Penn Scholarships?

[NJequine]

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So in making the difficult decision of which school to attend in the fall the deadline is closing in and obviously finanaces are something to look at. I have been offered scholarships by OSU and by Cornell. Still waiting to hear from Tufts. I am basically deciding between Cornell and Penn right now though. To those of you accepted this year or in the past to Penn, were you offered scholarships and if so when were you notified? I know Penn doesn't give financial aid packages until after the decision deadline so I was debating contacting them about any potential assistance I might get. Penn is already pretty expensive so having money already on the table for Cornell is definitely tempting but I really want to live in the city. Thanks!

 

[orca2011]

Pretty sure the only scholarship Penn gives out to incoming first years is a recruiting scholarship essentially. I think that is usually mentioned in the info that comes with your acceptance. I think it's $10,000 but I might be wrong. Other than that, it's loans or outside scholarships, at least as far as I'm aware.

 

[gimmeshelter]

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[mnkyrat]

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[felinelvr44]

Am I the only person who thinks discussing scholarship amounts with strangers on the internet is a bit crass? Maybe I'm just used to the corporate world where you really don't compare salaries with your friends because... it's awkward and can only lead to hurt feelings. 🙄

 

[NJequine]

Am I the only person who thinks discussing scholarship amounts with strangers on the internet is a bit crass? Maybe I'm just used to the corporate world where you really don't compare salaries with your friends because... it's awkward and can only lead to hurt feelings. 🙄

I don't think that it's very awkward, or crass. I didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings. Just looking for a little guidance to help make the best choice.

 

[ThePiedPiper]

Am I the only person who thinks discussing scholarship amounts with strangers on the internet is a bit crass? Maybe I'm just used to the corporate world where you really don't compare salaries with your friends because... it's awkward and can only lead to hurt feelings. 🙄

No, you're not. 😛

Not that my feelings are hurt, because I doubt I qualify for any substantial scholarships, but I will say that guidance could be given from a post that said, "So in making the difficult decision of which school to attend in the fall the deadline is closing in and obviously finanaces are something to look at. I have been offered scholarships by OSU and Cornell. Still waiting to hear from Tufts. I am basically deciding between Cornell and Penn right now though. To those of you accepted this year or in the past to Penn, were you offered scholarships and if so when were you notified? I know Penn doesn't give financial aid packages until after the decision deadline so I was debating contacting them about any potential assistance I might get. Penn is already pretty expensive so having a scholarship for Cornell is definitely tempting but I really want to live in the city. Thanks!" That's how I've always discussed money matters, but not everyone agrees.

To the OPer, I think you're going to get two people from two sides of the fence here. You're going to get people who say vet school is vet school and you're going to go into horrid amounts of debt regardless of what you do, so take the financial asisstance because at least that's x-grand off your debt, even if it seems like it doesn't matter in the long run. Then you'll get the people who will tell you that you're going to be living in this place for the next four years, maybe longer based on x or y factors. Is your desire to live in a city worth giving up your scholarship money for you? Or would you rather bite the bullet and pay your dues for four years and go to a wonderful school with a decent scholarship? It really depends on where you want to place your priorities and they're different for everyone. That's my .02 based on not knowing how any of the scholarships and financial assistance work. I would say look at the schools as if you didn't have the scholarship money, and then to which one would you go? But that's me and I know a lot of people don't agree with my way of thinking.

 

[Rainheart]

OSU I am assuming is Ohio State- you can get in state tuition after the first year which would amount to a substantial savings... I don't know why you are discounting that one!

 

[felinelvr44]

No, you're not. 😛

Not that my feelings are hurt, because I doubt I qualify for any substantial scholarships, but I will say that guidance could be given from a post that said, "So in making the difficult decision of which school to attend in the fall the deadline is closing in and obviously finanaces are something to look at. I have been offered scholarships by OSU and Cornell. Still waiting to hear from Tufts. I am basically deciding between Cornell and Penn right now though. To those of you accepted this year or in the past to Penn, were you offered scholarships and if so when were you notified? I know Penn doesn't give financial aid packages until after the decision deadline so I was debating contacting them about any potential assistance I might get. Penn is already pretty expensive so having a scholarship for Cornell is definitely tempting but I really want to live in the city. Thanks!" That's how I've always discussed money matters, but not everyone agrees.

