honeybadger12]

So I wrote an entire optional essay that I really worked hard on and think is really polished. However, I wrote it before I realized that Penn had tweaked their traditional "why us?" question.

I'm sorry if this has already been asked, but I feel that my essay stills answers their question without explicitly mentioning the core-values listed in the prompt. Would it really hurt me to submit a more typical why x essay? Would it hurt me more than not submitting one at all?

Based on a conversation I had with Cheryl Fulton who is an admissions officer there, I think it's fine to submit your current essay as an addendum rather than tailoring it the prompt they gave. You could call the admissions office to double check.

[JohnMarshall17]

Checking in. Just got the 2012-2013 Penn book in the mail today!

[Trips_93]

I'm a 3.6 157 URM. Penn emailed me and gave me a fee waiver. Does this mean anything? Or is more likely Penn just wants to ding me?

[06102016]

..

[UtilityMonster]

I'm a 3.6 157 URM. Penn emailed me and gave me a fee waiver. Does this mean anything? Or is more likely Penn just wants to ding me?

I highly doubt you will get in with those numbers, but shoot them an app anyway.

[Kaytei]

I'm applying with a 3.0 ( ) and a 163. I think my real hope is that everyone suddenly applies somewhere else and leaves spots open for me. I am taking the LSAT again next Saturday, so we'll see if that puts me in a better situation. I am already so nervous about my application and I haven't even officially submitted it yet.

[Trips_93]

I'm a 3.6 157 URM. Penn emailed me and gave me a fee waiver. Does this mean anything? Or is more likely Penn just wants to ding me?

I highly doubt you will get in with those numbers, but shoot them an app anyway.

On can only hope!

Whats this I keep hearing about there being less LSAT takers this year? Think maybe that will improve my shot?

[senorhosh]

Anyone have fee waivers?
I'm non-URM, scored ~175 but didn't receive anything; no hidden waivers.
What LSAT score do you need for a waiver??

[changingofthegarrard]

I got one with a 171.

[SaintsTheMetal]

Anyone have fee waivers?
I'm non-URM, scored ~175 but didn't receive anything; no hidden waivers.
What LSAT score do you need for a waiver??

Probably another batch coming after the October LSAT scores come out. If you want a waiver I'd chill out a couple weeks, a 175 should definitely put you in the running

[lsacqueen]

I also got one about 3 weeks ago with a 170. Do schools take into account your GPA when giving out fee waivers?

[Crowing]

I also got one about 3 weeks ago with a 170. Do schools take into account your GPA when giving out fee waivers?

I think so, because I missed quite a few with a 173.

[bailey8078]

Checking in. Just sent my app. no fee waiver 171 3.7

[sean21]

checking in

[soccer88]

does everyone have the seat deposit listed under fees? I don't remember seeing it there before but it's currently listed as 0, just making sure this is not a change in the status quo