Penn is extending its deadline for early admissions applications to Monday, Nov. 11, according to a release on the Office of Admissions website and an email from Dean of Admissions Eric Furda to applicants yesterday.
The decision to extend the application deadline was made because of more technical problems on the Common Application website.
“We are providing flexibility as new issues with The Common Application took place over the last 48 hours,” Furda said in an email.
According to a post on the Common Application’s Facebook page, applicants could not submit applications last night between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m. Eastern Standard Time because “the PDF preview did not generate.” The post got 171 comments from students and parents expressing their anger and frustration.
Students are encouraged to submit their applications and supporting materials by Friday, Nov. 1, the initial application deadline for early applicants. However, Penn Admissions will continue to accept applications until Nov. 11.
“We want to provide enough flexibility as Nov. 1 approaches so students, counselors and teachers who do encounter technical issues can take the time to step back knowing that they have until Nov. 11 to submit materials,” Furda said.
Furda also encouraged students who are having technical difficulties with the Common App to email Penn Admissions as well as the Common Application staff.
“So the message is ‘submit what you can reasonably send by Nov. 1, let us know if you are having difficulties, and if you are, you and your teachers have until Nov. 11 to submit your materials,’” Furda said.
Problems like these have plagued the Common Application this fall since its switch to a new platform. Students, especially those using Google’s Chrome browser, experienced glitches when creating accounts, formatting essays and paying fees.
For this reason, Yale, Columbia, Dartmouth and Cornell, along with a number of other universities, have also extended their early decision deadline.
Speaking last week, after many universities extended their deadline, Furda said that Admissions was experiencing problems efficiently pulling documents from the Common Application website but chose not to extend the deadline.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.