Penn waitlist

[alannaf96]

Hi all,

I received an email on Friday from Penn admissions inviting me to a position on the waitlist. The email indicates applicants can submit additional material including a two-page essay of choice. In my original application I already wrote the Penn values essay. I would be highly likely to attend Penn if admitted so I want to make this interest as strong as possible. My thought is to send a LOCI this week. Then I would try to visit in the next few weeks and submit a two-paged essay based on my visit shortly after that. I also started a new job in January and have thought about submitting a letter of recommendation from my boss instead of/in addition to the essay?

Would you be able to give me your thoughts on this or what you typically recommend to students regarding the Penn waitlist and what additional information might be best to submit?

Thank you!

[Dave Killoran]

Hi all,

I received an email on Friday from Penn admissions inviting me to a position on the waitlist. The email indicates applicants can submit additional material including a two-page essay of choice. In my original application I already wrote the Penn values essay. I would be highly likely to attend Penn if admitted so I want to make this interest as strong as possible. My thought is to send a LOCI this week. Then I would try to visit in the next few weeks and submit a two-paged essay based on my visit shortly after that. I also started a new job in January and have thought about submitting a letter of recommendation from my boss instead of/in addition to the essay?

Would you be able to give me your thoughts on this or what you typically recommend to students regarding the Penn waitlist and what additional information might be best to submit?

Thank you!

Hi Alanna,

Congrats on the Penn WL! I would submit a short LOCI and let them know you're extremely interested and will be submitting additional information as they requested. Then I'd try to rally up whatever new info you can as quickly as possible, focusing mostly on the essay (see below for why).

I've commented before on the "new boss" recommendation, so I'll simply reiterate that having worked for someone for only two months and then using them for a LOR would stand as a negative in my book. They don't know you well enough yet to provide a credible rec, and it begs the question as to why you couldn't or wouldn't submit a LOCI from someone who knows you better.

The problem is that you can't manufacture new information if nothing has really changed, but the good news is that no one really expects major change in just the few months since you first applied! So, I wouldn't worry so much about that, and instead would focus on trying to present something new about you, which may or may not be something that relates to your visit (visit essays tend to focus on the school, but they already know about their school and so they often fall flat).

Thanks and good luck!

[medialaw111516]

Hi Dave,

I am in the same situation with Penn, and decided to take the June lsat to hopefully make myself more competitive and give them some new information since I know my score was the weakest part of my application. Should I write a LOCI and let them know I'm re-taking it? Do schools that you're waitlisted or in the "hold group" for still get a notification that you're registered for an upcoming test?

[Dave Killoran]

Hi Dave,

I am in the same situation with Penn, and decided to take the June lsat to hopefully make myself more competitive and give them some new information since I know my score was the weakest part of my application. Should I write a LOCI and let them know I'm re-taking it? Do schools that you're waitlisted or in the "hold group" for still get a notification that you're registered for an upcoming test?

Hi Media,

Yes, they will get an update that you have registered for the test again, and given the specific circumstance of your intent, I'd write them a letter and explain that you would love to be admitted, realize your score may not be as desirable as they'd like, and that you are attempting to address that weakness. They'll completely understand what you are up to, so it doesn't have to be overly detailed!

Good luck!

[medialaw111516]

Got it, and is it better/more effective to mail the letter or do they prefer you email it since the application etc. is electronic?

[Dave Killoran]

Email is normal and completely fine!

[medialaw111516]

Thanks Dave!