Ok so I just wen through the OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA CLASS OF 2019 ED RESULTS THREAD and there was something REALLY strange. It seemed that the lower SATscores, the higher chances of getting in because most ppl with a 2250+ got rejected or deferred but most 2100s got accepted. So are high test scores a bane?!
No. High test scores are what people would like to get.
Well that is the obvious answer, but why do the acceptances suggest otherwise!
What was your sampling method?
What do you mean?
How did you select the “data” that supports your conclusion?
OFFICIAL UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA CLASS OF 2019 ED RESULTS THREAD
The average 3-part SAT score at Penn last year was 2163. This does not mean, however, that most people who scored a 2250 got rejected or that those with 2100 were admitted.
Penn looks for well-rounded students, perhaps more than certain higher ranked Ivies. If high test scores are at the expense of diversity in ECs, they would not exactly be bad per se, it is just that Penn doesn’t rule out scores from 2000 to 2250.
There is not any real difference between 2100 and 2200, and some schools know that, others feel that they have to reject based on test scores solely.
ED focus is different from RD focus also.
Penn also puts more weight on GPA than the do on test scores.
All else equal, high test scores are better, but there are many other factors to consider.
It would be interesting to make a chart, but my guess is that ED acceptances have looser constraints then RD.
For example, Penn does say that if you want legacy to be factored in, apply ED.
Yes, UPenn is more “holistic” than some other ivies. Higher test scores are always better. To give you introspect, my cousin got in two years ago with a 2300 sat, 3.4 uw gpa and fantastic ec’s with legacy. She applied ED so good luck! hope you get in
The 2019 ED Results Thread is not an unbiased sampling of accepted ED stats. It’s a self selected sample – to mean particular applicants for personal reasons have chosen to post their data. And some unknown number of applicants who are familiar with CC have chosen not to post thir data. My guess is that applicants with lower SAT scores who were rejected were much less likely to post their stats, while applicants with lower SAT scores who were accepted were much more likely to post their stats. Intuitively this a matter of human nature – accentuate the positive and mask the failed optimism.
Correlation does not imply causation.
@ShaunakK98 Consider what @NickBarr just wrote in post #13. If this is how you interpret and analyze data, then you’ve got a long way to go.
Your critical analysis skills with this exercise are C- or D
Guys, what’s with all the negativity? OP simply noticed a trend and posted this to confirm his/her speculation. You either confirm or deny it. There’s no need for personal attacks @T26E4
There’s no need to confirm or deny this trend - it’s ridiculous. Penn is one of the nation’s leading private institutions, clearly having lower test scores is not giving you a boost in admissions, all other things equal.
Without getting into the statistic “sampling” issue of using one internet thread – keep in mind that (i) Penn focuses a little bit more on grades than scores; and (ii) Penn focuses a LOT on the whole applicant and why you want to be at Penn. They focus a lot on whether your essay/whole applicant indicate a true desire to be at Penn (and why) and if you give off the impression that you think it’s just like any other Ivy or if they’re left thinking you applied bc you think you can get into this Ivy and not HYP so you figured you’d just lock up a Penn acceptance in ED – chances are you aren’t getting in.
This seems like speculation to me. I strongly doubt that such deep analysis is ever applied to applications at Penn or other very selective colleges. And indeed with so many very articulate applicants how can Penn be sure who is sincere and who is not.