2009-2010 University of Pennsylvania Application Thread

[kywii]

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Oh sorry, I was unclear. The Olin scholarship has it's own waitlist (from people who interviewed). The scholarship is for any female from any of the graduate schools at Washington University. Anyone who interviews for the scholarship is technically on the waitlist if they didn't get it.

 

[mdeast]

Oh sorry, I was unclear. The Olin scholarship has it's own waitlist (from people who interviewed). The scholarship is for any female from any of the graduate schools at Washington University. Anyone who interviews for the scholarship is technically on the waitlist if they didn't get it.

Congrats. I'm on the waitlist at Penn...so I do have a personal motive for you to choose WashU....

But, I will say Philly and Penn are awesome. And a better city than St. Louis by far. My sis goes to WashU for law school (...also with free tuition and super affordable housing given the lower cost of living there), but doesn't like the city all that much. Given free Penn Med tuition (which is incredible), I think you have an awesome opportunity.

Hope you choose whatever makes you happy.

 

[mdeast]

Any waitlisted people considering submitting financial aid forms? I'm not sure if we should, or if they want you to wait?

 

[Forsberg]

Any waitlisted people considering submitting financial aid forms? I'm not sure if we should, or if they want you to wait?

I was actually wondering the exact same thing. I plan on calling tomorrow so see what they want us to do exactly. I'll post what they tell me on here.

 

[mdeast]

I was actually wondering the exact same thing. I plan on calling tomorrow so see what they want us to do exactly. I'll post what they tell me on here.

Thanks. Look forward to hearing what they have to say. I'm filling out all of my financial aid stuff this weekend, so I just wanted to know if I should add Penn to it.

 

[wolfiemd]

Thanks. Look forward to hearing what they have to say. I'm filling out all of my financial aid stuff this weekend, so I just wanted to know if I should add Penn to it.

They told me not to send any hard copies in. Although, i had already submitted my fafsa and needbased aid form in before acceptances had gone out.

 

[ksmi117]

They told me not to send any hard copies in. Although, i had already submitted my fafsa and needbased aid form in before acceptances had gone out.

Too bad. They already got mine before they sent out acceptances. As did Yale, who rejected me. Oops. 😳

 

[doctor2014]

Here's to hope for more good news tomorrow!!!

 

[mdeast]

They told me not to send any hard copies in. Although, i had already submitted my fafsa and needbased aid form in before acceptances had gone out.

Oh OK. So basically don't send anything in unless you get accepted?

 

[wolfiemd]

Oh OK. So basically don't send anything in unless you get accepted?

sounded like it 👎

 

[MedMe]

has anyone ever gotten off the waitlist without writing an LOI/update letter? i'm very interested in penn, but don't know if at this point i can say that i would honestly choose it over other acceptances. is the waitlist ranked within the tiers or does it come down to who professes their love the most?

 

[mdeast]

has anyone ever gotten off the waitlist without writing an LOI/update letter? i'm very interested in penn, but don't know if at this point i can say that i would honestly choose it over other acceptances. is the waitlist ranked within the tiers or does it come down to who professes their love the most?

I think you can definitely, I'm sure it happens especially if Penn decides later they really want you. But, you do have to realize that schools are weary of using the waitlist. They want to accept as FEW students as possible...it relates to their ranking. And, they only want people to come who really want to be there.

I don't think there is any point in writing a letter of intent if you have no intention of enrolling. That's unproductive for both you and Penn. I also wouldn't write a letter that's along the lines of "I'm not ready to dedicate yet, but I'm still interested." There many of us (including myself) who are sure they would chose Penn over current acceptances. So to be far to both Penn and to other candidates who are capable of making that commitment, I wouldn't write the letter "just for the option".

Maybe send an "update" letter now...expressing your continued interest in Penn without saying whether you'd enroll or not. If things change before May 15th, then send a LOI. If they don't...then it doesn't really matter if you get in or not anyway.

 

[Sentinel]

Hmm, no scholarship info for me yet apparently 🙁 But I guess someone said they aren't done handing them out yet? I'll keep my fingers I guess

 

[RocketScience]

how much is the penn scholarship for, is it the total cost of attendance or just the tuition amount?

 

[kywii]

It covers the cost of tuition.

