April, 2008
Dear Penn Alumni,
It is always a pleasure to meet with children or grandchildren of Penn alumni considering the possibility of a Penn education. It is also great to see our alumni excited and engaged with Penn, recalling their own Penn experiences while the next generation explores the University. Alumni frequently ask about Penn's current admissions process and what it means to be a "legacy" applicant. We are happy to describe the process, with the hope that we may guide legacies to present themselves in the most compelling manner during the college admission process.
Penn's policy on legacy admissions has not changed. What has changed considerably is the competitive nature of gaining admission to Penn. Over the past ten years, Penn has climbed the college rankings and enjoyed increased popularity among prospective students. With a sharp rise in the number of applications, Penn has become more selective than ever before.
Academic credentials remain the most important factor in admissions decisions. The Admissions Committee pays close attention to the types and levels of courses the student has taken as well as the grades the student has received. Standardized test results represent an objective measure of a student's ability, and these are reviewed as part of the academic portion of the application. Evaluations provided by teachers and counselors offer an increased understanding of the applicant as a scholar and as a person. Penn seeks students who have challenged themselves extensively in the classroom and who will contribute to the dynamic environment on the Penn campus. In addition to the applicant's academic credentials, the Admissions Committee is interested in learning about the student's extracurricular pursuits and creative talents. The most appealing candidate is the student who is passionate about their interests and extracurricular involvements, whatever they may be. By many measures, the vast majority of Penn's applicants are highly qualified candidates who would be very successful at Penn or another academically rigorous institution. However, the limited number of spaces in the freshman class forces the Admissions Committee to make some very difficult choices, deciding which students represent the best fit with Penn.
Admissions Officers carefully review each application received, and then present the merits of each applicant to the Admissions Committee. Legacies undergo the same competitive review process as all other Penn applicants, and also receive a supplemental review before reaching the Admissions Committee. If the Committee finds an application compelling, the legacy status could represent an additional point of interest about the candidate. However, it is important to note that the legacy affiliation cannot serve to counterbalance weaknesses or shortcomings in an application.
While legacy applications receive careful consideration throughout the selection process, they receive maximum consideration under the Early Decision Plan. This is because an Early Decision application reflects the student's heightened personal commitment to Penn, independent of any family influence.
As a part of Alumni Relations, Penn offers the services of the Alumni Council on Admissions (ACA) for legacy applicants. Among the Ivy League and other peer institutions, it is rare to find an office dedicated to legacy applicants. The ACA regularly hosts advising sessions for prospective legacies, and alumni families may contact the ACA at any time with queries or issues that arise during the college search and application process. The ACA also conducts interviews for legacy candidates as an additional way to personalize the application process. The interview is never required, but it is encouraged as it provides the Admissions Office with additional information about the student.
We hope that this information has been helpful to you, and we look forward to assisting you as your children and grandchildren seek the best collegiate fit and experience.
Sincerely,
F. Hoopes Wampler
Assistant Vice President
Alumni Relations
Stephen J. Hamilton
Sr. Associate Director
Alumni Council on Admissions
Questions? Comments? Please let us know!
Email to: aca@dev.upenn.edu
