<p>I thought this would be an interesting subject to discuss:</p>
<p>I would like to get all of your input on this subject. On account of our economic struggles of the last year or so, and with things likely to get worse before they get better, do you think that Penn and more specifically Wharton will take more students who are able to pay tuition in full? To what extent? Ex: Do you think not applying for any financial aid will be a powerful asset for those who can this year?</p>
<p>It would be terrible PR for Penn to go need aware-as well as little need. It is easy to tell if someone needs a lot of FA vs. a little just by looking at zip code. someone living in manhattan, new york, new jersey, etc, likely has higher cost of living, and likely higher or double income. someone living in kansas, montana, etc, where the cost of living is less is more likely to have a lower income and need more FA. Accept more kids from the northeast and california, stop recruiting to low-income areas, and you’re good w/FA.</p>
<p>^ wasn’t it one of Penn’s goals to diversify geographically?</p>
<p>If you don’t need FA, and your parents are willing to pay, why would you take the risk and apply? I don’t know about regular admissions, however FA does play a big role on the waitlist. As well, if you’ve applied for FA, and Penn’s exhausted their funds, they do incline towards not admitting you.</p>
<p>My friend was on the waitlist for wharton, could certainly afford it however it would’ve been a financial strain for her, and she got rejected off of the waitlist. She called in to ask what the reason was, besides the letter, and was informed that for her scenario Penn simply had exhausted their fund and couldn<code>t afford to aid her tuition. Since their policy is to give aid if needed, they are almost obliged in a sense to reject you if they can</code>t.</p>
<p>Anon: I don’t think they would officially go need aware, but unofficially, I believe it’s already happening with the Penn summer programs based off of those who will be attending LBW with me. Hadn’t thought of the importance of geography, good point!</p>
<p>hope4upenn: I am assuming you meant to say, “Why WOULDN’T you take the risk and apply?” But yeah, I will definitely be applying ED. I can see how much it affects the wait-list.</p>
<p>my FA was incomplete for all of my schools, and I think that that helped me. No school can truly be need-blind.
Imaginary scenario: everyone needs financial aid. That doesn’t happen, if it did, schools would in trouble. It matters. Especially if you’re coming from a wealthy area and you need FA. They count on applicants from certain areas to not need FA. It allows them to get people from other areas that always need FA.</p>
<p>Penn is 100%, TRULY, need-blind. The only way that they are not “need-blind” is that they accept a lot of legacy students who pay the full 100% since most of them are well off.</p>
<p>Any myth about schools not being need-blind when they say they are is false. Not applying for financial aid doesn’t guarantee an increased chance in admissions. But if you do get in, applying “late” won’t count and you’ll be forced to pay in full.</p>