 

[Hirudo]

Does anyone know how good the need-based aid is at Penn?

 

[ksmi117]

Does anyone know how good the need-based aid is at Penn?

Your avatar is so mesmerizing!

 

[Hirudo]

Your avatar is so mesmerizing!

Thanks! I want to entrance people into reading my posts!

 

[RocketScience]

Does anyone know how good the need-based aid is at Penn?

all that i've heard is that it's good and that they'll give you an idea of what you can expect during preview. other than that, they haven't told me anything else even though i've been bugging them. their answer to everything is that they do a case to case analysis to give everyone everything they need.

 

[CourageKid]

Does anyone know how good the need-based aid is at Penn?

In my case, it was in line with need based estimates I was receiving from other schools The only place that was significantly better was HMS because of its middle class initiative.

My experience with the financial aid office has been that they are very helpful and very willing to listen to your concerns. So if the estimate makes attending Penn really hard, let them know (nicely). They will try to work with you, but you have to be realistic that Penn is not going to be the cheapest option for most people, so they can't just hand out more money to everyone that asks. However, some of the initial merit scholarships that are turned down can be split up and redistributed to other accepted applicants. My biggest advice is to be honest about your situation. For me, that helped open doors to financing options that I didn't know were possible and ended up being one of the factors that sealed the deal in my decision to go to Penn. Will this happen for everyone? No. But they can't try and help you until they know you need help.

 

[doctor2014]

Has anyone begun apartment shopping yet? If so, how's it going?

 

[EIHAY]

In my case, it was in line with need based estimates I was receiving from other schools The only place that was significantly better was HMS because of its middle class initiative.

My experience with the financial aid office has been that they are very helpful and very willing to listen to your concerns. So if the estimate makes attending Penn really hard, let them know (nicely). They will try to work with you, but you have to be realistic that Penn is not going to be the cheapest option for most people, so they can't just hand out more money to everyone that asks. However, some of the initial merit scholarships that are turned down can be split up and redistributed to other accepted applicants. My biggest advice is to be honest about your situation. For me, that helped open doors to financing options that I didn't know were possible and ended up being one of the factors that sealed the deal in my decision to go to Penn. Will this happen for everyone? No. But they can't try and help you until they know you need help.

I received a full-ride to pritzker uchicago- I emailed Penn my scholarship letter- do you think Penn strongly takes things like this into account when determining their financial packages? I really want to go Penn, but I think a full-ride is hard to turn down.

 

[mdeast]

I received a full-ride to pritzker uchicago- I emailed Penn my scholarship letter- do you think Penn strongly takes things like this into account when determining their financial packages? I really want to go Penn, but I think a full-ride is hard to turn down.

I think Penn financial aid is pretty good. But...in juggling offers, it's more in matching normal post-FAFSA offers based on need (i.e. Pritzker offered you 20k in grants, and 25k in loans for tuition, vs. Penn offered you 15k in grants, and 30k in loans, etc). The Pritzker grants are basically merit scholarships given to most accepted students. I somewhat doubt Penn will be able to offer you full-tuition...as they've given out their full-ride scholarships already (of which there are 10). But there's really no hurt in trying.

Congrats on the scholarship at Pritzker. Looks like you got a tough decision to make, but know there are many who are VERY jealous of your situation.

 

[EIHAY]

Also- how many peeps have gotten the full tuition and half tuition from Penn so far?

 

[EIHAY]

well hopefully i get good need based aid, most schools have estimated my EFC as being $0- lolololol

 

[Hirudo]

well hopefully i get good need based aid, most schools have estimated my EFC as being $0- lolololol

I hear ya, man. I never thought being dirt poor would ever be a good thing for me!

 

[RocketScience]

Has anyone begun apartment shopping yet? If so, how's it going?

i've been apartment shopping. the choices are overwhelming really. especially if you're single and looking for a roommate. prices are also mad low in my opinion (i'm from jersey).

 

[doctor2014]

i've been apartment shopping. the choices are overwhelming really. especially if you're single and looking for a roommate. prices are also mad low in my opinion (i'm from jersey).

