@StanfordGSB00 I graduated from Penn within the last 5 years (the 95 is not my year of graduation).
Also I have always said that HYPSM is the top 5, and have never put Penn quite on the same level. Penn is more of a peer to Columbia, Chicago (i.e. lower top 10 schools), but yes I ould agree that in general all of the elite non-HYPSM schools are peers. That doesnt main they have been performing the same across most metrics though. Figures from 20+ years ago have little relevance today. I wasn’t claiming the superiority of Penn over Northwestern, I was just presenting some facts. Namely that Penn’s yield is higher and it tends to attract more cross admits and tends to rank higher in most rankings (college and university rankings).
You are right about WUSTL and Penn according to Parchment. Also Harvard appears to be losing 40% to WUSTL. while these figures are not 100% accurate, the higher-than-expected share going to WUSTL can be attributed to the fact that WUSTL provides extensive merit-based scholarships. There are many top students from middle, upper-middle class families who do not qualify for much aid at the ivies but get significant aid from WUSTL, which after all is a top school. So it is fairly reasonable for a Harvard (let alone Penn) admit to take that WUSTL offer instead that is coming with big merit money.
Penn is urban. Safe, but urban. Evanston is suburban. If you entertain bringing a car, Penn is out IMHO.
I loved Penn, but yes, it rained a heck of a lot and that can get to you. Northwestern, uh, snow anyone?
But PLEASE - don’t apply ED unless you visit. Or at least spend hours watching the virtual tours and talk to alums as much as possible. Interview for both of course (Penn strives for 100% interviews for applicants).
Remember also, if it matters to you, that FA tends to be not as good for ED. We found that out when my son applied ED, and my next kid is applying to EA schools but not ED so he won’t be limited (and you will be if you ED).
Frankly, both are party schools in the grand scheme of things, both stress athletics more than some students would like. If you don’t want a party school, you should look elsewhere.
I did read that Northwestern does care about legacies, and Penn definitely does.