Non-trad specific programs and grad school

Applying to College
1

I have been roaming around this site and have gathered a bunch of useful information here and there and thought it was time for me to finally create an account.

I am almost finished with my transfer app for UPenn LPS, but I have a lingering thought that leaves me a bit uneasy and with some reservation about attending this non-trad school within UPenn. I am worried about how attending a school known as a non-trad will affect my grad school aspirations.

I have applied and been accepted to UMich and UVA and while they are not my ideal schools they are ‘traditional’ and are both great schools.

If I were to arrange my options from first to last, UPenn would lead, followed by UMich with UVA last. Unfortunately, my financial situation is not the best and I would be considered in-state for UVA, making it the most reasonable option when it comes to financial aid.
My finaid for Michigan includes about $6500 in federal loans and I would require an additional $16000 in private loans to cover the expected tuition, so Michigan does not look so great from that aspect and I would even go as far as not including it in my list, as much as I don’t like the idea.

From what I have read in some threads here, I should not count on getting a good finaid package from UPenn. Even if this were the case, assuming my total yearly loans are within reason, I would be willing to shell out in order to attend UPenn. I am IN LOVE with the school and with Philly, so the prospect of living there and taking classes at UPenn has me all kinds of excited. My joy is diminished when I begin to wonder if getting in that kind of debt will be worth it at the end if having ‘College of Liberal and Professional Studies’ displayed on my transcript heading and above every semester could potentially hurt my lofty grad school pursuits.

I fear that it may be a disadvantage, and I’d like to think that I might be wrong here, but I think that being non-trad and with no experience in my field thus far, leaves me with at a disadvantage to begin with.

I have seen some threads about a similar subject matter here lately, but I was wondering what you guys think about my situation. Should I opt for the more traditional route and choose UVA or should I go for UPenn LPS?
Any LPS alumni that could tell be about their experience? The thoughts and experiences of alumni from any non-trad specific programs when it came to grad school admissions or in general are also welcome.

Heck, I’ll take any and all advice. I could really use some help here.

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I too would love to find out about the grad school admissions experiences of more non-traditional programs graduates. I hope they stumble upon this post ;).

I just recently had my app forwarded to LPS and should be finding out what the verdict is soon.

I share your apprehension about how LPS, and other non-traditional programs for that matter, are judged by grad school adcoms.

From what I have been told, based on the experience of some LPS graduates, having the LPS designation has not been an impediment. Finding this out was a relief, but I still have an intermittent worry that makes me wonder if they were extraordinary cases :/. Maybe I am over thinking it and stressing out too much, but I can’t help but think like you about how being non-trad and with no experience in my major up to this point is a disadvantage and I would certainly not want to worsen my chances.

I will let you know if I find anything else out.