Yea... Jersey prices are RIDICULOUS!! are you looking in west philly area? i'm on craigslist alot and some of the west philadelphia houses don't look too appealing

 

[BATL45]

I also was fortunate enough to recieve full merit aid! Has made my decision reeeallllyyyy easy haha. Anyone else that also recieved an award, do you know if we still need to send in our parent's tax information?

I am also in the process of apartment hunting! Thinking about the center city area, and I'm hoping I'll be able to meet some future roommates at Penn Preview!

 

[RocketScience]

Yea... Jersey prices are RIDICULOUS!! are you looking in west philly area? i'm on craigslist alot and some of the west philadelphia houses don't look too appealing

ya west philly is kind of blah. it's boring and beat up. center city looks very exciting and nice. i think it might be worth it to pay the slightly higher rents - although i've found many places in center city that are of equivalent price to west philly, but more well-kept.

 

[mdeast]

ya west philly is kind of blah. it's boring and beat up. center city looks very exciting and nice. i think it might be worth it to pay the slightly higher rents - although i've found many places in center city that are of equivalent price to west philly, but more well-kept.

To any of you out there. Here's my suggestion as someone who's lived in Philly the last two years. Find 3 friends/future Penn students. Get a 3 or 4 bedroom home in Graduate Hospital. There's a ton of new construction there that isn't selling on the real estate market, so the owners are renting them out in the interim. You won't find a lot now, but come summertime, things will start to pop up. I live in a new construction house there, about a 15 minute bike ride from Penn, built in 2007. Everything's brand new. Gas fireplace, 3 decks, each person has a private bathroom. My bedroom/office alone is something like 600-700 sq ft. We each pay $650/month, not including utilities. Graduate Hospital, or G-Ho, is up and coming. Some may still call it a borderline area, but it's a very safe place to walk around. And with the popularity of new local cafes, bars, restaurants, it's become way more gentrified just like most areas on the fringe of Center City. It's about a 15 minute walk to Rittenhouse, so always close to the classier restaurants and bars without the Rittenhouse living prices. Over the next year, the South Street Bridge will re-open...making it even easier to get to UCity/Penn again.

Philly has SWEEEET deals if you're good at looking for them.

Here's some examples:

600/month/person
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/apa/1670577225.html

675/month/person
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/apa/1678897354.html

P.S. Penn, accept me off the waitlist please? 🙂

 

[doctor2014]

I also was fortunate enough to recieve full merit aid! Has made my decision reeeallllyyyy easy haha. Anyone else that also recieved an award, do you know if we still need to send in our parent's tax information?

I am also in the process of apartment hunting! Thinking about the center city area, and I'm hoping I'll be able to meet some future roommates at Penn Preview!

If you don't mind me asking, Does this cover the entire cost of attendance ($60,000+) or only tuition?

 

[CourageKid]

I received a full-ride to pritzker uchicago- I emailed Penn my scholarship letter- do you think Penn strongly takes things like this into account when determining their financial packages? I really want to go Penn, but I think a full-ride is hard to turn down.

I think that the purpose of merit scholarships at any school is to recruit students. So if Penn thinks that other offers might pull you away, they might act. They might not. I don't know enough about your situation or the thought process of the admissions office to extrapolate beyond that. Like I said, I think that the office is very good at listening to students, so hopefully you guys can work something out.

I am also in the process of apartment hunting! Thinking about the center city area, and I'm hoping I'll be able to meet some future roommates at Penn Preview!

A lot of my classmates met roommates at Preview. There will also be a housing tour where you can look at a few popular places that students live.
Also, there will be a PennMed roommate list that goes up in May. It can only be accessed by people in the med school and is a great resource to find people to live with. You can post if you have a place and are looking for more people or if you don't have a clue what to do (me last year) and are looking for both a place and people.

 

[BATL45]

If you don't mind me asking, Does this cover the entire cost of attendance ($60,000+) or only tuition?

It covers only tuition and some of the fees I believe... but not cost of living/books/health insurance.

 

[Hirudo]

It covers only tuition and some of the fees I believe... but not cost of living/books/health insurance.

Congrats! Did you just find out today?

 

[OncDoc19]

To any of you out there. Here's my suggestion as someone who's lived in Philly the last two years. Find 3 friends/future Penn students. Get a 3 or 4 bedroom home in Graduate Hospital.

