Need help with application/admission process! I'm stuck between two!

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>I realize my GPA is much lower than others who apply to similar schools, I'm not naive.</p>

<p>I went around touring colleges close to home and discovered and loved Tufts University because it's close to home, I love Boston, and because of the level of its academics. So, without question (and only having toured 10-15 schools) I applied Early Decision.</p>

<p>I hadn't come to the full realization that UPenn considers legacies favorably, and had ignored it because it was Ivy League and I thought of Ivies as too good for me.</p>

<p>By the way, I want to go into Computer Science, which program is better?</p>

<p>So, here are my questions:</p>

<p>1) Would I even be considered by UPenn? (ED/RD)
2) If I dislike Tufts, would a transfer be plausible?
3) How much does legacy matter?</p>

<p>STATS:</p>

<p>Courseload: All Honors except one class (90+ in the non-honors)
98.7% average junior year (improvement)
AP US History, AP Literature, AP Calc, AP Psych, AP Physics, AP French V
Scores pending</p>

<p>GPA
87.9% unweighted (I KNOW! it's low.)
93.7% weighted (I know, I know, it's low)</p>

<p>SAT (2nd try): 2220
CR- 700
M- 730
W- 790</p>

<p>SAT (1st try): 1930
CR- 600
M- 670
W- 660</p>

<p>SAT IIs
Math II: 620 (I know, low)
Literature: 700
Physics: (Brace for low) 550 (this was taken junior year when 2/3 material wasn't covered, i thought I would have time to retake it and I couldn't)</p>

2

<p>You missed the ED deadline if you haven’t submitted yet, and UPenn basically only considers legacy status for ED. At RD, legacy unconsidered, your stats are far too low. You may be able to transfer if you get good college grades though.</p>

3

<p>Do they consider it at all in transfers? I know they probably don’t, I just feel like I missed the boat to get an Ivy League education…</p>

<p>Not to downplay Tufts in any way, I just mean that I had never thought it would be possible for me to get an Ivy League education and legacy status might have made it possible if I had considered it before applying ED to Tufts. Did I miss the boat?</p>

4

<p>You’re a classic example of someone who should never have applied ED. Less than a week after the deadline passes and you are already considering transferring? The answers to your question:

  1. Of course Penn will consider you. You don’t provide enough information to determine if you have a realistic chance though. And, since you didn’t apply to them ED, you have lost the legacy edge with them
  2. Yes, but why?
  3. N/A since you didn’t apply ED.
    BTW. Tufts is very hard to get into. If you are lucky enough to be accepted, give them a chance to show you why they are such a well-regarded university and forget what could have been with Penn.</p>
5

<p>It’s not so much that I’m doubting my decision, I’m just wondering how valuable an Ivy League stamp would be and considering kicking myself for missing the opportunity. I’m just wondering if its lost. </p>

<p>What is the value of an Ivy League stamped education any way? How would graduating from UPenn differ from Tufts in terms of jobs (computer science)?</p>

6

<p>Not much. Comp sci is less about prestige and more about knowledge. In fact, my dad (who works in the industry and interviews relatively frequently) says that they pay less attention to the degree and more attention to certifications.</p>