I’m struggling to decide between applying REA Harvard vs ED UPenn (CAS, not Wharton). I want to apply to some school REA/ED so I’d have a better chance of getting in than RD. Harvard is my dream school and Penn is also in my Top 3 schools. I feel that Harvard would be a crapshoot to gain admittance, whereas Penn would give me a “better” chance of getting in. At the end of the day, both of these are great schools that are extremely competitive, so I’ve attached my stats for your judgement. While I may not have any excellent hooks, I do have a solid theme— to study biochemistry within the context of agricultural science and explore possibilities for improving the global food system from a biological standpoint.
Also, sorry if this comes off as a “chance me” post…
Asian Male
Massachusetts Resident
Medium-sized Public HS (Sends a student to Harvard every year although being so mediocre…)
Stats:
Unweighted HS GPA: 97.47/100 & Weighted: 126.13 (LOL, that’s my school system… )
Class Rank: 3/257 (Top 1%)
SAT: 1560 (770 EBRW, 790 Math)
ECs:
Attended one of the most prestigious summer research programs— selected as 1/36 students from a 2,200 applicant pool to conduct biochemistry research at Purdue. Worked in a group to purify a protein implicated in crop fungal infection, characterize the protein, and design a novel inhibitor that combats that disease. Research posted in Purdue University Research Repository (PURR).
Interned at a start-up agriscience company and assisted R&D through conducting literature research into the development of novel technologies with the potential to deliver macromolecular cargo to plant cells for new CRISPR-Cas9 targets to produce improved GMO crops.
Coordinated events for a 501(c)(3) org dedicated to growing fresh fruits/vegetables in school gardens and donating to local food pantries. Engaged younger children in gardening, while teaching them basics of plant biology.
Founder/President of Biology Club at school: started USA Biolympiad at school, tutored underclassmen in the life sciences, and grew club to 50+ members.
Chair of Health Committee in Model Senate at school.
Microbiology Lab Intern at a local hospital. Assisted with patient specimen sampling in the lab, shadowed medical staff, and also volunteered in various roles.
Leadership Team at Krav Maga: Asst. Instructuor for young children, member of special demo team, and Black Belt in kenpo karate.
Awards (Nothing too impressive, lol…)
USA Biolympiad Semifinalist (2021, 2022): Ranked in top 10% of all contestants in the nationwide Open Exam, qualifying as a semifinalist.
Excellence in AP Biology: Just a school award…
AP Scholar w/ Distinction
Essays/LoR/Other:
I think I have strong essays, good LoR from my AP French (7/10) and AP Biology (10/10), and additionally have a great LoR from a biochemistry professor at Purdue.
I’ve reached out to professors from both Harvard and UPenn and discussed biochemistry topics, asked for reading lists / lectures / course recommendations… I will be talking about this and other stuff in supplemental essays.
I think my essays might be able to make up for the lack of nationally/internationally recognized awards and “hooks,” but I guess it’s still a crapshoot.
Please let me know if I have a chance at REAing to Harvard (Massachusetts is disproportionately represented here ~25%), or would it be somewhat safer to apply ED to UPenn? (I know both are still reaches.)
Very difficult for anyone to chance you. Picking between these two choices depends on your risk appetite. Someone else cannot make this decision for you. You need to make this yourself.
Yes, hard to chance especially because things have changed so much in just the past two years due to test optional and other factors. (Our high school GC said that the type of kids who were getting accepted at Princeton and Harvard 2-3 years ago were waitlisted or rejected this year).
You have high stats and many strong accomplishments but unfortunately they match those of the “average excellent” applicant to these highly rejective schools. Your demographics and lack of hooks make it more challenging.
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You need to be comfortable with the decision you take because either route will have implications on where else you can apply/enroll.
I think your ECs are fascinating, out of the ordinary, make a great hook. I’ve never seen ANYONE with your type of ECs. I agree, you’re applying ED/EA to the wrong schools. I agree that if you’re looking for an Ivy, with your interests, your best bet is Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. That’s the Ivy that is doing the kind of research that goes along with your interests, and I think you would get in there. Not many applicants will have shown the early focus that you have, on such a necessary yet unique field. I think that your odds of getting into Penn or Harvard ED/EA are fairly low (but not impossible), not because you’re not a fantastic applicant, but because you may not have the specific thing that they are looking for. But you most definitely DO have the specific thing that CALS is looking for, so much so that I think that you would get in there regular decision.
