Hello all, I submitted my ED application to CAS at UPenn 10/31/15, and I forgot about it to work on other schools. I was procrastinating and so I decided to explore the UPenn Portal a bit and realized there was a supplemental financial aid form that I could have sworn was not there before. Reading the “it may take up to 48 hours from application submission for the financial aid form link to appear” confirms that it probably wasn’t there when I submitted the application, but appeared later. But now that it’s nearly a month I submitted the app, and the ED financial aid supplement form was due 11/3/15, does this mean my application won’t be reviewed or that I have screwed up my financial aid? Having a small panic attack, please give me advice on what to do (besides fill out the form which I am currently doing).
From what I understand, the due date is a “soft deadline” so if you didn’t get it in on time that just means you won’t get your financial aid package with your decision (you’ll get it later, but will likely have to choose whether or not you can go without knowing your financial package). At least, I hope that’s how it works because I turned mine in late and am still trying to figure out how to send the tax forms because my dad is making things complicated. Your application from the school should be entirely separate and evaluated at a different office, so it shouldn’t impact your admissions decision. Anyone can correct me if I’m wrong about something though, because this is just what I’ve figured out on my own.
I agree with @rosewood98 I’m pretty sure the admission officers evaluate your app without knowing anything about your financial situation/financial aid application status. So admissions won’t know you never turned in your supplementary form and hence will review your application for admission no matter what. However, since you missed the deadline for the supplementary form, you will not get your financial aid package the same day that decisions come out like rosewood said. I think many people miss the deadline for financial aid, especially the ED deadlines. I have two friends who submitted their FA applications late last year and they still got their aid eventually.
@rosewood98 I scanned all my tax forms and uploaded it online through the Penn online document upload website, idk if this information helps
@SylvRsr Thanks! Not trying to hijack this thread, but did you include a coversheet for the online upload or no?
Thank you @rosewood98 and @SylvRsr !! I’m pretty sure my heart stopped for a good 3 seconds when I saw that link. In terms of the aid then, do you two (or anyone else viewing the page) think that net price calculators are roughly accurate? Will I have be bound already without knowing if my family can afford it? Or is there an appeal deadline (to be released from the contract because of insufficient aid)?
@rosewood98 I did not and I called the financial aid office to make sure I didn’t have to. They said the coversheet is only needed if you fax or mail them the tax forms. However there’s a description box for you to use when you upload your tax forms online. I wrote things like “this is xxx and her parents tax forms. I’m applying to Penn ED. I have xx files total to upload (so they know they got everything)”
@rosewood98 also one random note: I had 20+ pages (can’t remember) and I initially scanned them all and combined all the pictures into one big pdf. The website wouldn’t work because the pdf was so large. I had to upload 3-4 pages of the tax forms at a time to get the website to work. They say they support a file up to 25MB but I find it easier if you do not upload everything all at once. Also after submission, you get an email from Penn confirming that they received xx documents at xx time, which is very nice and assuring.
@acegirl906 To be honest, I’m not really sure how that part of the process works. I am in a position where my financial aid package won’t really impact my ability to accept a spot. I do know that if you don’t get enough money from the school you should be allowed to break the ED contract, but I don’t know how that works if you are waiting on a FA package. You might have to contact the office directly to figure that out.
@acegirl906 hahaha trust me my heart stopped MANY times when I was trying to submit my common app and my Penn financial app.
I think the net price calculator is roughly accurate unless you have very unusual financial circumstances. Idk maybe like grandfather has cancer and parents have to pay for medical expenses? Things that the calculator wouldn’t be able to process. I’ve heard that Ivy Leagues are super generous when it comes to financial aid.
And as far as breaking the contract because of insufficient aid goes, I don’t know anything about that because I never looked into it… I’m guessing that if you decide they didn’t offer enough aid and you want to break the contract immediately after receiving your aid package you should be fine?
I hope the net price calculators are accurate… the estimate I’m getting is relatively generous compared to that of other schools. As for tax forms/FA, just submit ASAP! I know they sent out letters in early Dec last year for ED applicants who forgot their FA forms. If you want to be sure, give the FA office a call (I did, and they confirmed all my forms were in).
Again, not trying to hijack this thread, but I just used the online document submit and because I’m an idiot, I entered the wrong email address (I have 5 email addresses and typed the name of one with the domain of another ). I sent it again with the correct email and made a note of the mistake in the comments. Is that going to create a lot of confusion?
@rosewood98 I think you’re fine don’t worry!
Don’t worry! FA will come when it does. By the way, I’m fairly certain that Penn can’t make you commit to ED without financial aid, if you applied for it. They’ll get you your package somehow, whether it’s with or without your admissions decision.
@ComputerAge do you think that means my admissions decision will be delayed? I just learned that I did the same thing with UChicago’s financial supplement too D’:
It won’t be delayed. Your decisions comes out Dec 11th, FA or no FA.
Ok thanks very much! Good luck to everyone applying!