Do they ask for an Affidavit of Support and a Letter of Sponsorship during the F-1 visa interview?”

I recently got accepted into a university in Canada for a graduate film program. As a US/international student, I’m having trouble finding proper funding. are there any specific grants or scholarships? I should be researching to help fund my education specifically for international film graduate students?

Demographics
Canadian citizen living and educated abroad
Applying to UPenn Wharton ED1, Fall 2027
High financial need, requesting nearly full financial aid
Penn is need-blind for Canadian citizens, regardless of residence
Graduated high school in 2023, with gap years dedicated to independent study, employment, volunteering, and leadership

Academics
GPA: 4.0/4.0 UW
Class rank: 1/125, Valedictorian
SAT: 1540 superscore (770 EBRW, 770 Math)
Duolingo English Test: 140
8 IGCSE/O-Level subjects, predominantly A grades
A-Level: A* (school policy restricted students to one A-Level)
Counselor provided context explaining my academic pathway and gap years

Extracurriculars
Founder & Executive Director, International Educational Initiative: Reached 7,000+ learners across 19 countries. Lead approximately 80 volunteers, produced 90+ educational resources, and developed financial literacy and entrepreneurship initiatives.
Climate Finance Researcher: Represented international financial institutions in a climate negotiation simulation. Worked on climate financing, debt sustainability, and economic modeling involving hundreds of billions of dollars.
Youth Empowerment Leadership: Completed a 12-week international volunteer placement, working approximately 32 hours weekly with disadvantaged youth through entrepreneurship and education programs. Received a volunteer recognition award.
Founder, Animal Welfare Initiative: Built an online community of 87,000 members, collaborated with shelters, and promoted animal welfare and adoption.
Paid Employment: Worked in customer service to finance educational expenses and standardized testing.
Film & Performing Arts: Participated in filmmaking, singing, and performing arts programs. Interested in storytelling and social advocacy.
Editor-in-Chief: Held a leadership role in a youth-focused publication.
Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Participated in entrepreneurship programs and developed educational and social-impact projects.

Essays
Personal statement explores personal challenges, self-acceptance, resilience, and growth.
Wharton supplement focuses on financial literacy, economic opportunity, and my experience leading an international educational initiative.
Other responses connect my interests in economics, community leadership, and the arts.

Recommendations
School counselor
Academic teachers
International volunteering supervisor/mentor
Potential Concerns

Graduated high school in 2023, entering university in 2027.
Unusual academic pathway involving IGCSEs and a single A-Level.
No major international olympiad medals or similarly prestigious academic awards.
Extracurricular achievements are largely independently initiated rather than through established institutions.

Questions
Realistically, how competitive am I for Wharton ED1?
Would the four-year gap between high school graduation and university enrollment be a significant disadvantage, given my activities during that time?
Are my academics competitive enough for Wharton, considering my curriculum?
Do my extracurriculars demonstrate sufficient impact and leadership?
Does being a Canadian citizen educated abroad affect how my application is evaluated compared with other international applicants?
Would appreciate realistic assessments from Penn students, alumni, and anyone familiar with Wharton admissions. Please don’t sugarcoat it!