<p>Congrats!! Has your son considered taking a gap year? :)</p>
<p>But seriously, I never heard of this program, but I am also a little uncomfortable with the idea of starting with a very select group of 20 incredible students with the expectation that half of them will drop out of the program and only 5 will get tuition waivers. Isn't that a setup for a pressure cooker cut-throat competitive environment? Sounds more like a script for a reality TV show!</p>
<p>lauraanne~I thank you SO much for posting and for the wonderful information you provided! It is fabulous to hear from a Penn student who is so happy with her choice of schools. </p>
<p>The financial aid does scare me as we got killed on the FAFSA this year, despite the fact that we are a modest one-income family with six kids...long story. So, the money would be essential, but I don't know if we'd qualify for much need-based aid this year.</p>
<p>Also, my son received a huge honor from JHU in the form of the Hodson Trust Scholarship (only given to 20 incoming freshman). It is their highest merit award given. So, we have a guaranteed $86,000 there....</p>
<p>At any rate, you are right...Ponzy Lu is the head of the program. We are planning to call for additional information tomorrow!</p>
<p>Go ahead and pick up those red and blue pom-poms again...they suit you perfectly! Thanks again, ~berurah</p>
<p>Are you spoiled for choice or what?</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>To settle the moolah question, you might <em>naively</em> call UPenn and clarify the points.</p>
<p>But really, Penn is:</p>
<p>Moolah, Rah Rah and Ta-Ta</p>
<p>Plus Philadelphia? How can a kid from Kansas go wrong? They get my vote.</p>
<p>Wonder why their letter arrived so late? Are they following the Yikes and Crikey story on CC !!??</p>
<p>
[quote]
but I am also a little uncomfortable with the idea of starting with a very select group of 20 incredible students with the expectation that half of them will drop out of the program and only 5 will get tuition waivers. Isn't that a setup for a pressure cooker cut-throat competitive environment? Sounds more like a script for a reality TV show!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>NJres,</p>
<p>Don't know if my son would consider taking a gap year, but I can tell you without a doubt that <em>I</em> am ready for one!!!!!!! :)</p>
<p>And yes, you are completely right about that situation resembling a reality TV show! May the best nascent biochemist win!</p>
<p>BTW, I'm glad you showed up...what did you think of the thread title!?</p>
<p>~berurah</p>
<p>cheers,
[quote]
Moolah, Rah Rah and Ta-Ta
[/quote]
</p>
<p>ha ha! ~b.</p>
<p>"Ta-ta!": a royal phrase used to wave off plebes, mere mortals and Yalies.</p>
<p>redr002~Thanks so much for the congrats! I saw that you D will be attending Georgetown's SFS program!! HUGE CONGRATS to her! My brother is a graduate of that program, and it provided unprecedented opportunities. He was heavily recruited for a job with the USIA after graduation, and getting into the foreign service can be hideously competitive. Georgetown is such a boon for that! My brother is now a diplomat with the foreign service, and he loves it. I wish your D much success next year!</p>
<p>
[quote]
On a lighter side, which has been the most difficult......the application process, the waiting, or the deciding?!?!?!? LOL
[/quote]
Hands down, the deciding!!!!!! <em>lol</em></p>
<p>We were missing some forms for the Duke financial aid office. They now have what they need, and I will call them tomorrow to see when I can expect an offer. I can't see it resembling anything like JHU, and even if they were to come up with some money, the honor of the Hodson Scholarship wouldn't be attached. But, we'll see. Thanks for asking!</p>
<p>~berurah</p>
<p>I also got an envelope from Penn today, to be a part of the Benjamin Franklin Scholars program.</p>
<p>As a Huntsman kid, I'm wondering if - between the Huntsman program and the mandatory BFS seminatrs - I'll be sucked dry of electives... ? Does anyone have experience with BFS?</p>
<p>
[quote]
"Ta-ta!": a royal phrase used to wave off plebes, mere mortals and Yalies.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>cheers,
Well, then, it will definitely have to become part of my vernacular! :)</p>
<p>~b.</p>
<p>raven001~I was reading about that program on the website. I know that they claim that you can be in that program along with other programs, even the Vagelos Scholars program. It would be a good question to ask...and CONGRATULATIONS!! It is quite an honor!!</p>
<p>~berurah</p>
<p>Wow! Multiple congratulations are in order! "Crikey" was an $86,000 word, and "Yikes"...well it's a good one too.</p>
<p>I just picture everyone in your family sort of floating on air there, amidst confetti and e-champagne, lacrosse jerseys, and cans of blue spray paint.</p>
<p>Seriously, I'd visit. Visit, visit, visit. All three. Maybe even sit in on the same classes (mol. bio) and visit similar labs. Talk to lots of profs and students. If your son has a strong preference for one school over another, maybe the aid package can be improved, or perks. You've got leverage of sorts. </p>
<p>Have fun travelling and good luck with the decision!</p>
<p>awwwwwww, cricket! Thanks! Things here are just overwhelming right now! All these decisions and then prom this weekend, a forensics tournament for my oldest daughter, show rehearsal for another daughter...etc. I think the stress is worse now than before the decisions...This time pressure for a decision is killer! I will definitely try to arrange visits, but we might be able to whittle it down to two and try to limit the (expensive) travel. ~b.</p>
<p>Berurah, this is indeed an embarrassment of riches (lol). Your head must be absolutely spinning. I feel like I'm following a soap opera: "As Berurah's World Turns." Every day another cliffhanger ending!</p>
<p>kinshasa~</p>
<p>
[quote]
I feel like I'm following a soap opera: "As Berurah's World Turns." Every day another cliffhanger ending!