BUT… what’s the money situation? Do you qualify for fin aid? If not, are your parents ready to pay over $320,000 for college for you? I think that you’re stuck on Ivy prestige, when probably the best place for you is going to be one of the schools that offers great research opportunities in agriculturally related biochem/genetics. Clearly, you’re headed for a PhD in that area. You don’t need Harvard or Penn for your goals. Your safety is UMass Amherst (has ag research and an honors college), your reach is Cornell CALS, and I bet there are some midwestern research flagship U’s that are also a match for you. Why go to an expensive Ivy that doesn’t have what you’re interested in doing?
Thank you so much for your response! Cornell CALS is definitely very high on my list, alongside both UMass Amherst and Purdue, and I might honestly pick it over other “more prestigious” Ivies. I just have another question based on your response.
In this case, would a college that is not big on agriculture-related life science research (e.g., Penn) reject me even if I’m a qualified applicant for their biochemistry program because they think I’d be a better fit for something like Cornell CALS? Would such an extremely specific academic focus cause rejection?
When you say you might pick - I’m not sure of the schools you listed - over a more prestigious college then ED is not for you bcuz ED is binding.
I don’t believe Penn is going to do Cornell a favor. They won’t even know you applied to Cornell. They are going to pick you or not pick you based on how you fit into the class they want to build.
Unless you state that u want to go to Penn for something they don’t offer (and show a serious disconnect in not knowing the school), your background is a positive, not a negative.
Sorry, I meant to be comparing Cornell to other “prestigious” colleges with good biochemistry programs in regular decisions in case I get deferred/rejected during ED. The only reason why I would be considering Penn ED is because of legacy. But perhaps Cornell would be the best ED choice, or I might just not do ED to consider more options.
Also, thank you for the clarification regarding college fit.
Legacy does not give you the best experience. Which is the right school for you ? Maybe it is Harvard ? Or UC Davis or Oregon State or Purdue or Kansas State. In the end, you will spend four years somewhere. It’s great to game the system for admissions except when you win and end up at a place you don’t want to be.
Find the right school. If you ED, that’s where you do so. You don’t ED the wrong place just because you think your odds are better.
I think that at Penn, you’d have a greater than the published RD admittance chance since you are not applying to Wharton, so I’d would go with REA to H and others when allowed and RD to Penn, Cornell…
Your a top 5 student in your school, your school sends a student to Harvard every year, you have great ECs and test scores. It’s your top choice. Then take your shot, just make sure your essay brings out your voice. What other schools are on your list? Do you have any ED 2 schools in your top 5.
As another poster mentioned, you might want to consider Cornell too for their Ag Science program. As a safety take a look at Rutgers and/or Penn state. Both are top public Ag schools. (You can always go to Harvard for Grad school!)
You don’t have to be married to your high school research interest, but if you are, then Cornell CALS is the best place for you to continue that research. I have a feeling that you would get in there EA/ED, maybe also RD, because your high school research demonstrates a true interest in ag research. But if you’re not married to ag research, and really would prefer to be at Harvard or Penn, that’s totally fine. Just know that it’s not the best place to continue ag biochem research.
It sounds as if you want to play the numbers game to get into a prestigious school. So in that case, I think your odds are better as a legacy ED at Penn, than as Harvard REA and Penn RD. However, Cornell CALS while not quite as prestigious as Harvard and Penn, is also very prestigious, and fits your research interests better.
I believe UPenn only offers special consideration to legacies who apply ED, and it says as much on their admissions site. Anecdotally, I know 2 legacies who applied last year RD and were waitlisted. (They are attending Cornell and Cal, so not unqualified students by any measure.)
I think you need to consider culture and fit—and move off prestige. If you want to play the ED card I wouldn’t do it without visiting each place and trying to meet a few students.
I agree with others that your interests align well with Cornell—but then, you have to feel it’s a culture and vibe that would suit you.
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