U. extends app. deadline for Phila. students

In an unprecedented move, the Admissions Office extended the deadline for undergraduate admissions applications for Philadelphia high school students to the University, State Representative Harold James said last week. James announced that due to confusion over the deadline for applications for the Mayor's Scholarship, the admissions application deadline would be extended until Jan. 31. Many city residents believed the scholarship, not the application, deadline was Jan. 1. While there may have been confusion, the extension comes at a time when the number of applicants from Philadelphia are on the rise. The number of Philadelphia students accepted early decision, alone, rose this year from 16 to 20. Admissions Dean Lee Stetson said, however, he did not want the confusion to stop additional students from applying. "I didn't want anything as artificial as a deadline to prevent them from applying," Stetson said. Stetson said he was not worried that the extension granted in this case would set a precedent for the future. He added that the extension was geared towards a specific problem. University Executive Vice President Janet Hale echoed Stetson statements. "We want to make sure that there aren't any people who want to apply to Penn and aren't able to because of the confusion," Hale said. Over break, a number of Philadelphia high school districts complained of the mix-up to Hale. Once aware of the problem, Hale acted as a liaison, working to alleviate the confusion between the concerned parties. "The application deadline does nothing else but give Philadelphia students [an extra] chance to apply," Stetson said. "The whole issue relates to our attempt to build a strong relationship with the students in our city." Stetson said extending the deadline is not a drastic change from the normal application process. The admissions office normally processes applications received even after the deadline. James said he endorses the University's decision. "I applaud the University of Pennsylvania for showing understanding in this situation," said James, who worked closely with administrators to work out a plan to extend the application deadline. James also worked with Philadelphia Delegation Co-Chairperson Anthony Williams and Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Vincent Hughes to develop the extension plan. Once admissions applications from Philadelphia students are received by the University, applications for Mayor's Scholarship will be sent to them. Scholarship winners are selected in the spring.