[/quote]
</p>
<p><em>lol</em>:) And you should see the NON-college events! Seriously, though, April has brought a most unexpected turn of events! ~b.</p>
<p>Okay I just need to say officially that Brown really missed the boat on your son!! It pains me!!</p>
<p>My thought was already expressed above-- I'd want the $ guaranteed or contingent upon resonable standards being upheld, not "maybe, if you're one of the 5"...</p>
<p>What incredible honors! The blessings are just overflowing! Magnificent! </p>
<p>Now, does the Penn lacrosse team realize they're playing the winner of JHU & Duke's Friday night matchup?</p>
<p>berurah, it is so terrific to know that your son has such wonderful choices after the Yale EA decision. My daughter, also was rejected and we have some wonderful offers, as well. Just goes to show that Yale missed a terrific opportunity! We visited UPenn over the summer, and didn't care for it. (Now, those of you UPenn people know that many love it, and some don't. I don't mean to be derrogatory, just give insight into our thinking.) What struck us was that it was like a miniature version of large city - tall modern buildings for dorms, around a central very full green area. And when I mean full, I mean FULL! Sometimes difficult to walk the paths - we had to keep dodging many people walking around. We parked in a multi-level parking garage. When you drive onto campus, it is like driving onto a city street - multi-level buildings with stores downstairs. We started out feeling as if we were not really on a college campus. Later, we saw areas that felt more collegiate, but it was difficult to leave the other impression behind. The atmosphere didn't suit us. Of course, it may suit you. It seemed impersonal to us, and BUSY! This is one school that you really need to visit. That is not to say that you don't need to visit others, but if your son loved Yale, as we did, UPenn is as different from that atmosphere as it gets. You need to see if this would work for him.</p>
<p>Might the schools fly you in for visits?</p>
<p>cricket~We approached JHU about this, and they were very nice but said that they didn't have the budget for it. Now, I am wondering if I asked the wrong person. We asked the administrator of the Hodson Scholarship, but maybe we should have gone more generally to the admissions office? There is a reception on Monday for the Hodson Scholars and an accepted students day on Tuesday. We were trying to get him there for that. Maybe I'll check Priceline?? ~berurah</p>
<p>Sbmom~</p>
<p>
[quote]
Okay I just need to say officially that Brown really missed the boat on your son!! It pains me!!
[/quote]
Ironically, I felt that Brown and JHU may have been his very best apps! He did get waitlisted there, as opposed to rejected, but we were sure hoping for an acceptance from them....NOT COMPLAINING, though!!!!!! :)
[quote]
now, does the Penn lacrosse team realize they're playing the winner of JHU and Duke's Friday night matchup?
[/quote]
Love it!! :)</p>
<p>~b.</p>
<p>evitajr1~I thank you for giving me your impression of the campus. Truthfully, it sounds a bit different from what I thought I would want for my son. I tend to like campuses with the sort of quintessential college campus feel. The Penn campus sounds very urban-looking. If my son decides that this program is to his liking, I think we will HAVE to visit there. What was your impression of the security there? Also, has your daughter decided on a school yet? I can't wait to hear what offers she has gotten and what she eventually decides! Please let us know soon!! ~b.</p>