UPenn Class of 2017 Forum

[goldenboy514]

I thought ASW was great! The current students seemed really nice and like they genuinely liked each other. The panels were informative and I really liked the other prospective students I met. I was also somewhat surprised to meet a good number of other ED people, who were all really nice. The whole experience definitely made me feel good about my decision to choose Penn.

+1 totally

[04102014]

I thought ASW was great! The current students seemed really nice and like they genuinely liked each other. The panels were informative and I really liked the other prospective students I met. I was also somewhat surprised to meet a good number of other ED people, who were all really nice. The whole experience definitely made me feel good about my decision to choose Penn.

+1 totally

On the first night, of the 12 or so people I spoke with, about 9 of them were ED.

[goldenboy514]

so did I meet any of you? Didn't hear TLS one time

[willio]

Any tips for merit scholarship negotiation? I know Penn is typically stingy with merit aid, but it would quickly become my best option if I could make it a little cheaper. My LSAT is above their 75th and GPA above 25th. I have a $75,000 scholly from Michigan. Have people had luck using Michigan's scholarships as leverage for Penn?

[Shortterm12]

Any tips for merit scholarship negotiation? I know Penn is typically stingy with merit aid, but it would quickly become my best option if I could make it a little cheaper. My LSAT is above their 75th and GPA above 25th. I have a $75,000 scholly from Michigan. Have people had luck using Michigan's scholarships as leverage for Penn?

I am also interested in this, have you already received your Penn merit aid offer?

[willio]

Any tips for merit scholarship negotiation? I know Penn is typically stingy with merit aid, but it would quickly become my best option if I could make it a little cheaper. My LSAT is above their 75th and GPA above 25th. I have a $75,000 scholly from Michigan. Have people had luck using Michigan's scholarships as leverage for Penn?

I am also interested in this, have you already received your Penn merit aid offer?

No. They told me the scholarship committee continually meets to re-review people for merit-scholarships and they have historically made scholarship decisions up to the deposit deadline.

[AlwaysPlayTheFox]

In our current student panel they said the scholarship committee will generally negotiate it the "top 12" so basically no gtown negotiation.

I assume they will give you something if you received 75k from Mich.

[lastsamurai]

so did I meet any of you? Didn't hear TLS one time

Kept looking for Roger Sterling and didn't see him anywhere hmm....

[goldenboy514]

so did I meet any of you? Didn't hear TLS one time

Kept looking for Roger Sterling and didn't see him anywhere hmm....

I was the chillest bro there so if you met me you'd know

[Shortterm12]

Any tips for merit scholarship negotiation? I know Penn is typically stingy with merit aid, but it would quickly become my best option if I could make it a little cheaper. My LSAT is above their 75th and GPA above 25th. I have a $75,000 scholly from Michigan. Have people had luck using Michigan's scholarships as leverage for Penn?

I am also interested in this, have you already received your Penn merit aid offer?

No. They told me the scholarship committee continually meets to re-review people for merit-scholarships and they have historically made scholarship decisions up to the deposit deadline.

Ah bummer, thanks for the info. I hope they come out soon, deposit deadlines are looming

[doing_it_in_a_car]

I was incredibly impressed. Penn has made this decision even more agonizing. It had a completely different vibe from the other schools I have been to. Obviously they were rolling out the red carpet, but they did an excellent job of selling their school simply by showing what is amazing about it.

Way to go Penn...I think anyone with Penn as an option would be wise to give it complete consideration.

It appears I might have had a sip of the kool aid, but I do still have those rose-colored asw glasses on, so take it with a mid-sized grain of salt.

ED'er here, so take my experience with a large handful of salt, but I was also very impressed with Penn's ASW. After listening to all of the panels, I was blown away by how many programs and how much resources are available for such a small class - e.g. I think there are enough slots for everyone interested to be on a journal and get into their top choice of clinic. And despite all the posturing, I think there is something to the whole collegiality thing. All of the current students and new admits I talked to were really nice and easy to get along with. All in all, this weekend made me incredibly happy with my choice to ED to Penn, and I already can't wait to catch up with everyone in the fall!

[hahazby]

I was incredibly impressed. Penn has made this decision even more agonizing. It had a completely different vibe from the other schools I have been to. Obviously they were rolling out the red carpet, but they did an excellent job of selling their school simply by showing what is amazing about it.

Way to go Penn...I think anyone with Penn as an option would be wise to give it complete consideration.

