Hi guys,
Just wondering about the relationship between Penn ED acceptances and being a legacy. I know that it states on the website that there is a much higher chance of being accepted to Penn during ED when you are a legacy. How much of an impact do you think it would be if a legacy applied RD instead of ED?
Ex, would it be negative bc Penn is likely to reject legacy that doesn’t apply ED? If it is a lower percentage acceptance rate, is that lower than most RD people or is it the same? If you had a solid resumé with good ECs and great grades, would being a legacy negatively impact during RD? How much greater of a chance of getting in would applying ED be as a legacy?
What about to specific schools? (Wharton, SEAS, CAS, dual degree programs)
Wondering about your thoughts and/or recommendations.
I’m a Penn legacy applying RD. I would have applied early but due to serious health and family issues, I wasn’t able to.
I think Penn would probably raise the question of whether or not you’re their first choice. Since you know there’s a much higher rate of legacy acceptance in the early round, and you didn’t take advantage of that, then Penn might assume, probably rightly so, that they weren’t your first choice and that some other school was, and whoever didn’t let you in early either deferred or denied you. I also think this same discussion would come up regardless of school or dual degree program. Just like any place, Penn probably wants to know that if they take you then you’re going. I highly doubt any school wants to lose people from their admitted applicant pool, hence the reason your chances are significantly better in the early round.
With that said, I actually explained briefly on my application why I wasn’t able to apply early.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Being a legacy is an advantage in the ED round. Applying in the RD round, it won’t help you, but it won’t hurt you.
As you’ve already asked this question, and the answers have not changed, I am closing the thread.