Hey guys,
Any potential KWH recruits out there? I applied RD and sent in my portfolio. I haven’t received any correspondence regarding whether I’m “officially” recruited, though.
If you were recruited ED (this year, or any other), I’d love to hear your experience. Thanks!
i got recruited ED, after you send in your samples jamie-lee sends a survey for you to complete about your academic interests/writing experience etc, then i think i was officially notified that my application was supported like 2 weeks before decisions came out.
@sillyface Thank you! Did you receive any other contact indicating recruitment before the last two weeks? I submitted my samples on the deadline and received the survey/a thank you email, but that’s about it.
@brooklyn13 nope, i was actually considering emailing to see if they received my survey because they hadn’t contacted me in so long. at least in my experience just wait it out and the next correspondence they should have with you is like 2 weeks before decisions
Hey guys, I’m a junior in high school and I’m interested in Penn and the Kelly Writers House but I have a few questions.
Thanks!
You definitely don’t have to be majoring in English - you can be applying to any of the four schools. But you should have demonstrated some interest in writing. I think the meeting is very casual - just a chat.
Thank you for responding!
Do any of you know whether it’s still possible to get such a endorsement after being waitlisted?
@willows I don’t understand your question. Nobody has been waitlisted yet since results aren’t out.But you would need to have been in touch with KWH well before decisions are released so they would either chosen to support you or not.
@desie1 Thanks for the clarification!
Does anyone know what the specifications for the writing samples are? (As in a page limit or types of writing?)
@Willows I was deferred ED from Penn even after endorsement from KWH, and Jamie-Lee sent me a lovely email telling me that they would continue to support me in the RD round (writing me another letter of support to the Penn Admissions Office). I’m not sure if they will still support after waitlist, but I know they continued to support me even after I didn’t get in initially! Fingers crossed for good news on March 31.
@shadyconcepts That was nice that they sent another letter - although wouldn’t the first letter still be in your file? Maybe they want to reinforce their support of you. Did you send it additional writing samples? In any case, best of luck!
@Willows I met with Jamie-Lee a few months back. The conversation was very informal, relaxed, and encouraging. She gave me a tour of KWH and we talked about my interests - in writing and otherwise. It was by no means as stressful as an interview (quite the opposite, actually).
As mentioned above, there’s no disadvantage in being a non-English major. Jamie-Lee said that one of the main goals of the program is to recruit students who may not otherwise be able to explore writing to their full potential academically.
I don’t believe there are specific portfolio requirements. I wanted to showcase a broad range of my work, so I sent her 2 poems, 2 articles, and 2 personal essays. I figured that even if she didn’t read them all (which I think she did), at least my work would be wholly represented.
@brooklyn13 Did you get the recruitment email?
@desie1 I got a more personal one after I sent a follow-up email around a week after my visit. Haven’t had contact since
@brooklyn13 I also haven’t been contacted. hmmm… has anyone else been?
Does anyone know how much recruitment to KWH weighs into your application?
I have relatively low stats (3.6 GPA, 2000 SAT superscored, 700ish SAT2s), but I was contacted by KWH in November after I submitted one of my pieces into a magazine. The editor of the magazine works at UPenn Admissions and wrote me a letter of recommendation, and a few days ago I got an email from Jamie Lee saying she had also written to admissions in support of my candidacy. After being rejected from all my matches/reach schools, UPenn is pretty much my last hope. Any thoughts?
@imapicklejar Cute name! To answer your question, I think it depends on a lot of things. Your grades and scores sound low for Penn, but in a holistic process, it depends on what else you have to offer, and if there is a reason you didn’t perform better “on paper.” Also, what do you bring to the table? Are you geographically diverse, from a place that Penn doesn’t accept many students from? Do you have an interesting personal story? Do they believe you will add significantly to Penn’s campus - will you be the most prolific writer? To get that recommendation from KWH, you had to complete a survey. So they knew what your scores were but still recommended you. Nobody really knows what goes on during the admission discussion, but my guess would be that that letter of recommendation from KWH as well as a recommendation letter from an admission officer will at least get your application an extra look. Only a few more days to wait - best of luck!
@memelover I received another email several days ago confirming support of my application.
@desie1 Thanks for your response! I guess it’s all up to chance at this point. Two more days to go!