-GENERAL ACA-

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1. What is the Alumni Council on Admissions?

ANSWER: The ACA is a part of the Office of Alumni Relations. The purpose of the ACA is to serve as a resource to alumni families who have children or grandchildren applying to one of Penn's four undergraduate schools. For more information, visit "What is the ACA?".

2. What is a legacy?

ANSWER: Children and grandchildren of all University of Pennsylvania degree recipients are considered legacies during the undergraduate admissions process.

3. What can the ACA offer me?

ANSWER: The Alumni Council on Admissions (ACA) is a resource for advice and guidance for alumni families who have children or grandchildren going through the undergraduate college search and application process.
The main resource for this information is through a Legacy Advising Session. These informal sessions allow prospective legacy applicants and alumni to understand more about the ACA, Penn's application process, and the college search process in general. These advising sessions are held throughout the year and are open to any alumni family thinking about the college process. The ACA has helpful academic and application advice, and is most helpful before an application has been submitted to Penn. Reservations are not required.

4. Can I still take advantage of the ACA without coming to campus?

ANSWER: If you can't make it to campus, no problem! ACA staff are also accessible by phone (215.898.6888) and email (aca@dev.upenn.edu) to answer your questions and offer advice. If you can't make it to one of our regional events, you can hear our advice on iTunes! L. Wayles Wilson, GR'09, Assistant Director from Penn's Alumni Council on Admissions held a discussion on the legacy admissions process in Atlanta, GA. As the number of applications to selective colleges continues to reach new heights, so does the level of panic and frenzy surrounding the college admissions process. This ACA presentation is not a general admissions information session, but rather advice and guidance for alumni families navigating the college search and application processes. Click here to access the Alumni Council on Admissions presentation on iTunesU. Also, don't forget to also to download the handout that goes with the presentation.

5. What benefits do I have as a legacy applicant to Penn?

ANSWER: Officially, legacies are defined as children and grandchildren of degree recipients of Penn. However, in our view, the strongest "benefit" of being a legacy does not come in the form of any bonus points in the admissions process. Rather, it is the opportunity that applicants have had over their lifetime to hear firsthand what makes Penn a special place.

With many applicants who are academically well-qualified for admission to Penn, the Admissions Committee considers qualitative factors, like how the student presents himself and his fit with Penn in the essays. In some cases, children of alumni know Penn so well that they make a very strong case for why they are a good match for the school. That is where the true "benefit" of the alumni connection really can help, however, this isn't just limited to legacies. activities.

6. What influence does the ACA have in the application process?

ANSWER: Advocacy is not part of the mission of the ACA, therefore we do not advocate on behalf of legacies during the admission process.

7. What events does the ACA sponsor?

ANSWER: Each weekday, our office hosts informal Legacy Advising Sessions about legacy admissions. These question and answer sessions are scheduled at times which enable visiting families to attend an information session and campus tour offered by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The sessions are designed for high school students — at any stage of the college search process — who are considering admission to Penn. Of course, parents and family members are always welcome. Reservations are not required.

During Alumni Weekend in the spring and Homecoming in the fall, we work with Admissions to offer additional information sessions and tours to accommodate the many alumni visitors on campus at those times. In addition, the ACA has been collaborating with Penn Alumni groups to lead programs about navigating the selective college admissions process. Please visit our Programming and Events page for upcoming activities.

8. How can I get on the ACA mailing list?

ANSWER: The ACA does not maintain a mailing list. We strive to reach out to alumni through communications channels already in place, such as The Pennsylvania Gazette, Alumni Weekend and Homecoming activities, and alumni websites that exist for Schools and Centers at Penn. To update alumni contact information, please join QuakerNet.

9. Does the ACA assist legacies who are applying to a graduate or professional school at Penn?

ANSWER: The ACA is a resource for legacy applicants to the University's four undergraduate schools. Because Penn's graduate schools are autonomous, each school has its own admissions process and own policies regarding legacy consideration. For more information, please contact the admissions office of the specific graduate program.