To the OPer, I think you're going to get two people from two sides of the fence here. You're going to get people who say vet school is vet school and you're going to go into horrid amounts of debt regardless of what you do, so take the financial asisstance because at least that's x-grand off your debt, even if it seems like it doesn't matter in the long run. Then you'll get the people who will tell you that you're going to be living in this place for the next four years, maybe longer based on x or y factors. Is your desire to live in a city worth giving up your scholarship money for you? Or would you rather bite the bullet and pay your dues for four years and go to a wonderful school with a decent scholarship? It really depends on where you want to place your priorities and they're different for everyone. That's my .02 based on not knowing how any of the scholarships and financial assistance work. I would say look at the schools as if you didn't have the scholarship money, and then to which one would you go? But that's me and I know a lot of people don't agree with my way of thinking.

Thank you for saying *exactly* what I was thinking, just a whole lot more eloquently!

That is how I've always discussed money as well and if you leave numbers out of it, you're still getting your point across without potentially alienating or hurting others feelings. Money is a complicated subject. And no sour grapes on my part either - I got my financial aid offer from Cornell today too and I'm very pleased. 🙂

OP, ultimately you have to decide for yourself if the extra scholarship money is worth the difference in your personal happiness at either school.

 

[NJequine]

Okay, original post edited.

 

[NJequine]

OSU I am assuming is Ohio State- you can get in state tuition after the first year which would amount to a substantial savings... I don't know why you are discounting that one!

Rainheart, OSU was great! But I'm interested in equine and I just felt that Cornell and Penn had better opportunities for that. I also really liked the PBL approach at Cornell. Ohio was also furthest from my family and boyfriend, so there's that to consider too.

 

[StartingoverVet]

Am I the only person who thinks discussing scholarship amounts with strangers on the internet is a bit crass? Maybe I'm just used to the corporate world where you really don't compare salaries with your friends because... it's awkward and can only lead to hurt feelings. 🙄

Actually this is exactly what the bosses want.. it is definitely in your favor to share salaries with others. That is not crass, it is about knowing what the market is. Believe me, I never wanted employees to know how much others were making so they wouldn't know to ask for more!

SMH.... sensitivity gone overboard. The more info that is shared the better.

 

[StartingoverVet]

Pretty sure the only scholarship Penn gives out to incoming first years is a recruiting scholarship essentially. I think that is usually mentioned in the info that comes with your acceptance. I think it's $10,000 but I might be wrong. Other than that, it's loans or outside scholarships, at least as far as I'm aware.

Really.... 5k back in my day.

 

[NJequine]

Actually this is exactly what the bosses want.. it is definitely in your favor to share salaries with others. That is not crass, it is about knowing what the market is. Believe me, I never wanted employees to know how much others were making so they wouldn't know to ask for more!

SMH.... sensitivity gone overboard. The more info that is shared the better.

This was my opinion, I thought other applicants may want to know what the potential was for scholarships out there to better weigh their options and possibly get more money. Oh well..

 

[orca2011]

Really.... 5k back in my day.

Maybe I'm wrong...I thought someone tossed out the 10k amount last year...

 

[felinelvr44]

Actually this is exactly what the bosses want.. it is definitely in your favor to share salaries with others. That is not crass, it is about knowing what the market is. Believe me, I never wanted employees to know how much others were making so they wouldn't know to ask for more!

SMH.... sensitivity gone overboard. The more info that is shared the better.

Discussing salaries in the same market - I totally agree. Scholarships are not salaries. And I was speaking from a personal experience where salary was brought up in a conversation I had with a friend who worked for a non-profit. I do not work for a non-profit. Things got awkward and feelings were hurt.

Scholarships can also be highly dependent on financial need. For all we know, because of her family situation OP might be the only person in her class to get $X from Cornell and $X from Ohio so is it really that helpful for comparison without knowing her entire financial aid application?

 

[cs5910]

discussing salaries in the same market - i totally agree. Scholarships are not salaries. And i was speaking from a personal experience where salary was brought up in a conversation i had with a friend who worked for a non-profit. I do not work for a non-profit. Things got awkward and feelings were hurt.

