-INTERVIEWS-
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1. Does Penn require interviews for applicants?
ANSWER: No, interviews are an optional part of the Penn admissions process.
Although an "interview" is not a required component of the Penn application process, any visit to the ACA will satisfy the optional component since we do send a note to admissions confirming the legacy connection and the interest in Penn.
2. I thought that the ACA did offer on-campus interviews for legacies?
3. What are Legacy Advising Sessions?
ANSWER: Legacy Advising Sessions are informal group sessions that 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 as open office hours throughout the year and are available to anyone thinking about the college process.
Reservations are never required, as Legacy Advising Sessions are held Monday-Friday at 12:15pm and 3:15pm to coordinate with Admissions programming(except University holidays). We strongly recommend students attend an Admissions information session and take a campus tour, both of which are offered daily by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, prior to attending an advising session.
4. What can I expect from a Legacy Advising Session?
ANSWER: We host our Legacy Advising Sessions so frequently that there are usually just 1 or 2 families in attendance. (The exceptions would be Homecoming, Alumni Weekend, and common high school holidays. On those dates we host additional sessions, and surprisingly, the groups remain very small and personal.) The benefit of the group environment is that you get to hear topics that you haven't yet considered!
Legacy Advising Sessions are an open dialogue with alumni families. The ACA shares advice depending on where you are in your college search and provide families with the opportunity to ask questions. Since the advising sessions are to complement Admissions programming, we encourage you to attend the information session and campus tour before coming to a Legacy Advising Session. This enables us to focus on topics not covered by Admissions.
You do not need to bring anything with you, nor do you need to do any special preparation. Simply be prepared to speak about your interests and to ask questions about the process.
5. What if I can't make a Legacy Advising Session at 12:15pm or 3:15pm?
ANSWER: No problem! If your travel plans conflict with a scheduled Legacy Advising Session, please contact us (215.898.6888 or email). We may have other sessions open on the date of your visit. We always open other sessions on popular high school holidays.
If you can't make it to campus, no problem! ACA staff are also accessible by phone and email to answer your questions and offer advice.
6. Is there an advantage to meeting with the ACA rather than with an alumni interviewer in my local area?
ANSWER: There is no strategic advantage in meeting with the ACA. We would love to offer our advice and guidance before you submit the application, so we have options and programming that make us available throughout the year, especially in the earlier stages of the college search. In either case, these are optional conversations for the application process to Penn.
7. If I've already met with the ACA, do I need to have an interview with an alumnus/a in my hometown?
ANSWER: No. Interviews are an optional part of the admissions process and no one is required to have an interview. Visiting the ACA is seen by the Admissions Committee as the same as meeting with alumni interviewers. If you have already met with us on-campus and are called by an alumnus/a regarding a regional interview, please let them know you have previously been to campus to meet with the ACA.
8. How do I find out more about interviewing with an alumnus/a in my area?
ANSWER: This process is coordinated by the Office
of Undergraduate Admissions. Alumni interviewers contact applicants AFTER the student has submitted an application to Penn. Admissions encourages applicants to rely upon their application for admission as a forum for presenting the many unique aspects of their candidacy as a local interview cannot be guaranteed.
9. Does the ACA meet with transfer applicants to Penn's undergraduate schools?
ANSWER: Yes. We work with all legacy students who apply for undergraduate admission including transfer students. We encourage transfer students to Legacy Advising Sessions since the advice is still releavant.
