UPenn Class of 2017 Forum

[lawyerchick]

Does anyone know the general schedule for ASW? I tried to look up a schedule of events for last year's, but no cigar.

Also interested in this

[Robbin Blue]

About 4 here. I answered every question fully... Probably too fully. Hahaha

I figured the above posts were about Levy/Wilson and in response to one essay prompt instead of a series of questions, but I probably just missed something in the discussion thread -thanks for bumping it.

I'm sure your answers are great! I wish I had fleshed things out a little bit more, but mostly I'm just glad it's submitted and done with.

Oh good. Yeah, there were five questions for the Toll application. I didn't feel like I wrote too terribly much. I'm with you, though- so glad that's done!

[gatorgal]

Does anyone know the general schedule for ASW? I tried to look up a schedule of events for last year's, but no cigar.

Also interested in this

I saw on the 2017 Facebook group that Saturday would end around 5:30. I just want to know when to fly in on Friday.

[04102014]

Does anyone know the general schedule for ASW? I tried to look up a schedule of events for last year's, but no cigar.

Also interested in this

I saw on the 2017 Facebook group that Saturday would end around 5:30. I just want to know when to fly in on Friday.

Strange how close to the belt they are keeping everything.

[SplitMyPants]

Checking in! Just got the call!

[ShrimpToastMasters]

Checking in! And as a Penn UG who worked at Biddle Law Library for three years - also feel free to ask me questions

[kemosabe]

Checking in! And as a Penn UG who worked at Biddle Law Library for three years - also feel free to ask me questions

Congrats! I've got a general Philly question: how is parking? Is owning a car more trouble than it's worth?

[04102014]

Who here has submitted FAFSA and Need Access? Looks like first awards were released 2/25 last year.

[kkdk]

Who here has submitted FAFSA and Need Access? Looks like first awards were released 2/25 last year.

International, so no FAFSA. I updated my NeedAccess a day after I was admitted, but I was only admitted last week. No notification from UPenn that it was received...

[ShrimpToastMasters]

Checking in! And as a Penn UG who worked at Biddle Law Library for three years - also feel free to ask me questions

Congrats! I've got a general Philly question: how is parking? Is owning a car more trouble than it's worth?

Absolutely yes (IMO). There is some street parking further West off-campus but a) that's getting rather far from the law school and b) not a very safe area. If you live in a high-rise in Center City, I think you can also rent parking - but not cheaply. Philly is a very convenient city for walking - a metropolis, but not sprawling. There's also public transportation (though it is also not that great). I had a bike for freshman year, and then even stopped using that. Walking is the most convenient.

[kemosabe]

Good to know. Thanks!

[tigersaresexy]

Who here has submitted FAFSA and Need Access? Looks like first awards were released 2/25 last year.

International, so no FAFSA. I updated my NeedAccess a day after I was admitted, but I was only admitted last week. No notification from UPenn that it was received...

Hay international!

I had a couple questions for you, I couldn't figure out exactly what UPenn wants us to submit for aid. It says FAFSA + NeedAccess everywhere I check and there's no separate information for internationals as far as I can find.

Also, do you know anything about when we're getting I-20s and other visa application info?

[kkdk]

Who here has submitted FAFSA and Need Access? Looks like first awards were released 2/25 last year.

International, so no FAFSA. I updated my NeedAccess a day after I was admitted, but I was only admitted last week. No notification from UPenn that it was received...

Hay international!

I had a couple questions for you, I couldn't figure out exactly what UPenn wants us to submit for aid. It says FAFSA + NeedAccess everywhere I check and there's no separate information for internationals as far as I can find.

Also, do you know anything about when we're getting I-20s and other visa application info?

hullo tigers! UVA was similarly vague but they clarified via e-mail when I asked: no FAFSA, because it's pointless. I'm thinking about sending UPenn a similar e-mail just making 110% sure. Not sure about visas, but I'm only sorta-international (Canada eh?) so my plan was to wait until my cycle is over, and just apply for a visa over the summer. IIRC, you enroll and then you request enrolment confirmation info from the school and apply for your F1, fill your forms, and when you cross the border in August you have a short interview at customs to make sure everything is in order and then you're okay. My understanding was always that until we had proof that we're going for school (i.e. enrolment), we couldn't fill out any visa forms.

