Brown or Penn ED?

College Search & Selection
1

Hi all,
I am strongly considering applying ED to either UPenn or Brown because of the urban setting, stressed interdisciplinary academics, and dynamic student life that each offers. I would really appreciate it if someone could offer me some insight in picking which fits me best, based on my profile. I have done in-depth research, finding professors, student groups, and courses I’d be thrilled to be involved with at each, it really is a toss-up! I have visited Princeton as well and loved many aspects of it, yet I feel that I don’t stand much of a chance in admissions. From this, I’ve tentatively decided to apply ED to one of the aforementioned schools. Is this the case?

I am currently a junior attending a competitive private school in FL with a graduating class of ~100 kids.
I intend to apply ED for biophysics.
ACT: 35 C 35 E 35 M 36 R 35 S 11 W
SAT: 1560 C 770 R/W 790 M
Sat II: Math II (800), Biology M (800), Chemistry (800), Latin (800)
GPA 4.0 UW 4.77 W - Hopefully top 2 (School does not rank beyond that)
AP:
Sophomore - Biology (5), Euro (5)
Junior - Precalc with AB (Weighted as AP but no exam), AP Chemistry (5), AP Latin(4), APUSH(5), AP CSA(4), AP Seminar(4)
Summer - Calculus BC
Senior - Multivariable Calc, AP Physics C Mechanics, AP Physics C E&M, AP Gov, AP MacroEcon, AP Research, AP Lit, AP Psych, AP Stat

ECs:
Mu Alpha Theta - President, frequently top 5 in school in math contests. My faculty advisor loves the work I’ve done in improving the previously mismanaged club, including implementing a tutoring outreach program at a local impoverished middle school.
Latin Honor Society - Junior treasurer, helped coordinate aspects of State Latin Forum entries.
E-Commerce Business - I have built a website that sells manufactured turtle charm bracelets and donates 10% of profits to my local Sea Turtle Conservatory. ~5k gross profit thus 500$ donation.
Research with a biology professor at a local tech college - I come twice a week and assist in data and sample analysis, with the potential to be a published contributor this year. Even if not published in time, I have a very defined role from which I can concretely describe my contributions to the project.
Speech & Debate - Junior treasurer, senior secretary. Placed 7th in a state tournament along with mentoring junior high competitors. I’ve to lead the club’s outreach in the school newspaper and news, expanding upperclassman membership by roughly 35%.
ER Volunteering - 200+ Hours and selected as a team leader for training new volunteers.
Founded School’s Launch X chapter.
NHS - Coordinated and managed a schoolwide AP Prep book drive.
SciOly - Senior president. Lead 2nd place regionally protein modeling (Of 87 entries).
Academic Team - Junior & Senior captain. District champions Junior and Sophmore years.
Awards:
Selected as the top STEAM student in my class. Likely NMSF.Applicable AP Scholar distinctions. Scored gold on the National Latin Exam for 4 consecutive years (somewhat rare), 15th place at National Latin forum in grammar freshman year,
Ethnicity: White
Income Bracket: 200k+
Hooks: None :frowning:
I would really appreciate some feedback, and I thank you for reading!

2

Brown and Penn are both in cities, but beyond that you would be hard pressed to find two more different school cultures. Some stereotypes, YMMV may vary:
Penn is a very practical, career focused school while Brown is more a “Life of the Mind” type of place. Both wonderful places, but very different. Do you want late night conversations about Shakespeare and Kant? Brown is probably a better fit. Do you want late night conversations about the pros and cons of various future career paths? Penn would fit the bill. You mentioned “dynamic” in your post - I think Penn would be more dynamic as 5th largest city in the country flows right through campus , but I know a lot more about Penn so I may be biased.
The ED admission bump is a little higher at Penn than Brown, I think. Either way, you should have a backup plan that you would be happy with. Even with your amazing stats and EC’s, the fact that you are unhooked makes admission to these two schools really difficult - many of your fellow applicants will look just as impressive on paper.

3

Both have same 18% ED accept rate. Brown is more selective over all, I believe. Do the numbers yourself and see if so.

It comes down to your call. Same accept rate ED but Penn only gives legacy pref in the ED cycle, so my guess is that you’d get more legacies there. But in absolute numbers PEnn is bigger, can take more students. With Brown, atletes make up larger % of student population because it’s smaller

I’d apply ED Brown, all things equal but it’s a tough call as to which one gives a bigger boost. I think Penn RD is easier so would reserve that for RD

4

I think you stand a good (greater than ED/EA admit rate) chance at Brown and Penn, as well as Princeton. You have great stats and ECs, now you need excellent LORs and outstanding essays. Thoughtful reflections on serving the community, through your tutoring, being a mentor, club building, and ER volunteering, might be important (especially for Princeton and Brown). Project your research experience outward, onto the connections between the subject matter and the outside world; demonstrate that you do see the connection between, say, modelling a certain aspect of the structure or the dynamics of a disease-causing protein might help to bring the (eventual) discovery of a drug to block its function, for example. As a side note, Princeton requires a graded paper, preferably from English or history class, and Brown recommends one. Write well and good luck.