I'm not from Philly (or anywhere remotely near) but this is certainly my plan so it's good to know I'm on the right track. When did you find yours last year? I'm slightly nervous about waiting till the summer to find a place...

 

[mdeast]

I'm not from Philly (or anywhere remotely near) but this is certainly my plan so it's good to know I'm on the right track. When did you find yours last year? I'm slightly nervous about waiting till the summer to find a place...

I think I moved in mid-August. But, there are plenty that should start popping up in June. Problem is that most of them want you to move in relatively quickly (i.e. within a few weeks). If you can find a local student at Penn Preview, it would definitely be helpful to use him/her as a liason. Some will start placing ads for leases they know will be "retiring" soon and the renters will be moving out. That might be your best bet to find a place that will available later in the summer. Moving in early isn't a bad idea either. Spending a month or so in Philly before school starts without any school/work sounds pretty fun to me.

Philly in the summertime (when it's warm, everyone is outside, the restaurants all open their windows) is pretty awesome.

I just work at Penn btw. I am NOT a Penn Med student. Rather, waitlisted student.

 

[Neuronix]

I'm not from Philly (or anywhere remotely near) but this is certainly my plan so it's good to know I'm on the right track. When did you find yours last year? I'm slightly nervous about waiting till the summer to find a place...

Standard in this city for notifying your landlord you're moving out is 60 days notice. Most landlords won't post an ad for an apartment sooner than that. Many apartments don't go listed until 30 days before they're available. I think you're all looking too early, and your options are far too restricted if you're looking now for August.

The only real exception to that is 2400 Chestnut and some of the other big apartment buildings which do 90 days notice or something else crazy and sell well in advance. That's pretty uncommon though.

 

[OncDoc19]

I think I moved in mid-August. But, there are plenty that should start popping up in June. Problem is that most of them want you to move in relatively quickly (i.e. within a few weeks). If you can find a local student at Penn Preview, it would definitely be helpful to use him/her as a liason. Some will start placing ads for leases they know will be "retiring" soon and the renters will be moving out. That might be your best bet to find a place that will available later in the summer. Moving in early isn't a bad idea either. Spending a month or so in Philly before school starts without any school/work sounds pretty fun to me.

Philly in the summertime (when it's warm, everyone is outside, the restaurants all open their windows) is pretty awesome.

I just work at Penn btw. I am NOT a Penn Med student. Rather, waitlisted student.

Thanks for the advice (Neuronix as well). I will just be patient for June/early July then. I think I'm just a bit nervous because I'm moving from across an ocean and there is very strict timing on the whole thing. As lovely as you make Philly sound in the summer I'm afraid I will have to wait until next summer to experience it. I also live in an idyllic summer spot (there is nothing like punting, picnics, and Pimm's in the English summer 😍). and more importantly have a late-summer dissertation deadline 🙁 Luckily I have a few good friends at Penn who have offered to check out places for me and hopefully I will find roommates at revisit. Fingers crossed for you with the waitlist - you seem to really love it there!

 

[Sentinel]

@current MS1s/MS2s: Alright so this is a bit of an odd question - do you guys remember/have a schedule for your time around the labor day weekend? Friends and I are planning to head out to Yosemite that weekend... and I'm wondering if there's usually exams scheduled that second week in September?

I can't seem to find an actual week-by-week schedule for last year or this year... hoping one of you guys can let me know. The problem with planning stuff w/ friends in the corporate world is they do it months in advance

And @ apt hunting - yea I've been looking around and I have to say, if you haven't seen this yet, the off campus housing website is amazing - they even have a lot of listing on their website!

http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/offcampusservices/

I'm actually seriously considering if I can work something out w/ my parents and buy (i.e. mortgage) a condo near penn since I'm sticking around for at least 3 (4 if I do the MD/MBA) years. Problem is (and I guess this is the same problem for buying vs. renting anyway) - I'd probably get a bigger place for the same price if I rent vs. condo it.

Course the problem with all of this is I would like to avoid having roommates... it looks like if I go for the roommate option, the sqft/monthly payments (for renting or condo mortgage) goes up significantly. Ugh - decisions decisions

 

[BATL45]

Congrats! Did you just find out today?

Thanks! I found out last Thursday when the award was posted on my status page. Might have been the best day of my life haha

 

[BATL45]

I can't seem to find an actual week-by-week schedule for last year or this year...

