I am planning on majoring in business and am definetly applying to Georgetown, BC, and Villanova. I was thinking of doing those EA and I would have most of my decisions in by December. However, I have always loved Penn but dismissed it because of competitive it is. I have thinking about Penn ED more and more now but idk if it’s a “waste” of an early because of how competitive it is and if I should be more realistic. I know Georgetown, BC, and Villanova are really tough too especially for business but I think I have decent stats for those schools and they are a bit easier than Penn. Applying EA and (hopefully) getting accepted to at least one of those would relieve a lot of stress and I would be content even if every other school rejected me. But Penn is also the best undergrad b school and a really good fit for me and meets all of my preferences. I have always been more of a cautious person so I was really leaning towards the EA applications but I also don’t want to think “what if” about Penn. My stats are in my history and I can post them here if necessary but I just don’t know if I am a competitive enough applicant for Penn. My school doesn’t have naviance and really nobody ever applies to top schools often outside of athlete recruits so there is no “track record” at my school. Should I be ambitious and do ED or be more realistic and do the EAs?
I don’t see how you have anything to lose, personally. If you get into Penn, then you’re going to Penn. if you don’t get into Penn, you can still get into one of your match schools. As long as you understand that ED is binding, I say go for it.
What are the advantages and disadvantages for you applying ED to Wharton?
Just FYI, the EA rounds at Georgetown, Villanova, and BC are all more selective than their RD rounds. Applying EA does not give you a boost there. If Penn is your top choice and you decide to ED there, you are not sacrificing a better chance to get into the other schools (although you might be sacrificing a chance to apply for scholarships, you would have to look that up.)
As always, only apply ED to a school that is absolutely your top choice.
Another FYI, BC and I think Georgetown are SCEA (Single Choice Early Action). You can’t apply EA to them and apply EDI elsewhere. You can to Villanova.
Actually, Villanova says on their EA webpage that they “respectfully request that you not apply to an Early Decision program elsewhere.” Assuming you honor their “request,” an ED to Penn would mean RD to all three of the other schools.
@ClarinetDad16 @Aida @Philpsych Yeah I know there is no admissions advantage by applying early but getting more decisions earlier would’ve been nice. It really does seem like there are no disadvantages applying ED to Penn so idk why I’m so hesitant.
@Squirg I was planning on either just ED to Penn or EA to the other three. Penn recently changed to no EAs if you apply ED there and Georgerown, BC, and Villanova allow you to apply to any non binding early programs so I can apply to all three of those early if I don’t ED anywhere.
If Penn is absolutely your first choice and if you can afford it per the NPC, then apply ED. Just accept that if you get in, you’re attending. No chance to wonder “what if” about BC or Georgetown or Villanova (and that’s OK if you’d rather go to Penn anyway).
Op if you apply EA to the other three will you apply RD to Wharton?
@LuckyCharms913 If I got into Penn then I wouldn’t really care about the other decisions. I would only think “what if” if I didn’t try for Penn.
@ClarinetDad16 Not sure, I might but I’m already hesitant about my ED chances. RD will only be tougher.
@MurphyBrown UMich is a great b school but they don’t meet need so I don’t think it would work. I know UVA and UNC meet need, but I’ve still heard mixed things about their FA. Would those be good options?
Are you rich enough or poor enough to afford UPenn?
What is your GPA/SAT/ACT?
If they are competitive and you can afford it I would say go for it…that way you won’t have regrets. But have the applications for your other schools ready before the decision date so you are ready in case you do not get in.
@bopper Definety poor enough to afford Penn haha. NPC came out to 15k before loans/work study which is great and cheaper than Georgetown and BC by 5k. I’ll copy my stats from my other threads.
Objective:
GPA: 97 UW, 99 W(4.0 UW on 4 scale for context)
SAT: 1510/1600 New SAT superscored,1480 single sitting(2190 superscored, 2130 single sitting converted to old SAT)
ACT: Taking in September and hoping for 34+, but would like suggestions with current SAT scores
SAT II: 720 Bio E, Math II and Lit in fall
Rank- 2/100
Course Rigor- 7 APs, 9 Honors throughout high school, most rigorous in my school
ECs:
FBLA-2 years- treasurer(11), president(12)- 1st at regionals, ~20th at states
Model UN- 2 years- treasurer(12)- best delegate, 3 events per year
Tennis- 3 years- #2 singles on varsity team, club team, local tournaments, etc(biggest EC, not recruit level though)
Tennis volunteering- helping out at local clinics over this summer for our district residents(100 hrs)
Students against destructive decisions(SADD)-4 years-treasurer(11)
Engineering competition-11-12th
Recycling club- 9-12th- President(12)
Piano- seven years- private lessons
Essays will be decent and recs should be amazing(“big fish in small pond” at my hs) if that makes any difference.
I don’t think my objective stats are too far off but I think I’m missing that one thing to set me apart since I have no hooks or anything like that. So not sure if I’m “competitive” especially in a pool full of legacies.
Seems reasonable enough to go for it. Realize you have a small chance, but you won’t have regrets.
@bopper Would a higher ACT make a difference? My SAT converts to a 32 ACT(single sitting SAT) or a 33 ACT(superscored SAT). Would that 1-2 point ACT make any difference?
@MurphyBrown No we don’t have naviance or anything like that. People at my school don’t really go for top schools often so there isn’t much of a track record. My counselor said people in the top 3 in a class usually fare better at such schools and there is occasionally someone that gets into Penn or a similar school. Not a feeder by any means.
Will it be any easier this year now that it’s restricted ED so people going for MIT, Caltech, and Chicago can’t do both?