I’m currently finishing up my junior year of high school, about to enter my senior year. During the past few months, I’ve been trying to narrow my list of colleges at which I want to apply. As of now, the UPenn us my top choice.
I was thinking about applying ED as to increase my chances at admission. My best friend is thinking of doing the same, also to UPenn. The thing is, we would be very similar applicants; both of us participating in varsity tennis, Science Olympiad, and various other clubs, including leadership in NHS. Also, I happen to be student body president at my school and he happens to be student body vice president. We both take a similar course load, with many of the same AP classes.
I was wondering if being so similar would cause admissions to only accept one of us, if either. Do you think that it would be smarter to do ED or EA at two different schools? Does being so similar and applying to the same schools hurt our chances?
I think it is also going to depend on who else is also applying to Penn early decision from your school. Have you asked your guidance counselor or is there a book that shows the past history of the number of early acceptances and what their qualifications were? Are your grades and boards all the same? No legacy for either? This is a question many qualified candidates have to ask themselves when they know they are up against equally qualified students. If Penn is your dream school, I would tell my kid to roll the dice even if you know there is a chance you will get denied or perhaps deferred. If you are qualified for Penn, there is a strong likelihood you will get into a top tier school in the regular decision round if your early decision is not favorable. This is definitely a discussion to have with your guidance counselor.
By the way, I still don’t have a straight answer whether you are applying against kids from your high school or your geographic region. The answer to that question obviously has a bearing on your question.
You should only apply ED if you love one school above all others. If that school is Penn for both of you then you should both apply ED there. Colleges really don’t have quotas by high schools.