I think there was a pretty detailed schedule in our interview packet if you still have it!

 

[Sentinel]

I think there was a pretty detailed schedule in our interview packet if you still have it!

Yea unfortunately mine starts sept 22nd which is a couple of weeks after the labor day weekend 🙁

 

[mooooo]

I also was fortunate enough to recieve full merit aid! Has made my decision reeeallllyyyy easy haha. Anyone else that also recieved an award, do you know if we still need to send in our parent's tax information?

I am also in the process of apartment hunting! Thinking about the center city area, and I'm hoping I'll be able to meet some future roommates at Penn Preview!

In the same boat and sooooooooo happy. We do still need to send our parents' tax info because I think it will determine how the rest of our expenses are financed, since the award doesn't cover the full $60,000+ budget. I'm still anticipating significant loans (probably close to $100,000) based on the financial packages i received from other schools where i was getting scholarships...

 

[CourageKid]

@current MS1s/MS2s: Alright so this is a bit of an odd question - do you guys remember/have a schedule for your time around the labor day weekend? Friends and I are planning to head out to Yosemite that weekend... and I'm wondering if there's usually exams scheduled that second week in September?

I can't seem to find an actual week-by-week schedule for last year or this year... hoping one of you guys can let me know

I don't have the exact schedule, but we definitely had the Monday off. Also, we're done by 1 pm pretty much every Friday. I think the first round of tests was a week after Labor Day; I don't remember studying that much over the break and I know I studied a lot leading up to the exams. You could get a pretty good idea of test dates from the 2009-2010 academic calender. I doubt it's going to change much.
http://www.med.upenn.edu/student/acadcal_1.html

 

[Sentinel]

I don't have the exact schedule, but we definitely had the Monday off. Also, we're done by 1 pm pretty much every Friday. I think the first round of tests was a week after Labor Day; I don't remember studying that much over the break and I know I studied a lot leading up to the exams. You could get a pretty good idea of test dates from the 2009-2010 academic calender. I doubt it's going to change much.
http://www.med.upenn.edu/student/acadcal_1.html

That's exactly what I was looking for CK thanks!

 

[doctor2014]

I don't have the exact schedule, but we definitely had the Monday off. Also, we're done by 1 pm pretty much every Friday. I think the first round of tests was a week after Labor Day; I don't remember studying that much over the break and I know I studied a lot leading up to the exams. You could get a pretty good idea of test dates from the 2009-2010 academic calender. I doubt it's going to change much.
http://www.med.upenn.edu/student/acadcal_1.html

Three exams in one day?!?! is that like the guide to suicide or not as bad as it looks?

 

[CourageKid]

Three exams in one day?!?! is that like the guide to suicide or not as bad as it looks?

Never three exams in one day. In Mod 1, it's two on one day and the remaining exam on another day. The most information heavy exam always seemed to be by itself. I found the schedule to be totally doable even though it had been multiple years since I had taken two exams on one day.
In Mod 2, it's only one exam at a time, but they're definitely longer than the Mod 1 exams.

On a side note, the student portal: http://www.med.upenn.edu/student/
is a great source of info in general. Some of the links require a Pennkey, which you'll get over the summer. But most of it should be available to you guys.

 

[doctor2014]

Never three exams in one day. In Mod 1, it's two on one day and the remaining exam on another day. The most information heavy exam always seemed to be by itself. I found the schedule to be totally doable even though it had been multiple years since I had taken two exams on one day.
In Mod 2, it's only one exam at a time, but they're definitely longer than the Mod 1 exams.

On a side note, the student portal: http://www.med.upenn.edu/student/
is a great source of info in general. Some of the links require a Pennkey, which you'll get over the summer. But most of it should be available to you guys.

Thanks! But you will essentially have to study for 3 exams at a time? I couldnt imagine having to study for three undergraduate courses at a time, let alone medical school courses. The way that you make it sound though i'm way over-reacting

 

[Sentinel]

Thanks! But you will essentially have to study for 3 exams at a time? I couldnt imagine having to study for three undergraduate courses at a time, let alone medical school courses. The way that you make it sound though i'm way over-reacting

We can do it!

We'll just have no lives

And on a side note - happy birthday to me