Scholarships can also be highly dependent on financial need. For all we know, because of her family situation op might be the only person in her class to get $x from cornell and $x from ohio so is it really that helpful for comparison without knowing her entire financial aid application?

+1

 

[Bismarck]

The $10k incentive from Penn is something they mention to interviewing students; figure if you are 80% on your GREs with a solid GPA you might get offered one. Cornell also has some $$$ to offer first year students that can bring OOS cost closer (almost matching in some cases) IS costs. I wasn't keen on the savings at Ohio State as tuition and board the first year (~75k at minimum) quickly ate its way into the savings for the next three years ( Mizzou, NCSU are much better deals in this regard).

 

[StartingoverVet]

The $10k incentive from Penn is something they mention to interviewing students.

I think you need a higher GPA more than just a "solid" one.

I was like 99% verbal and 97% math, so not many did better on GRE.
3.6 GPA (3.8-9 science and last 45) and Didn't get a scholarship.

I think the GPA needs to be overall closer to 3.8, but really just guessing.

 

[Bismarck]

I was also OOS and near perfect on the GPA (with similar but a smidge lower GRE scores), so that may also have been a factor FWIW.

 

[couldabeenadoc]

A recent change in criteria for the recruitment scholarship?

From Penn Vet;

http://www.vet.upenn.edu/EducationandTraining/StudentLife/StudentFinancialAid/ScholarshipInformation/tabid/578/Default.aspx

Recruitment Scholarships

Recruitment Scholarships are used to help secure extraordinary students who will be important to Penn Vet and the Veterinary profession. Successful applications will illustrate high success in veterinary school, have a plan for the future that has begun to be acted upon and looks globally in practicing veterinary medicine. While grades and test scores may be important, they are not the deciding factor in the selection process.

Didn't there used to be a numerical GPA/GRE cutoff listed on this page?

 

[mnkyrat]

Recruitment Scholarships

Recruitment Scholarships are used to help secure extraordinary students who will be important to Penn Vet and the Veterinary profession. Successful applications will illustrate high success in veterinary school, have a plan for the future that has begun to be acted upon and looks globally in practicing veterinary medicine. While grades and test scores may be important, they are not the deciding factor in the selection process.

Didn't there used to be a numerical GPA/GRE cutoff listed on this page?

FWIW - was offered one of these and my GRE scores were not stellar, my GPA was high (3.9 w/grad school) - but I also have a PhD and 3 years of "post-doc'tom" behind me. My goals are academia orientated and I do not intend to do GP.

Also, it looks like they offer all PA residents a $10K scholarship because that was added on top of the offer.

 

[orca2011]

FWIW - was offered one of these and my GRE scores were not stellar, my GPA was high (3.9 w/grad school) - but I also have a PhD and 3 years of "post-doc'tom" behind me. My goals are academia orientated and I do not intend to do GP.

Also, it looks like they offer all PA residents a $10K scholarship because that was added on top of the offer.

I don't think all PA residents get a scholarship.

 

[mnkyrat]

I don't think all PA residents get a scholarship.

oops, my bad...that was my read on this statement from my offer letter:

The tuition base will be the total amount not the amount usually charged to Pa residents after the Pa grant is applied. This year that amount is about $47,500. Next year it will be approximately $50,000.

That sucks...why give it to just a few? It does say "grant" and not "scholarship" too. Could it be a county based thing?

 

[orca2011]

oops, my bad...that was my read on this statement from my offer letter:

The tuition base will be the total amount not the amount usually charged to Pa residents after the Pa grant is applied. This year that amount is about $47,500. Next year it will be approximately $50,000.

That sucks...why give it to just a few? It does say "grant" and not "scholarship" too. Could it be a county based thing?

Hmm, then it could be a PA resident thing. Maybe I didn't get it since all my financial aid paperwork was filled out after the deadlines since I was rejected initially. No clue. Guess I'll have to wait in see if anything changes for this year.

Grants can still be merit based though too I think and maybe depend on work. I know I got a pretty nice one from undergrad that none of my friends got (at least to the same amount) and they had higher GPAs going into school and throughout college than I did.

 

[goldnretrivrgrl]

Maybe I'm wrong...I thought someone tossed out the 10k amount last year...

Yup, it's 10k. At least it was when it was offered to me