Feedback

What are alumni and legacies saying about the ACA?  Read below to see our visitor comments, and the ACA responses. (Although identities have been removed for anonymity, these accounts are true.)

"As you know, the college application process can be very daunting, but meeting with you helped alleviate some of my trepidations. I certainly feel I have a better grasp of the ins-and-outs of applying to Penn as a legacy.."
---ACA: Don't take their word for it- visit one of our Legacy Advising Sessions and see for yourself!

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"I know that these counseling sessions are a new approach for the Alumni Relations Office, so it seemed particularly apt to give you some feedback on how valuable it was. It was not only informative, but also a great comfort.

You're right: [my son] is more familiar with UPenn than any other school that he's considering. Therefore, I think that you have found a perfect vehicle for giving special value to Penn in the college admission process. It can be quite harrowing, although we've enjoyed most of it -- from experiencing different campuses to traveling the countryside. Even the essay writing has been an interesting journey for [our son]. Still, your relaxed and helpful approach really did diminish some of the unavoidable anxiety."

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"I thought the alumni session adviser was on the brink of being a bit too enthusiastic."
---ACA: What can we say, we love giving advice! We have to be energetic, how else are we going to keep your attention after a long campus visit?

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"The session was very informative. However, even a brief opportunity for one on one would have provided more insight."
---ACA: Since Penn has grown in popularity it becomes almost impossible for us to meet with each student one-on-one while they are on campus, but we do encourage questions at the sessions since other families can learn from your experiences and concerns. Also, we encourage you to reach out to us via phone or email for any follow up- click here for our contact information.

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"There just was not a lot of information to provide except statistics. It seemed as if the Alumni Council is just there to get kids to apply to Penn and tell them that they have a better chance of getting in if they apply early decision."
---ACA: You make a good point about statistics.  Some people appreciate a full-disclosure of statistics, and others will recognize that numbers do not tell the full story.
It is not our goal to encourage students to apply to Penn, nor do we want to convince anyone to apply Early Decision.  We hope to share our knowledge of the application and selection processes, in a forum where alumni families feel free to ask questions without any fear of judgment.

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"The [Alumni Council on Admissions] gave me so many helpful hints and suggestions for my application! I learned that they didn't play a very big role in advocating for legacies in the admission process. I felt as if being a legacy didn't matter at all, I'm not sure if I should have walked away with that impression or not!"
---ACA: Legacy status is noted in all undergraduate applications, and legacies receive heightened consideration if they apply under the Early Decision Plan.  In both Early Decision and Regular Decision, the focus is on the student's intellectual ability and curiosity, the student's extracurricular interests, talents and passions.  Admissions Officers examine how a student has performed in the past, and they consider how each student might make an impact at Penn.  While legacy status is carefully considered, all of these other considerations seem to bear more weight in the decision.

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"The advice on how to approach the Why Penn essay, the teacher recommendations, as well as the other application essays was very helpful. I liked Steve's analogy about the college applications process being related to a boat steering towards the lighthouse."
---ACA: Glad you liked the lighthouse analogy.  For those who haven't heard it:  Some of our advice about academic preparation for college is better delivered to students in middle-school.  They have more time to change course, and steer their ship in a direction that colleges will appreciate.  By contrast, high school seniors are much "closer to shore."  They have less time for corrective steering with their academic and extracurricular portfolio.
High school seniors can place emphasis on the college search and on presenting a strong application.  They have direct control over the essays in the application.  To read some of our essay advice, check out our September 2009 eNewsletter.