Only a handful of accepted applicants get likely letters.
I just found out I implied that I want to apply for aids (when my parents are willing to pay full tuition) I 'm an international student so I am now freaking out about it… I wrote to them just now…hoping that it doesn’t count since I didn’t submit any required forms… :((
Hey islander1108 I am also an international student and I applied for aid. From what I read on their website they are need-blind so meaning if u have financial difficulties they will still accept you and support you and it’s also part of Penn2020 goals if you havent read about it. Schools like NYU are need aware so they do take into account your financial background before admitting you in. So yes you dont have to worry!
i’m pretty sure they are need-aware for international students that are neither Mexican nor Canadian…
@tshillz I know that this is a bit late but I received a LL for the M&T program and I’m in NY … So excited!!
@danielhakim96 @islander1108 I asked the Upenn rep that came to our school about this issue, and her answer was quite similar to what I found on other top school’s websites: so, if you are international and apply for financial aid, your admission will be considered with your financial aid need. That is to say, Upenn will only accept you if it can pay for your need. She added: if you are accepted, no need to worry about money, but if Upenn can’t meet your need, it will not grant acceptance at all. This puts international students who applied for financial aid into a “separate” candidate pool that is a lot more competitive (a bunch of y’all are fighting for limited grants). Hope this helps!
@BluCyanide Yeah that’s what I thought. Here’s the thing, I didn’t finish the application for aid (didn’t turn in anything) after talking to my parents knowing that they are willing to pay full tuition. I hope they don’t count me as an international with need for aid 
For the record, I am an int. student who applied for FA and received a likely letter. So at least is not impossible to get in, but it is easier if you don’t need aid.
I started freaking out knowing there’s this likely letter thing( which I didn’t get) please forgive my sensitive nerves.
^Don’t worry, most admitted students don’t get one
Did they send out both waves of likely letters yet or just the February one?
The second wave was sent in early March.
It looks like Penn made the dream school list!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/18/princeton-review-dream-colleges-2015_n_6886526.html
Does Penn make financial aid packages for all applicants or only those the financial aid office knows will be accepted? I got a letter in the mail yesterday detailing that the financial aid office couldn’t “proceed with [my] evaluation” until they got “confirmation of FAFSA Application from Processor.” Yet, the financial aid office doesn’t require the FAFSA until April 15th (which is after decisions come out). I just thought it was strange considering the FAFSA wasn’t due yet, and I thought the office only “evaluated” financial aid packages for those accepted… Thoughts?
Financial aid and admissions are two completely separate entities. Financial aid is calculated for all applicants, whether you have a 2400 or a 1200. Hence the term need blind. This information may be different for internationals, I am not sure.
My interviewer was very confident that I would get in but I don’t want to get my hopes up
Was anyone else’s interviewer like this? Do they do this to keep us excited about the school?
@LaceyLou96 : I think you’re in
@humbleapplicant: I don’t see how your interviewer was “confident” - interviewers have very little, if any influence on admissions. Your interviewer did not know your test scores, your GPA, your school profile, etc. I’m not saying you won’t get in, but I wouldn’t let your interviewer give you false hope.
I agree with JamesJunkers. I’m a Penn alum and I have interviewed applicants for a few years. I would never, ever tell an applicant what his her chances were. Because I don’t know.
As an international student with English as my third language (Creole being the first and French the second), I have a pretty poor SAT writing score which brought my overall score down to around 2000. Will it be a disadvantage or thanks to the Ivys holistic approach, they will consider all these factors during the reviewing process? Good luck everyone 8 more days to go!