a HUGE problem...

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Okay, after submitting my online application on the friday before everything was due, I was riding high. I felt sooo good, because i actually applied! </p>

<p>But then i got the financial aid packet in the mail. on TUESDAY. as in, TUESDAY october 30. and the deadline is TODAY.</p>

<p>but the problem is....my circumstances are somewhat peculiar, because i am in foster care so technically the city is my guardian, so the folks at home arent putting down any of their financial information. (i have been in foster care since age 8)</p>

<p>the CSS/Profile thingy online was TORTURE. for example, i had to put down that the value of my house was $1 because my caretaker didn't want to give out any info. NONE of the fields applied to me, since i don't live with my parents (haven't seen them since god knows when). </p>

<p>On the Form 6 thingy, that was completely blank except for my name/address and stuff. no parent info/income. nothing. </p>

<p>all i sent was a copy of the stipend that my caretaker recieves for me every month from the city, and i explained that i was in foster care on the place allowing for explanation for extraordinary circumstances. </p>

<p>The catch is, my caretaker is actually my grandmother, but she doesn't want to put any of her information out there, especially online. And since technically i am a ward of the city, i don't think she has to. but I'm not 100% sure...</p>

<p>Now, everything is sent in, before the deadline, rushed by FedEX and all that. I'm sure that Penn has everything.</p>

<p>I really don't know what to do at this point. Its likely that I'm gonna have to arrange a meeting with my social worker and penn representatives. but what I want to know is whether I handled the situation correctly and how detrimental this would be to my prospects of going to Penn.</p>

2

<p>don't worry. i got my financial aid packet on monday. i'm probably sending it out tomorrow. but my mom called in and they said it's ok to send it at most like 4 to 5 days after the deadline, just as long as it gets in within a week. also, they said that we can even fax teh penn financial application.</p>

3

<p>what is the financial aid packet? does penn send it to you after you apply?
how bout css profile, when is that due if applied early?</p>

4

<p>to the OP: I'd call penn's office of financial aid ASAP, or at least write them a letter. Better that they know beforehand your circumstances, instead of having to contact you after they look at your financial aid info. I think you've handled it fine so far; after all, you couldn't very well put down financial info against your foster parents'/grandmother's will. Just make sure to establish some kind of contact with penn's finaid office soon, and I think you'll be able to work out an understanding. Good luck!</p>

5

<p>they just sent me an email saying that they recieved my financial information. im gonna call them monday to try to get things settled. i hope everything turns out okay...</p>

6

<p>Why don't you people just relax? seriously, just take it easy, breathe</p>

7

<p>Esviel - you are in a unique situation and should definitely send an email explaining to your regional admissions rep or attempt a phone contact on Monday. I do not think you need to worry about the deadline but you do want some advice on how best to manage this piece of the application.</p>