<p>I missed out on both Penn meetings in my area. I live in Seattle. Penn came to my school but i couldnt miss a class, and then also to a general meeting in the Seattle area, but i couldnt go to that either. </p>
<p>Will not knowing my admissions director personally and not going to those meetings really affect me? I know they ask for a photo.</p>
<p>Also, I’m visiting Penn in November - should i contact the admissions guy about that, to let him know I’m really interested? </p>
<p>PS - Does being from the Northwest help or hurt my chances, i know they take very few kids from the general area comparativley.</p>
<p>not really. i doubt the regional admissions directors really remember you at all. and they are meant to be unbiased and so not know them i dont think will matter. actuallky it shouldnt matter at all</p>
<p>I disagree with shrek. Do call you regional director. Let him/her know that you are coming to visit. They'd be happy to talk to you and the fact that you're flying in from Seattle is even more impressive. The admissions officers want to admit people who really want to go to Penn so it never hurts to show your interest. I've had e-mail correspondence with my regional director and I flew in last week from the Midwest and they now know that Penn is my definate first choice. Sure the admissions officers want to be "unbiased" but at the same time, they are human and can be impressed. As one of the directors there told me, "it never hurts to get on someone's radar". In other words, do e-mail, chat with, and/or visit your regional director.</p>
<p>I've talked with my regional director for about 15 minutes personally. That day though he probably talked to about 10 other kids. But hopefully that will be enough to tip the scales for me.</p>
<p>I'll definetely email him about Penn, say sorry i couldnt make the meeting, and tell him im really interested. I'll also ask him for any advice on things i see at Penn. </p>
<p>Does being from the NorthWest really help that much. I hope it doesnt matter if you have to fly in to visit, cause its really expensive. I tend to agree with Shrek, by saying that it shouldnt really matter that much if you know your regional director or not.</p>
<p>The bottom line is that you need to make it hard for them to reject you. For some, that comes from their grades and SAT scores. For others, it comes from amazing ECs or work history. If neither of those make it hard for Penn to reject you (you aren't particularly standing out), then you should make it hard for them to reject you because they know you. </p>
<p>For all of you Wharton candidates, this is an especially valuable lesson. Business is about relationships and emotions.....no matter what anyone wants to tell you.</p>
<p>Serin - search under Upenn for "Contact Us" - and then scroll down to your area.</p>
<p>Momsdream - I am definetly going to try for any edge i can get, but i think i missed out on the getting to know them part. However, i do have good grades and SAT's (3.88 and a 1520) and a lot of good EC's (Varsity Football, Varsity Tennis, NHS, Community service, summer jobs in the Air Force, a few awards, etc.). - Do you think that these things will be enough or will it be easy for them to reject me because they dont know me. </p>
<p>at the little seattle matriculant dinner thing, the guy knew a LOT of names. he told me something about how in feb and march they come close to memorizing the potentials' files. of course knowing the director will not overcome low test scores or GPA's, but i'm sure it helps, how much i'm not sure.</p>
<p>one of my friends said at his in TX, people went around with their names, and their director talked about what she liked in every person's application.</p>
<p>Transient - you found this out after you applied and before right? Did they know you so well because they had been looking at your files a lot after you applied? Hopefully your not talking about before, because i dont think they have a clue who i am.</p>
<p>go to the penn homepage and click on directories. go to "find a person" and type in the name of your regional director. this might come up with their e-mail.</p>
<p>Do get in touch with your regional director! When I came for Penn preview days last year, believe it or not... this is what happened. We all gathered in Levine Auditorium and then one of the regional directors asked for people in her area to raise their hands and then she asked them their names and started reciting their accomplishments! I was surprised but they actually do know the applicants very well. Getting in touch wil only help you out! Good luck ;)</p>