UPenn ABSN 2021

Peaches52 · Nov 24, 2020

On 11/22/2020 at 8:48 PM, boomina said:

Thank you so much for answering! This was really helpful.

Would you also be comfortable sharing information about financial aid? I know Penn's program is insanely expensive, but I'm wondering how much would financial aid help. I heard Penn offers full rides for undergraduates whose family makes under 60k I believe, but I'm not sure if this applies for those getting a second bachelors degree. Did you have to take out a lot of loans? Or was their financial aid package pretty generous?

Do not count on much for financial aid. The full rides do not count for second-degree students. I believe (but am not sure) that I got more grants than many in my class, and my total still came out to $75k just for the ABSN part of the program. I’ve been told that grants are pretty nonexistent for MSN students. (When you get in, you’re given a financial aid package for the ABSN only, and you’ll learn if you get any grants for the MSN program when you decide to start that.) I do know that they’re trying to get more funding for financial aid for the ABSN program, but I don’t know when that’ll start. A lot of people in my program are on Medicaid (cheaper than the student health plan), some are on food stamps, some are rich, and most of us are stressed out about money. Expect to take out private loans.

But also, who knows— maybe you’ll open your mail in February to a generous financial aid package! Just don’t count on it.

fin_ar · Dec 3, 2020

On 11/10/2020 at 9:39 AM, Peaches52 said:

Current ABSN student here (I graduate in a month). Happy to answer questions if y’all have any. Good luck with your applications!

@Peaches52 thank you so much! Would you mind sharing about the workload and work/life balance in the program? I expect it to be rigorous but I'm wondering if you/most students feel like they have to study around the clock or is it pretty manageable? Are there a lot of exams or mostly other types of assignments? I have 2 young kids so I'm trying to figure out what it will be like balancing everything.

Peaches52 · Dec 8, 2020

On 12/3/2020 at 11:58 AM, fin_ar said:

@Peaches52 thank you so much! Would you mind sharing about the workload and work/life balance in the program? I expect it to be rigorous but I'm wondering if you/most students feel like they have to study around the clock or is it pretty manageable? Are there a lot of exams or mostly other types of assignments? I have 2 young kids so I'm trying to figure out what it will be like balancing everything.

I'll be honest-- your first Summer will be HARD. Do you have a partner or access to childcare? I was studying round-the-clock that first Summer. After that Summer, it depends on the students. Some students had pretty vibrant social lives, but I did feel like I had to study a lot that first fall and Spring. I also kept pressuring myself to get A's (even though that really doesn't matter once you get to nursing school...), so I think if you aim for B's, your life would be much more well-rounded than mine was. ? Summer is very laid-back, and I had a good amount of spare time my second fall, though I was often pretty exhausted from our two twelve-hour shifts a week.

meghan0808 · Dec 8, 2020

Has anyone had any luck hearing back from admissions or financial aid? I've sent three emails since September most recently with an important question about FAFSA and I haven't heard anything back about any of them. ? I don't know what to do but I can't submit my FAFSA until I know and the deadline is coming up.

I tried calling but no one is in the office either!

meghan0808 · Dec 8, 2020

Just now, meghan0808 said:

Has anyone had any luck hearing back from admissions or financial aid? I've sent three emails since September most recently with an important question about FAFSA and I haven't heard anything back about any of them. ? I don't know what to do but I can't submit my FAFSA until I know and the deadline is coming up.

I tried calling but no one is in the office either!

Or I guess if any of you know the answer- I'm under 30 but over 24 and financially independent and have been for years however I do not have any contact with my parents and can not fill out their financial aid information even slightly and I do not know what to do.

maccampy · Dec 8, 2020

1 hour ago, meghan0808 said:

Or I guess if any of you know the answer- I'm under 30 but over 24 and financially independent and have been for years however I do not have any contact with my parents and can not fill out their financial aid information even slightly and I do not know what to do.

Hey! I think this is a glitch or perhaps an error in info you provided FAFSA. I’m 24, file taxes independently, and all that. I was able to submit my FAFSA fine! It actually asked me if I wanted to put my parents info but that I did not have to since I’m independent and file taxes independently! If you’re independent then you shouldn’t have to file any of your parent’s information. I didn’t have to! I was given the choice but it’s optional. I would contact someone with FAFSA asap to sort it out!

meghan0808 · Dec 12, 2020

On 12/8/2020 at 6:10 PM, maccampy said:

Hey! I think this is a glitch or perhaps an error in info you provided FAFSA. I’m 24, file taxes independently, and all that. I was able to submit my FAFSA fine! It actually asked me if I wanted to put my parents info but that I did not have to since I’m independent and file taxes independently! If you’re independent then you shouldn’t have to file any of your parent’s information. I didn’t have to! I was given the choice but it’s optional. I would contact someone with FAFSA asap to sort it out!

This is on their website though- I submitted my FAFSA but I'm fairly certain Penn has additional requirements

maccampy · Dec 12, 2020

2 hours ago, meghan0808 said:

This is on their website though- I submitted my FAFSA but I'm fairly certain Penn has additional requirements

Huh? That’s weird. I’m not sure then. It definitely just gave me the option and didn’t require me to. I have no clue then. I’m sorry /: I’ll have to look into mine to make sure what info I gave will suffice for UPENN

allynurse2b123 · Dec 27, 2020

Does anyone know when decisions come out?

boomina · Dec 27, 2020

Just now, allynurse123 said:

Does anyone know when decisions come out?

Early February!

allynurse2b123 · Dec 27, 2020

awesome! So curious on how many people applied. I feel that it might be easier to get into this year because of how early the application was due

allynurse2b123 · Dec 30, 2020

Does anyone know if they accept science pre reqs from portage learning?