It appears I might have had a sip of the kool aid, but I do still have those rose-colored asw glasses on, so take it with a mid-sized grain of salt.

ED'er here, so take my experience with a large handful of salt, but I was also very impressed with Penn's ASW. After listening to all of the panels, I was blown away by how many programs and how much resources are available for such a small class - e.g. I think there are enough slots for everyone interested to be on a journal and get into their top choice of clinic. And despite all the posturing, I think there is something to the whole collegiality thing. All of the current students and new admits I talked to were really nice and easy to get along with. All in all, this weekend made me incredibly happy with my choice to ED to Penn, and I already can't wait to catch up with everyone in the fall!

+1

[kartelite]

Is Penn open to "negotiating" merit aid? And what are the odds of them matching $90k from NYU or Columbia (Butler)?

[NicCageOnline]

Is Penn open to "negotiating" merit aid? And what are the odds of them matching $90k from NYU or Columbia (Butler)?

Also, whom does one approach at Penn to start the negotiation process? Which email address?

[baloneydanza]

Is Penn open to "negotiating" merit aid? And what are the odds of them matching $90k from NYU or Columbia (Butler)?

Yes. Don't know the odds. Check the admitted students website for who you should contact for scholarships. I sent an email to the dean who informed me of my aid but I suspect they won't be the one who eventually responds.

[AlwaysPlayTheFox]

Is Penn open to "negotiating" merit aid? And what are the odds of them matching $90k from NYU or Columbia (Butler)?

Also, whom does one approach at Penn to start the negotiation process? Which email address?

Not 100% sure but i think they said you just email the scholarship letter to the law schools financial aid people. Maybe use the generic email for them or call?

[Theopliske8711]

So, I got a response for the need-based financial aid, which, as expected, is zero. When will I expect to hear about merit-based? Do I have to go on some personal initiative for it?

[Arrow4Christ]

Just got my need-based package as well. I'm happy with it, but it won't be enough to induce me to attend Penn unless I get an additional merit award. Penn sends merit and need awards separately, correct?

[KatyMarie]

Just got my need-based package as well. I'm happy with it, but it won't be enough to induce me to attend Penn unless I get an additional merit award. Penn sends merit and need awards separately, correct?

Yep. Separately....and they send out Merit-based scholarships all the way up until the deposit deadline :/

[bhanson10]

Is Penn open to "negotiating" merit aid? And what are the odds of them matching $90k from NYU or Columbia (Butler)?

Also, whom does one approach at Penn to start the negotiation process? Which email address?

It's really easy. Just send the package you got from another school to scholarships@law.upenn.edu and they will review and get back to you.

[bhanson10]

Also, super stoked to be going to Penn this next year. I also was an ED, but I definitely feel that I made the right decision. Everyone was awesome to talk to, there didn't seem to be anyone who I got a bad vibe from. I met a lot of cool people-- some of them TLSers-- and am so exited to start in the fall. Also, Philly is awesome, from a west coast native's perspective.

[AlwaysPlayTheFox]

Also, super stoked to be going to Penn this next year. I also was an ED, but I definitely feel that I made the right decision. Everyone was awesome to talk to, there didn't seem to be anyone who I got a bad vibe from. I met a lot of cool people-- some of them TLSers-- and am so exited to start in the fall. Also, Philly is awesome, from a west coast native's perspective.

+1 After ASW - definitely solidified my decision to pick Penn... now to send out letters officially to the others haha

[kartelite]

Is Penn open to "negotiating" merit aid? And what are the odds of them matching $90k from NYU or Columbia (Butler)?

Also, whom does one approach at Penn to start the negotiation process? Which email address?

It's really easy. Just send the package you got from another school to scholarships@law.upenn.edu and they will review and get back to you.

Cool. I'll wait until I hear their initial aid offer first. Will Penn consider full scholarships from lower-ranked schools in the process or only peer/T6 schools?

[lastsamurai]

Is Penn open to "negotiating" merit aid? And what are the odds of them matching $90k from NYU or Columbia (Butler)?

Also, whom does one approach at Penn to start the negotiation process? Which email address?

It's really easy. Just send the package you got from another school to scholarships@law.upenn.edu and they will review and get back to you.

Cool. I'll wait until I hear their initial aid offer first. Will Penn consider full scholarships from lower-ranked schools in the process or only peer/T6 schools?

Believe they said T10 or T12 at asw

[bhanson10]

This ^^^^