Which regional admissions team will read my application?

skieurope
Thu, 02 Nov 2017 12:16:27 +0000

This is directly from a Penn admissions counselor. The reason for a distinction between international and domestic applications is that for international penn is need-aware whereas for domestic they are need blind. Thus you will be seen in the context of your high school (like a domestic applicant).

@ireallyhop which says absolutely nothing different from what I said. “Considered in context” does not equate to equal chances of admissions. If the OP and another NY student have identical apps (not likely, I know) but Penn has reached its international limit, I’d posit that the domestic applicant will get the nod. You may interpret differently.

Isn’t the lower acceptance rate for international students a result of limited financial aid?

No. While FA is a factor, and intl students not requiring aid will be at less of a disadvantage, the reality is that Penn, and its peer schools, imposes a cap (either hard or soft) on the percentage of international students to the total, usually between 10-13%. Penn is on the higher end of the scale. I don’t believe (but nobody outside of admissions has the data) that the international full-pay admissions percentage is statistically the same as the overall rate. YMMV.

Of course, the whole discussion is moot if the OP needs FA.