@runswimyoga What you are referring to is “Penn Face” and it is, in my opinion, one of the reasons that Penn has had so many suicides over the last few years. You are completely buying into the myth…a very dangerous tragic myth. The university has always been filled with connected go getters…and kids that are smart but often lazy…and kids who make Walnut Walk look easy. (Google that one, folks!) Penn is a great school that can also open up new worlds for kids who haven’t prepped or had a mommy/daddy that helicoptered their every move.
Is Penn right for OP’s daughter? I can’t really say. What I do think is she should take advantage of her proximity to Penn and do a visit and sit in on some classes and see if it feels right. And then think long and hard about what makes her different and how she will add value to the Penn community. If it feels right and she can come up with a compelling reason Penn should take her. And if after all of that it remains her reach…then go for it. Every kid should go for a reach…whatever their reach may be. You never know if something in your application will capture the attention of a reader.