Chances and fin aid questions

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Ok well, no one replied to my post regarding how the cinema studies major was at UPenn, so I’ll tack that on to this post as well as ask what my chances (or lack thereof) are:</p>

<p>*I would’ve had a 5-generation legacy at Penn, but my dad didn’t want to go there. :confused: However, I think my uncle might actually still work there (can’t remember, finding out today) and they all donate money and stuff. So I guess that would help me…?</p>

<p>Anyways, here are my stats:
-female, white, from virginia, very low-income family
-go to a blue ribbon public school, take extra courses through Virtual HS, may attend VCU part-time this fall through Adv. Scholars program
GPA: 3.9 uw, 4.7 w
SAT: 2120 (740 cr, 680 m, 700 w)
SAT II: 760 math iic, lit + ush in the fall
RANK: ~9/420</p>

<p>EC’s:
President/Founder of Student Film Society:
-production assistant/intern for various feature films
-filmmaker of various short films
-volunteer for local film festivals and events
Historian/Officer of Drama Club & Thespian Honor Society:
-Best Stage Manager Award (for school play in 11th)
-Sound technician
-Student Director (for school play in 12th)
-TA for theatre class
School Rowing Team:
-Varsity Captain (12)
-Club VP (11) (it was a club sport through my junior year)
Competitive Figure Skating:
-certified ISI Judge
-counselor for LearnToSkate program
-volunteer for local events
-performer at annual ice show
-member of production team
Member of NHS (11-12), Beta Club (10-12), FBLA (9-12), Spanish NHS (10)
Junior Marshall, National Honor Roll, AP Scholar, Nat’l Merit Commended</p>

<p>Summers:
Harvard SSP 2004 - received grant to attend, A’s in both classes
USC Summer Seminars 2005 - received financial aid to attend, (haven’t received my grade yet)</p>

<hr>

<p>Also, how hard is it to double major at UPenn? Possible/impossible/depends on which majors?</p>

<p>And more importantly, how is fin aid at UPenn? I heard it isnt very good. And I would need QUITE a bit of help in that department. Do they have a “financial aid initiative” like Harvard and some other Ivies where if you make X amount of money or less in a year they pay for everything?
Thanks.</p>

2

<p>You have a decent chance. Penn is very flexible on double majoring, and it shouldn't be a problem.</p>

3

<p>Yeah this school is all up on interdisciplinary studies and double majors.</p>

<p>Finaid is good if they want you, less good if you're a less compelling applicant. Generally, there are very many scholarships (grants) available for children of alumni.</p>

<p>Gutmann, the new president is definitely upping the ante on financial aid, given her theories on a "diverse democracy" and is definitely devoted to finaid (ex. this year, outside scholarships do NOT deduct from one's financial aid package)</p>

4

<p>thanks for the input...</p>

<p>bump please!</p>

5

<p>I think you'll have a hard time getting both an advantage for having a family that contributes lots of money and coming from a low income family. Has exactly does that work? Legacy means one of your parents went to the school.</p>

6

<p>suze: my grandparents and uncles donate $.
my parents on the other hand, (for the short story), are both unable to work.</p>

7

<p>bump please</p>

8

<p>I presume you have contact with your Grandparents and Uncles so you need to speak with them. They will have more knowledge of their donations and alum connections with the development office. Getting an advantage for admission comes with all three conditions you mentioned but the financial aid award is thru a different process. I am sure your family will help you with this and good luck...</p>

9

<p>Tawny, if you have family who give major gifts to Universities, I think the school would expect them to be paying for you. You want to be seen as a development candidate yet get financial aid? Honestly, I don't think they see this often.</p>

10

<p>Well......if the family has gifted designated funds she can I believe be the recipient of grant money.......that is how it would work. For example in the Financial Aid Endowed Awards are given out as grants.....she would qualify. There are many instances of families who have circumstances such as this and it would seem that this student does not have an offer of tuition payment on her behalf......</p>

11

<p>From personal experience, financial aid at Penn was great. . .Maybe not as good as, say, Harvard, but it's excellent in its own right.</p>

12

<p>Not as good as Harvard in the sense that they awarded you more grant$$ and less or no loan$$ is that what you are saying?</p>