[leezabee]

For those of you writing the scholarship essay, what length are you aiming for? I wrote a rough draft and it's just under 1.5 double-spaced pages. Anyone have any idea on what the conventional wisdom is regarding length?

I haven't started mine yet (oops...), but I'm thinking 1-1.5 pages double-spaced. Basing this on the fact that they wanted 1 page for the optional application essays, and said to "keep it brief."

1 page double spaced here.

About 4 here. I answered every question fully... Probably too fully. Hahaha

A bit late to the party (damn my procrastination ways), but mine is currently 3 pages. I'd like to do some more edits before submitting, but that's the shortest I've been able to get it. Five questions is a lot! Hopefully they weren't expecting too much brevity...

[Leo]

Accepted 1/21 and still no invitations to apply for scholarships...I assume that means I'm not in consideration for merit-based aid?

[berndie90]

I assume it means we aren't eligible for any named scholarships (im in the same boat). I would think we are still under consideration for deans scholarships though.

[kemosabe]

I assume it means we aren't eligible for any named scholarships (im in the same boat). I would think we are still under consideration for deans scholarships though.

I'm interpreting it this way as well. I'd assume I was no longer under consideration if it was week or two from the deposit deadline and I still hadn't heard anything.

[mandyjay11]

Never really checked in here, but hey guys! I probably, definitely coming here

Edit: I'm also a Penn UG, like Shrimp

[Nelson]

I assume it means we aren't eligible for any named scholarships (im in the same boat). I would think we are still under consideration for deans scholarships though.

This is right. Just know that, at least in previous years, the non-named merit aid has capped out at 20k a year and most have had limited success negotiating much above that. Plan accordingly.

[paglababa]

I assume it means we aren't eligible for any named scholarships (im in the same boat). I would think we are still under consideration for deans scholarships though.

This is right. Just know that, at least in previous years, the non-named merit aid has capped out at 20k a year and most have had limited success negotiating much above that. Plan accordingly.

Hope this is not the case. At least someone off the waitlist will get in then.

[Nelson]

I assume it means we aren't eligible for any named scholarships (im in the same boat). I would think we are still under consideration for deans scholarships though.

This is right. Just know that, at least in previous years, the non-named merit aid has capped out at 20k a year and most have had limited success negotiating much above that. Plan accordingly.

Hope this is not the case. At least someone off the waitlist will get in then.

If you're looking to get them to match a big award from Michigan or UVA, it's probably not gonna happen unfortunately.

[Optimist Prime]

Do we know if anyone has successfully negotiated up a named scholarship? E.G. from dean's scholarship to named scholarship, or from a 1/2 named to a Levy?

[paglababa]

I assume it means we aren't eligible for any named scholarships (im in the same boat). I would think we are still under consideration for deans scholarships though.

This is right. Just know that, at least in previous years, the non-named merit aid has capped out at 20k a year and most have had limited success negotiating much above that. Plan accordingly.

Hope this is not the case. At least someone off the waitlist will get in then.

If you're looking to get them to match a big award from Michigan or UVA, it's probably not gonna happen unfortunately.

Do they negotiate to counteroffer awards made by CCN? Or try to buy off HYS?

[Nelson]

Do we know if anyone has successfully negotiated up a named scholarship? E.G. from dean's scholarship to named scholarship, or from a 1/2 named to a Levy?

I've never heard of this happening in the last two cycles before this one. They stick to their system with the application essays.

If you're looking to get them to match a big award from Michigan or UVA, it's probably not gonna happen unfortunately.

Do they negotiate to counteroffer awards made by CCN? Or try to buy off HYS?

I've never heard of them going above 20k/yr to beat CCN in any anecdote from the last two cycles (I tried myself). 20k/yr at Penn will leave you with less debt at graduation than a Butler at Columbia because of the lower COL here. That said, if you have the numbers to get more than that at those schools, you should probably have also been competitive for at least a Wilson, if not a Levy, and if you don't get one, enjoy New York/Chicago.

[Optimist Prime]

Thanks for the info Nelson, that's very helpful.

Damn shame though, U Penn is the school I'd most like to be at and I'd have gone for sure with $$$.